COLD STRESS TOLERANCE IN ZEA MAYS: REGULATORY MECHANISMS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64013/bbasrjlifess.v2026i1.65Keywords:
Zea mays, C4 cereal plant, tropical, subtropical regions, freezing tolerance, Cold toleranceAbstract
Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most important C4 cereal crops grown globally. Originating from the tropical and subtropical regions of Mesoamerica, maize is sensitive to temperatures between 0 and 15°C. As maize is cultivated beyond these temperature thresholds, spring frosts can cause severe physiological damage to the plant. However, in recent years, advances in the field of maize genomics have enabled scientists to better understand how the maize genome regulates cold and freezing tolerance within the plant. This review will examine how recent studies on maize have shed light on the physiological impacts of cold stress on maize plants, the role of the ICE1-CBF-COR regulative pathway, as well as other regulative pathways that control freezing tolerance in maize plants. Also, this review will discuss the various breeding strategies that have been employed to create maize varieties with increased resistance to cold stress.
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