Freezing, plant acclimation

Phenolic compounds may be involved in plant responses to cold stress and in plant acclimation to low temperature. Acclimation of apple trees to cold climates was found to be associated with a seasonal accumulation of chlorogenic acid [102]. Strengthened frost tolerance in a variety of plants were attributed to thicker cell-wall lignification or suberization [102]. Thickening of cell walls and increased production of suberin-type lipids were observed in cold-acclimated winter rye leaves [103]. The presence of suberin in cell walls may favour membrane cell-wall adhesion, a major factor in the resistance of plant cells to freezing [104]. 

The property of cold acclimation resulting in freezing tolerance has evolved in many temperate plants. The metabolic pathways of this complex process are mostly unknown. However, from recent work it is clear that gene activation is involved. By means of molecular biology some cold-regulated transcripts have been isolated and have become amenable to further analysis. The cDNA clones so far available probably correspond to only a small number of the transcripts which are affected by low temperature. One may therefore expect that the number of cDNA clones and genomic clones available for characterisation will increase in the near future. 

Guy, C.L. (1990). Cold acclimation and freezing stress tolerance role of protein metabolism. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology 41, 187-223. 

Guy, C.L. Haskell, D. (1987). Induction of freezing tolerance in spinach is associated with the synthesis of cold acclimation induced proteins. Plant Physiology 84, 872-8. 

Mohapatra, S.S., Wolfraim, L., Poole, R.J. Dhindsa, R.S. (1989). Molecular cloning and relationship to freezing tolerance of cold-acclimation-specific gene of alfalfa. Plant Physiology 89, 375-80. 

Perras, M. Sarhan, F. (1989). Synthesis of freezing tolerance proteins in leaves, crown, and roots during cold acclimation of wheat. Plant Physiology 89, 577-85. 

Steponkus, P.L. (1984). Role of the plasma membrane in freezing injury and cold acclimation. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 35, 543-84. 

Generally, non-acclimated plants, namely plants without these protection mechanisms, will be unable to survive under freezing-thawing cycles which act, therefore, as a powerful selective force against their encroachment in high elevation areas. 

Thomashow, M. F. 1999. Plant cold acclimation Freezing tolerance genes and regulatory mechanisms. Ann. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Molec. Biol. 50 571-599. 

Exposure to low, non-freezing temperatures induces a process, known as cold acclimation, which makes the plant able to increase its fireezing tolerance. Treatment of wheat, rye and bromegrass cell cultures with ABA for four days at 20°C bypasses the requirement for exposure to low temperature for increased freezing tolerance suggesting that cold acclimation involves ABA. The Arabidopsis aba mutant is unable to cold acclimate by incubation at 4°C but the phenotype can be reverted by treatment with ABA. This shows that adaptation to freezing temperatures requires endogenous ABA. 

Gray GR, Chauvin L-P, Sarhan F, and Huner NPA. Cold acclimation and freezing tolerance. A complex interaction of light and temperature. Plant Physiol. 1997 114 467-474. 

Uemura, M., Joseph, R.A. and Steponkus, P.L. (1995) Cold acclimation of Arabidopsis thaliana (Effect on plasma membrane lipid composition and freeze-induced lesions). Plant Physiol. 109,15-30. 

Cuevas JC, Lopez-CoboUo R, Alcazar R, Zarza X, Koncz C, Altabella T, Salinas J, Tiburcio AF, Ferrando A (2008) Putresdne is involved in Arabidopsis freezing tolerance and cold acclimation by regulating abscisic add levels in response to low temperature. Plant Physiol 148 1094-1105... 

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