Increasing freezing tolerance in canola through a better understanding of cold deacclimation

Authors: Anderson, James; Horvath, David; Chao, Wun

Submitted to: Popular Publication
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2020
Publication Date: 3/1/2021
Citation: Anderson, J.V., Horvath, D.P., Chao, W.S. 2021. Increasing freezing tolerance in canola through a better understanding of cold deacclimation. 2019-2020 Canola Research Update. pp 1-2.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Cold acclimation and deacclimation studies in canola demonstrated that cold acclimated plants can deacclimate rapidly, losing freezing tolerance within three days at temperatures above 15C. Cold acclimated plants exposed to temperatures between 15C and 5C retained intermediate levels of freezing tolerance, even after two weeks. Interestingly, canola variety KS4666 showed minimal deacclimation at 10C after two weeks, while variety KS09068B-5-1 lost freezing tolerance at 10C within 3 days of deacclimation. Gene expression analysis identified gene clusters turned on during cold acclimation but turned off during deacclimation and vice versa in these two canola varieties, which should provide useful information about possible transcription factor binding sites for manipulating these processes in canola. A genome wide association study was also used to identify genetic loci associated with deacclimation within a winter canola diversity panel that likely contains genes controlling deacclimation processes. Several promising candidate genes found near the linked markers were chosen based on their putative function, and if they were among the differentially-expressed genes identified in the gene expression study. Established protocols will be used for facilitating transformation of canola to determine if reducing expression of these selected candidate genes in spring and winter canola impact freezing damage due to deacclimation of cold acclimated plants.