关键词: 亚适低温, 倒春寒, 生长发育, 抗寒性, 生理生化, 分子机制

Abstract: In recent years, the sub-optimal low-temperature disaster termed “late spring cold (LSC)” has frequently occurred, which seriously constrains the productivity and development of agroforestry, and consequently results in a significant economic loss. In order to alleviate and even avoid the impairment of the LSC on crops and further sustain their normal growth potential, farmers usually apply some remedial approaches such as foliar spraying of fertilizers to lower plant damage by cold. However, such currently  techniques show some limitations including laborious- and time-consuming as well as less effective reduction of the cold damage. Therefore, it is urgently necessary to develop new methods for tackling such problems. This paper  reviewed advances in research of the effects of sub-optimal low temperature on plant growth and development and the related physiological and biochemical processes. The effective role of exogenous application of hormones and other chemicals in relieving cold stress and possible molecular mechanisms of plant in response to chilling injury were discussed. This review was expected to provide valuable theoretical references for the exploration and improvement of plant tolerance to sub-optimal low temperature.

Key words: sub-optimal low temperature, late spring coldness, growth and development, cold resistance, physiological and biochemical, molecular mechanism