Germination of Seeds of Selected Energy Grasses under Water Stress

With the expansion of phytoenergetics requirements for the production of biomass that can be used for these purposes are arising in the Czech Republic. Perennial grass species grown in monocultures belong among such plants. With upcoming climate change and more frequent drought spells the choice of species and varieties that are able to resist to these stress conditions has become increasingly important. In the present paper the results of testing seed resistance to drought stress in the germination period are described. The investigated species included Arrhenatherum elatius L. - Median variety, Dactylis glomerata L. - Padania variety and Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi- 1. Significantly higher germination was demonstrated in the seed of Elymus elongatus in the treatment either without water stress or with water stress. Nevertheless, a reduction in germination as a result of water supply interruption during germination was recorded in all tested species. The highest resistance to droughts was observed in the seed of Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi- 1.