Method for improving turfgrass abiotic stress tolerance

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of controlling abiotic stress on warm-season turfgrass using an effective amount of acibenzolar-s-methyl.

1 . A method for controlling or suppressing abiotic stress in warm-season turfgrass, comprising: applying to the turfgrass or to the locus of the turfgrass, a turf quality improving amount of a composition comprising acibenzolar-S-methyl at a rate between about 32 and 96 g/ha. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the warm season turfgrass is Bermudagrass. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the warm-season turfgrass is Zoysiagrass. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises adjuvants, solvents, carrier, surfactants or extenders. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises from 0.01 to 90% by weight of the acibenzolar-S-methyl, from 10 to 99.99% of a carrier and from 0 to 20% of a surfactant. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied at the rate of from 32 to 64 g/ha. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied between about two and 18 times, at intervals of from 5 to 21 days during the turf growing season. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein acibenzolar-S-methyl is applied between about three and four times, at intervals of from 14 to 21 days during the turf growing season. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the abiotic stress relates to drought conditions. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprising applying trinexapac-ethyl to said warm-season turfgrass.