Abstract: To study the influence of CaCl₂ on the frost hardiness (FH) and the parameters of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in stems of Ligustrum vicaryi during the hardening period, as well as to find the relation between the EIS parameters and the FH, the cutting plants of L. vicaryi is CaCl₂ treated on 15 September, 2006, and the water was used as control. The FH was assessed by methods of EIS and electrolyte leakage (EL), and the FH results between the two methods were compared. The results indicated that the FH of the stem in plants with CaCl₂ treatment was 3.5℃ hardier than that in control plants during early days of the hardening period. The FH has high correlation with relaxation time (τ) of stem (not exposed to controlled freezing tests), extracellular resistance (r_e) of stems (after controlled freezing tests) and the water content of the stems.

Key words: CaCl₂, frost hardiness, electrical impedance spectroscopy