Uman National University | today: 12/18/2025
| Author(s) | A. G. Bulat, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, , Associate Professor, Associate Professor at the Forest Cultures, Melioration and Horticulture Department, State Biotechnological University (Kharkiv, Ukraine) | ||
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| Category | 206 "Landscape Gardening" | ||
| year | issue | ||
| pages | 46-53 | index UDK | 632:635.9:581.5 | DOI | 10.32782/2310-0478-2025-2-46-54 (Link) |
| Abstract | Successful growth and ontogeny of introduced woody species in new soil and climatic conditions largely depend on their ability to withstand abiotic stress factors, particularly prolonged decreases in temperature. In this context, the selection and introduction of species capable of adapting to the climatic conditions of Ukraine, especially in regions with low winter temperatures, is of significant practical importance. This study presents the results of a comprehensive assessment of the winter hardiness of Catalpa bignonioides seedlings introduced in Kharkiv (Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine). Frost resistance was evaluated using a field method based on visual assessment of annual shoot damage after the winter period. The findings revealed that one- and two-year-old seedlings, due to an extended vegetation period, entered dormancy late and often retained leaves until the onset of frosts. This feature resulted in significant frost damage, particularly in the upper and middle parts of the stem. Starting from the third year of growth, the winter hardiness of the seedlings increased substantially: the damage level of annual shoots decreased to 21.46 ± 2.17%, corresponding to 3 points on the winter hardiness scale, with no frost cracks observed on stems and with a growing proportion of plants surviving the winter without significant injuries.The highest winter hardiness was recorded in four-year-old seedlings, where frost damage of annual shoots decreased to 7.22 ± 1.05%, corresponding to 4 points. In five-year-old plants, frost damage was almost absent, with a damage rate as low as 2.13 ± 0.63%. These results confirm a consistent annual decrease in the tissue damage index and an increase in the proportion of plants that withstand critical winter conditions without significant injuries. The study demonstrates a positive dynamic of adaptive processes in C. bignonioides, which intensify with plant age. The obtained data provide a scientific basis for recommending C. bignonioides seedlings for broader use in ornamental and forest nurseries of Kharkiv and the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine, thereby expanding the range of winter-hardy introduced woody species for landscaping in the region. | ||
| Key words | Catalpa bignonioides; winter hardiness; frost resistance; seedlings; introduction; adaptation; ornamental nursery | ||