Abstract
Pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings planted in Hokuriku area in the fall are often covered by snow. Some cultivars withstand the snow, whereas others do not. This study sought the relationship of snow tolerance with seeding time and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentration among cultivars to clarify the tolerance mechanism.1. Varietal differences in snow tolerance in 33 cultivars revealed that tolerant cultivars were shorter in stature and had lighter foliage and numerous branches before snow cover than had the snowvulnerable ones. If NSC concentration in the cotyledons was two to tree times higher than.that in the foliage, it contributed significantly to snow tolerance.2. With delayed seeding time in the fall, high water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) con-centration in the foliage accompanied by a proportional decrease in plant dry weight before snow cover promoted snow tolerance.The cultivars and late seeding plants possessing high NSC in the cotyledons showed high snow tolerance, indicating the importance of NSC protecting the overwintering pea seedling under snow.
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