Effects of Low Temperature Treatment at Seedling Stage on Soybean Growth, Development and Final Yield

The after effect of continuous and variable chilling temperatures acting periodically for 7 days at seedling stage (day/night: 2/2°C, 5/5°C, 15/2°C, 15/5°C, 15/15°C and control–22/18°C) on growth, development and final yield of soybean cultivar Polan and Progres were investigated. The temperature decrease lengthened the duration of the vegetation period before flowering for both cultivars, which allowed compensation for the reduced–as an effect of chilling–rate of daily increments in the leaf area and the dry weight of the above-ground parts of the plants. The most important symptom of chilling treatment was a considerable increase in the number of axillary branches after flowering, which caused an increase in the dry weight of plants. The subsequent reaction of the growth of leaves to chilling at seedling stage was, after flowering, variety dependent. The area of leaves bigger at Polan or similar to control at Progres ensured good seed filling in an increased number of pods developed on axillary branches. Chill-induced delay in plants development allowed the avoidance of low temperature occurring during flowering in this experiment. This chilling during flowering was one of the reasons of worse-pod setting and reduction of seeds per pod number at control plants.     

The Impact of Temperature on Seedling Root Traits of European and Tropical Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivars

Twelve European and twelve tropical maize cultivars were grown in polyethylene tubes under three temperature regimes (14/12 °C, 22/20 °C; 30/28 °C). The plants were harvested when the third leaf was fully expanded. The experiments were undertaken in order to: (i) study the general response of root traits of maize seedlings to chilly, temperate and very warm conditions and (ii) find out whether and how the geographical origin of the maize material modifies the results. The results may be summarized as follows: 1. The 22/20 °C temperature regime led to the highest shoot and root dry weight, the greatest total root length, the most apices and the greatest root surface area. However, the optimal temperature for these traits appeared to be either slightly higher or lower than 22/20 °C (optimal temperature for number of apices > shoot dry weight > root surface area > root dry weight). 2. The shoot: root dry weight ratio was almost the same at 14/12 °C and 22/20 °C but increased significantly at 30/28 °C. The root surface area: root dry weight ratio was optimal at 22/20 °C but extremely low at 14/12 °C. The production of apices per unit root dry matter was lowest at 14/12 °C and increased steadily at higher temperatures. 3. The root surface area: shoot dry weight ratio was low both at 14/12 °C and at 30/28 °C. This may indicate that mineral nutrient deficiency, as a result of undersized root systems, is most likely at extremely low and extremely high temperatures. 4. Low temperatures promoted the formation of seminal roots. 5. Temperature affected the dominance of the longest seminal root (= primary root). At 14/12 °C, the primary root was rather short as compared to the seminal roots of higher order. At 30/28 °C, however, the primary root was markedly longer than other seminal roots of higher order. 6. At 14/12 °C, the European cultivars produced more shoot and root dry matter, generated more apices and developed greater root surface area than the tropical cultivars. At 30/28 °C, the situation was reversed. This confirms that the response to different temperatures is modified by the geographical origin of the plant material.     

Relationship Between Early Field Growth of Maize Genotypes and Seedling Traits under Controlled Conditions

Investigations were done on six maize inbred lines of different origin and their diallel set of crosses. Seedlings grown at 14°, 22°, 30° and 38°C until three leaves stage were studied for morphological, anatomical and photosynthetic traits of leaves. These traits were screened for correlation with shoot dry weight at the six leaves stage under field conditions i) in 1981 and 1982 in North Germany, cool climate (CS); ii) 1981 in Thailand (WS). Some few seedling traits correlated well enough, dependent on temperature and location. CS shoot weights were closely correlated with dry weight of third leaves (14°) or NADP malate dehydrogenase activity (30°) (r = 0.66—0.85), whereas WS shoot weight correlated best with the depth of stomata below the epidermal surface (30°C) (r = -0.77). This shows that it is possible to predict early growth performance in the field within a group of genotypes adapted to different latitudes.     

Effect of Soil Temperature on the Carbohydrate Status in the Potato Plant (S. tuberosum L.)

Seed tubers of the variety Ostara were raised in growth chambers of 16°C air temperature continuously. The vessels were placed in a water bath of automatic temperature regulation so that soil temperatures of 16°C and 28°C could be maintained. Four weeks after emergence the plants were treated with ¹⁴CO₂ and 24 hours later the plants were harvested. Three more treatments and time harvests followed in two weeks intervals. C-14 activity was determined in soluble carbohydrates, in insoluble carbohydrates, and in non extractable residues respectively of the various plant parts in order to obtain information about the translocation of assimilates in the plant.
While the plants at 28°C soil temperature reduced the soluble sugar levels to 50% up to 70 days after emergence, the plants at 16° brought it down to 33% much faster. — The C-14 activity in insoluble carbohydrates amounted to only 50 % in the plants at 28°C while at 16°C it was more than 2/3 (Tables 1 and 2). — The C-14 activity in non extractable residues is much less at 28°C than at 16°C (Tables 3 and 4). — The starch weight reaches only 30% of the value obtained at lower temperature 70 days after emergence (Table 5). — At the higher temperature starch is also increasingly transferred to the tubers but to a much lesser extent and not from the stems and stolons (Table 6).
Possible causes, particularly the role of phytohormones, and consequences are discussed.     

Leaf Anatomy of Maize Inbred Lines and Crosses at Extreme Temperatures for Active Growth

Inbred lines and crosses from cool temperate regions (C) and from warm regions (W) were grown at 14, 22, 30 and 38°C up to the same physiological age, the full expansion of the third leaf. The laminae of the second leaf were studied for anatomical traits. For all traits the genotypic variability was high over the whole temperature range, but the rank order was influenced by temperature. Leaf thickness and cross sectional area of epidermal cells were smallest at 22°C. Stomatal frequency increased in inbred lines from 14 to 38°C and in crosses from 30 to 38°C. In crosses stomatal length was low at 22°C and high at 38°C while inbred lines either did not react to temperature at all (C) or had low to very low values over the whole temperature range (W). Cross sectional area of chlorenchyma cells (mesophyll, bundle sheath) was high at 14°C. For mesophyll cells of inbred lines and generally for bundle sheath cells a second maximum occurred at 30°C. Cross sectional area of both chloroplast types was high at 14°C and low at 22 or 30°C. Positive heterosis was seldom observed but negative heterosis occurred for chlorenchyma cell size at 14°C. This might indicate an improved fitness for photosynthesis at suboptimal temperature because of small cells, especially as W-genotypes generally had large cells at this temperature. A negative heterosis for the stomatal frequency over the whole temperature range might stand for a good fitness of hybrids for photosynthesis, too.
The investigations have shown that the expression of some important anatomical traits is dependent on temperature as well as on origin and genetic structure of maize genotypes.     

A non-destructive selection method for faster growth at suboptimal temperature in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Summary A non-destructive method has been developed to select common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) plants whose growth is less effected at a suboptimal temperature. Shoot weight was determined at a suboptimal (14°C) and optimal temperature (20°C), 38 days after sowing and accessions identified with a significantly lower than average weight reduction at 14°C compared to their weight at 20°C. Weight of primary leaves and of the shoot was correlated with seed weight at both temperatures, but no correlation was found between shoot weight reduction at 14°C and seed weight.     

Seed Composition, Seedling Emergence and Early Seedling Vigour of Red Kidney Bean Seed Produced at Elevated Temperature and Carbon Dioxide

Understanding the influence of growth temperature and carbon dioxide (CO₂) on seed quality in terms of seed composition, subsequent seedling emergence and early seedling vigour is important under present and future climates. The objective of this study was to determine the combined effects of elevated temperature and CO₂ during seed-filling of parent plants on seed composition, subsequent seedling emergence and seedling vigour of red kidney bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ). Plants of cultivar 'Montcalm', were grown at daytime maximum/nighttime minimum sinusoidal temperature regimes of 28/18 and 34/24 °C at ambient CO₂ (350 μmol mol⁻¹) and at elevated CO₂ (700 μmol mol⁻¹) from emergence to maturity. Seed size and seed composition at maturity and subsequent per cent emergence, early seedling vigour (rate of development) and seedling dry matter production were measured. Elevated CO₂ did not influence seed composition, emergence, or seedling vigour of seeds produced either at 28/18 or 34/24 °C. Seed produced at 34/24 °C had smaller seed size, decreased glucose concentration, but significantly increased concentrations of sucrose and raffinose compared to 28/18 °C. Elevated growth temperatures during seed production decreased the subsequent per cent emergence and seedling vigour of the seeds and seedling dry matter production of seed produced either at ambient or elevated CO₂.     

Relationship Between Biomass Yield of Field Grown Maize Genotypes and Seedling Traits under Controlled Conditions

Investigations were done on six maize inbred lines of different origin and their diallel set of crosses. Seedlings grown at 14°, 22°, 30° and 38°C until three leaves stage were studied for morphological, anatomical and photosynthetic traits of leaves. These traits were screened for correlation with shoot dry weight at harvest under field conditions i) in 1981 and 1982 in North Germany, cool climate (CS); ii) 1981 in Thailand (WS). The correlation between seedling traits under controlled conditions and shoot dry weight under field conditions markedly changed after anthesis. Some few seedling traits closely correlated with biomass yield, favourably at 14° and 38°C. They mostly belonged to the morphology and anatomy of the leaves (area first leaf at 38°C, r = 0.6—0.7, all locations; depth of stomata below the epidermal surface at 38°C, r =—0.5 at CS and —0.7 at WS). In spite of significant correlations between single seedling traits and biomass yield a relyable prediction of biomass yield should best be based on a carefully chosen set of seedling traits.     

Differential heat sensitivity of two cool-season legumes,chickpea and lentil,at the reproductive stage,is associated with responses in pollen function,photosynthetic ability and oxidative damage

Increasing temperatures are adversely affecting various food crops, including legumes, and this issue requires attention. The growth of two cool-season food legumes, chickpea and lentil, is inhibited by high temperatures but their relative sensitivity to heat stress and the underlying reasons have not been investigated. Moreover, the high-temperature thresholds for these two legumes have not been well-characterised. In the present study, three chickpea (ICCVO7110, ICC5912 and ICCV92944) and two lentil (LL699 and LL931) genotypes, having nearly similar phenology with respect to flowering, were grown at 30/20°C (day/night; control) until the onset of flowering and subsequently exposed to varying high temperatures (35/25, 38/28, 40/30 and 42/32°C; day/night) in a controlled environment (growth chamber; 12 hr/12 hr; light intensity 750 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹; RH-70%) at 108 days after sowing for both the species. Phenology (podding, maturity) was accelerated in both the species; the days to podding declined more in lentil at 35/25 (2.8 days) and 38/28°C (11.3 days) than in chickpea (1.7 and 7.1 days, respectively). Heat stress decreased flowering–podding and podding–maturity intervals considerably in both the species. At higher temperatures, no podding was observed in lentil, while chickpea showed reduction of 14.9 and 16.1 days at 40/30 and 42/32°C, respectively. Maturity was accelerated on 15.3 and 12.5 days at 38/28°C, 33.6 and 34 days at 40/30°C and 45.6 and 47 days at 42/32°C, in chickpea and lentil, respectively. Consequently, biomass decreased considerably at 38/28°C in both the species to limit the yield-related traits. Lentil was significantly more sensitive to heat stress, with the damage—assessed as reduction in biomass, reproductive function-related traits (pollen viability, germination, pollen tube growth and stigma receptivity), leaf traits such as membrane injury, leaf water status, photochemical efficiency, chlorophyll concentration, carbon fixation and assimilation, and oxidative stress, appearing even at 35/25°C, compared with 38/28°C, in chickpea. The expression of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and non-enzymatic antioxidants declined remarkably with heat stress, more so in lentil than in chickpea. Carbon fixation (assessed as Rubisco activity) and assimilation (assessed as sucrose concentration, sucrose synthase activity) were also reduced more in lentil than in chickpea, at all the stressful temperatures, resulting in more inhibition of plant biomass (shoot + roots), damage to reproductive function and severe reduction in pods and seeds. At 38/28°C, lentil showed 43% reduction in biomass, while it declined by 17.2% in chickpea at the same time, over the control temperature (30/20°C). At this temperature, lentil showed 53% and 46% reduction in pods and seed yield, compared to 13.4% and 22% decrease in chickpea at the same temperature. At 40/30°C, lentil did not produce any pods, while chickpea was able to produce few pods at this temperature. This study identified that lentil is considerably more sensitive to heat stress than chickpea, as a result of more damage to leaves (photosynthetic ability; oxidative injury) and reproductive components (pollen function, etc.) at 35/25°C and above, at controlled conditions.     

Electrolyte Leakage, ATP Content in Leaves and Intensity of Net Photosynthesis in Maize Seedlings at Permanent or Different Daily Exposure to Low Temperatures

Changes were determined in electrolyte leakage (EL), ATP content in leaves and intensity of net photosynthesis (FJ in maize seedlings as a result of continued exposure to low temperatures for several days or, after a cold night (5 °C, 9 h), alternating application of 5 °C and 20 °C temperatures during the lit phase of the day (h of chilling during day/night: 0/9, 5/9, 10/9, 15/9).
At continuous exposure to low temperatures, permanent reduction of ATP content occurred between days 7 and 10, while EL increased significantly between days 4 to 7 (depending on experimental conditions). Of three leaves differing in age, most injuries were found in the oldest leaf. An increased intensity of irradiation from 150 to 500 μE. m⁻².s⁻¹ caused an earlier decrease in the ATP content and a further increase in electrolyte leakage. ATP content showed a 24 h rhythm, it increased at the end of the night and decreased at the end of the day. The rhythm was particularly noticeable in the control plants (20 °C), as well as, however to a lesser extent, in plants exposed to daily fluctuating chilling temperatures. It has also been observed that higher temperatures occurring in day time may diminish electrolyte leakage induced by previous low temperatures
The intensity of F_n determined at 20 °C, 4 h after withdrawal of chilling, decreased with the prolongation of the chilling period during the day.
Thus, it may be assumed that the EL and F_n values as indicators of the plants' sensitivity are in better agreement with the induced chill doses than the ATP content in leaves, which to a greater extent depends on the interaction between chilling and other experimental factors, such as irradiation intensity or the sequence of light and darkness.     

Effects of Temperature on the Alkaloid Content of Seeds of Lupinus angustifolius Cultivars

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of high temperatures during seed filling on the alkaloid content of narrow-leaf lupin cultivars. Six cultivars of Lupinus angustifolius were grown in field experiments under different weather conditions in four subsequent years. A high content of alkaloids was found in the seeds harvested in 2006, in which the growing season was characterized by high ambient temperatures during seed filling. A second experiment was performed in the green house at different temperatures (10, 20 and 30 °C) using one cultivar in 2006. This experiment confirmed the results of the field experiments as higher temperatures resulted in a higher alkaloid content of the seeds. In a third temperature stress experiment, three cultivars were grown under long day conditions at day/night temperatures of 30 °C/16 °C and 20 °C/16 °C in growth chambers in comparison with an outdoor control at mean temperatures of 15.5 °C. Like in the other experiments, the seed alkaloid content increased with rising temperature. From these results, it may be concluded that the seed alkaloid content is strongly influenced by the temperature during initiation of flowering up to pod ripening. This has to be taken into account e.g. in trials for cultivar release in which the alkaloid content is a knock-out criterion.     

The Effect of Cold and Sucrose Concentration on its Uptake and on the Respiration Rate of Isolated Embryos of Winter Wheat

Both at 5°C and 20°C the sucrose concentrations between 8–14 % appear to be optimal from the point of view of dry mass accumulation by the seedling. The metabolic efficiency was also the highest for these concentrations of sucrose.
At both temperatures the hydration of the seedlings was strongly dependent on sucrose concentration in the nutrient, diminishing, respectively, from about 6 to about 2 and from about 10 to about 2 mg H²O × mg DW⁻¹ Such low values of the seedling hydration, however, caused only a 10–20 % decrease of their dry weight. Within the range of the applied sucrose concentration (2–20 %) its beneficial – trophic interaction prevails over the negative – osmotic interaction.
At 5°C, as compared with 20°C, a drop in the seedlings hydration was observed, which appears to be the general response of plants to low temperature of growth.
An analysis of the 24-hour respiration rate of the seedlings when grown at 5°C seems to reveal the occurrence of a process requiring additional metabolic energy and, probably, associated with the vernalization process.
A method of leveling the temperature dependent hydration of the seedling is proposed to enable the selection of high-temperature control in the investigations of the biochemical mechanism of frost hardening and vernalization.     

Influence of Warm Intervals on the Effects of Vernalization and the Composition of Phospholipid Fatty Acids in Seedlings of Winter Wheat

Excised embryos of winter wheat were submitted to a different number of vernalization (2 °C) and devernalization (20 °C) cycles of different lengths. In all treatments sum of cold and warm intervals was 50 and 10 days, respectively. The influence of different temperature conditions of seedling growth on the effectiveness of vernalization and correlations between effectiveness of vernalization and final content of phospholipid fatty acids were analyzed.
All indexes of generative development of plants (length of vegetative phase, % of generative plants, number of side shoots) showed the most effective was uninterrupted vernalization beginning immediately after excision of embryos. Increasing the number of 2 ° C/20 °C cycles rapidly depressed effectiveness of vernalization, which reached the minimum with the 8.3 days at 2 °C and 2 days at 20 °C cycle and then improved again as cycles became shorter and more numerous.
Correlations between indexes of generative plant growth and indexes describing composition of fatty acids in seedlings showed that from 50 % to 60 % of variability in the composition of phospholipid can be associated with changes in the degree of generative induction. A higher degree of generative induction was associated with a higher share of < 16, 16: 0 and 18:2 acids and a lower share of 18: 3 acid and also with a lower value of the 16: 0/< 16 ratio of phospholipids.
The relation between the generative induction of plants and the composition of phospholipid fatty acids may however be blurred when induction proceeds under conditions of alternate short spells of vernalization and devernalization temperatures.     

Studies on the Influence of Photoperiod and Temperature on Floral Traits in Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) under Controlled Stress Conditions

Floral traits of three Japanese and one European buckwheat varieties were studied in a phytotron under three photoperiods (short-day 10/14 h, long-day 14/10 h, extreme long-day 18/6 h) and two thermoperiods (25/20, and 15 °C constant temperature). The Japanese varieties showed a strong delay in flowering under prolonged day length, whereas one European variety reacted almost day-neutral. Also affected by the photoperiod were the number of flower clusters as well as their sizes. A constant low temperature of 15 °C led to a strong delay in flowering under short- and long-day in all the varieties tested. In particular, the Japanese varieties were sensitive to temperature, developing more flower clusters under high temperature. Furthermore the experiments revealed complex genotype/pliotopenod/thermoperiod interactions. The study, conducted to investigate the causes of low seed-set observed in buckwheat, offered some suggestions for new breeding strategies. Insensitive genotypes, showing less sensitivity to photoperiod as well as to thermoperiod, should be included in further buckwheat improvement.     

Influence of Heat Stress on Growth and Leaf Epicuticular Structure of Cabbages

These studies demonstrate that epicuticular wax may effect the water balance of cabbage under high temperature conditions. In ten week old leaves we did not observe that the cristalline structured wax of the variety Kinsyun was reduced as in three week old leaves compared to Sousyu at high day and night temperatures. Neither the wax structure nor the amount of surface wax of eight varieties could be correlated with their ability to build a head. That head formation of the heat tolerant Sousyu stopped at 27/29°C (day/night) suddenly after starting between leaf stage 11 and 15 could not be explained with differences in the optimum of the photosynthesis or water stress.
Growth parameters such as leaf number, length, area and dry weight of additional varieties, Akiou and Braunschweiger, first recommended for summer growing in warm areas and later in a temperate climate, were determined after three month exposure to mean temperature regimes of 27/29, 27/24 and 24/24°C in growth cabins.     

Effect of Temperature and Photoperiod on the Development of Lupinus albus L. in a Controlled Environment

An experiment to determine the effect of temperature and photoperiod on Lupinus albus under controlled environmental conditions was carried out, using the three Lupinus albus genotypes 'Tifwhite', 'Esta' and 'Kiev', and three temperature (10/20, 18/28 and 20 °C continuously) and two photoperiod (8 and 16 h daylength) regimes, in all combinations. Half of the seeds were vernalized for 21 days at 4 °C to alleviate the obligate vernalization requirement of Tifwhite. Although Esta and Kiev do not have obligate vernalization requirements, they were influenced by this vernalization period. Observations included the duration of the period from planting to seedling emergence, the duration of the period from planting to the beginning of flowering and the duration of flowering. The vernalization treatment accelerated plant development in all genotypes. The period from planting to emergence was shorter under the higher temperature regime. For all genotypes, the period from planting to flowering was shorter under the longer photoperiod, the same trend as would be expected for long-day plants. Duration of flowering periods were, in contrast to pre-flowering periods, shorter for all genotypes at cooler temperatures. The results of this study confirm that photoperiod does contribute to the growth period from planting to flowering in L. albus and that this species does behave as a long-day plant.     

Micrometeorological Influences at High Crop Density on Different Genotypes of Silage Maize

In the year 1979, 1981 and 1982 two-factorial experiments with the factors genotypes and crop densities were conducted, connected with the following agrometeorological analyses:
a) outside the canopies: determination of air temperature, air humidity, wind velocity, precipitation, global radiation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)
b) in the interior of the canopies: measurements of air temperature at cobheight, of precipitation components, of the penetration of PAR and of the leaf area index.
The following results were obtained:
a) Influence of high crop densities
1. In high crop densities the greatest part of radiation was absorbed, so that at 30 plants/m² 57% and at 70 plants/m² only 28% of the PAR reached cob height.
2. As a consequence of temperature and decrease of radiation the contents in the leaves of biological energy, of water soluble K.H. and rough protein were reduced.
b) Influence of the leaf posture
3. For genotypes with erected leaf posture the leaf temperatures increased by 0.3°C, on the ground even by 1.2°C above the values of the stand with horizontal leaf posture.
4. Higher air temperatures were measured in the stands with erected leaf posture than in those with a horizontal one.
5. In the cool year 1981 on days with temperatures above 27°C outside the stands, those temperatures were exceeded during 7 hours in canopies with erected leaf posture at a higher plant density (30 plants/m²) and only during 2 hours in canopies with a horizontal leaf posture.     

Temperature Regime of Azolla under Rice

The effects of different rice canopies on the temperature regime of the Azolla plants and their immediate environment were studied in a paddy field in the Philippines.
Diurnal temperature cycles were measured in the field with thermocouples. Without rice plants Azolla temperature reached of up to 41°C, which was 6°C above air temperature. The rice canopy reduced the temperature of Azolla by up to 5°C. The relationship between the temperature of Azolla and of its environment (air and floodwater) is discussed. Differences between the two planting patterns of rice were obvious. With 20 × 20 cm spacing temperatures were reduced to a greater extend and at an earlier rice crop stage than with double-narrow-row spacing. Under extremely high temperatures the nee canopy may improve the conditions for the growth of Azolla.     

Effect of Cold Hardening on Growth and Essential Oil Content of Mentha piperita L.

Divisions of running rhizomes of peppermint plants were planted in loamy clay soil in the experimental farm of National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt. After 21 days, the plants were exposed to low temperature 4, 7°C for 6, 9 and 12 days in controlled chamber before transplanting to large pots in winter season. Three cuttings were taken from the plants of different treatments during the season after 4, 7 and 10 months from transplanting. Representative samples of 6 replicates from each treatment were taken for the determination of vegetative growth and oil content in the leaves and branches.
The results obtained indicated that the highest fresh and dry weight of leaves and branches was recorded in the second cutting, however, it markedly decreased in the third one. The highest favourable effect of cold hardening on vegetative growth was observed at 4°C for 12 days exposure in the second cutting. The percentage of volatile oil in the leaves recorded the highest values in treatment of 7°C for 6 days in the second sampling date. Cold hardening either at 4°C or 7°C resulted in pronounced increase in the essential oil yield produced by the plant with the superiority of 4°C for 12 days which recorded the highest value.
It can be concluded from the obtained results that hardening peppermint plants with low temperature, particularly 4°C for 12 days before transplanting improved plant growth and considerably increased the volatile oil content in plant leaves and branches.     

Effect of Low Temperature of Irrigation Water on Rice Growth and Nutrient Uptake

The study was designed to investigate the effect of cold irrigation water on rice growth and on uptake of N, P, K and Zn applied ca. 50, 20, 35 and 5 mg kg⁻¹ soil, respectively. Cold temperature of irrigation water reduced rice shoot and root dry weight and plant height, significantly compared to hot temperature treatment. Under low temperature stress N was a major rice growth determinant. Increased shoot concentrations of both P and Zn allevated the low temperature stress. The uptake of N, P, K and Zn reduced significantly at low temperature (16.5–20 °C soil and 20–24 °C flood water) compared to high temperature (24.5–27 °C soil and 26.5–29.0 °C), with the strongest effect being noticed for N, followed by P, K and Zn. Application of N, P, K and Zn increased their uptake in rice shoots. Nitrogen and K had synergistic effect on their uptake. Responses to N and K application and their uptake behavior were well marked at higher than at low temperature whereas reverse was true for P and Zn.