Effects of Low Temperature on Potential Net Photosynthesis in Two Field-grown Winter Cereals

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Abstract
Winter wheat and winter barley were tested for their photochemical and osmotic potentials during the course of one growth cycle in the field. Prolonged winter conditions induced an absolute high in potential net photosynthesis (PN) of winter wheat. Barley exhibited relatively low PN rates, which may explain the inferior frost hardiness of this species. Osmotic potentials (ψπ) in both species were quite similar, followed rather uniform trends and were never extreme. There are doubts, however, whether the ψπ assessments truly reflected the osmotic stress on cell membranes in frost-hardened leaves. Increased deposition of cryoprotective assimilates in wheat as the cause of continued frost hardiness is discussed.

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