Frost Control 2024

Posted by Daniel Schuurman on Jun 07, 2024

Newsletter June 2024

Frost Protection in Crops: The Role of Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Pseudomonas fluorescens, a species of bacteria, has been the subject of extensive research due to its potential applications in sustainable agriculture. One of the most promising applications of P. fluorescens is its ability to control frost damage in crops. This article delves deeper into the benefits of using P. fluorescens.

Pseudomonas fluorescens: A Natural Frost Protector

Pseudomonas fluorescens has been found to significantly reduce frost damage in crops. Research conducted in Australia and worldwide has reported up to an 99% reduction in frost damage at temperatures as low as -15°C. This significant reduction in frost damage has led to reported increases in yield ranging from 25-100% for numerous crops across many regions.

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism by which P. fluorescens achieves this remarkable feat is through a process known as ice nucleation activity (INA). Certain strains (not all) of P. fluorescens are known as INA- bacteria, meaning they lack the genes responsible for the production of ice-nucleating proteins (INPs). These INPs are critical in frost injury as they provide a suitable nucleus for ice formation.

P. fluorescens strain, an INA- bacterium, has been found to have efficient activity at temperatures ranging from -8 to -15°C. This means that this strain of P. fluorescens can effectively prevent frost damage in crops even at these low temperatures.

Horti-Tech Foliar Protect: A Game Changer

The Horti-Tech Foliar Protect product is a unique blend that includes an INA strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens. This product offers a natural solution to frost damage, providing protection for most crops. It outcompetes ice nucleating bacteria, effectively reducing virtually all frost damage from crops. It has proven more effective than wind, water or frost cloth as these rely on altering the temperature not the cause of the frost damage.

Horti-Tech Foliar Protect is also designed to be alternated with the Horti-Tech Foliar Boost and used in conjunction with a soil and root health program using the Horti-Tech Root Boost product in the soil or media around the root zone.

Advantages Over Other Methods

The use of P. fluorescens as a biocontrol agent offers several advantages over traditional methods of frost damage control. Unlike chemical pesticides, P. fluorescens is a natural solution that does not harm the environment or ecosystem. Moreover, it does not lead to the accumulation of toxic residues in the environment or cause undesirable effects on non-target organisms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pseudomonas fluorescens offers a promising, eco-friendly solution to controlling frost damage in crops. Its ability to significantly reduce frost damage and increase crop yield makes it an attractive alternative to traditional methods of frost damage control. The Horti-Tech Foliar Protect product, which contains Pseudomonas fluorescens, further enhances this potential, offering a practical and effective solution for farmers worldwide.

References

3 A comparative evaluation of freezing criteria and molecular characterization of epiphytic ice-nucleating (Ice+) and non-ice-nucleating (Ice−) Pseudomonas syringae and Pseudomonas fluorescens3 1Pseudomonas fluorescens: A Promising Biocontrol Agent and PGPR for Sustainable Agriculture1 2Preventing frost damage with bacterial help - Novum Lifesciences2

Pathogenic bacteria responsible for inducing frost harm and plant disease

Frost formation in the presence of bacteria, such as Pseudomonas syringae and Erwinia herbicola, involves a process known as ice nucleation activity (INA). These bacteria are known as INA+ bacteria, meaning they possess the genes responsible for the production of ice-nucleating proteins (INPs). These INPs provide a suitable nucleus for ice formation1.

When the temperature of the air drops below its dew point, excess water vapor is forced out of solution, resulting in a phase change directly from water vapor (a gas) to ice (a solid). As more water molecules are added to these initial ice seeds, crystal growth occurs, forming ice crystals1. This process can start at about -2°C, whereas without INA+ bacteria, ice nucleation on leaves would only occur at much lower temperatures.

The formation of frost on plants can cause significant damage, especially to frost-sensitive species. The ice crystals that form within the plant cells can puncture cell walls, leading to cell death and visible damage to the plant tissue. The temperature at which injury to plants occurs is predictable based on the ice nucleation activity of leaf discs, which in turn depends on the number and ice nucleation activity of their resident bacteria.

Explore

Pseudomonas syringae, a common member of epiphytic communities and an important phytopathogen in diverse crops, plays a significant role in ice nucleation. This bacterium produces highly efficient biological ice nuclei (IN) that have been proposed to influence precipitation by freezing water in clouds.

The ice nucleation activity of P. syringae originates from a large protein situated at the cell’s outer membrane, which forms multimeric clusters that structure water into an ice-like array promoting its phase change2. This protein, called InaZ, allows the bacterium to freeze supercooled water with exceptional efficiency at temperatures above -10°C. Homologs of this protein have been identified in other ecologically similar species also active as IN.

The ice nucleating nature of P. syringae incites frost development, freezing the buds of the plant and destroying the occurring crop. The introduction of an ice-minus strain of P. fluorescens to the surface of plants would reduce the amount of ice nucleate present, rendering higher crop yields.

This ability of P. syringae to form efficient IN has been long suggested to possibly influence atmospheric processes. Glaciation, the freezing of the droplets that compose clouds, is an important mechanism leading to precipitation, and is largely determined by IN particles present in suspension in the air.

In conclusion, Pseudomonas syringae plays a crucial role in ice nucleation, influencing not only plant health and crop yields but also atmospheric processes and weather patterns.

Lastly: Can Frost Damage Occur without INP Bacteria?

In the absence of ice-nucleating proteins (INPs) produced by bacteria like Pseudomonas syringae, water droplets can remain in a supercooled liquid state at temperatures as cold as -40°C1. However, in nature, frost can form at a few degrees below 0°C2. This process requires the assembly of tens of thousands of ice-like water molecules that align together to initiate freezing at these relatively high temperatures2. But without the presence of INPs, the freezing point of pure water droplets can drop significantly, potentially as low as -40°C 1. It’s important to note that the exact temperature can vary depending on specific environmental conditions3.

Horti-Tech Foliar Protect and the Organically Certified Biologix Sudo-Shield and the Home Garden Step 4 Foliar Protect products, have been used for frost protection for over 15 years in an ever increasing range of crops. From Cherries, Kiwifruit, Grapes, Avocado, Maize, Citrus, Ornamentals, Vegetables to Apricots and more.

Horti-Tech Foliar Protect

$155.20

Horti-Tech Foliar Protect™

New Formulation Improved Performance, Double the Strength, Half the application rates, lower costs per hectare

Microbial Enhanced Nutrition

• Healthy, balanced growth
• Powerful plant recovery tool
• Promote Plant I.S.R
• IPM compatible
• No MRLs or with holding periods
• Includes Ca,Mg,N,B
• Prevents Frost Damage as low as -8degC
• Includes multiple Kelp species
• Beneficial bacteria species
• Fulvic acid

APPLICATION RATES:
Crop Foliar Spray
Vegetables 12.5-25 L/ha Weekly or as required
Orchards & Vineyards 12.5-25 L/ha Every 2 -4 weeks or as required
Ornamentals 12.5-25 L/ha Every 2 -4 weeks or as required
Turf 12.5-25 L/ha Every 2 -4 weeks or as required
Broadacre Crops 12.5-25 L/ha as required
Pasture 12.5-25 L/ha Autumn and Winter

How it works:

This unique group of beneficial microbes also provide Frost protection for most crops.

A little know fact is that ice particles form around a nucleus and that nucleus is most often bacteria. We use a beneficial group of organisms that out compete these Ice nucleating bacteria, and this is very effective at reducing virtually all frost damage from crops. It has proven more effective than wind, water or frost cloth as these rely on altering the temperature not the cause of the frost damage.

To show you how ice forms there is a clever little clip showing chilled but unfrozen pure water that they add these Ice nucleating bacteria too, watch here

Beneficial Microbes: The Horti-Tech Foliar Protect™ product is based on a range of task specific beneficial microbes. These perform a wide range of tasks, such as nitrogen fixation, solubilise nutrients,improve crop resilience against pest and disease attack by stimulating the plants immune system response, competing with and antagonising pathogens.

Kelp:

Three Species of Kelp, Laminaria, Sargassum, and Ascophyllum Nodosom, provide very high levels of Auxins, Gibberrellic Acid, and Cytokinins along with a very wide range of nutrition.
Fulvic Acid: Increases nutrient uptake through cell desensitisation, promotes growth in low light conditions as it works as an electrolyte, supports beneficial bacteria, natural chelating agent. Increases crop yields and quality.

Compatibility: compatible with most inputs, except products that are highly alkaline or contain Phosphorus.
Use by: The contents are stabilised, and are good for 12 months unopened, but contain a high level of organic components to support and sponsor microbial life, so once opened should be used promptly.
Storage: Store in a cool environment away from direct sunlight to maximise shelf life.
Horti-Tech Range™: The Horti-Tech Foliar Protect™ is designed to be alternated with the Horti-Tech Foliar Boost™ and used in conjunction with a soil and root health program using the Horti-Tech Root Boost™ product in the soil or media around the root zone. They can be used with conventional programs to help reduce the amount of pesticide required or used on their own in a totally biological approach.

Typical Analysis:

Calcium 3.1%

Magnesium 0.5%

Nitrogen 2.8%

Boron 312 ppm

Sulphur 98 ppm

Biologix Sudo-Shield

Tri-Kelp:

Three Species of Kelp, Laminaria, Sargassum, and Ascophyllum Nodosom, provide very high levels of Auxins, Gibberrellic Acid, and Cytokinins.

Fulvic Acid

Incompatibility:

Do not tank mix with BAM or Aureo Gold

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Step 4 Protect

$19.99

Step 4 Protect

This is Step 4 of our 4 step gardening system.

Protect™ is a unique combination of plant nutrients and beneficial microbes providing immune support to protect your precious plants.

This unique group of beneficial microbes also provide Frost protection for most crops.

To show you how ice forms there is a clever little clip showing chilled but unfrozen pure water that they add these Ice nucleating bacteria too, watch here

Instructions on use:

Invert container several times before use
Dilute 10:1 and spray onto foliage with a fine mist.
Covers approximately 200m2 Alternate weekly with Step 3 for a complete plant health program.

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BioLogix

10 Opawa St
MBH
Blenheim 7201
New Zealand

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