Table I.

Length of time required to attain equilibrium freezing at −4.6°C for nonacclimated (NAC), partially acclimated (PAC), and acclimated (AC) winter canola (cv Express) leaves is in part a function of tissue water content

Cultivar	LT50	Time to Freezing Equilibrium	Average Water Content	Average Dry Weight
	°C	min	g water g dry wt−1	g dry wt
Express NAC	−3	27.7 ± 2.85	5.86 ± 0.66	0.0025 ± 0.0003
Express PAC	−7	41.8 ± 3.10	4.20 ± 0.53	0.0059 ± 0.0072
Express AC	−19	79.6 ± 6.2	2.73 ± 0.43	0.0098 ± 0.0002

All leaves were of a similar size, and a minimum of six leaves were used for each stage of acclimation. A 10-μL water droplet containing INA⁺ bacteria was added to each leaf to initiate freezing. The chamber was maintained isothermal until all freezing events attained equilibrium as determined by IRVT. The average water content and dry weight was determined for 1-cm disc sections of NAC, PAC, and AC leaves sampled from seven locations: three were obtained along the midvein from the top to the base of the petiole and four were from the top to the base on either side of the midvein, not including the midvein.