Long-term night chilling of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) does not result in reduced CO assimilation.

The aim of this study was to characterise the response of CO assimilation (A) of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to short- and long-term exposures to night chilling. We hypothesised that short-term exposures to night chilling would induce reductions in g and, therefore, A during the following days, while growth of cotton plants for several weeks in cool night conditions would cause elevated leaf carbohydrate content, leading to the down-regulation of the capacity for A.