How is winter wheat able to survive the cold temperatures of winter without serious cell damage?

Answer 1

Cold hardy plants acclimatize by shifting cellular contents and altering metabolic processes as temperatures drop. Water content is shifted out of cells so freezing crystallization is extracellular. Protective stress induced proteins that alter enzyme function in cold are expressed. Oxidative stress induced antioxidents are expressed.

Endodormancy genes exist to be up regulated for acclimation and deacclimation as the plant goes into winter dormancy and comes out of dormancy.

Answer 2

Winter wheat is adapted to survive cold temperatures by undergoing a process called cold acclimation, where it increases the concentration of sugars and other protective compounds in its cells. This helps to prevent the formation of ice crystals within the cells, which can lead to cell damage. Additionally, winter wheat also has the ability to regulate its water content to avoid freezing and minimize cell damage during the winter months.