Abstract:

The relatiı^n of cold acclimation and hardiness with starch and soluble carbohydrates in yarious plants has long been known. In this study, this relation has been investigated on non- dormant cabbage. The effeçt of cold on three agricultural forms of white head cabbage, namely Samsun top, Yeşilköy and Bayraklı has been investigated in different development stages. For this purpose the plants were sampled during seedling and headed phases. The plants to be sampled in seedling stage were planted in October and those to be sampled at headed stage were planted in June. It was observed that three cultivars of cabbage planted in June froze but that planted in October did not freeze, namely chilled. A considerable increase in glucose, fructose and some increase in saccharose levels were reîated to cold hardening of headed Samsun top, while similar increases were in correlation with cold acclimation and hardiness of headed forms of Yeşilköy and Bayraklı. The increases in glucose, fructose and saccharose levels of the chîlled samples of Samsun top. Bayraklı and Yeşilköy seedlings have been found reîated to hardening. The changes in fructo- sans have been found reîated to only cold acclimation of headed Samsun top while they have not been reîated to seedlings and headed forms of Bayraklı and Yeşilköy. In the headed and seed- ling stages total starch content decreased and this development has been reîated to cold accli- nıation and hardiness. The relationshîp between a decrease in starch and a corresponding increase in soluble car- bohydrates and cold hardiness suggests that these substances are important factors in the mec« hanism of development of cold hardiness in ali of these cultivars.

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