Patent · US Expired

Prevention of freezing at moderate supercooling using biogenic ice nucleation inhibitors

US4601842A · kind A · utility

30Cited by
7References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 25, 1984
Grant dateJul 22, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 25, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA01G15/00
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A biogenic ice nucleation inhibitor, derivable from a source plant which is normally subjected to freezing stress in its natural habitat, is employed for protecting light frost-sensitive plants against frost injury by inhibiting the ice-nucleating activity of the ice-nucleating bacteria normally present on the plants, and thereby reducing the temperature at which frost injury occurs. The inhibitor is applied to the plants in the form of a solution of a water-soluble denaturable proteinaceous material derivable as a water extract of a source plant component which survives the freezing stress to which the source plant is normally subjected in its natural habitat, such as the seed. The inhibitor is also applicable for reducing the temperature at which ice formation occurs in any other medium containing active ice nucleation initiators, such as, for example, the atmosphere and concrete.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.