Factors Influencing Within-Vine Variation in the Cold Resistance of Cane and Primary Bud Tissues

Abstract

The cold resistance of bud and cane tissues on the same grapevine varied up to 12°C depending on the presence of periderm, periderm color, cane diameter, persistent-lateral status, and leaf exposure to the sky during the growing season. The conditions that consistently favored greatest cold resistance were exposure to sunlight, dark-colored periderm, medium cane diameter (6-7 mm), and lack of persistent lateral canes. The value of understanding cold resistance mechanisms is discussed from three viewpoints: 1) as the basis for solving the problem; 2) as a basis for cultural decisions; and 3) as a basis for sampling procedures when doing cold-resistance studies in grapevine canopies.