Seasonal and geographic origin effects on cold hardiness of white spruce buds, foliage, and stems

Abstract

Cold hardiness of dormant vegetative buds from white spruce (Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss) trees originating from throughout the species' North American range was measured by differential thermal analysis between August and April at Vernon, B.C. Buds were least hardy in early fall (low temperature exotherm −12 to −25 °C) and most hardy midwinter (low temperature exotherms −20 to −34 °C). Buds of northerly origin trees were more hardy in early fall (September–October) than buds of more southerly origin trees. Similar results were observed for foliage and stem tissue in early fall using electrolyte leakage measurements following −16 °C freezing.