The effect of short day treatments on containerized Douglas-fir morphology,physiology and phenology

The effect of short day treatments (blackout) on Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) container seedlings at the time of lift and following cold storage was investigated. Variables measured included height, root collar diameter (RCD), root growth capacity (RGC), photosynthetic efficiency after –18 °C freezing (PEF), and days to terminal bud break (DBB). From one to four blackout dormancy induction treatments were started on three dates (July 12, July 26, and August 10) with 10 or 20 d between multiple blackouts. Increasing the number of blackout treatments resulted in lower RCD, lower DBB in the late winter/early spring, and higher PEF in the early fall. Later blackout start dates decreased PEF in the early fall, and increased overall height and late fall RGC as compared to earlier blackout start dates. Nurseries growing Douglas-fir seedlings from coastal Pacific Northwest provenances should be aware that blackout regimes can decrease RGC in the late fall, and cause quicker dormancy release in the early spring. Coastal Douglas-fir can be lifted and planted in the early fall, when RGC and DBB are relatively high. If planting between February and April is necessary, seedlings given blackout should be cold stored in January to maintain an adequate level of dormancy, RGC and PEF.     

Dormancy release and chilling requirement of buds of latitudinal ecotypes of Betula pendula and B. pubescens

Bud burst and dormancy release of latitudinal ecotypes of Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh. from Denmark ( approximately 56 degrees N), mid-Norway ( approximately 64 degrees N) and northern Norway ( approximately 69 degrees N) were studied in controlled environments. Dormant seedlings were chilled at 0, 5 or 10 degrees C from October 4 onward and then, at monthly intervals from mid-November to February, batches of seedlings were held at 15 degrees C in an 8-h (SD) or 24-h (LD) photoperiod to permit flushing. A decline in days to bud burst occurred with increasing chilling time in all ecotypes. In November, after 44 chilling days, time to bud burst was least in plants chilled at 0 and 5 degrees C. The difference diminished with increasing chilling time, and in February, after 136 chilling days, bud burst was earliest in plants chilled at 10 degrees C. Long photoperiods during flushing significantly reduced thermal time after short chilling periods (44 and 74 days), but had no effect when the chilling requirement was fully met after 105 or more chilling days. No significant difference in these responses was found between the two species. In both species, chilling requirement decreased significantly with increasing latitude of origin. Bud burst was normal in seedlings overwintered at 12 degrees C, but was erratic and delayed in seedlings overwintered at 15 and especially at 21 degrees C, indicating that the critical overwintering temperature is between 12 and 15 degrees C. We conclude that there is little risk of a chilling deficit in birch under Scandinavian winter conditions even with a climatic warming of 7-8 degrees C. The likely effects of a climatic warming include earlier bud burst, a longer growing season and increased risk of spring frost injury, especially in high latitude ecotypes.     

Seed germination and seedling development in the mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Mango (Mangifera indica L., cv Ruby) seeds taken from ripe fruit showed no dormancy. They germinated at temperatures between 5 and 40 degrees C, but germination was most rapid near the upper end of this range (25-40 degrees C). The fresh seeds had a high moisture content (85%, dry weight basis) and quickly died on dehydration. The optimal temperature for growth of the seedlings was close to 30 degrees C. High temperatures (40 degrees C) and temperatures below 15 degrees C were lethal. Growth of the stem occurred in successive flushes separated by rest periods. When the leaves of the preceding flush finished growing, the axis lengthened beneath the apical bud.     

Autumn temperature affects the induction of dormancy in first‐year seedlings of acer platanoides L.

First‐year seedlings of five latitudinal populations of Acer platanoides were subjected to decreasing photoperiod treatment under three different temperature regimes. The depth of the induced dormancy was quantified as the number of days to bud burst (DBB) under defined conditions favourable to growth. The results suggested a close relationship between autumn temperature and the strength of the induced dormancy, with high temperatures combined with short days leading to a deeper stage of dormancy. Northern and continental populations generally had bud burst earlier than southern. The results are discussed in relation to hypotheses for dormancy induction and release.     

High autumn temperature delays spring bud burst in boreal trees, counterbalancing the effect of climatic warming

The effect of temperature during short-day (SD) dormancy induction was examined in three boreal tree species in a controlled environment. Saplings of Betula pendula Roth, B. pubescens Ehrh. and Alnus glutinosa (L.) Moench. were exposed to 5 weeks of 10-h SD induction at 9, 15 and 21 degrees C followed by chilling at 5 degrees C for 40, 70, 100 and 130 days and subsequent forcing at 15 degrees C in a 24-h photoperiod for 60 days. In all species and with all chilling periods, high temperature during SD dormancy induction significantly delayed bud burst during subsequent flushing at 15 degrees C. In A. glutinosa, high temperature during SD dormancy induction also significantly increased the chilling requirement for dormancy release. Field experiments at 60 degrees N with a range of latitudinal birch populations revealed a highly significant correlation between autumn temperature and days to bud burst in the subsequent spring. September temperature alone explained 20% of the variation between years in time of bud burst. In birch populations from 69 and 71 degrees N, which ceased growing and shed their leaves in August when the mean temperature was 15 degrees C, bud burst occurred later than expected compared with lower latitude populations (56 degrees N) in which dormancy induction took place more than 2 months later at a mean temperature of about 6 degrees C. It is concluded that this autumn temperature response may be important for counterbalancing the potentially adverse effects of higher winter temperatures on dormancy stability of boreal trees during climate warming.     

Effects of "near-lethal" stress on bud dormancy and stem cold hardiness in red-osier dogwood

We studied the effects of "near-lethal" (NL, 47 degrees C for 1 h) heat stress, applied to intact shoots of red-osier dogwood (Cornus sericea L.) during early (October), deep (November) or late (December) dormancy, on bud dormancy release and development of stem tissue cold hardiness under natural conditions and at a constant temperature of 0 or 23 degrees C in the dark. The NL heat-stress treatment overcame bud dormancy when applied during the early and late stages of dormancy. During October and December, all plants in the 23 degrees C + dark post-stress environment broke bud within 35 and 12 days, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for days to bud break in the control plants were more than 150 and 110 days, respectively. Application of NL heat stress during deep dormancy caused only slightly earlier bud break compared to the control plants. In the 0 degrees C + dark post-stress environment, all NL heat-treated plants died within 9 weeks. Under natural post-stress conditions, bud break in plants receiving NL heat stress during early and deep dormancy occurred at the same time as in control plants, whereas bud break of plants receiving NL heat stress during late dormancy occurred 55 days earlier than in control plants. Under both natural and 23 degrees C + dark post-stress conditions, cold hardiness of plants receiving NL heat stress during early dormancy was similar to that of controls. Application of NL heat stress during deep dormancy hastened the rate of deacclimation under the 23 degrees C + dark post-stress conditions but had no effect on deacclimation under natural post-stress conditions. Application of NL heat stress during late dormancy enhanced deacclimation of plants in both the 23 degrees C + dark and natural post-stress environments.     

Frost tolerance and bud dormancy of container-grown yellow birch, red oak and sugar maple seedlings

Container-grown seedlings of red oak (Quercus rubra L.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) in their first year of growth were overwintered outdoors. Tolerance of roots and stems to freezing was compared from late summer to the following spring. Mitotic activity in the apical bud was related more closely to air temperature than to bud dormancy as defined by days to bud break. In all species, stem hardening was observed before days to bud break reached a maximum. Dormancy release (days to bud break equal to zero) of yellow birch coincided with loss of stem hardening in the spring. Roots hardened more slowly, had a lower frost tolerance than stems in fall and winter, and dehardened earlier than stems in the spring. There were differences in stem and root hardiness among the species, with yellow birch being the most tolerant, followed by sugar maple and red oak. Primarily because of root sensitivity to frost, winter was a critical period for all three species, but particularly for red oak.     

Relationships among bud dormancy status,cold hardiness,and stress resistance in 2+0 Douglas-fir

An experiment was conducted to ascertain what relationships might exist among dormancy status, cold hardiness and stress resistance in 2+0 Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco), seedlings. Seedlings were lifted from a western Washington nursery on six dates spanning the 1980–81 lifting season. On each date samples of seedlings were subjected to the following treatment: (1) tumbling for 5 minutes, (2) desiccation of roots for 30 minutes at 30°C and 2.1 kPa vapor pressure deficit, (3) exposure of shoots to temperatures of –10°C, –15°C or –20°C for two hours and (4) unstressed control. On two lift dates sub-samples of seedlings were placed into –1°C storage and held for two months before the above stress treatments were administered. Bud dormancy status was determined, using a bud break test, on seedlings from each lift date before and after storage.After one growing season in the field percent survival, vigor, height growth and shoot and root weight were determined on stressed and unstressed seedlings. Survival and vigor were less affected by the stress treatments than were height and weight. Severity of stress was in the order –20°C > –15°C > desiccation > handling > –10°C. Degree of cold injury was directly related to seedling dormancy status whether dormancy status had been attained in the nursery from natural chilling or in frozen storage. Seedlings in a mid-range of dormancy release (between deep rest and quiescence) were most resistant to all imposed stresses.     

Physiology and morphology of Douglas-fir rooted cuttings compared to seedlings and transplants

Cuttings of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) from three open-pollinated families were rooted in two types of tray, and then grown for 1.5 years in a bareroot nursery. During their second winter they were sampled periodically and tested for cold hardiness, dormancy status, root growth potential and various morphological characteristics. Two-year-old seedlings and transplants were tested concurrently for comparison. Rooted cuttings, seedlings and transplants cold hardened at similar rates during early winter, achieving the same level of midwinter hardiness (LT(50) = -18 degrees C) in early January. However, rooted cuttings remained hardier later into the spring than did seedlings or transplants. Rooted cuttings exhibited deeper dormancy in early winter than seedlings or transplants but these differences disappeared after January. Root growth potentials of all three stock types remained above threshold values established for transplants throughout winter. Rooted cuttings had greater stem diameter, higher stem diameter to height ratio, and greater root weight than either seedlings or transplants. This may reflect lower growing densities for the rooted cuttings. Root/shoot ratios of rooted cuttings were greater than for seedlings and similar to those of transplants. Rooted cuttings also had deeper and coarser root systems, which probably reflects lack of wrenching at the nursery.     

Maturation of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) seedlings after exposure to a period of continuous light

Nine half-sib families of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) of known adult performance were grown in continuous light at either 25 degrees C or 25/20 degrees C for 18 weeks. They were then exposed to a dormancy induction period followed by a dormancy release period and then grown for a further 9 weeks in a 16-h photoperiod at a day/night temperature of 25/20 degrees C. Seedlings exhibited great diversity in morphology at the end of the first growth period. The number of morphogenetic cycles varied between one and three and the form of the apical meristem ranged from a typical rosette to an adult-like bud. The type of seedling obtained at the end of the first growth period strongly influenced later growth, independently of the temperature regime. Maturity was proportional to the number of morphogenetic cycles achieved during the first growth period and was characterized by short growth duration, small primary needles and a high degree of fixed growth. The state of the apical meristem that underwent the dormancy period had less influence on the rate of maturation than the number of morphogenetic cycles. The time course of maturation was endogenously controlled and varied among traits. Conspicuous morphological differences were not associated with changes in the relationship between growth components at the phenotypic level. However, there seemed to be a shift in the genetic correlations between growth components after first budset.     

Climatic control of bud burst in young seedlings of nine provenances of Norway spruce

Detailed knowledge of temperature effects on the timing of dormancy development and bud burst will help evaluate the impacts of climate change on forest trees. We tested the effects of temperature applied during short-day treatment, duration of short-day treatment, duration of chilling and light regime applied during forcing on the timing of bud burst in 1- and 2-year-old seedlings of nine provenances of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). High temperature during dormancy induction, little or no chilling and low temperature during forcing all delayed dormancy release but did not prevent bud burst or growth onset provided the seedlings were forced under long-day conditions. Without chilling, bud burst occurred in about 20% of seedlings kept in short days at 12 degrees C, indicating that young Norway spruce seedlings do not exhibit true bud dormancy. Chilling hastened bud burst and removed the long photoperiod requirement, but the effect of high temperature applied during dormancy induction was observed even after prolonged chilling. Extension of the short-day treatment from 4 to 8 or 12 weeks hastened bud burst. The effect of treatments applied during dormancy development was larger than that of provenance; in some cases no provenance effect was detected, but in 1-year-old seedlings, time to bud burst decreased linearly with increasing latitude of origin. Differences among provenances were complicated by different responses of some origins to light conditions under long-day forcing. In conclusion, timing of bud burst in Norway spruce seedlings is significantly affected by temperature during bud set, and these effects are modified by chilling and environmental conditions during forcing.     

First-year growth response of cold-stored,nursery-grown aspen planting stock

This research examined the first year growth characteristics of cold stored and transplanted nursery-produced aspen (Populus tremuloides) seedlings (container and bareroot (BR)) and compared it to the growth of seedlings that had not been transplanted (established from germinants in the field) and therefore had an unrestricted root system (UR). Prior to planting, nursery-produced seedlings were placed in cold storage (−3°C) and root growth potential (RGP) and total non-structural carbohydrate (TNC) root reserves were tested at 0, 10, 75 and after 150 (container) and 190 days (BR) of storage. Both container and BR stock had much lower root to shoot ratios (RSRs) and root carbohydrate reserves compared to UR seedlings after 170 days. During storage, root reserves in container stock declined faster than in the BR and UR seedlings. RGP in all nursery stock was the highest after 75 days of storage, while longer storage resulted in shoot dieback and reduced root growth. After the first growing season, UR seedlings were one tenth the size of the nursery stock; however, in the second growing season they had no stem dieback and grew twice the height and stem diameter. The higher RSRs and root reserves in the UR seedlings was likely caused by early bud set in its first year of growth. This suggests that inducing bud set earlier in the growing regime might allow seedlings to increase root mass and carbohydrate reserves.     

Different responses of northern and southern ecotypes of Betula pendula to exogenous ABA application

We investigated responses of northern and southern ecotypes of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) under controlled environmental conditions to determine the role of ABA in cold acclimation and dormancy development. Abscisic acid was sprayed on the leaves and changes in freezing tolerance, determined by the electrolyte leakage test, and bud dormancy were monitored. Applied ABA induced cold acclimation but had no effect on growth cessation in seedlings grown in long day conditions (LD, 24-h photoperiod at 18 degrees C). It enhanced freezing tolerance and accelerated growth cessation in seedlings grown in short day conditions (SD, 12-h photoperiod at 18 degrees C), and slightly enhanced freezing tolerance in seedlings grown at low temperature (LT, 24-h photoperiod at 4 degrees C) in both ecotypes. There were distinct ecotypic differences in ABA-induced cold acclimation and dormancy development. The northern ecotype was more responsive to applied ABA than the southern ecotype, resulting in more rapid development of freezing tolerance in all treatments, and earlier dormancy development in SD. When plants were grown in a photoperiod just above the critical photoperiod for the ecotype (defined as the longest photoperiod that induces growth cessation), applied ABA caused growth cessation and dormancy development. Compared with ABA-treated seedlings grown in SD, dormancy development was delayed in ABA-treated seedlings exposed to a near-critical photoperiod, but even in this treatment dormancy developed faster in the northern ecotype than in the southern ecotype.     

Effects of elevated CO(2) and temperature on cold hardiness and spring bud burst and growth in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)

We examined effects of elevated CO(2) and temperature on cold hardiness and bud burst of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings. Two-year-old seedlings were grown for 2.5 years in semi-closed, sunlit chambers at either ambient or elevated (ambient + ~ 4 degrees C) air temperature in the presence of an ambient or elevated (ambient + ~ 200 ppm) CO(2) concentration. The elevated temperature treatment delayed needle cold hardening in the autumn and slowed dehardening in the spring. At maximum hardiness, trees in the elevated temperature treatment were less hardy by about 7 degrees C than trees in the ambient temperature treatment. In general, trees exposed to elevated CO(2) were slightly less hardy during hardening and dehardening than trees exposed to ambient CO(2). For trees in the elevated temperature treatments, date to 30% burst of branch terminal buds was advanced by about 6 and 15 days in the presence of elevated CO(2) and ambient CO(2), respectively. After bud burst started, however, the rate of increase in % bud burst was slower in the elevated temperature treatments than in the ambient temperature treatments. Time of bud burst was more synchronous and bud burst was completed within a shorter period in trees at ambient temperature (with and without elevated CO(2)) than in trees at elevated temperature. Exposure to elevated temperature reduced final % bud burst of both leader and branch terminal buds and reduced growth of the leader shoot. We conclude that climatic warming will influence the physiological processes of dormancy and cold hardiness development in Douglas-fir growing in the relatively mild temperate region of western Oregon, reducing bud burst and shoot growth.     

The effect of late season damage on the apical bud development of Scots pine seedlings

The effect of Lygus rugulipennis Popp. feeding and artificial damage on the apical bud of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) late in the growing season was studied on two-year-old seedlings. Lygus feeding in late July and August caused inhibition of bud formation in the subsequent year's shoots, which led to loss of apical dominance and formation of interfascicular buds. Mechanical damage caused by piercing the apical bud with a needle in July, August and October produced scars and malformations on subsequent year's shoots and buds, but did not inhibit bud formation. Damage to the apical meristem could not be detected visually on the dormant bud before shoot elongation.     

Temperature regulation of bud-burst phenology within and among years in a young Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) plantation in western Washington, USA

Past research has established that terminal buds of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seedlings from many seed sources have a chilling requirement of about 1200 h at 0-5 degrees C; once chilled, temperatures > 5 degrees C force bud burst via accumulation of heat units. We tested this sequential bud-burst model in the field to determine whether terminal buds of trees in cooler microsites, which receive less heat forcing, develop more slowly than those in warmer microsites. For three years we monitored terminal bud development in young saplings as well as soil and air temperatures on large, replicated plots in a harvest unit; plots differed in microclimate based on amount of harvest residue and shade from neighboring stands. In two of three years, trees on cooler microsites broke bud 2 to 4 days earlier than those on warmer microsites, despite receiving less heat forcing from March to May each year. A simple sequential model did not predict cooler sites having earlier bud burst nor did it correctly predict the order of bud burst across the three years. We modified the basic heat-forcing model to initialize, or reset to zero, the accumulation of heat units whenever significant freezing temperature events (> or = 3 degree-hours day(-1) < 0 degrees C) occurred; this modified model correctly predicted the sequence of bud burst across years. Soil temperature alone or in combination with air temperature did not improve our predictions of bud burst. Past models of bud burst have relied heavily on data from controlled experiments with simple temperature patterns; analysis of more variable temperature patterns from our 3-year field trial, however, indicated that simple models of bud burst are inaccurate. More complex models that incorporate chilling hours, heat forcing, photoperiod and the occurrence of freeze events in the spring may be needed to predict effects of future silvicultural treatments as well to interpret the implications of climate-change scenarios. Developing and testing new models will require data from both field and controlled-environment experiments.     

Effect of uninucleate Rhizoctonia on Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings

One‐year‐old container‐grown seedlings were planted in spring on clear cut areas: the Norway spruce (Picea abies) on a moist upland site (Myrtillus‐type) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) on a dryish upland site (Vaccinium‐type). While still in the nursery, half of the seedlings of each species had been inoculated during the previous summer, with a uninucleate Rhizoctonia sp., a root dieback fungus. At outplanting all the seedlings appeared healthy and had a normal apical bud, although the height of the inoculated seedlings was less than that of the uninoculated control seedlings. At the end of the first growing season after planting, the mortality of inoculated Scots pine and Norway spruce seedlings was 25 and 69%, respectively. After two growing seasons the mortality of inoculated seedlings had increased to 38% for Scots pine and 93% for Norway spruce. The mortality of control seedlings after two growing seasons in the forest was 2% for Scots pine and 13% for Norway spruce. After outplanting the annual growth of inoculated seedlings was poor compared with the growth of control seedlings. These results show that, although Rhizoctonia‐affected seedlings are alive and green in the nursery, the disease subsequently affects both their survival and growth in the forest.     

Seedling cold hardiness, bud set, and bud break in nine provenances of Pinus greggii Engelm.

Cold hardiness and timing of bud set and bud break are important processes that provide protection of nursery seedlings against low temperatures. Seedlings of 9 provenances of Pinus greggii from two different regions of Mexico were tested to determine cold hardiness, bud set, and bud break timing differences. Needle sections were exposed to freezing temperatures to determine an injury index of each provenance. In addition, bud set and bud break timing were recorded through the fall, winter and spring. There were significant differences in cold hardiness between seedlings from northern and southern provenances. At the maximum cold hardiness, the index of injury (LT₅₀) for northern provenances was LT₅₀ = −18 °C, compared to −12 °C for southern provenances. There was a considerable variation among the provenances in the proportion of seedlings that set terminal buds. Seedlings from northern provenances had greater proportions of seedlings that set a terminal bud than seedlings from southern provenances. There were also significant differences in the bud break timing in the following spring among the 9 provenances. Seedlings from northern provenances broke bud earlier than southern provenances. Cold hardiness, bud set, and bud break timing results may be useful to determine how far a specific seed source can be moved from its natural environment.     

Sitka Spruce and Douglas fir Seedlings in the Nursery and in Cold Storage: Root Growth Potential, Carbohydrate Content, Dormancy, Frost Hardiness and Mitotic Index

Seedlings (transplants) of 2+1 Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis(Bong.) Carr.) and 1 + 1 Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii(Mirb.) Franco) were grown in a nursery at the Bush Estate,Scotland. Batches were lifted and cold stored at 0.5°C inNovember, December and January. Changes in growth, shoot apicalmitotic index, root growth potential (RGP), carbohydrate content,bud dormancy and shoot frost hardiness were monitored throughoutthe winter by taking samples at intervals from the nursery andfrom cold storage. Frost hardening occurred during the later stages of bud development(as mitotic indices decreased); autumn hardening was arrestedwhen seedlings were put in cold store, and some dehardeningoccurred in cold storage, especially in spring. Bud dormancystarted, and was greatest, just after bud growth (mitotic activity)virtually ceased; chilling in cold store was almost as effectivein releasing dormancy as natural chilling. The concentrationof total nonstructural carbohydrates stayed more or less constantat 100–150mg g^–1 from September to April in thenursery; in cold storage carbohydrates were depleted at 0.4–0.6mgg^–1 d^–1 (corresponding to respiration at 0.03–0.05mgCO₂ g^–1 h^–1) until there was only 40–50mgg^–1. Root growth potentials in the nursery increased in December,once the buds ceased growth, became dormant and had receivedsome chilling. Sitka spruce was ‘storable’ in November,before RGPs increased, but they then failed to achieve maximalfrost hardiness or ROP. Winter RGPs were high in Sitka spruceand were increased or maintained in cold storage, whereas RGPswere low in Douglas fir and decreased immediately after storage(except when stored in January). By the end of April, the RGPof cold stored Sitka spruce was much higher than that of directlifted plants. ROP changes in the nursery and in cold storagewere not consistently related to changes in seedling carbohydratecontents, shoot frost hardiness or bud dormancy. In practical terms, it was concluded that (1) the optimum dateto start lifting bare- rooted conifer transplants in the autumnis when their shoot apical mitotic indices have decreased tonear zero, and their RGPs have risen sharply; (2) high RGPsmay depend as much on the morphology of the roots (e.g. numberof undamaged root apices) as on the physiology of the shoots(e.g. carbohydrate status, dormancy and frost hardiness); and(3) in spring, transplants kept in cold storage since November,December or January are more frost hardy, slightly more dormant,and (in May) have higher RGPs than transplants lifted from thenursery.     

Fall acclimation patterns of interior spruce seedlings and their relationship to changes in vegetative storage proteins

Changes in the content of vegetative storage proteins (VSPs) were monitored in 1-year-old interior spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss x Picea engelmanni Parry complex) seedlings from late summer until midwinter. Seedlings were also monitored for days to terminal bud break (DBB(t)), dry weight fraction and frost hardiness, measured as both index of injury at -18 degrees C (IL(-18 degrees C)) and as the temperature causing 50% foliage electrolyte leakage (LT(50)). During fall acclimation, VSP content, frost hardiness and dry weight fraction increased, whereas DBB(t) decreased. In mid-November, IL(-18 degrees C) reached its lowest value, coinciding with high VSP content and dry weight fraction, and low DBB(t). The LT(50) decreased in a linear manner as dry weight fraction and VSP content increased; r(2) values were 0.69 to 0.81, respectively. The fall accumulation of VSPs was also highly correlated with increased dry weight fraction. The increase in VSP content occurred as seedling photosynthetic capacity declined, but maximum contents were obtained before complete inactivation of the photosynthetic apparatus. The results indicate that VSP accumulation is an integral part of fall acclimation in interior spruce, closely parallels frost hardiness and partially accounts for the increase in dry weight fraction.