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Freezing injury and root development in winter cereals
T H Chen1, L V Gusta, D B Fowler
1Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 0W0 Canada.
Plant Physiology
|November 1, 1983
Summary
Cold hardening increases plant cold tolerance, but root development is crucial for survival. Freezing temperatures primarily impact root formation, not just cell viability, affecting plant recovery.
Area of Science:
- Plant Physiology
- Cryobiology
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Cold hardening enhances the cold tolerance of cereal crops like rye and wheat.
- Root cold hardiness shows less improvement compared to shoot and crown tissues during cold acclimation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of root development in plant survival after freezing.
- To understand the effects of freezing temperatures on root regeneration and cold hardiness in wheat.
Main Methods:
- Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and rye (Secale cereale L.) were subjected to cold hardening at 2 degrees C.
- Plants were frozen to various temperatures (-11 to -20 degrees C) and assessed for survival and growth in soil and agar media.
- Wheat suspension cultures were used to study cold hardening and freezing effects on root development.
Main Results:
- Cold-hardened plants showed reduced root and shoot growth when frozen to -11 degrees C or lower in soil.
- Plants grown in agar medium tolerated colder temperatures (-20 degrees C) with shoot growth unaffected, indicating root development limits survival.
- Freezing affected root morphogenesis in suspension cultures, with reduced root development at -11 degrees C, suggesting freezing impacts root formation.
Conclusions:
- Root development is a critical limiting factor for plant survival under freezing conditions.
- Freezing injury affects root morphogenesis and regeneration capacity, not solely cell death.
- Understanding these mechanisms can improve strategies for enhancing crop cold tolerance.