Low temperatures have adverse impacts on plant growth, developmental processes, crop productivity and food quality. It is becoming clear that Ca2+ signaling plays a crucial role in conferring cold tolerance in plants. However, the role of Ca2+ involved in cold stress response needs to be further elucidated. Recent studies have shown how the perception of cold signals regulate Ca2+ channels to induce Ca2+ transients. In addition, studies have shown how Ca2+ signaling and its cross-talk with nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways ultimately lead to establishing cold tolerance in plants. Ca2+ signaling also plays a key role through Ca2+/calmodulin-mediated Arabidopsis signal responsive 1 (AtSR1/CAMTA3) when temperatures drop rapidly. This review highlights the current status in Ca2+ signaling-mediated cold tolerance in plants.
Keywords: calcium signaling; cold stress response; plants.