Involvement of Chromosomes 5A and 5D in Cold-Induced Abscisic Acid Accumulation in and Frost Tolerance of Wheat Calli

The relationship between frost tolerance and abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation was studied in callus cultures of three wheat cultivars differing in the level of frost-tolerance, and of the 5A and 5D chromosome substitution lines from the frost-tolerant variety ‘Cheyenne’ into frost-sensitive ‘Chinese Spring’. Following cold hardening, the increase in ABA level in the calli of the two frost tolerant cultivars was significantly higher than in those of the frost-susceptible cultivar. Similarly, in 5A and 5D substitution lines, significantly higher ABA levels were detected than in the recipient ‘Chinese Spring’. One week-long ABA treatment at 26 °C induced a significantly higher level of frost tolerance than that achieved by cold hardening, irrespective of the frost sensitivity of the examined genotypes.