Phenology and Depth of Cold Acclimation in the Three Subspecies of Alnus maritima

Alnus maritima (Marsh.) Muhl. ex Nutt. is a large shrub or small tree with potential for use in managed landscapes. Because the three subspecies of A. maritima are indigenous only to areas with mild winter temperatures (USDA hardiness zones 7a and 7b), knowledge of their cold acclimation and cold hardiness is vital if they are to be used where winters are more harsh. Phenology and depth of cold hardiness were assessed by collecting stem samples seven times from 25 Sept. 2000 to 23 Apr. 2001, subjecting the samples to cold temperature ramping, and determining the lowest survival temperature (LST) via the tissue discoloration method. Samples were collected from indigenous plants of the three subspecies and from plants growing in a common garden near Ames, Iowa (USDA zone 5a). Results indicated that some plants from all three subspecies can survive midwinter extremes as low as -80 °C; that plants grown in Ames achieved a greater depth of cold hardiness for most of the winter and were more uniform in cold hardiness than plants growing in warmer native sites; and that the three subspecies did not differ in phenology or depth of cold acclimation. Results of field trials with plots of 150 plants each installed in three northern hardiness zones (USDA zones 5a, 4a, and 3a) supported these conclusions by showing survival of all 450 plants. We resolved differences among subspecies by rating the percentage of stem tissue survival for each plant in the field plots. Subspecies maritima, from the northernmost provenance (the Delmarva Peninsula), showed the least stem death across all three plots (3.9% tissue death), followed by subsp. georgiensis from northwestern Georgia (10% tissue death), and subsp. oklahomensis from southern Oklahoma (12.8% tissue death). Our results suggest that low temperatures should not limit the use of A. maritima in areas as harsh as USDA zone 3a. Selections based on cold hardiness may allow the use of A. maritima in areas with even colder winters.

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Geographic and seasonal variation in cold hardiness of whitebark pine

Canadian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1139/x06-067 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 36 (7) ◽

pp. 1842-1850 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Andrew D Bower ◽

Sally N Aitken

Keyword(s):

Cold Hardiness ◽

Common Garden ◽

Early Summer ◽

Cold Injury ◽

Harsh Environments ◽

Whitebark Pine ◽

Geographic Patterns ◽

Winter Temperatures ◽

Northern Regions ◽

Intensive Sampling

Artificial freeze-testing utilizing the electrolyte-leakage method was used to test the cold hardiness of 2-year-old whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) seedlings growing in a common garden. Testing across all seasons was used to determine the annual pattern of cold hardiness, and more intensive sampling in the fall and spring was used to assess genetic variation in cold injury among geographic regions spanning the range of the species. Mean hardiness varied widely from –9 °C in early summer to below –70 °C in the winter. Trees from interior and northern regions were the most hardy in the fall, while trees from California were the least hardy. Geographic patterns of hardiness in the spring were reversed. Significant differences in cold injury among regions were detected on all dates except during the winter. Heritability was low to moderate for both the spring (h2 = 0.18) and the fall (h2 = 0.28), and genetic correlation was weak (rA = 0.18). Only spring cold injury was genetically correlated with date of needle flush (rA = 0.34). Mean cold injury in the fall was most closely correlated with mean temperature of the coldest month in the parental environment (r = 0.81). Whitebark pine is well adapted to the low temperatures of the harsh environments where it is found; however, regional variation indicates that moving seed for restoration purposes from areas with higher winter temperatures to colder environments may increase the chance of fall cold injury.

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Seed Germination of Rhamnus caroliniana: Implications for Ecology and Horticulture

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.40.3.767 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 767-770 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Ryan Stewart ◽

William R. Graves

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Reproductive Biology ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Quadratic Functions ◽

Rhamnus Cathartica ◽

Small Tree ◽

Indigenous Plants ◽

Southern Oklahoma ◽

Managed Landscapes ◽

Germination Value

Little is known about the reproductive biology of carolina buckthorn [Rhamnus caroliniana Walt. or Frangula caroliniana (Walt.) Gray], an attractive North American shrub or small tree that might merit increased use in managed landscapes. The fecundity and high germinability of seeds of the Eurasian common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica L.), however, have been characterized as factors contributing to its invasiveness. We compared seed germination of these species to ascertain how easily carolina buckthorn could be grown from seed in nurseries and to acquire data for predicting whether carolina buckthorn might be invasive if introduced into managed landscapes. Fruits of carolina buckthorn were collected from indigenous plants in central Missouri, southern Oklahoma, and southern Texas. Fruits of common buckthorn were collected from shrubs naturalized in central Iowa. Seeds of both species were stratified for up to 112 days in darkness at 4 °C; germination at 24 °C in the dark was then evaluated for 56 days. Quadratic functions best described how time of stratification influenced germination value and germination percentage of common buckthorn, whereas these measures of carolina buckthorn were best represented by exponential (value) or linear (percentage) functions. Stratification for 112 days maximized germination value and percentage for carolina buckthorn within the 56-day germination period, but shorter stratifications were sufficient to optimize germination of common buckthorn. While the overall mean germination of carolina buckthorn was 40%, results varied by provenance and ranged from 25% (Missouri) to 56% (Oklahoma). Mean germination of common buckthorn over times of stratification was 71%, and the overall mean daily germination of common buckthorn, 1.3, was 86% greater than that of carolina buckthorn, 0.7. We conclude that seeds of carolina buckthorn are more resistant to germination than seeds of common buckthorn. Our results suggest that plant propagators should cold-stratify seeds of carolina buckthorn for up to 112 days, and suggest that carolina buckthorn has a lower potential to be invasive than does common buckthorn.

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COR/LEA Proteins as Indicators of Frost Tolerance in Triticeae: A Comparison of Controlled versus Field Conditions

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10040789 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 789

Author(s):

Klára Kosová ◽

Miroslav Klíma ◽

Ilja Tom Prášil ◽

Pavel Vítámvás

Keyword(s):

Cold Acclimation ◽

Field Experiments ◽

Quantitative Relationship ◽

Field Trials ◽

Frost Tolerance ◽

Late Embryogenesis Abundant ◽

Field Conditions ◽

Lea Proteins ◽

Winter Cereals ◽

Vernalisation Requirement

Low temperatures in the autumn induce enhanced expression/relative accumulation of several cold-inducible transcripts/proteins with protective functions from Late-embryogenesis-abundant (LEA) superfamily including dehydrins. Several studies dealing with plants grown under controlled conditions revealed a correlation (significant quantitative relationship) between dehydrin transcript/protein relative accumulation and plant frost tolerance. However, to apply these results in breeding, field experiments are necessary. The aim of the review is to provide a summary of the studies dealing with the relationships between plant acquired frost tolerance and COR/LEA transcripts/proteins relative accumulation in cereals grown in controlled and field conditions. The impacts of cold acclimation and vernalisation processes on the ability of winter-type Triticeae to accumulate COR/LEA proteins are discussed. The factors determining dehydrin relative accumulation under controlled cold acclimation treatments versus field trials during winter seasons are discussed. In conclusion, it can be stated that dehydrins could be used as suitable indicators of winter survival in field-grown winter cereals but only in plant prior to the fulfilment of vernalisation requirement.

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Introduced North American Black Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) Populations are Biennial

Invasive Plant Science and Management ◽

10.1614/ipsm-d-14-00015.1 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 624-630 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Christa E. Fettig ◽

Ruth A. Hufbauer

Keyword(s):

North American ◽

Common Garden ◽

Hyoscyamus Niger ◽

Active Growth ◽

Black Henbane ◽

Introduced Populations ◽

Winter Temperatures ◽

American Black ◽

The Relationship ◽

Bolting And Flowering

AbstractBlack henbane can be either annual or biennial. We investigated which life cycle is found in four introduced western North American populations. Plants were grown in a greenhouse common garden until half were vernalized by exposure to natural winter temperatures, while the other half remained in the greenhouse above 20 C, with 16 h of light and 8 h of dark. In total the plants were monitored 313 d after germination. We measured whether plants bolted, the time it took for bolting to commence, and the size at bolting. All vernalized plants bolted after 117 d of active growth (within 26 d of the end of the vernalization treatment), whereas only 26% of the nonvernalized plants bolted after an average of 278 d of active growth. Vernalized plants bolted at a smaller size than the nonvernalized plants that bolted (28 vs. 41 leaves on average). In the nonvernalized plants, the relationship between time to bolting and size was strong, but not so with the vernalized plants. Our results indicate that introduced black henbane plants are biennial, and that vernalization is more critical to bolting and flowering than reaching a certain size. Nonetheless, the fact that nonvernalized plants were capable of bolting if grown long enough suggests that vernalization is not the only cue that can trigger reproduction in introduced populations.

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Effect of Fall Fertilization on Freeze Resistance of Deciduous Versus Evergreen Azaleas

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-28.4.235 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 235-239

Author(s):

Frank P. Henning ◽

Timothy J. Smalley ◽

Orville M. Lindstrom ◽

John M. Ruter

Keyword(s):

Nutrient Uptake ◽

Cold Acclimation ◽

Cold Hardiness ◽

High Rate ◽

Freeze Resistance ◽

Flower Production ◽

Moderate Rate

Abstract Plants that maintain their leaves throughout winter may respond differently to fall fertilization than deciduous plants. The effects of fall fertilization on cold hardiness, nutrient uptake, growth and flower production of evergreen versus deciduous azaleas were studied. Rhododendron canescens (Michx.) Sweet and R. × satsuki ‘Wakaebisu’ were grown in containers, outdoors in Athens, GA, under three fall fertigation regimes applied daily as 0.5 liter (0.13 gal) solutions containing: 1) 75 mg·liter−1 N from August 1 through September 29, 2) 75 mg·liter−1 N from August 1 through November 28, and 3) 125 mg·liter−1 N from August 1 through November 28. Stem freeze resistance was analyzed monthly November through March. Growth of azaleas that received 120 days of extended fertigation (August 1 through November 28) was not increased compared to azaleas that received 60 days of extended fertigation (August 1 through September 29). Growth of the two taxa did not differ in their response to fertilization treatments. The high rate of extended fertilization 125 mg·liter−1 N (from August 1 through November 28) reduced stem freeze resistance November through February, while the moderate rate of extended fertilization (75 mg·liter−1 N from August 1 through November 28) reduced azalea freeze resistance in December. Fall fertilization regimes did not produce differences in the timing of cold acclimation, or deacclimation of R. canescens and R. × satsuki. The high rate of extended fertilization promoted early budbreak of R. × satsuki and postponed flower budbreak of R. canescens. Flower production of R. canescens was not affected by fall fertilization, but the high rate of extended fertilization increased flower production of R. × satsuki compared to plants that received the moderate rate of fertilization 75 mg·liter−1 N from August 1 through September 29.

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Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Alnus maritima from Its Three Disjunct Populations

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.125.1.128 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 125 (1) ◽

pp. 128-134 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

James A. Schrader ◽

William R. Graves

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Genotypic Variation ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Width Ratio ◽

Delmarva Peninsula ◽

Disjunct Populations ◽

Alnus Maritima ◽

Multiple Groups ◽

Managed Landscapes

Genotypic variation and horticultural potential of Alnus maritima [Marsh.] Nutt. (seaside alder), a large shrub or small tree found naturally in only three small, disjunct populations, have not been studied. We examined effects of population of origin and environment on seed germination and growth and morphology of seedlings. The first experiment showed that 6 weeks of cold stratification optimized germination of half-sibling seeds from Oklahoma at 73.2%. When this treatment was applied to multiple groups of half-siblings from all populations in a second experiment, seeds from Oklahoma had a higher germination percentage (55.0%) than seeds from Georgia (31.4%) and the Delmarva Peninsula (14.7%). In a third experiment, morphology and growth of multiple groups of half-siblings from all three populations were compared in one environment. Leaves of seedlings from Oklahoma were longer (12.8 cm) and more narrow (2.15 length to width ratio) than leaves of seedlings from Georgia (12.0 cm long; ratio = 1.76) and the Delmarva Peninsula (11.6 cm long; ratio = 1.86). Seedlings from Oklahoma and Georgia accumulated dry weight at higher rates (181 and 160 mg·d-1, respectively) than seedlings from Delmarva (130 mg·d-1), while seedlings from Oklahoma and Delmarva were more densely foliated (0.72 and 0.64 leaves and lateral shoots per centimeter of primary stem, respectively) than those from Georgia (0.46 per cm). These differences indicate genetic divergence among the three disjunct populations and the potential to exploit genetic variation to select horticulturally superior A. maritima for use in managed landscapes.

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Cold Hardiness and Vernal Budbreak of Rhamnus caroliniana and the Invasive Rhamnus cathartica

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.131.3.345 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 131 (3) ◽

pp. 345-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J. Ryan Stewart ◽

William R. Graves ◽

Reid D. Landes

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Water Stress ◽

Cold Hardiness ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

The United States ◽

Rhamnus Cathartica ◽

Small Tree ◽

Natural Distribution ◽

Ecological Problems ◽

Managed Landscapes

Carolina buckthorn [Rhamnus caroliniana Walt. or Frangula caroliniana (Walt.) Gray] is an attractive and water-stress-resistant shrub or small tree distributed extensively in the southeastern United States that merits use in managed landscapes. Due to substantial climatic differences within its distribution (30-year normal midwinter minima range from 13 to -8 °C), selection among provenances based on differences in cold hardiness is warranted. Before selections are marketed, the potential of carolina buckthorn to be invasive also merits investigation. Ecological problems resulting from the introduction of Rhamnus L. species in the United States, most notably the dominance of R. cathartica L. (common buckthorn) over neighboring taxa, are due in part to early budbreak. Consequently, we investigated depth of cold hardiness and vernal budbreak of carolina buckthorn and common buckthorn. Stem samples of carolina buckthorn and common buckthorn collected in midwinter survived temperatures as low as -21 and -24 °C, respectively. Although the cold hardiness of carolina buckthorns from Missouri was greater than that of carolina buckthorns from Ohio and Texas on 2 Apr. 2003, there were no differences in cold hardiness of stems from Missouri and Texas on all three assessment dates in the second experiment. All plants survived at both field locations except for the carolina buckthorns from southern Texas planted in Iowa, which showed 0% and 17% survival in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Budbreak of both species with and without mulch in Ames, Iowa, was recorded from 9 Apr. to 10 May 2002. Mean budbreak of common buckthorn was 5.7 days earlier than budbreak of carolina buckthorn, and buds of mulched carolina buckthorns broke 4.2 days earlier than did buds of unmulched carolina buckthorns. We conclude that the cold hardiness of carolina buckthorn is sufficient to permit the species to be planted outside of its natural distribution. Populations of carolina buckthorn in Ohio and Missouri should be the focus of efforts to select genotypes for use in regions with harsh winters. Phenology of its budbreak suggests carolina buckthorn will not be as invasive as common buckthorn, but evaluation of additional determinants of invasiveness is warranted.

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