
%0 Journal Article
%A Single, WV 
%T Studies on frost injury to wheat.  II.  Ice formation within the plant
%J Australian Journal of Agricultural Research
%D 1964/12/01
%V 15
%N 6
%P 869-875
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/AR9640869
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/AR9640869 
%X The formation of ice crystals within leaves, stems, and ears of wheat plants (Triticum aestivum L.) was studied at temperatures of &ndash;3.0 to &ndash;5.0&#176;C. The mean velocity of propagation of the ice front in leaves at &ndash;3&#176;C was 120 &plusmn; 4.1 cm/min. In other plant parts it was slower and more variable. Values recorded for stem internodes ranged from 76 to 0.02 cm/min and for reproductive organs from 1.0 to 0.04 cm/min. Some stem and rachis nodes (in winter-grown plants only) arrested the spread of ice crystals for several hours. This appeared to be an important mechanism for protecting young ears from frost, as they remained super-cooled for long periods if inoculation from external sources was prevented. 
