Chilling Injury of Germinating Seeds and Seedlings

Abstract

Abstract History . In 1897, Molisch first suggested the term that was translated as chilling injury to describe the injurious effects of low but non-freezing temperatures on certain plant species (40). More than 50 years were to pass, however, before it was recognized that a similar low-temperature injury might be sustained by germinating seeds. Earlier in this century, Kidd and West (32, 33) reported that soaking seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L. at 10°C increased the amount of material leached from them and decreased germination compared with seeds soaked at 20°. In 1926, Kotowski (34) noted that the seeds of several warm-season vegetable crops would not germinate below 18°. During this period, it was generally acknowledged that reduced low-temperature germination as exhibited by seeds of most tropical and subtropical species was a consequence of seed infestation by soil-borne pathogens. For example, Leach (37) suggested that many soil organisms had lower optimum growth temperatures than the minimum temperature for seed germination. Thus, while seed germination was inhibited by low soil temperature, soil pathogens could readily grow, multiply and attack the seed.