Cold-Sensitive Plant
Cold-Sensitive Plant
any of various plants that may be destroyed by temperatures between 0° and 6°C. The group comprises plants introduced from warm and hot countries, including such cultivated plants as rice, cucumbers, and cotton. The degree of damage from low temperatures depends on the growing conditions, such as humidity and sunlight, and on the species characteristics, age, and physiological state of the plants. Damage to plants from low temperatures is not immediately apparent; it often appears only after higher temperatures return. The destruction of the plants is due to irreversible disruption of the metabolism.