New Zealand Journal of Botany abstract

Comparison of frost tolerance of Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides (Hook.f.) Poole and Nothofagus menziesii (Hook.f.) Oerst.

OSBERT J. SUN

NZ Forest Research Institute Limited
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

GEOFFREY B. SWEET

School of Forestry
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand

Abstract  Frost tolerance was investigated in both cold-hardened and actively growing seedlings of Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides and Nothofagus menziesii in New Zealand. Seedlings of the two species from the same geographical origins showed similar tolerances to simulated mid winter and summer frosts when grown in a common environment. The maximum frost hardiness (LT50) ranged from -9.0 +/- 0.8 to -12.1 +/- 0.6deg.C in N. solandri, and from -10.0 +/- 0.7 to -12.4 +/- 0.1deg.C in N. menziesii. Both species exhibited provenance variations in frost tolerance that corresponded with variation in long-term means of annual minimum temperature and frost days per annum of the seed origins. It is suggested that low temperature may not be a key environmental factor in differentiating the presence of the two species at upper timberlines in New Zealand.

Keywords  frost tolerance; geographical distribution; Nothofagus menziesii; Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides; provenance; timberline

B95034

Received 14 August 1995; accepted 11 December 1995

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