Articles
BIOCHEMICAL BASIS OF FROST RESISTANCE IN HIGHER PLANTS
Frost-hardy plants must be able to prevent membrane inactivation.
This can be achieved by the synthesis and accumulation of various crye-protective compounds such as sugars and sugar derivatives, special proteins and non-toxic amino acids and salts of organic acids.
Under suitable conditions even membrane-toxic compounds are able to prevent in combination with non-toxic or with other toxic solutes the inactivation of the membranes during freezing.
The cryoprotectants act either colligatively or affect the membranes individually by specific interactions.
Direct changes in the structure and in lipid and protein composition of frost-sensitive biomembranes during hardening have not yet been proven to be primarily responsible for the development of frost resistance.
Recent investigations suggest that in woody perennials supercooling plays an important role in winter survival.