N. Fukuta et T. Yukawa, RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NONSTRUCTURAL CARBOH YDRATE CONCENTRATION AND SNOW TOLERANCE OF PEA (PISUM-SATIVUM L), Engei Gakkai Zasshi, 65(2), 1996, pp. 333-338
Pea (Pisum sativum L.) seedlings planted in Hokuriku area in the fall
are often covered by snow. Some cultivars withstand the snow, whereas
others do not. This study sought the relationship of snow tolerance wi
th seeding time and nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentration amo
ng cultivars to clarify the tolerance mechanism. 1. Varietal differenc
es in snow tolerance in 33 cultivars revealed that tolerant cultivars
were shorter in stature and had lighter foliage and numerous branches
before snow cover than had the snow-vulnerable ones. If NSC concentrat
ion in the cotyledons was two to tree times higher than that in the fo
liage, it contributed significantly to snow tolerance. 2. With delayed
seeding time in the fall, high water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) conce
ntration in the foliage accompanied by a proportional decrease in plan
t dry weight before snow cover promoted snow tolerance. The cultivars
and late seeding plants possessing high NSC in the cotyledons showed h
igh snow tolerance, indicating the importance of NSC protecting the ov
erwintering pea seedling under snow.