Vulnerability to freeze stress of seedlings of Quercus ilex L.: an ecological interpretation

The vulnerability to freeze stress of seedlings of Quercus ilex L. was studied with the aim of defining the limits of the potential distribution area of this species in its northernmost habitat. In December 1996 seedlings were freeze stressed up to -8 °C for 3 d. Frost caused extensive functional damage to seedlings in terms of: a) leaf water status; b) root (Kr) and stem (Ks) hydraulic conductance; c) tissue disorder in the root (only nine seedlings out of 50 survived). In comparison with unstressed seedlings, Kr and Ks of freeze-stressed seedlings were reduced by 90 %. Root anatomy of freeze-stressed seedlings revealed that: a) cortex cells were dehydrated and had become separated from one another; b) the endodermis was oversuberized, thus isolating the stele from the cortex. Our conclusion was that Q. ilex is extremely vulnerable to freeze stress so that the distribution area of the species is restricted to zones with no frost events