Cold Tolerance in 'Kousui' Japanese Pear and Possibility for Avoiding Frost Injury by Treatment with n-Propyl Dihydrojasmonate

Abstract

Effects of n-propyl dihydrojasmonate (PDJ) treatment on flowers of Japanese pear 'Kousui' (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai cv. Kousui) during spring frost were investigated to study mechanisms for avoiding spring frost injury. PDJ applied during the flowering period resulted in a lower injury index for the ovules and pistils after freezing tests. Average ion leakage in control flowers was 37.9% during the balloon stage at -5 °C, while the flowers treated with PDJ displayed a 16.6% ion leakage. Similarly, at the full bloom stage, PDJ treatment reduced ion leakage at -5 °C from 73.1% to 47.8% in the control. The organs of the flower more sensitive to low temperature stress were the ovule, pistil, and ovary; stamens were more resistant. Sugar content in the flower at the balloon stage was increased by PDJ when treated at the pink stage. Moreover, free amino acids, especially proline, increased similarly with PDJ treatment. These results show that PDJ affects supercooling capacity of a flower by changing solute content and protects organs from freezing.