Interspecific difference in the resistance to winter desiccation damage in pines

Abstract

In 13 pine species wintering in the cold district, the change of water content of leaves, the critical water content to damage, etc. were examined to find any difference between desiccation damage-resistant and nonresistant species and to find a possible indicator to estimate the desiccation damage-resistance of species. It was shown that nonresistant species tend to have higher water contents in the early and late winter, but more rapidly lower toward mid-winter than resistant species. Also, the percentage of available water content (minimum level-critical level) in mid-winter is smaller in the nonresistant species. The water content in October may be an indicator to estimate the desiccation damage-resistance of species.