Temperature Step Response of Dehardening in Pinus sylvestris Seedlings

The time constant of the dehardening of one-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings was studied in three experiments started at different times of the year. The seedlings were transferred from outside to the different controlled conditions in January (Exp. 1), March (Exp. 2) and April (Exp. 3). Changes in the frost resistance of the seedlings were followed on the basis of the temperature response of the specific impedance difference in the shoot. The time constant for dehardening at a temperature of 7.5 degrees C was found to be about 12 days in Exp. 1, about 8 days in Exp. 2, and about 5 days in Exp. 3. the terminal bud burst when the frost resistance of the shoot had risen to about -10 degrees C.