Abstract: The effect of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) on the seeds germination, the level of membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidase system of Festuca elata Keng ex E.-Alexeev, Dactylis glomerata L. and Lolium perenne L. were studied by hydroponic experiment. The results revealed that the prolonged treatment with PCE (0-20 mg/L) produced no significant effect on the seed germination of F. elata, but the germination energy, germination rate and germination index of the L. perenne and D. glomerata were lasted inhibited. The plasma membrane of three turfgrasses’ blades suffered lasting stress, accompanied with enhanced conductivity, MDA content, and cell membrane permeability as well as increasing with highly concent of proline in blades with the increase of the concentration of PCE (0-20 mg/L), while there was the highest content of proline accumulated in the blades of F. elata. All of three grasses displayed decreasing antioxidase activity after initial increase. The peak value of the enzymatic activity of both L. perenne and D. glomerata appeared at 8 mg/L of the PCE concentration, whereas the F. elata reached its peak values in CAT and SOD activity when it was 12 mg/L. It could be inferred that among three kinds of turfgrass, F. elata had the strongest resistance, while L. perenne was most sensitive to PCE, and proline content could be used as the physiological index to the resistance under PCE stress.

Key words: PCE stress, cool-season turfgrass, antioxidant enzyme system, stress resistance