Abstract
Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) genotypes of different ecological and geographical origins were tested. Frost hardiness extent was determined during winter by artificial freezing, which allowed identify varietal differences in frost hardiness of buds and tissues of sea buckthorn shoots. In order to identify differences in adaptation to low temperature we determined the fractional composition of water in annual shoots; and proline and malone dialdehyde concentration and total amylase activity in bark of shoots of female and male genotypes. In December, the sea buckthorn genotypes were in deep dormancy, when maximum frost hardiness of buds and tissues of annual shoots occurred. During the next months, the frost hardiness of buds and shoot tissues decreased during the state of exogenous dormancy. The performed experiment gave an opportunity to select hardy genotypes ‘Kenigsbergskaya’, ‘Surpriz Baltiki’, B 23-34, and ‘Prima Dona’ for use in further breeding, as they had demonstrated stable hardiness during the whole winter period according to all of the components of winter hardiness.