The inhibition of growth by sub-optimal temperatures and the potential for selection at the cellular level

Summary At present research into the inhibition of plant growth by sub-optimal temperatures is concerned with the examination of a large number of factors. No single aspect of the response to temperature has been found to be of paramount importance. As a consequence selection for low temperature tolerance is complicated.Here a new approach is proposed in which inhibition of cell division is regarded as a limiting process in growth under sub-optimal temperatures, and the role of other processes as the supply of substrate for cell division. This approach may be of use in the examination of the response of plant growth to temperature and could form the basis of a method for screening and selection for cold tolerance using cells in culture.Guestworker Project Group Tomato Physiology.