Low Temperature Induces the Accumulation of Alcohol Dehydrogenase mRNA in Arabidopsis thaliana, a Chilling-Tolerant Plant.

mRNA encoding alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) increases in etiolated seedlings and leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. upon exposure to low temperature. The analysis of this response after water stress and abscisic acid (ABA) treatments in Arabidopsis wild type and ABA-deficient and -insensitive mutants indicates that cold accumulation of ADH mRNA could be induced by both anaerobic metabolism and increase of ABA concentration resulting from low temperature exposure. By using one Arabidopsis ADH null mutant, we show that ADH activity is not required for successful development of freezing tolerance in this species.