Brassinosteroids participate in the control of basal and acquired freezing tolerance of plants

Cold stress is an influential environmental factor that affects plant distribution and can strongly limit crop productivity. Plants have evolved sophisticated signaling cascades that enable them to withstand chilling or even freezing temperatures. These cascades alter the biochemical composition of cells for protection from damage caused by low-temperature stress. In addition, cold stress has a profound impact on plant morphologies, causing growth repression and reduced yields. In this work we reveal that the brassinosteroids, a class of steroid hormones that is known for its role in growth control, also confers freezing tolerance in plants and describe regulatory circuits that contribute to this activity. Implications for the breeding of cold-resistant plants are discussed.