Submergence Acclimation to Low-Temperature Stress in Rice Roots

Abstract

A low temperature (10°C, 48 h) inhibited primary root growth of rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L.). However, the inhibition was significantly mitigated by submergence for 24 h before the exposure to low temperatures, which induced alcohol dehydrogenase and increased the ethanol concentration in roots. Exogenous application of ethanol also had a similar mitigating effect. These results suggest that submergence pretreatment increases the tolerance to low temperature in rice roots due to ethanol accumulation in the roots.