... from –0.96 MPa to –2.22 MPa, indicatingprobably down-regulation of primary photochemistry and theaugmentation of photoprotective mechanisms to avoid overre-duction and photoinhibitory damage ... [10, 22]. Since the frozen storage of spring plantedseedlings is usually initiated in October, prolongation wouldaccount for a storage period of over 30 weeks. Long storageperiods may, however, ... exposed to water stress after planting[12, 16, 17]. In addition, dormant seedlings initiating newgrowth after planting allocate preferentially more photosynt-hates to shoot growth compared to root...