Response of germination and growth of nine Festuca arundinacea Schreb varieties to zinc stress

The effect of different Zn²⁺ concentrations (0, 75 mg·L^-1 and 150 mg·L^-1) on seed germination potential, germination rate as well as seedling root length, shoot height, fresh weight, chlorophyll content, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and cell membrane permeability of nine varieties of F. arundinacea were studied via a solution culture experiment. With increasing Zn²⁺ concentration, germination potential of "Arid 3" and fresh weight of "Fire phoenix" initially increase followed by a decrease. Those of the other varieties steadily decrease with increasing Zn²⁺ concentration. Germination rate of "Red elephant", "Coronado gold", "Acending star", "Fire phoenix" and "Arid 3" increases initially before decreasing, whereas that of the other four varieties steadily declines. Root length, shoot height and chlorophyll content of the nine varieties decline, while MDA content and cell membrane permeability rise. Synthetic analysis of eight parameters via Delphi method indicates that at 75 mg·L^-1 Zn²⁺ stress, the order of zinc tolerance of the nine varieties is "Fire phoenix" > "Red elephant" > "Bingo" and "Plantation" > "Acending star" and "WranglerⅡ" > "Magellan" > "Coronado gold" > "Arid 3". Under 150 mg·L^-1 Zn²⁺ stress, zinc tolerance order is "Fire phoenix" and "WranglerⅡ" > "Bingo" > "Coronado gold" > "Arid 3" > "Acending star" > "Red elephant" > "Magellan" > "Plantation". The varieties of F. arundinacea should therefore be reasonably selected in environmental management of Zn²⁺ pollution based on pollution degree.