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Effect of frost nights and day and night temperature during dormancy induction on frost hardiness, tolerance to cold storage and bud burst in seedlings of Norway spruce

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Abstract

For trees, the ability to obtain and maintain sufficient levels of frost hardiness in late autumn, winter and spring is crucial. We report that temperatures during dormancy induction influence bud set, frost hardiness, tolerance to cold storage, timing of bud burst and spring frost hardiness in seedlings of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Bud set occurred later in 12°C than in 21°C, and later in cool nights (7°C) than in constant temperature. One weekly frost night (−2.5°C) improved frost hardiness. Cool nights reduced frost hardiness early, but improved hardiness later during cold acclimation. Buds and stems were slightly hardier in 21°C than in 12°C, while needles were clearly hardier in 12°C. Cold daytime temperature, cool nights and one weekly frost night improved cold storability (0.7°C). Seedlings receiving high daytime temperatures burst buds later, and were less injured by light frost some days after bud burst.

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Acknowledgments

We want to thank the staff at the Centre for Plant Research in Controlled Climate at Ås for valuable discussions in the planning and accomplishment of the experiment. We also want to thank H. Odde and G. Østreng for technical assistance. The study was funded by the Research Council of Norway through Project no. 155041/140.

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  1. Gunnhild Søgaard & Aksel Granhus

    Present address: Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute, P.O. Box 115, 1431, Ås, Norway

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway

    Gunnhild Søgaard & Aksel Granhus

  2. Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute, P.O. Box 115, 1431, Ås, Norway

    Øystein Johnsen

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  1. Gunnhild Søgaard
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  2. Aksel Granhus
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  3. Øystein Johnsen
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Correspondence to Gunnhild Søgaard.

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Communicated by O. Junttila.

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Søgaard, G., Granhus, A. & Johnsen, Ø. Effect of frost nights and day and night temperature during dormancy induction on frost hardiness, tolerance to cold storage and bud burst in seedlings of Norway spruce. Trees 23, 1295–1307 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-009-0371-7

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