Development of Freezing Tolerance in Leaves of C4 Grasses

Rowley, J A (1976) Development of Freezing Tolerance in Leaves of C4 Grasses. Australian Journal of Plant Physiology, 3 (5). pp. 597-603.

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Abstract

The rate of development of freezing tolerance in the leaves of 11 C4-photosynthetic pathway grasses growing outdoors at Palmerston North (40° 23′S., 175 37′E.) in field plots was measured during autumn and winter. The leaves of two species only, Paspalum dilatatum and Eragrostis curvula, increased markedly in freezing tolerance and survived frosts in mid-winter. To simulate autumn and winter conditions, temperature and daylength were decreased gradually in a controlled-environment growth cabinet. Leaves of P. dilatatum grown in this cabinet showed similar changes in freezing tolerance to leaves grown outdoors in autumn and winter. The temperature at which leaves were severely damaged decreased from - 3.4°C to - 8.9°C. Expanding leaves responded to the current hardening temperature, but little increase in freezing tolerance occurred in leaves exposed to the hardening temperature once their growth was completed.

Item Type: Article
Author Affiliation: DSIR, Palmerston North. New Zealand
Subjects: Crop Improvement
Plant Physiology and Biochemistry > Plant Physiology
Divisions: General
Depositing User: Library ICRISAT-InfoSAT
Date Deposited: 23 Feb 2012 13:41
Last Modified: 23 Feb 2012 13:41
Official URL: http://dxdoi.org/10.1071/PP9760597
URI: http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/3179

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