Carbon partitioning and the impact of starch deficiency on the initial response of Arabidopsis to chilling temperatures

► Carbohydrates accumulated in Arabidopsis rosettes during the first 24 h of cold treatment. ► Sucrose, glucose and fructose syntheses consumed 42% of carbon from photosynthesis. ► Hexose and raffinose accumulations were delayed 6 h plus in the starchless pgm1 mutant. ► Leaf starch may augment the accumulation of specific sugars during a cold shock.