Studies on visualizing frost/freeze damage in subtropical fruit species

Abstract

Frost is devastating, especially in the northern Sub-Himalayas and adjoining plains. Extent of damage usually comes into knowledge of the growers when winters are over. Early damage assessing techniques are rare and costly. Regional Horticultural and Forestry Research Station, Bhota/ Neri, Himachal Pradesh has conducted studies for standardization of technique for visualization of frost or freeze damage through a cheap and reliable method. It has been observed that drying and rehydration method for visualizing the frost induced damage to the leaves has given excellent visual clarity and reproducibility. The method was compared to the relative ion leakage method (REL) and thereby its acceptance was confirmed. The relative susceptibility of different subtropical species worked out on the basis of this new method has been presented and was found in the close proximity with susceptibility level of these species observed under natural frost conditions.