and spring green-up, both leading to a reduction in growth in the spring months and disrupting early season golf.
process of absorbing light does not slow down. In late fall or early spring, the sun can be incredibly bright even when air and soil temperatures are near The Science of freezing. When the plant Photoinhibition absorbs more light energy What actually is than photosynthesis photoinhibition? can process, that energy Photosynthesis is a has nowhere to go, chemical reaction, and creating reactive oxygen like many biological species (free radicals) reactions the process slows that damage the plant’s down when it gets cold. photosynthetic machinery, However, the physical inhibiting photosynthesis
or photo-inhibition. Photoinhibition and light stresses may also be a large component ice related winterkill. Based on preliminary experiments from the WinterTurf project, plants exposed to low light intensity following simulated ice encasement have better survival than those exposed to high intensity light (Photo 2). We think this is due to higher amounts of
Photo 1: Creeping bentgrass exposed to low (100 µmol m-2 s-1), moderate (400 µmol m-2 s-1), or high intensity light (800 µmol m-2 s-1) while growing at optimal (72°C) or low air temperaure (50°F).
49