Reaction of triticeae cereals (spring and winter wheat and winter rye) to a change in ambient temperature in the fall-winter period of ontogeny

The state of overwintering cereals during their transition into anabiosis is studied. It is shown that by the time growth processes associated with a decrease of temperature below physiological zero ceases, free amino acids are utilized, the quantitative ratio of protein amino acids changes, and raffinose, sucrose, and phenylalanine accumulate in the aboveground part of the plants. It is concluded that the transition of cereals to a state of anabiosis occurs upon maximum binding of intracellular water by the protein-carbohydrateamino acid complex after stabilization of negative ambient temperatures. The results of this work and a number of previous publications permitted formulating an idea about the structure of the physiological and biochemical mechanism of adaptation to negative temperatures acquired by perennial cereals during evolution.