Ontogenetic Variation in Frost Resistance of Eucalyptus delegatensis R. T. Baker

Abstract

The frost resistance of Eucalyptus delegatensis is shown to vary with seedling age over the first 6 months of development. Much of this variation is a result of the differing sensitivity of leaves originating from different leaf nodes, although older leaves from the same node may be more frost resistant than recently expanded leaves. Newly emergent seedlings appear to be the most susceptible stage of the tree's lifecycle to death by frost.