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Chlorophyll fluorescence as an indicator of frost hardiness in white spruce seedlings from different latitudes

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Abstract

This study examined the utility of variable chlorophyll fluorescence (Fvar) to detect freezing damage in white spruce seedlings of four seedlots. Logistic regression analysis done for freezing tests in September showed that visible needle damage from freezing could be estimated by the Fvar attributes Fo/IABS(r2=0.94), Fp(r2=0.98), Fv/Fm (r2=0.99), and F1(r2=0.86). The regression curves indicated that for all four fluorescence attributes, inflection points occurred between 10 and 20% visible needle damage. The lack of a relationship between fluorescence attributes and visible seedling needle damage in October through December is because the minimum temperature (−18 and −24°C respectively) applied was insufficient to cause needle damage. Freezing-induced changes to Fvar attributes can be detected which also result in photosynthetic rate decreases when no visible needle damage, and even electrolyte conductivity changes are evident. Fvar attribute differences due to freezing can be resolved to the seedlot level. The Fvar curve feature manifested 5 seconds after dark-adapted seedlings have been exposed to light (F5s) will estimate (r2=0.76) photosynthetic rate after freezing.

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  1. British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Research Branch, 1320 Glyn Road, V8W 3E7, Victoria, B.C., Canada

    Wolfgang D. Binder & Peter Fielder

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  1. Wolfgang D. Binder
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Binder, W.D., Fielder, P. Chlorophyll fluorescence as an indicator of frost hardiness in white spruce seedlings from different latitudes. New Forest 11, 233–253 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00036784

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