New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract

Ice formation and foliar frost resistance in attached and excised shoots from seedlings and adult trees of Nothofagus menziesii

G. NEUNER*
P. BANNISTER

Department of Botany
University of Otago
P. O. Box 56
Dunedin, New Zealand.
* Present address: Institut für Botanik, Abteilung Allgemeine Botanik, Universität Innsbruck,
Sternwartestrasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

W. LARCHER

Institut für Botanik
Abteilung Allgemeine Botanik
Universität Innsbruck
Sternwartestrasse 15
A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Abstract  Freezing in leaves of N. menziesii was monitored by experimental freezing of attached twigs and seedlings growing naturally in a forest site and compared with a routine laboratory test in which excised plant material was used. Major differences in ice nucleation were observed: ice formed in attached leaves in situ at temperatures that were on average 4deg.C higher than in excised leaves, in both seedlings and adult trees. Excision did not affect the symptoms of frost damage. Mean foliar frost resistance was 2deg.C lower in seedlings than in mature shoots, and about 1deg.C lower in shoots measured in situ than in excised shoots.

Keywords  Nothofagus; broad-leaved evergreen tree; differential thermal analysis (DTA); supercooling; ice nucleation; frost resistance

B96014

Received 16 February 1996; accepted 7 November 1996

PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (614K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)

This year's abstracts |Journal home page |All abstracts | Publishing home page