Shamita P

Cold Tolerance of the Northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)

A Link for General background on cold tolerance

Winter Acclimation and Cold Hardiness of the Blueberry: Primarily geared towards individuals who wish to cultivate blueberries, but provides some good general background information on the cold tolerance associated with regional varieties.

Additionally, Polashock et al (2010) provides substantial background information on genetic basis of cold tolerance. In summary, they discuss that the purpose behind studying these genes is to understand how modifying cold-tolerance in blueberry might prevent massive crop loss due to freezing temperatures during a winter frost. The overall acclimation to cold occurs in two steps, the first of which is induced by a shorter photo-period (less sunlight), and the second of which is induced by lower temperatures. Polashock et al targeted a host of genes in a family of transcription factors called CBF (C-repeat binding factor). These TF appear to bind a conserved region CCGAC within promoters that activate a host of downstream genes involved in cold acclimation. Using this gene as a starting point, I decided to search for candidate genes downstream of CBFs in other species that were being activated in cold conditions.

Searching the CBF (C-repeat binding factor) genes

The exciting thing about CBFs is that they are found in many species of plants. So, if there are genes downstream of this TF in those plant species, they might be good targets for study in blueberry as well. I explored various papers discussing cold tolerance genes in Eucalyptus, Arabidopsis, and common wheat. Although common wheat is a monocot, I felt like it would be worth exploring because like blueberry, it is an important crop and might also have invested interest in its frost tolerance.