Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2026

A High-Resolution, Single-Grain, In Vivo Pollen Hydration Bioassay for Arabidopsis thaliana
Published on: June 30, 2023
Cold-induced peptide signalling secures pollen resilience and crop yield
Shudong Chen1,2,3, Yupan Zou1,3, Huanshuo Cui1,2,3
1State Key Laboratory of Seed Innovation, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
Scientists discovered two peptides, SlRGF9 and SlRGF10, that enhance cold resilience in tomato pollen. Upregulating these peptides can prevent cold-induced crop yield losses, offering a strategy for climate change adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Signaling
- Crop Science
Background:
- Cold weather events cause significant crop losses, exacerbated by climate change.
- Cold-induced pollen abortion leads to major yield reductions, with underlying molecular mechanisms unclear.
- Developing cold-resilient crops is crucial for food security.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify molecular pathways controlling cold resilience in pollen development.
- To investigate the role of small signalling peptides in cold stress response.
- To explore strategies for enhancing crop yield under cold conditions.
Main Methods:
- Identified cold-responsive peptides SlRGF9 and SlRGF10 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum).
- Investigated loss-of-function mutants under cold stress.
- Analyzed interactions with leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (SlRGFR6) and SlSERK proteins.
- Examined downstream signaling pathways involving calcium influx and programmed cell death.
Main Results:
- Loss of SlRGF9 and SlRGF10 caused pollen abortion under cold stress.
- SlRGF9/10 peptides bind to SlRGFR6/SlSERK receptor complexes.
- Signaling activates calcium influx, preventing cell death and ensuring microspore development.
- Upregulating SlRGF9/10 reduced tomato yield loss by up to 52%.
- Homologous genes in rice (Oryza sativa) improved cold resilience and recovered 18.3% yield loss.
Conclusions:
- A core peptide signaling axis (RGF-GLV-CLEL) governs pollen cold resilience.
- This pathway is conserved across dicots and monocots.
- Enhancing this pathway offers a promising approach to safeguard crop productivity against cold stress.
Related Concept Videos
Responses to Heat and Cold Stress
Introduction to Plant Diversity
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Plant Hormones
Cell Signaling in Plants
Responses to Salt Stress

