Elevated Atmospheric CO 2 and Strain of Rhizobium Alter Freezing Tolerance and Cold-induced Molecular Changes in Alfalfa ( Medicago sativa )

Abstract

Taken together, the results suggest that elevated CO2 stimulates plant growth and reduces freezing tolerance. The acquisition of cold tolerance is also influenced by the rhizobial strain, as indicated by lower levels of expression of COR genes and sustained accumulation of VSP-encoding transcripts in alfalfa inoculated with strain NRG34 as compared with strain A2.