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- Author or Editor: S. Kadir x
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Flower buds of 20 Prunus species representing 4 subgenera were collected during winter and spring of 1989-90. Buds were preconditioned at +3° or 7°C to test their minimum hardiness level (MHL) or the rate of hardiness increase. DTA revealed that most of the prunus species have flower primordia that supercool. The subgenus Padus have racemose inflorescences and do not deep supercool during dormancy. P. besseyi, P. nigra and P. americana had small exotherms between -22° and -27°C while P. davidiana and P. subhirtella had larger exotherms at higher temperatures. Exposure of flower buds to -7°C shifted LTES to lower temperatures and/or reduced the size of LTE, which became undetectable for many species including P. nigra and P. americana. P. davidiana and P. subhirtella increased hardiness by 6°/day at -7° while dormant. Deacclimation coincided with an increase in LTE50 and the development of xylem vessel elements in the bud axis, calyx and filaments as indicated by dye movenent. P. davidiana was the least hardy species and required only 700 chill units to satisfy the chilling requirement, while P. nigra and P. americana had LTE average of -26°C at MHL and required over 1000 chill unit accumulation.