Evaluation of Root Viability Following Freezing by the Release of Ninhydrin-reactive Compounds1

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Abstract
A modification of the ninhydrin method of evaluating injury was made by expressing the release of ninhydrin-reactive compounds following freezing as a percentage of the potential release. This method eliminates a laborious weighing procedure and also eliminates variability due to differences in endogeneous concentrations of ninhydrin-reactive compounds in roots. The technique correlated well with survival of Pyracantha coccinea Roem. cv. Lalandii Dipp. roots and stems 3 weeks after freezing, and lends itself to studies requiring large numbers of viability determinations using relatively small sample sizes.