Seasonal Changes in the Frost Hardiness of Provenances of Picea sitchensis in Scotland

Abstract
Changes in the natural level of frost hardiness of shoots of four provenances of Picea sitchensis were monitored over two growing seasons by detaching shoots from 7 to 10-year-old trees growing in a nursery in Scotland, and subjecting them to freezing temperatures under conditions which simulated night frosts. Six seasonal phases of frost hardiness were identified (Fig. 3). Seasonal changes in hardiness are discussed in relation to changes in shoot growth and environmental factors. The main opportunities for selecting frost hardy genotypes seem to be in the rate of autumn hardening, the time of pre-bud burst dehardening, and the time of bud-burst.

This publication has 2 references indexed in Scilit: