Plant Low-Temperature Stress: Signaling and Response

Abstract

Cold stress has always been a significant limitation for plant development and causes substantial decreases in crop yield. Some temperate plants, such as Arabidopsis, have the ability to carry out internal adjustment, which maintains and checks the metabolic machinery during cold temperatures. This cold acclimation process requires prior exposure to low, chilling temperatures to prevent damage during subsequent freezing stress and maintain the overall wellbeing of the plant despite the low-temperature conditions. In comparison, plants of tropical and subtropical origins, such as rice, are sensitive to chilling stress and respond differently to low-temperature stress. Plants have evolved various physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms to sense and respond to low-temperature stress, including membrane modifications and cytoskeletal rearrangement. Moreover, the transient increase in cytosolic calcium level leads to the activation of many calcium-binding proteins and calcium-dependent protein kinases during low-temperature stress. Recently, mitogen-activated protein kinases have been found to regulate low-temperature signaling through ICE1. Besides, epigenetic control plays a crucial role during the cold stress response. This review primarily focuses on low-temperature stress experienced by plants and their strategies to overcome it. We have also reviewed recent progress and previous knowledge for a better understanding of plant cold stress response.