Using Citrus Leaf Freezing Information to Determine Critical Temperature

Chris Oswalt, Polk County Extension E-mail Chris Oswalt

With the onset of cooler temperatures citrus trees cease active growth and become quiescent. This continued quiescence at lower temperatures results in a subsequent increase in cold hardiness termed acclimation. Citrus trees proceed through many changes during acclimation. These changes include: increases in sugars and amino acids with decreases in starch levels within plant tissues. Tissue moisture decreases along with increases in the stability and binding of cell water. These factors combine to increase the ability of citrus tissues to withstand the formation and presence of ice.

Citrus trees acclimated to cold temperatures have survive temperatures as low as 14°F. Acclimation is affected by exposure temperatures, scion cultivar, rootstock cultivar, rootstock/scion combination, tree nutritional status, crop load and water stress. Acclimation is dynamic and will change during the winter in response to warming exposure temperatures with a possible resumption of growth.

Leaf killing points vary in magnitude in response to the above conditions, although the predominate factor, would be exposure temperatures. Studies of citrus leaf killing point temperatures clearly indicate that citrus trees grown in more northern growing areas acquire greater acclimation than trees grown in growing regions further south. Trees grown in southern regions of the state are also more susceptible to active growth due to favorable growing conditions during the winter.

Non-acclimated citrus leaves will generally survive to temperatures of 24°F. New spring flush leaves formed in April will rarely survive temperatures of 31°F, by mid May these leaves will have similar leaf killing points to mature leaves. Research studies indicated that citrus leaf killing points can range from 16°F to 24°F during the winter with a Satsuma cultivar reaching 14°F during one year. Field observations indicated that these leaf killing point values hold up in a number of freezes.

Citrus Leaf Killing Temperatures for Florida Citrus

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