Kinetics of winter deacclimation in response to temperature determines dormancy status and explains budbreak in differentVitisspecies
2.AbstractBud dormancy and cold hardiness are critical adaptations for surviving winter cold stress for temperate perennial plant species, with shifting temperature-based responses during the winter. The objective of this study was to uncover the relationship between dormancy transition (chilling requirement) and temperature on the loss of cold hardiness and budbreak. Dormant cuttings ofVitis vinifera,V. aestivalis,V. amurensis, andV. ripariawere examined to determine the relationship between chilling requirement and temperature on rate of deacclimation (kdeacc). Differential thermal analysis was used to determinekdeaccusing mean low temperature exotherms. Effect of chill was evaluated as the deacclimation potential (ψdeacc), which was the change inkdeaccdue to chill accumulation. Budbreak was also evaluated in fully chilled buds at different temperatures. Results indicate that ψdeaccvaries dependent on dormancy state, following a logarithmic response to chill accumulation. The effect of temperature onkdeaccwas exponential at low and logarithmic at high temperatures. The combination of ψdeaccandkdeaccresulted in good prediction of deacclimation. Budbreak phenology was also explained by differences inkdeacc. Deacclimation rates can be used as a quantitative determinant of dormancy transition and budbreak, and to refine models predicting effects of climate change.