An Adaptive Response of Rye to Freezing1

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Abstract
An increase in intercellular solute of crown tissue was induced by keeping hardened plants frozen at −3°C for 24 h. This environmental condition commonly occurs because of temperature stabilization from latent heat released as soil water freezes. The amount of intercellular solute in crown tissues was estimated from the concentration of liquid that, when perfused through the plant crown at 1°C, was found, by successive approximations, to be isotonic with the intercellular liquid. The intercellular content of ‘Rosen’ rye (Secale cereale L.) increased by factor of 3.0 to 3.5 when frozen 24 h at −3°C; then at 1°C, the concentration gradually decreased to that of nonfrozen plants. Recovery occurred in less than 1 h at 25°C. The increase of intercellular solute content occurred as a function of time at −3°C. ‘Hudson’ barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) which contains less intercellular solute than Rosen rye after freezing at −3°C, and Rosen rye in which the intercellular solute was reduced by flushing, were less hardy than Rosen rye tested with the normal 24‐h prefreeze at −3°C.