Genetic and methodological aspects of studying frost resistance in winter wheat
https://doi.org/10.30901/2227-8834-2026-2-o6
Abstract
Wheat is a major cereal crop, and its efficient production is crucial for food security. Recent scientific research has led to the development of new wheat cultivars, more resistant to abiotic factors. Exploiting such cultivars together with modern technologies contributes to a significant increase in wheat yield. This review is dedicated to studies in the field of genetics and physiology, conducted over the past twenty years and aimed at studying frost resistance in winter wheat. It presents the latest information on the main mechanisms of signal transmission in plants under cold exposure, and the activation of key genes/QTLs involved in the development of frost resistance in winter wheat. One of the sections highlights the studies focusing on the most studied cold acclimation signaling pathway to date, namely the ICE1–CBF-COR signaling pathway. The main methods for assessing winter wheat plants according to their frost resistance are presented; they can be applied for both field and laboratory tests. The genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as an approach to analyzing frost resistance in winter wheat are evaluated. The role of individual genes and QTLs in the development of the crop’s frost resistance is considered, and methods of assessing this tolerance are discussed.
Keywords
Supporting agencies: this work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 25-24-00117 “The genetic determinants of frost resistance soft winter wheat in Western Siberia” (https://rscf.ru/project/25-24-00117/). The author is grateful to Dr. A. B. Shcherban, Leading Researcher at the Molecular Genetics and Plant Cytogenetics Laboratory of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, for his assistance and valuable advice during the writing of this review.
About the Author
A. V. Fedyaeva
Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Anna V. Fedyaeva, Cand. Sci. (Biology), Researcher
10 Akademika Lavrentyeva Ave., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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For citations:
Fedyaeva A.V. Genetic and methodological aspects of studying frost resistance in winter wheat. Proceedings on applied botany, genetics and breeding. 2026;187(2):243-252. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30901/2227-8834-2026-2-o6
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