In Dec. 1990, sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) selections varied in flor
al bud kill from 9% to 92 % following exposure to severe cold. In the
following winter, the hardiness of two hardy and two tender selections
was analyzed by differential thermal analysis (DTA) to screen selecti
ons for hardiness. In a mild winter, when buds remained at their minim
um hardiness level, the hardy selections consistently were >2C hardier
than the tender selections. About one-half of that hardiness differen
ce was associated with differences in tissue water content, the other
half with unknown factors. Buds of the tender selections began to deve
lop earlier and bloomed earlier than the hardy selections. DTA analysi
s of floral bud populations separated selections that clearly differed
in floral bud hardiness.