Induction of Cold Acclimation in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Phenotypic studies have shown that cold acclimation in wheat and its relatives start at different temperatures. To gain insight into the underlying mechanisms that regulate the induction of cold-acclimation process in cereals we compared the expression of genes in winter-habit (winter Norstar and winter Manitou) and spring-habit (spring Manitou and spring Norstar) cultivars that vary in tolerance to cold. Global expression of genes in the crowns of juvenile plants cold-acclimated at four different temperatures (6^oC, 9 ^oC, 12 ^oC, 15 ^oC and 18 ^oC) for 12-hrs, 60-hrs and 380-hrs was examined. Expression of genes associated with induction of cold-acclimation at different temperatures will be presented.