Unique fusion genes are disclosed which are useful for transforming a wide range of plants, and when used in tandem, result in a significant alteration of the plant phenotype with respect to tolerance to the stress from prolonged storage under either dark or cold conditions, or a combination of cold and dark conditions. The gene constructs include (1) a cold-regulated gene (COR15a) promoter to drive an ipt coding sequence that expresses IPT in the tissues of plants or plant parts exposed to a short cold induction period and (2) a cold-regulated gene (COR15a) promoter to drive a (FAD7) coding sequence that expresses a fatty acid desaturase enzyme in the tissues of plants or plant parts exposed to a short cold induction period. Transgenic plants comprising these genes are also disclosed.
