**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** EVEN THOUGH IT IS BELIEVED THAT ONE-THIRD OF THE PLANET'S TOTAL LAND AREA IS IDEAL FOR AGRICULTURAL FARMING THERE IS A LIMITATION TO WHAT CAN BE GROWN IN SPECIFIC REGIONS DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PRECIPITATION, TEMPERATURE, AND AVAILABLE NUTRIENTS. COLD STRESS IS A MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL FACTOR THAT CAN LIMIT AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION BY SEVERELY IMPACTING VARIOUS PROCESSES OF THE CROP. ULTIMATELY, RESULTING IN YIELD LOSS, DECREASED MONETARY GAIN, AND EVEN INCREASED INPUT TO MAINTAIN THE CROPS WHICH CAN LEAD TO NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER, MOST TEMPERATE CROPS, SUCH AS WHEAT, CAN ADAPT WHEN EXPOSED TO LOW, NON-LETHAL TEMPERATURES, BEFORE UNDERGOING SUBLETHAL COLD STRESS. THEREFORE, THIS PROPOSED RESEARCH IS IMPORTANT TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL INTENSIFICATION. TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE ABOVE, THIS PROPOSAL WILL USE BASIC MOLECULAR AND GENETIC TECHNIQUES TO DETERMINE HOW WINTER WHEAT MAINTAINS ITS HIGH FREEZING TOLERANCE. BY DOING SO, THIS PROJECT WILL IDENTIFY GENES OR MECHANISMS IN WHICH BREEDERS ARE ABLE TO TARGET TO IMPROVE COLD RESPONSES IN WHEAT OR OTHER CROPS. FURTHERMORE, THIS PROJECT WILL ALSO USE STATISTICAL AND COMPUTER SOFTWARE TO LOCATE SPECIFIC MARKERS ASSOCIATED WITH COLD TOLERANCE IN WINTER AND SPRING WHEAT. IF MARKERS CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND THEIR LOCATION BREEDERS ARE ABLE TO USE THESE IN BIOENGINEERING MORE COLD HARDY CROPS.