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Cold hardy woody plant species possess remarkable capacity to acclimate and survive seasonal stresses. While growth and development are normally most active under fully hydrated conditions, plant tissues are also least adapted to cope with environmental stresses in the hydrated state. Reduction in moisture content must be accompanied by endogenous conditions which enable stabilization of cellular components. Seeds are the obvious example of such adaptation (Leopold, 1990), but many other plant organs and tissues also tolerate water loss, facilitating survival at extreme temperatures. Freeze-induced desiccation is an important step in cold acclimation and especially in achieving survival at cryogenic temperatures. Indeed, the capacity to acquire desiccation tolerance is one of the most critical stages in a series of events which permit plant tissues to stabilize and survive freezing stresses. Thus …