THE QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF FROST INJURY AND RESISTANCE IN BLACK LOCUST, ALFALFA, AND WHEAT TISSUES BY DETERMINATION OF AMINO ACIDS AND OTHER NINHYDRIN-REACTING SUBSTANCES RELEASED AFTER THAWING

Abstract

Amino acids and other soluble α-amino compounds are liberated into a leaching medium from tissues of black locust bark, alfalfa, and wheat that are frozen to temperatures which are injurious to the tissues. The amounts liberated increase with lowering in freezing temperature and are proportional to the loss in vital capacity of the tissue. Insignificant amounts of amino acids are released by leaching of non-frozen tissue while a maximum is reached at freezing temperatures which are completely lethal. The amino acids liberated from frozen and thawed tissues must originate from the destruction of living cells by the freezing process. The determination of the concentration of amino acids in the medium in which the plant tissues are leached after freezing can be used therefore as a quantitative method for the estimation of the injury sustained in the freezing.The use of the ninhydrin reaction for the purpose of this determination is described and its application to the estimation of freezing injury and resistance in a variety of hardy and non-hardy tissues of alfalfa, wheat, and black locust tree bark is shown. The extension of this procedure to the determination of injury produced by toxic and other detrimental agents is indicated.