Frost damage occurs when freezing ruptures plant cells, which are the basic building block of plants. The most significant type of damage to the plant is death of the growing point. Other types of damage are leaf burn and death of the buds (eyes) on nodes down the cane stalk.

 During a frost, damage to the growing points occurs at temperatures below -2.0° C. However, the extent of damage will be affected by the minimum temperature reached, the length of time at frosting temperatures and the previous hardening of the crop by exposure to mild frosts. Although frost damage to the growing point begins at -2.0° C, a well developed complete leaf canopy acts like an overcoat, keeping the cold air above the canopy. In such cases a headland temperature of –3.5ºC is required before the growing point reaches -2.0°C.