The Effect of Short Days on Cold Acclimation in Gaura

Abstract

Cold acclimation has been extensively studied in woody species such as Cornus sericea and Malu × domestica. These studies have shown that cold acclimation is initiated by short days and completed with the addition of a cold treatment. It is unknown whether herbaceous perennials respond in a similar manner to these environmental cues. Our research objective was to examine short day photoperiod effects on cold acclimation in herbaceous gaura populations collected at different latitudes. Gaura drummondii collected in Texas, and Gaura coccinea collected in Minnesota and Texas were clonally propagated, grown under a 16-hour long day photoperiod and 25/20 °C [day/night (D/N)] temperature for 8 weeks. Plants were then subjected to 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 weeks of 8-hour short days at 20/15 °C (D/N) temperatures. Cold acclimation was determined using electrolyte leakage (freezing stem pieces from –1 to –9 °C) and measuring electrical conductivity after treatment and tissue death. Mean separations showed two distinct statistical groupings of 0-2 weeks and 3–5 weeks of short days for Minnesota gaura, whereas Texas gaura overlapped for 0–5 weeks of short day treatments. It is unknown what environmental cue(s) initiate cold acclimation in Gaura native to southern latitudes such as Texas.