Plant and Soil Science

Assessment of frost resistance in species of the genus Hydrangea L. according to the degree of damage to shoot parts

Mykhailo Osipov*

landscape1@meta.ua

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Abstract

Temperature fluctuations during the winter period, characterised by alternating thaws and short-term frosts, necessitate the assessment of plant resistance to low temperatures. In this regard, the study of frost resistance in different species of the genus Hydrangea L. is of particular relevance. The aim of the study was to assess the frost resistance of various hydrangea species and to determine the degree of damage to individual parts of plant shoots. It was established that the upper part of the shoot is the most sensitive to the effects of low temperatures, with a frost damage index ranging from 10.4 to 65.5 points. The lowest degree of freezing was observed in Hydrangea arborescens, while the highest was recorded in Hydrangea macrophylla, with frost damage indices at -25°C of 10.4 and 35.8 points, respectively. Similar results were obtained at a freezing temperature of -30°C, where the corresponding damage indices amounted to 22.3 and 65.5 points. In most species, the middle section of the shoot in a cross-section through the bud showed relatively high resistance to freezing. Under these experimental conditions, the frost damage index at -25°C and -30°C was 3.3 and 9.8 points for Hydrangea arborescens, 6.7 and 13.8 points for Hydrangea paniculata, and 7.1 and 14.1 points for Hydrangea quercifolia. The highest values were recorded in Hydrangea macrophylla, with indices of 33.7 and 51.2 points, respectively, which exceeded those obtained for the freezing treatment of the middle part of the shoot of this species by 8.8 and 6.7 points. Freezing of the buds caused only minor damage in all hydrangea species, with the exception of Hydrangea macrophylla, in which the frost damage index under this treatment reached 26.6 points at -25°C and 53.4 points at -30°C. The results of the multifactor analysis of variance confirmed the significance of the contribution of the factor “hydrangea species”, the effect of which accounted for 57.2-75.1% of the variation in frost resistance of different plant parts. The findings have practical significance and may be used in the establishment of resilient ornamental plantings under unstable climatic conditions, as well as in the selection of hydrangea species for breeding genotypes resistant to low-temperature stress

Keywords

artificial freezing; tissue frost injury; plant resistance; hydrangeas; adaptation

Suggested citation
Osipov, M. (2026). Assessment of frost resistance in species of the genus Hydrangea L. according to the degree of damage to shoot parts. Plant and Soil Science, 17(3), 26-36. https://doi.org/10.31548/plant3.2026.26
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