Ethylene and ethane evolution during cold acclimation and deacclimation of ponderosa pine

Greenhouse container-grown ponderosa pine (Pinusponderosa var. scopulorum Engelm.) were cold acclimated and deacclimated in growth chambers during a 19-week regime. Seedling cold hardiness, bud dormancy, and ethylene and ethane evolution from excised needles were measured weekly. Ethylene and ethane evolution and the ethane/ethylene ratio declined from bud set to bud break and did not parallel changes in cold hardiness. Large standard errors of the ethylene evolution means made detecting statistical differences over time difficult. Significant deviations in the ethane evolution means were observed, however, and indicated a sharp decrease and recovery at the start of cold acclimation and a peak at the start of deacclimation. The ethane/ethylene ratio accentuated the declining trend from bud set to bud break and the two sharp deviations in the trend at the start of acclimation and deacclimation.