Relative freezing tolerance of facultative winter annual weeds

Abstract

Cici, S. Z. H. and Van Acker, R. C. 2011. Relative freezing tolerance of facultative winter annual weeds. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 759–763. To understand why some of the facultative winter annual weeds are more abundant in spring rather than both in fall and spring, we assessed the freezing tolerance and re-growth capacity of 12 species collected across Canada. Our study allowed us to classify these species in three broad categories based on their relative tolerance to freezing temperatures. Freezing scores and biomass reproduction after freezing were generally consistent with field observations. It was shown that early emergence of weeds in spring is not, however, systematically related to superior freezing tolerance.

Winter is coming: plant freezing resistance as a key functional trait for the assembly of annual Mediterranean communities

“…Little is known about freezing resistance in annual species, but our results are consistent with the few previous reports of high resistance to freezing in annuals. For instance, Cici and Van Acker (2011) found no severe damage at -14 °C in Crepis tectorum L., Viola arvensis Murray or Thlaspi arvense L. when exposed to progressively declining temperatures. In addition, Hekneby et al (2006) determined LT 50 values around -8 °C for four annual legumes before cold acclimation, while Dionne et al (2001) determined an LT 50 value of up -31.2 °C for annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.).…”

“…However, the effect of sub-zero periods as an abiotic determinant of the assemblies of actual communities has not been investigated previously (but see Pescador et al, 2016, for Mediterranean high mountain communities). In addition, the few previous studies to consider freezing resistance and the performance of annual plants have focused mainly on agricultural species and farming systems (Brandsaeter et al, 2000(Brandsaeter et al, , 2002Hekneby et al, 2001Hekneby et al, , 2006Cici and Van Acker, 2011). Thus, our understanding of how freezing temperatures might affect the community assembly and their interactions with other determinants of these communities is still unclear.…”

The Biology of Canadian Weeds. 159.Capsella bursa-pastoris(L.) Medik.

“…Capsella bursa-pastoris is a C 3 , facultative winter annual that may overwinter as a rosette or emerge very early in spring. Cici and Van Acker (2011) investigated the freezing tolerance/recovery of several winter annual species and reported that C. bursa-pastoris, had lower cold tolerance than narrow-leaved hawksbeard, (Crepis tectorum L.), stinkweed/field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), and field violet (Viola arvensis Murr. ), but similar cold tolerance to downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) and common chickweed [Stellaria media (L.) Vill.].…”

Freezing stress affects the efficacy of clodinafop-propargyl and 2,4-D plus MCPA on wild oat (Avena ludoviciana Durieu) and turnipweed [Rapistrum rugosum (L.) All.] in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

“…As a result, they will be damaged by decreasing temperatures during winter or by the occurrence of late spring frosts [ 6 ]. However, weeds generally have a higher ability to tolerate freezing stress [ 7 ]. Based on this fact, it can be inferred that climate change is adversely changing agricultural production and can significantly change the management of current cropping systems that have evolved under optimum climatic conditions.…”