Application of potassium polyacrylate increases soil water status and improves growth of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) under drought stress condition

•K-PAM increased soil water content and survival rate of bermudagrass.•K-PAM treatment resulted in decreased cell membrane damage.•Plants grown with K-PAM accumulated higher amount of osmolites under stress condition.•K-PAM treatment decreased ROS production and increased antioxidants activities.

Water availability is the key factor limiting plant growth and development especially in dry and semiarid ecosystems. Super-absorbent polymers help soil keep water after raining or irrigation, and release water gradually during plant growth. This study examined the effect of potassium polyacrylate (K-PAM) on soil water content and physiological changes of bermudagrass in the greenhouse. The results showed that incorporation of K-PAM increased soil water content and survival rate of bermudagrass. Physiological parameter analysis showed that K-PAM treatment resulted in decreased cell membrane damage through modulation of EL and MDA contents in bermudagrass. Plants grown with K-PAM accumulated higher amount of proteins and proline under stress condition, and decreased ROS production. Expression level of several ROS related genes and stress inducible genes were largely up-regulated in plants by drought stress. However, plants grown in K-PAM mixed soil exhibited lower gene expression levels when compared to plants without K-PAM. The results indicated that K-PAM application effectively increased soil water content and improved bermudagrass growth under drought stress condition.