ABSTRACT
The protoplasm in living plants can function properly only within a restricted temperature range. No growth of agricultural importance takes place when the temperature approximates the freezing point. Many tropical and subtropical plants may be killed at temperatures as high as 5° C. Molisch (1897) has called low temperature damage, in the absence of freezing, “chilling injury” as opposed to frost injury. Those plants that are subject to chilling injury are usually killed by the first touch of frost. On the other hand, many cold-climate plants may be frozen solid at low temperatures without injury. Between these two extremes all gradations occur. After reviewing the pertinent literature, Levitt (1956) states that, in general, the larger the cell size, the more probable that the plant will be damaged by frost.
