Abstract

Plant hardiness zones are widely used for selection of perennial plants and for phytosanitary risk analysis. The most widely used definition of plant hardiness zones (United States Department of Agriculture National Arboretum) is based on average annual extreme minimum temperature. There is a need for a global plant hardiness map to standardize the comparison of zones for phytosanitary risk analysis. Two data sets were used to create global hardiness zones: i) Climate Research Unit (CRU) 1973-2002 monthly data set; and ii) the Daily Global Historical Climatology Network (GHCN). The CRU monthly data set was downscaled to five-minute resolution and a cubic spline was used to convert the monthly values into daily values. The GHCN data were subjected to a number of quality control measures prior to analysis. Least squares regression relationships were developed using GHCN and derived lowest average daily minimum temperature data and average annual extreme minimum temperatures. Error estimate statistics were calculated from the numerical difference between the estimated value for the grid and the station. The mean absolute error for annual extreme minimum temperature was 1.9ºC (3.5ºF) and 2/3 of the stations were classified into the correct zone.

Highlights

  • The growth and survival of most terrestrial plants is influenced by extreme low temperature (Woodward & Williams, 1987)

  • The global plant hardiness zone map will allow a phytosanitary analyst to compare plant hardiness zones without having to consult multiple maps which may have been created with different methodologies and time periods

  • Some plant hardiness maps show only a small area of Plant Hardiness Zones (PHZ) zone 11 in southern Florida while the recent map indicated a larger portion of the state in that zone

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Summary

Introduction

The growth and survival of most terrestrial plants is influenced by extreme low temperature (Woodward & Williams, 1987). The distribution of evergreen broadleaf vegetation has been shown to be correlated with –15oC (5oF) A commonly used indicator of the influence of climate on plant growth and survival is the hardiness zone. The United States Department of Agriculture National Arboretum (USDA-NA) hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum temperature (Cathey, 1990) but other definitions of hardiness zones exist. (Piracicaba, Braz.), v.65, special issue, p.54-59, December 2008 dian hardiness zones take into account the influence of seven variables including frost free days, average minimum temperature and precipitation of the coldest month (McKenney et al, 2001) Agric. (Piracicaba, Braz.), v.65, special issue, p.54-59, December 2008 dian hardiness zones take into account the influence of seven variables including frost free days, average minimum temperature and precipitation of the coldest month (McKenney et al, 2001)

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