In vitro measured leaf-level freezing tolerance predicts photosynthetic impairment during a natural late spring-frost event

DOI zum Zitieren der Version auf EPub Bayreuth: https://doi.org/10.15495/EPub_UBT_00009402
URN to cite this document: urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-9402-8

Title data

Kunert, Norbert ; Gebhard, Svenja:
In vitro measured leaf-level freezing tolerance predicts photosynthetic impairment during a natural late spring-frost event.
In: Journal of Forestry Research. Vol. 37 (2026) . - 36.
ISSN 1993-0607
DOI der Verlagsversion: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-025-01974-0

	Format: PDF Name: s11676-025-01974-0.pdf Version: Published Version Available under License Creative Commons BY 4.0: Attribution
	Download (1MB)

Project information

Project title:	Project's official title Project's id Open Access Publizieren No information

Abstract

Climate change has altered the global temperature regimes leading to warmer temperatures occurring earlier in spring in many temperate regions. This has induced an earlier budbreak making trees susceptible to late spring-frost events, however, information on species-specific late spring-frost tolerance is only available from observational studies. Here, we implemented a quantitative study on late spring-frost tolerance determined by in vitro leaf-level measurements of three temperate broad-leaved tree species via the assessment of the maximum quantum yield efficiency of the photosystem II (Fv/Fm). We investigated to what extent in vitro measurements conducted one day before a late spring-frost event can predict the in vivo damage caused by a cold snap. Fraxinus excelsior showed the lowest in vitro tested tolerance to late spring-frost, and the leaves lost 50% of Fv/Fm (LT50) at + 0.60 ± 0.26 °C. The damage induced by the cold snap the following day (minimum temperature of − 3.28 °C) was a fatal decline of Fv/Fm to 5.8% of the maximum. The other two species, namely Fagus sylvatica and Quercus robur, were characterized by LT50 of − 0.17 ± 9.99 °C and − 2.29 ± 1.11 °C, respectively. The cold snap induced less damage, Fv/Fm values declined to 46.9% and 53.5% of the maximum in the two species, respectively. The in vitro measurements precisely predicted the damage caused by the late spring-frost event. We suggest that in vitro estimated LT50 values can be used as a comparative leaf trait as it has high predictive power for tree species performance after late spring-frost.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 550 Earth sciences, geology 500 Science > 570 Life sciences, biology
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology > Professor Plant Ecology Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Faculties > Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences > Department of Biology
Language:	English
Originates at UBT:	Yes
URN:	urn:nbn:de:bvb:703-epub-9402-8
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2026 10:04
Last Modified:	12 Jun 2026 04:05
URI:	https://epub.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/9402

Download Statistics

Download Statistics

Download Statistics

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year