Cold deacclimation mechanisms and reacclimation potential in flower buds of blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)

Abstract

As a consequence of global climate change, cold acclimation and deacclimation cycles are becoming increasingly frequent during winter in temperate regions. However, little is known about plant deacclimation and in particular reacclimation mechanisms, although deacclimation resistance and the ability to reacclimate may have wide-ranging consequences regarding plant productivity in a changing climate. Here, we report time-dependent responses of freezing tolerance, respiration rates, metabolite contents (high-resolution magic angle spinning NMR) and fatty acid levels (gas chromatography) in flower buds of two ecodormant Ribes nigrum cultivars exposed to three different deacclimation temperatures followed by a reacclimation treatment at 4 ∘ C. The data reveal that despite differences in the progression of deacclimation, the capacity of blackcurrant flower buds to reharden in late winter is virtually non-existing, implying that increasingly irregular temperature patterns is critical for blackcurrant fruit yield. The early phase of deacclimation is associated with a transient increase in respiration and decreasing contents of amino acids, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates and sugars, indicating an increased need for carbon sources and respiratory energy production for the activation of growth. Decreasing sugar levels may additionally cause loss of freezing tolerance. Deacclimation also involves desaturation of membrane lipids, which likely also contributes to decreased freezing tolerance but may also reflect biosynthesis of signaling molecules stimulating growth and floral organ differentiation. These data provide new insights into the under-researched deacclimation mechanisms and the ability of blackcurrant to reacclimate following different advancements of deacclimation and contribute to our understanding of plant responses to increasingly irregular temperature patterns.

Deacclimation after cold acclimation—a crucial, but widely neglected part of plant winter survival

“…However, repeated cycles of deacclimation followed by reacclimation result in decreased freezing tolerance after reacclimation (Shin et al , 2015). In addition, reacclimation of blackcurrant flower buds is no longer possible in late winter, pointing to a critical role of seasonal timing in the capacity to reacclimate (Kjaer et al , 2019).…”

Creation and Use of Highly Adaptive Productive and Technological Red Currant Genotypes to Improve the Assortment and Introduction into Different Ecological and Geographical Zones

“…In this experiment, a relationship is traced between the maximum content of bound water in shoots; high water retention capacity; and a small percentage of damage to shoots and generative and vegetative buds of red currants by negative temperatures in the field in the genotypes, obtained on the basis of ‘Jonkheer van Tets’ and ‘Chulkovskaya’. The antagonistic role of water in the resistance of fruit crops to low-temperature shock and plant development (ontogenesis) may not be accurate enough, because the increased water content in cells is accompanied by cell growth and is one of the causes of mechanical intercellular damage [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ].…”

Different metabolic adaptation strategies after overwintering inEutremasp. andArabidopsisaccessions under field conditions in Germany

“…In particular, carbohydrate metabolism plays an exceptionally important role in overwintering and growth resumption of perennials and winter annuals (Pagter et al, 2017; Rathore et al, 2021). The two processes additionally involve changes in the metabolism of amino acids, storage lipids and cell wall components (Kjær et al, 2018; Pagter et al, 2017).…”