Late frost reactions of different populations of hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.)

摘要

In Germany, Federal Nature Conservation Act 40 was enacted in 2010 to regulate trees and shrubs in an open landscape due to postulated genetic differences and regional adaptations to soil and climate. Propagation and utilization of plants must therefore be in accordance to the Act. However, trees and shrubs are reported to possess considerable adaptation plasticity and can inherently perform over wide ecological units. In this study we evaluated plasticity of four populations of Corylus avellana from different places of origin to late frost stress. After cultivation on the container area of Leibniz University of Hannover, plants were treated with temperatures of -12 degrees C and -6 degrees C under controlled conditions. Relative electrolyte leakage as a measure of damage due to frost increased with decreasing temperatures and sprouting stage. Glucose, fructose, sucrose (GFS), and starch declined with sprouting while proline increased. Starch and proline did not react to late frost treatment while GFS were variable between treatments, years and time of the year. Populations differed consistently only in their proline concentrations. Sprouting stage was the most significant factor influencing both frost-induced electrolyte leakage and biomarkers. In conclusion, there were no clear, consistent differences between the tested populations in spite of varied climatic conditions and geographical distance between their places of origin. Hence no late frost consequences in populations transfer with regards to latitude and altitude will be expected within the range investigated here.