Abstract
Temperate species have adapted to seasonal temperature variation. On the metabolic level this adjustment is enabled mainly by the synthesis and accumulation of protective compounds.
One way of getting information about the responses of various genotypes to environmental conditions is to study transcription of genes to mRNA. The goal was to compare leaves and crowns mRNAs of winter barley in the course of cold hardening.
Using DNA chips we identified genes with significantly altered expression that were grouped into clusters with similar expression profile. Both crowns and leaves were characterized by lethal temperature determined by freezing tests.
The results will enable to identify the key genes that play a role in the response of barley to cold stress and using these genes as markers in breeding and identification of varieties with good and weaker cold hardiness.