Physio-biochemical and molecular stress regulators and their crosstalk for low-temperature stress responses in fruit crops: A review

Abstract

Low-temperature stress (LTS) drastically affects vegetative and reproductive growth in fruit crops leading to a gross reduction in the yield and loss in product quality. Among the fruit crops, temperate fruits, during the period of evolution, have developed the mechanism of tolerance, i.e., adaptive capability to chilling and freezing when exposed to LTS. However, tropical and sub-tropical fruit crops are most vulnerable to LTS. As a result, fruit crops respond to LTS by inducing the expression of LTS related genes, which is for climatic acclimatization. The activation of the stress-responsive gene leads to changes in physiological and biochemical mechanisms such as photosynthesis, chlorophyll biosynthesis, respiration, membrane composition changes, alteration in protein synthesis, increased antioxidant activity, altered levels of metabolites, and signaling pathways that enhance their tolerance/resistance and alleviate the damage caused due to LTS and chilling injury. The gene induction mechanism has been investigated extensively in the model crop Arabidopsis and several winter kinds of cereal. The ICE1 (inducer of C-repeat binding factor expression 1) and the CBF (C-repeat binding factor) transcriptional cascade are involved in transcriptional control. The functions of various CBFs and aquaporin genes were well studied in crop plants and their role in multiple stresses including cold stresses is deciphered. In addition, tissue nutrients and plant growth regulators like ABA, ethylene, jasmonic acid etc., also play a significant role in alleviating the LTS and chilling injury in fruit crops. However, these physiological, biochemical and molecular understanding of LTS tolerance/resistance are restricted to few of the temperate and tropical fruit crops. Therefore, a better understanding of cold tolerance’s underlying physio-biochemical and molecular components in fruit crops is required under open and simulated LTS. The understanding of LTS tolerance/resistance mechanism will lay the foundation for tailoring the novel fruit genotypes for successful crop production under erratic weather conditions.

A bermudagrass variant exhibits strong tolerance to low temperature associated with enhanced sugar metabolism and cold‐responsive pathways

“…Bermudagrass could maintain high photosynthesis in hot summer, but low temperature significantly decreased its photochemical efficiency during winter months (Baxter et al., 2022; Dunne et al., 2019; Zhou et al., 2022). Chl content and Chl fluorescence parameters have been used widely to evaluate cold tolerance in various plant species, since cold‐tolerant plants could maintain higher Chl content and photochemical efficiency than sensitive ones under low temperature stress (Goswami et al., 2022; Zhou et al., 2022). In addition, high EL level and overaccumulation of MDA are two main indicators of cold injure in plants, as EL or MDA indicates cell membrane stability or membrane lipid peroxidation, respectively (Blum & Ebercon, 1981; Dhindsa et al., 1981).…”

“…Bermudagrass could maintain high photosynthesis in hot summer, but low temperature significantly decreased its photochemical efficiency during winter months (Baxter et al, 2022;Dunne et al, 2019;Zhou et al, 2022). Chl content and Chl fluorescence parameters have been used widely to evaluate cold tolerance in various plant species, since cold-tolerant plants could maintain higher Chl content and photochemical efficiency than sensitive ones under low temperature stress (Goswami et al, 2022;Zhou et al, 2022).…”

“…Chilling stress inhibits most of physiological and metabolic processes such as water absorption and utilization, photosynthesis, and mineral nutrition in plants. Freezing stress causes more severe damage to plant cells then chilling stress since it results in a quick formation of ice crystals within a short time (Goswami et al., 2022). Bermudagrass ( Cynodon ) is a warm‐season gramineous turfgrass which is characterized by strong adaptability to high temperature and drought, however, weak cold tolerance restricts its use during winter months (Fry & Huang, 2004).…”

Responses of sorghum to cold stress: A review focused on molecular breeding

“…Cold temperatures affect critical cellular functions such as photosynthesis, respiration, and membrane permeability (Rawat et al, 2021;Daems et al, 2022;Li et al, 2022). Meanwhile, the process of cold acclimation involves many physiological, biochemical, metabolic, and molecular changes (Achard et al, 2008;Bu et al, 2021;Yu et al, 2022;Rani et al, 2021;Goswami et al, 2022;Hu et al, 2022;Liu et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2022).…”

“…Therefore, understanding the cold stress response is crucial for improving crops against cold (Adhikari et al, 2022;Liu et al, 2022). Molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms activated to respond to cold stress determine the plant's susceptibility or tolerance to the environment (Goswami et al, 2022;Liu et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2022).…”