Effects of drought stress on cold hardiness of non-acclimated viola (Viola × wittrockiana 'Iona Gold with Blotch') in controlled conditions

Predicted increases in winter temperatures may negatively impact plant survival by preventing maximal cold acclimation prior to cold temperatures. Accordingly, research is needed to identify strategies that may help promote cold hardiness and increase freezing tolerance of cold season ornamental plants. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to study the effects of drought stress on freezing tolerance of Viola × wittrockiana ̒ Iona Gold with Blotch ̓ during cold season under non-cold acclimating (20 ± 1 °C) conditions and examine the physiological and biochemical changes in plants in response to freezing temperature. After being grown in the greenhouse, plants were first subjected to different levels of soil water availability including control (90%), 70% and 50% field capacity (FC). Then, some traits including proline, carbohydrate and chlorophyll were determined. Finally, plants were transferred to the Thermo Gradient Freezer with six freezing temperatures (0, −3, −6, −9, −12, and −15 °C), as well as 20 °C as the control treatment. Electrolyte leakage (EL) after temperature treatments, plant survival percentage (SU) and some traits related to regrowth after recovery period were determined. Result showed that drought stress increased some factors such as carbohydrate, proline and chlorophyll. Electrolyte leakage significantly increased by lowering temperature and increased by 46% at 15 °C compared to control. Plant survival was significantly affected by treatments so that lowering the temperature to −15 °C caused total mortality in all the plants of irrigation treatments. Plants under 70% FC at 0 °C had the highest increased reproductive component. Number of leaf and leaf area peaked under the moderate water deficit (70% FC) conditions at 0 °C. Plants under 70% FC at 0 °C had the highest increases (87, 134, 90 and 101%, respectively) in dry weights of vegetative, reproductive, root, and total dry weights compared to control. Drought stress can increase freezing tolerance of viola depending on temperature regime.