Features of transition of perennial grasses with adaptive Triticum-type proteins into anabiosis

During 1–7-day stages of ontogenesis (for example, in winter rye), biochemical changes in the aerial part of perennial grasses with adaptive Triticum-type proteins in the process of entering into the state of anabiosis were studied. It was shown that, at this point, biomass of the aerial part of plant was much higher than of the root system, and it accumulated raffinose, sucrose, glucose, and half-cystine. Synthesis of raffinose and accumulation of half-cystine continued until the stabilization of negative temperatures; as for sucrose and glucose, it ceased upon reaching the average temperature of the physiological zero, then the content of half-cystine and raffinose increased sharply, and the content of sucrose and glucose decreased at the same time. In the aerial parts of plants, fructose and phenylalanine were found, and their content increased upon reaching freezing temperatures. It was concluded that the polymerization of water-soluble proteins occurred in perennial grasses in a state of anabiosis. These proteins, along with raffinose, serve as cryoprotectants; sucrose and glucose are substrates for respiration; fructose is a substrate for respiration and protective metabolite; and phenylalanine is a substrate for the future synthesis of antioxidants.