Gene Activity Test Determines Cold Tolerance in Douglas-fir Seedlings
Balk, P. A., Haase, D. L., and van Wordragen, M. F. National Proceedings: Forest and Conservation Nursery Associations 2007, p. 140-148. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Proceedings RMRS-P-57. 2008.
Nursery growers often wish to know the earliest possible time when they can lift and store seedlings, and optimum scheduling depends on the physiological condition of the seedlings. Lifting and storage of insufficiently hardened plants reduces their vitality and may lead to cold damage, dehydration, and fungal infection. To prevent this kind of damage and its adverse economic effects on nurseries and end-users, it is of vital importance to be able to accurately determine the peak physiological condition for lifting or transfer. Cold hardiness testing is one method to determine seedling physiological condition because it is strongly linked to the seedling dormancy cycle and stress resistance, and is influenced by seed source, nursery practices, and environment (Faulconer 1988; Burr 1990). Keywords: cold hardiness testing, seedling dormancy, Pseudotsuga menziesii, whole plant freeze test, gene expression analysis
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Author(s): Peter A. Balk, Diane L. Haase, Monique F. van Wordragen
Publication: National Nursery Proceedings - 2007
Event:
Forest Nursery Association of British Columbia Western Forest and Conservation Nursery Association Combined Meeting
2007 - Sidney, BC