Many native pecan-producing areas were recently hit with extremely low temperaturesand a blanket of ice. Producers can only hope any damage is not to the extent that has resulted from ice storms of the past. One major factor that could increase the potential for damage is the amount of stress that the trees have had to endure during the previous years of drought. Drought induced stress weakens the tree which can cause the effects of ice damage to be more severe. The damage may not only include physical damage, but physiological damage as well. Drought stress can lead to problems withthe cold-hardiness of trees. The combination of the ice and drought damage may not be evident until the spring when trees fail to leaf out.
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