Abstract
AbstractPrecipitation has generally increased in Norway during the last century, and climate projections indicate a further increase. The growing season has also become longer with higher temperatures, particularly in autumn. Previous studies have shown negative effects of high temperatures and, depending upon temperature conditions, contrasting effects of waterlogging on hardening capacity of timothy. We studied effects of waterlogging on seedlings of timothy (Phleum pratense, cv. Noreng) under three pre‐acclimation temperatures: 3°C, 7°C, 12°C, and in autumn natural light in a phytotron at Holt, Tromsø (69°N). After temperature treatments, all plants were cold acclimated at 2°C for three weeks under continued waterlogging treatments. Freezing tolerance was determined by intact plants being frozen in pots at incremental temperature decreases in a programmable freezer. Waterlogging resulted in a higher probability of death after freezing, and a significantly reduced regrowth after three weeks at 18°C, 24 hrs light in a greenhouse. Increasing pre‐acclimation temperatures also had a clear negative effect on freezing tolerance, but there was no interaction between temperatures and waterlogging. The results indicate that waterlogging may have negative implications for hardening of timothy and may contribute to reduced winter survival under the projected increase in autumn temperatures and precipitation.
Highlights
Winter acclimation or hardening is imperative for winter survival of perennial grasses in regions with cold winters, and especially at high latitudes where winters are long and cold
The risk of hypoxic or anoxic conditions in the soil increases under higher temperatures as increased metabolic activity requires a greater supply of oxygen to both plant roots and competing soil microorganisms (Drew, 1992). It is not entirely clear how the interaction of waterlogging with autumn temperature affects plant growth and winter acclimation, and responses differ between species and among cultivars within species (Jurczyk, Krepski, Kosmala, & Rapacz, 2013; Pomeroy & Andrews, 1979)
We investigated the effect of waterlogging in combination with different temperatures before winter acclimation on hardening, determined as freezing tolerance and winter survival of timothy
Summary
Winter acclimation or hardening is imperative for winter survival of perennial grasses in regions with cold winters, and especially at high latitudes where winters are long and cold. The risk of hypoxic or anoxic conditions in the soil increases under higher temperatures as increased metabolic activity requires a greater supply of oxygen to both plant roots and competing soil microorganisms (Drew, 1992) It is not entirely clear how the interaction of waterlogging with autumn temperature affects plant growth and winter acclimation, and responses differ between species and among cultivars within species (Jurczyk, Krepski, Kosmala, & Rapacz, 2013; Pomeroy & Andrews, 1979). Climate change projections indicate increased risk of waterlogged soils and higher temperatures during autumn in the Nordic regions This may affect winter acclimation and survival of perennial forage grasses. We assume that these negative effects would be more pronounced at higher than at lower pre-acclimation temperatures
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