Dynamic evaluation of winter wheat’s freezing resistance under different low-temperature periods and durations

Winter extreme low temperature events have been occurring frequently both before and after the winter season. The freezing resistance temperature of wheat is far lower than the intensity of low temperatures during the mid-winter period. Therefore, it is necessary to further quantify and evaluate the impact of low-temperature periods and durations during the early winter and the green-up period on the freezing resistance of wheat, based on different evaluation indicators. Through conducting experiments in an artificial low-temperature control chamber, this study investigates the critical temperature thresholds for the impact of different low-temperature periods and durations on the tiller and yield of winter wheat, as well as the critical temperature thresholds for soil effective negative accumulated temperature. The results demonstrate that (1) the tiller mortality rate (R_T) and yield reduction rate (R_Y) of winter wheat during the winter increase with the severity and duration of low temperatures, showing an S-shaped curve. The winter wheat mortality rate during the early winter is related to the soil effective negative accumulated temperature in an exponential function, while the mid-winter and green-up stages have a linear relationship. (2) The freezing threshold temperatures for the R_T, R_Y and soil negative accumulated temperature (SENAT) in different low-temperature periods (early winter, mid-winter, and green-up periods) range from - 11.7 to -17.9 °C, -9.4 to -15.6 °C, and 15.9 to 131.7 °C·h (2.2 to 16.8 °C·d), respectively. (3) The freezing threshold temperatures for the R_T and R_Y in different low-temperature durations (1 day, 2 days, and 3 days) range from - 2.8 to -17.9 °C and - 9.4 to -15.6 °C, respectively. The findings of this study provide technical support and scientific guidance for the global cultivation structure and variety layout of winter wheat under the background of climate warming, as well as for the prevention and reduction of freezing damage and yield losses.