Abstract Background Cold stress is an efective factor in reducing production and injuring fruit trees. Various materials, such as salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, and putrescine, are used to alleviate the damage of abiotic stress. Results The efect of diferent treatments of putrescine, salicylic acid, and ascorbic acid on alleviating the damage of frost stress (−3 °C) to grapes ‘Giziluzum’ was investigated. Frost stress increased the amount of H2O2, MDA, proline, and MSI. On the other hand, it decreased the concentration of chlorophyll and carotenoids in the leaves. Putrescine, salicylic acid and ascorbic acid signifcantly increased the activities of catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase under frost stress. Following frost stress, the grapes treated with putrescine, salicylic acid, and ascorbic acid showed higher levels of DHA, AsA, and AsA/DHA than the untreated grapes. Our results showed that the treatment with ascorbic acid outperformed the other treatments in adjusting frost stress damages. Conclusion The use of compounds, such as ascorbic ac id, salicylic acid, and putrescine, modulates the efects of frost stress, thereby increasing the antioxidant defense system of cells, reducing its damage, and stabilizing stable cell conditions, so it can be used to reduce frost damage to diferent grape cultivars.
