Techniques for assessing the cold resistance of cereals in the selection of hybrid material

Abstract

1. Data are presented to show that, in the United Kingdom, soil temperatures do not fall more than a few degrees below freezing point even during prolonged spells of abnormally cold weather.2. Two methods of assessing cold resistance in cereals are described in which the natural gradient between air and soil temperature is maintained. These involve the use of seed boxes 6 in. deep in one case and a portable field freezing cabinet in the other.

Use of Controlled Environments for Winter Cereal Cold Hardiness Evaluation: Controlled Freeze Tests and Tissue Water Content as Prediction Tests

“…Unfortunately, results of field survival trials are often inconclusive due to either complete death or complete survival of all or most plants within atrial (Martin 19271' Quisenberry and Clark 1929;Fowler and Gusta 1979). Even when differential kill does occur, it is often irregular with large variations occurring within very short distances (Bingham and Jenkins 1965;Fowler 1979 (Salmon 1933;Pomeroy and Fowler 1973 (Fowler and Carles 1979).It has also held during fall acclimation (Fowler and Gusta 1977a), dehardening and rehardening (Gusta and Fowler 1976a), and spring dehardening (Gusta and Fowler 1916b;Fowler and Gusta r977b by a 1.6-mm mesh screen (Fowler et al 1983) and returned to germinating conditions until their roots were 1-2 cm long. They were then placed in hydroponic tanks filled with continuously aerated one-half strength modified Hoagland's solution.…”

Barley improvement

“…Sowing dates and depths have a considerable effect on barley winter hardiness. Cold nurseries or artificial freezing chambers are used as aids for selection [19]. It is often easy to recognize 'hardy' and 'tender' strains, but very difficult to recognize degrees of hardiness.…”