Cold Acclimation Mechanisms in Plant Systems

Cold acclimation enables temperate and boreal plants to enhance their freezing tolerance through coordinated physiological, molecular and structural adjustments. Exposure to low non-freezing temperatures triggers changes in membrane lipid composition to preserve fluidity, and accumulation of compatible solutes such as sugars and proline for osmotic protection. At the gene-regulatory level, CBF transcription factors activate COLD-REGULATED genes that encode proteins stabilising cellular structures and scavenging reactive oxygen species. Structural adaptations include cell-wall remodelling to resist freeze-induced dehydration and mechanical stress. Both shoots and roots deploy distinct strategies: leaves enhance antioxidative systems, while roots modify cell-wall polysaccharides and maintain homeostasis to prevent intracellular ice formation. Upon return to warmer conditions, deacclimation rapidly reverses these adjustments, involving decline of solute concentrations, down-regulation of cold-responsive transcripts and resumption of growth. Integration of environmental cues—photoperiod, light quality and temperature fluctuations—fine-tunes the timing of acclimation and deacclimation, ensuring optimal fitness in variable climates. These interconnected pathways underpin plant survival during seasonal and episodic freezing events, with significant implications for improving crop resilience under climate change.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies in Arabidopsis have illuminated the deacclimation phase following cold acclimation. Analyses across multiple natural accessions showed that sugar, proline and COR gene transcripts decline sharply within days of rewarming, yet the reduction in freezing tolerance differs among genotypes. Strong correlations between soluble carbohydrate levels and COR expression during acclimation dissipate during deacclimation, indicating that recovery of growth and loss of freezing tolerance are governed by distinct regulatory cascades rather than simple reversal. These findings underscore genetic control over deacclimation kinetics and highlight the need for targeted breeding of crops with optimised recovery profiles.

Cold Acclimation Mechanisms in Plant Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in cold acclimation mechanisms in plant systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cold acclimation: Physiological and molecular adjustments that increase plant freezing tolerance following exposure to low, non-freezing temperatures.

Deacclimation: The process by which plants lose acquired freezing tolerance and resume growth upon return to warmer conditions.

CBF transcription factors: A family of proteins that activate cold-responsive genes (COR) to confer freezing tolerance.

Compatible solutes: Small organic molecules (e.g. sugars, proline) that accumulate to protect cells against osmotic stress during freezing.

Sub-zero acclimation: Further enhancement of freezing tolerance following exposure to mild freezing temperatures after initial cold acclimation.

References

1. NYUS.2: an automated machine learning prediction model for the large-scale real-time simulation of grapevine freezing tolerance in North America. Horticulture Research (2023).
2. Role of CBFs as Integrators of Chloroplast Redox, Phytochrome and Plant Hormone Signaling during Cold Acclimation. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2013).
3. Time-dependent deacclimation after cold acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana accessions. Scientific Reports (2015).
4. The Roots of Plant Frost Hardiness and Tolerance. Plant and Cell Physiology (2019).
5. Cell wall modification by the xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase XTH19 influences freezing tolerance after cold and sub‐zero acclimation. Plant Cell & Environment (2020).