Resistance to Alternating Freeze and Thaw Stresses in Wheat, Rye, Triticale and Foxtail Barley

Abstract

One local biotype of foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), seven cultivars of rye (Secale cereale), three cultivars of triticale (X Tritico-secale) and 14 cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum) were tested for their resistance to alternating freeze and thaw stresses in an unheated greenhouse in winter. Foxtail barley maintained 95% survival after five freeze-thaw cycles. Most rye cultivars were also significantly superior to all other cereals. Survival of all wheat and triticale cultivars ranged from 10 to 50% after four cycles; several had 0% survival after five cycles. Data from this test correlated significantly with survival notes collected in the Quebec regional trials of winter cereals. The freeze-thaw screening test could be a useful tool for cereal breeders in Eastern Canada.Key words: Freeze, thaw, wheat, rye, triticale, foxtail barley

Snowed in for survival: Quantifying the risk of winter damage to overwintering field crops in northern temperate latitudes

“…In fact, although not lethal, extracellular ice formation can cause mechanical stresses from cell and tissue displacement, cellular dehydration and collapse, so that the following rehydration and expansion may be damaging (Guy, 2003;Xin and Browse, 2000). Furthermore, the conditions typical of thawing may result in an excessive plant hydration (Bolduc et al, 1988) and the relatively warm periods associated with a thawing event may enhance respiration and induce plant dehardening, thus reducing plant resources and increasing plant susceptibility to snow molds and low temperature damage (Nakajima and Abe, 1994). Finally, in the presence of snow, the occurrence of rain over snow and freeze-thaw cycles creates conditions that are conducive to soil heaving, injuries to root tissues and ice encasement.…”

“…The latter may cause additional stresses to the plants, such as anoxia and the buildup of disruptive concentrations of ethanol, CO 2 , and lactic acid (Andrews, 1996). Indeed, Bolduc et al (1988) showed that hardened winter wheat plants were severely damaged and their survival rate drastically reduced when exposed to three or more freeze-thaw cycles (each freeze-thaw cycle consisted of 14 days, with the first 7 days of freezing temperatures).…”

“…2f, light gray bars). In some locations their number exceeds the number of freeze thaw cycles that Bolduc et al (1988) found to cause significant damage (likely the result of different definitions of freeze-thaw cycle; see Section 2.2.1). Nevertheless, it is difficult to extrapolate these results, obtained under controlled conditions, to the more variable field conditions and thus to come to conclusions on the relevance of the observed freeze-thaw cycles for crop survival.…”

“…Experimental evidence suggests that winter wheat may sustain low temperature damage from short exposure to extremely low temperature and also from prolonged exposures to milder, sub-zero temperatures (Gusta et al, 1997;Skinner and GarlandCampbell, 2008). Additional damage may result from repeated cycles of freezing and thawing (Bolduc et al, 1988), ice encasement or uninterrupted permanence under snow cover, which facilitates the development of snow molds (Andrews, 1996;Bruehl, 1982;Gaudet et al, 1999). The ability of plants to withstand low temperatures, freeze-thaw cycles, and extended periods under the snow is dictated by developmental stage, carbon resource accumulation, and acclimation level and hence by growing conditions and nutrient status (e.g., Malyshev and Henry, 2012;Tyler et al, 1981;Weih and Karlsson, 1999).…”