ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the molecular events associated with cold acclimation induced by low temperature, abscisic acid (ABA), desiccation, and short day photoperiod. It focuses on changes observed at the molecular level during ABA-induced hardening. The chapter shows that cycloheximide treatment of Solanum commersonii stem cultures inhibited the development of cold hardiness. The molecular aspects of cold acclimation have been studied most thoroughly in Arabidopsis. Analysis of the cold shock response in barley plants indicates little change in protein synthesis. The application of molecular biology techniques to the study of cold acclimation has permitted us to demonstrate a link between heritable hardiness traits and gene expression. The elevated level of ABA is thought to mediate a number of physiological, morphological, and molecular changes in responses to water stress. Exposure of plants to high salt conditions may elicit a similar biochemical response as desiccation because both types of stress subject the plant to a low water potential environment.
