Researchers from South Korea have identified a rapid molecular mechanism that enables plants to survive sudden cold stress, a breakthrough that could accelerate the development of climate-resilient crops as extreme weather becomes more common.
In Kenya, one of the countries hard hit by climate shocks, the molecular mechanism will help transform the agricultural sector, which is a pillar of the economy's GDP.
A team from Chonnam National University (CNU) has discovered how low temperatures trigger a hidden genetic “switch” that rewires plant growth, particularly in roots, allowing seedlings to adapt quickly to freezing conditions.
The findings reveal that cold stress actively reprogrammes hormone signaling pathways rather than merely slowing plant growth.
The study, led by Prof Jungmook Kim of the Department of Bioenergy Science and Technology at CNU, shows that exposure to low temperatures causes the rapid breakdown of auxin/indole acetic acid (Aux/IAA) proteins. These proteins normally suppress genes involved in growth. When they degrade under cold stress, they release two key regulators—Auxin Response Factors ARF7 and ARF19—which then activate a master gene known as Cytokinin Response Factor 3 (CRF3).
Activation of CRF3 reshapes root architecture, helping plants maintain growth and survive in cold soils. “Cold stress doesn’t simply slow plant growth, it actively rewires hormone signaling to adapt root development,” Prof Kim says in his study.
The research also reveals that cold conditions stimulate cytokinin signaling, leading to the induction of another gene, CRF2. CRF2 works alongside CRF3 to fine-tune lateral root formation under stress.
Together, the two genes integrate environmental signals with internal hormonal cues, forming a unified cold-response module that allows plants to respond rapidly and efficiently to temperature shocks.
“Plants survive because they integrate external stress with internal developmental programs,” Prof Kim adds. “We have identified one of the key switches enabling that integration.”
The discovery answers a longstanding question in plant biology: how plants detect and respond to sudden cold spells quickly enough to avoid severe damage, especially during early growth stages.
The study was conducted by Prof Kim alongside researchers Uyen Thu Nguyen, Na Young Kang, and Dr Dong Wook Lee, all from Chonnam National University.
Beyond its scientific significance, the research opens new pathways for agricultural innovation, especially for crops grown in high-altitude, cold areas, such as tea, coffee, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits.
