Critical temperature for sub-lethal cold injury of strawberry leaves

- The effect of freezing temperatures on strawberry leaf photosynthesis is evaluated.
- 50% of photosynthetic activity is lost when leaves are exposed to temperatures between −5 °C and −7 °C.
- Preconditioning the leaves by exposure to −3 °C reduces injury at −5 °C or −7 °C.
- There is no difference in cold susceptibility among three strawberry cultivars tested.
- Once lost, leaves do not recover photosynthetic activity.