NEWS Archive
6th March 2003

Cold Acclimatisation Benefits from Maxicrop

Applications of Maxicrop Concentrate and Maxicrop Original can enhance the ability of frost resistant plants to better withstand cold temperatures.

Trials at the University of Plymouth have confirmed that sprayed prior to the onset of frost, that Maxicrop increases the total soluble protein content – especially the high molecular weight proteins - in plant leaves.

And, after freezing treated plants had significantly less frozen water in crown tissue compared to controls. The speed of water loss from plant cells to form ice on the leaf was also reduced.

This makes plants hardier and better able to withstand subsequent stresses imposed by future frosts reducing potential plant damage.

Two-three applications, targeting the foliage, worked better than just one spray.
The effect is probably due to betaines within the seaweed extract and researchers have seen effects in brassicas and winter barley. The technique is used to protect emerging shoots of early potatoes in the Channel Islands.

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