Vernalization is the method of promoting flowering by exposing young plants to cold treatment, e.g., winter varieties of wheat, barley, oats and rye are given artificial cold treatment and planted in spring in areas of very harsh winters such as Soviet Union to promote flowering in them. In most cereals optimum temperature for vernalization is 4ºC. Receptive organ to chilling is the apical meristem.

Chelation is the process by which certain micronutrients are treated to keep them readily available to a plant once they are introduced into the soil. Stratification is a process by which seeds are pretreated to simulated winter conditions so that germination may occur. The degradation of the seed coat is called scarification. This process permits water to pass through the sead coat so that embryo can begin metabolism.