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Factors affecting freezing tolerance: a comparative transcriptomics study between field and artificial cold
Bing Liu1, Xiu-Yun Wang1, Yan Cao1
1Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Genomics and Genetic Engineering Laboratory of Ornamental Plants, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Zhejiang, 310058, P. R. China.
The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology
|June 28, 2020
Summary
Plants use cold acclimation (CA) to survive winter. Field CA, influenced by light signals, is crucial for robust freezing tolerance (FT), unlike artificial methods.
Area of Science:
- Plant physiology
- Molecular biology
- Environmental stress response
Background:
- Cold acclimation (CA) enhances plant freezing tolerance (FT) for winter survival.
- Global warming poses risks to CA, potentially increasing winter freeze-injury.
- Understanding CA mechanisms in woody perennials is vital for crop resilience.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare molecular mechanisms of field and artificial cold acclimation (CA).
- To identify key pathways and signals involved in robust freezing tolerance (FT) during field CA.
- To assess the limitations of artificial CA in mimicking natural processes.
Main Methods:
- Transcriptomic analysis of plants under field and artificial CA conditions.
- Comparison of molecular profiles between plants in vegetative growth and during CA.
- Measurement of plant physiological and biochemical parameters (e.g., hormone levels, pigment content, sugar accumulation).
Main Results:
- Field CA specifically enriched photosynthesis/photoprotection and fatty acid metabolism pathways.
- Commonly enriched pathways in both CA types included carbohydrate metabolism, secondary metabolism, and circadian rhythms.
- Field CA involved light signals, abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) accumulation, anthocyanin accumulation, chlorophyll degradation, and sugar accumulation.
Conclusions:
- Artificial CA has limitations in fully recapitulating field CA mechanisms.
- Field light signals (photoperiod, intensity, quality) prior to cold exposure are essential for complete CA.
- Specific molecular events during field CA, like hormone dynamics and membrane adjustments, are critical for robust freezing tolerance.
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01:10Transcription
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Overview
Transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA sequence by RNA polymerase. It is the first step in producing a protein from a gene sequence. Additionally, many other proteins and regulatory sequences are involved in the proper synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA). Regulation of transcription is responsible for the differentiation of all the different types of cells and often for the proper cellular response to environmental signals.
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