Freeze Survival in Peach and Prune Flowers

Cary, J.W. (1985) Freeze Survival in Peach and Prune Flowers. Plant Science Letters. 37(3):265-271.

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Abstract

A laboratory study was carried out using field grown peach (Prunus persica) and prune (P. domestica) flowers.
The object was to find out why prune flowers are more freeze tolerant than peach flowers. After the flowers are
fully open, it was found that the ovaries may still supercool, even with ice crystals present in the flower stem.
The mechanics involved were explored with a computer model of the simultaneous heat, water and solute flow
in the flower and stern tissue during freezing. Water flow toward growing ice crystals may cause a discontinuity
in the liquid phase between the flower stem and the ovary, creating a barrier to nucleation. It was concluded that
the prune flowers survive lower temperatures than the peach because the water in their ovaries is more apt to
supercool, particularly when the dew point of the air is not reached.

Item Type:	Article
NWISRL Publication Number:	0537
Subjects:	Mass Import - unclassified
Depositing User:	Dan Stieneke
Date Deposited:	20 Nov 2010 21:52
Last Modified:	13 Jan 2017 23:06
Item ID:	426
URI:	https://eprints.nwisrl.ars.usda.gov/id/eprint/426