Energy state of spring and winter wheat during cold hardening. Soluble sugars and adenine nucleotides

Marked increases were found in the content of total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and ATP in winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L. cv. Frederick) during cold hardening. The changes in soluble sugars and ATP of spring wheat ( T. aestivum L. cv. Glenlea) grown under similar conditions were less pronounced. The increase in ATP content during hardening of winter wheat was not associated with significant changes in the content of ADP or AMP. The adenylate energy charge did not change during hardening in either cultivar, but it was higher in the winter cultivar under both growth conditions. This difference could be related to the cold hardiness capacity of winter wheat.