The growth and development of apricot flower organs are severely impacted by spring frosts. To better understand this process, apricot flowers were exposed to temperatures ranging from 0 °C to −8 °C, including a control at 18 °C, in artificial incubators to mimic diverse low-temperature environments. We aimed to examine their physiological reactions to cold stress, with an emphasis on changes in phenotype, membrane stability, osmotic substance levels, and antioxidant enzyme performance. Results reveal that cold stress induces significant browning and cellular damage, with a sharp increase in browning rate and membrane permeability below −5 °C. Soluble sugars and proteins initially rise as osmoprotectants, but their content decreases at lower temperatures. Proline content consistently increases, suggesting a protective role. Antioxidant enzyme activities, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), exhibit a complex pattern, with initial increases followed by declines at more severe cold conditions. Correlation and principal component analyses highlight the interplay between these responses, indicating a multifaceted adaptation strategy. The findings contribute to the understanding of apricot cold tolerance and inform breeding efforts for improved crop resilience.

Limited data are available on the effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) on plant photosynthesis in relation to the nitrogen (N) level. In this study, we investigate photosynthetic responses to ALA in canola plants (Brassica napus L.). We used wild-type plants without ALA addition (controls), wild-type plants with exogenous ALA application, and transgenic plants that endogenously overproduced ALA. The plants were grown hydroponically in nutrient solutions with low, middle, and high concentrations of N. Our results indicate that plants in both treatment groups had higher chlorophyll contents and net photosynthetic rates and lower intracellular CO₂ concentrations in the leaves, as compared to controls. Furthermore, simultaneous measurement of prompt chlorophyll fluorescence and modulated 820-nm reflections showed that the active photosystem II (PS II) reaction centers, electron transfer capacity, and photosystem I (PS I) activity were all higher in treated plants than controls at all N levels; however, the responses of some photochemical processes to ALA were significantly affected by the N level. For example, under low N conditions only, a negative ΔK peak appeared in the prompt chlorophyll fluorescence curve, indicating a protective effect of ALA on electron donation via activation of the oxygen-evolving complex. Taken together, our findings suggest that ALA contributes to the promotion of photosynthesis by regulating photosynthetic electron transport under various N levels. These findings may provide a new strategy for improving photosynthesis in crops grown in N-poor conditions or reduced N-fertilization requirements.