Stimulation of Phospholipid Biosynthesis during Frost Hardening of Winter Wheat

Lipids were labeled with (33)P during frost hardening of two varieties of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum), hardy Kharkov and much less hardy Champlein. The main labeled compounds were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylglycerol. With time of incorporation the proportion of the radioactivity incorporated into the lipids increased in phosphatidylcholine, especially in Kharkov and at 1 C. During hardening, phospholipid synthesis was greatly stimulated in Kharkov, but much less in Champlein. The proportion of the phospholipids synthesized changed only little with hardening, with a trend towards an increase in phosphatidylcholine. Increased phospholipid synthesis does not seem to be a prerequisite to hardening in winter wheat. However, a high rate of phospholipid synthesis may be required to maintain frost resistance.