Abstract: Relative water content and relative electrolyte leakage of three warm-season turfgrasses, Tifdwarf bermudagrass(Cynodon dactylon×C.transvaalensis), manilagrass [Zoysia matrella (L．)Merr.]and carpetgrass [Axonopus compressus (Sw.)Beauv.] were measured after they were subjected to soil drought stress
The data showed that Tifdwarf and manilagrass had high levels of relative water content (RWC) and low levels of relative electrolyte leakage(REL), whereas carpetgrass showed rapid decline of RWC and rise of REL under soil
drought stress. The results indicated that the drought tolerance decreased in following order: Tifdwarf > manilagrass>earpetgrass. Proline was accumulated in above three species with a negative correlation to drought stress， indicating that proline accumulation in turfgrasses was resulted from the injury by drought stress. Carpetgrass showed continuous increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity，a transient rise of catalase(CAT)activity and reduction of peroxidase (POD) activity，which may lead to accumulation of H₂0₂ and therefore injury to plants. Tifdwarf and manilagrass had a transient rise of SOD activity，and prolonged increase in aetivities of CAT and POD. The results indicated that antioxidant enzymes were associated to drought tolerance of warm-season turfgrasses.

Key words: Warm-season turfgrasses, Drought stress, Proline, Antioxidant enzymes