Spray Claims to Protect Against Cold Temperatures
2 September 2008 Dean of the University of Alabama Graduate School David Francko has co-developed along with Kenneth Wilson, Quinn Li, and Alejandra Equiza, all of Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, US, a spray that could increase a plant’s cold tolerance by as much as 10 degrees.
Francko, calling it "the holy grail of horticulture," says the spray can be used to lengthen the growing season. The spray can’t protect mature fruits, Francko says, but could protect leaves and flowers from a late spring freeze – as well as allow people to grow plants native to areas 100 to 200 miles south of where they live.
Francko, formerly a Miami University biology professor, explains: "Cold is the thing that causes the most economic damage, not just for farmers and growers but also for the home landscape." The spray, which only has to be applied once or twice a year and can be used on short notice, enhances a plant’s natural cold protection mechanism, says Francko. When the temperature drops, ice crystals form within a plant, destroying its cells. The spray assists the plant’s built-in system to combat this.
Combining five ingredients in a water-based spray formula, Francko reveals that the main ingredient in what he temporarily is calling “FreezePruf” is polyethylene glycol. He also acknowledged that anti-transpirant is one of the ingredients, but wouldn’t name the others, citing proprietary knowledge. However, he says they are all simple ingredients already used in the preparation or growth of edible plants.
Currently looking for someone to license, produce, and market the product, Francko prefers a local company over a large multinational. "We would very much like to keep this product at home," he said. "We’d like to find some Alabama interest to develop this and market it." He hopes the spray will be commercially available by the end of 2008.
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