Articles
Frost hardiness of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) pot plants cultivars ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Stevens’ as affected by temperature fluctuations during winter
Article number
1440_38
Pages
273 – 280
Language
English
Abstract
Cranberry research at the University of Helsinki aims to develop a cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) production system for the northern conditions utilizing a high polytunnel, soilless substrates, and table-top cultivation technology.
As opposed to field cultivation, where roots in soil are protected from extremely low temperatures, substrate-grown plant roots are prone to frost injury.
Furthermore, along with the current climate change, more frequently fluctuating winter temperatures may cause loss of plant frost hardiness.
The aim of our experiment was to determine the frost hardiness of different plant parts in two cranberry cultivars, ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Stevens’, and whether these cultivars differ in susceptibility to deacclimation caused by warm spells during winter.
Plant material propagated through cuttings was grown in a greenhouse during summer and moved outdoors in August.
In January, plants were subjected to three temperature treatments for 10 d: 1) ambient outdoor conditions, 2) acclimation at -5°C, or 3) deacclimation at +10°C. Freezing tolerance was determined with controlled freezing tests followed by evaluation of shoot and root survival.
In January, when grown in ambient conditions, cranberry runner leaves, stems, and apical buds could tolerate -30°C without major injury, whereas roots suffered lethal damage, when exposed to -20°C. ‘Stevens’ roots and runner stems were more susceptible to deacclimation caused by intermittent warming during winter than those of ‘Pilgrim’. Root frost hardiness is the determining factor for winter survival of cranberry plants in substrate culture, and alternative methods for winter protection in the absence of snow cover need to be developed.
As opposed to field cultivation, where roots in soil are protected from extremely low temperatures, substrate-grown plant roots are prone to frost injury.
Furthermore, along with the current climate change, more frequently fluctuating winter temperatures may cause loss of plant frost hardiness.
The aim of our experiment was to determine the frost hardiness of different plant parts in two cranberry cultivars, ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Stevens’, and whether these cultivars differ in susceptibility to deacclimation caused by warm spells during winter.
Plant material propagated through cuttings was grown in a greenhouse during summer and moved outdoors in August.
In January, plants were subjected to three temperature treatments for 10 d: 1) ambient outdoor conditions, 2) acclimation at -5°C, or 3) deacclimation at +10°C. Freezing tolerance was determined with controlled freezing tests followed by evaluation of shoot and root survival.
In January, when grown in ambient conditions, cranberry runner leaves, stems, and apical buds could tolerate -30°C without major injury, whereas roots suffered lethal damage, when exposed to -20°C. ‘Stevens’ roots and runner stems were more susceptible to deacclimation caused by intermittent warming during winter than those of ‘Pilgrim’. Root frost hardiness is the determining factor for winter survival of cranberry plants in substrate culture, and alternative methods for winter protection in the absence of snow cover need to be developed.
Publication
Authors
P. Palonen, J. Pärssinen
Keywords
deacclimation, freezing test, overwintering, root viability, winter hardiness
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