Fall acclimation patterns of interior spruce seedlings and their relationship to changes in vegetative storage proteins

Changes in the content of vegetative storage proteins (VSPs) were monitored in 1-year-old interior spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss x Picea engelmanni Parry complex) seedlings from late summer until midwinter. Seedlings were also monitored for days to terminal bud break (DBB(t)), dry weight fraction and frost hardiness, measured as both index of injury at -18 degrees C (IL(-18 degrees C)) and as the temperature causing 50% foliage electrolyte leakage (LT(50)). During fall acclimation, VSP content, frost hardiness and dry weight fraction increased, whereas DBB(t) decreased. In mid-November, IL(-18 degrees C) reached its lowest value, coinciding with high VSP content and dry weight fraction, and low DBB(t). The LT(50) decreased in a linear manner as dry weight fraction and VSP content increased; r(2) values were 0.69 to 0.81, respectively. The fall accumulation of VSPs was also highly correlated with increased dry weight fraction. The increase in VSP content occurred as seedling photosynthetic capacity declined, but maximum contents were obtained before complete inactivation of the photosynthetic apparatus. The results indicate that VSP accumulation is an integral part of fall acclimation in interior spruce, closely parallels frost hardiness and partially accounts for the increase in dry weight fraction.