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US 12,010,952 B2Granted
Plant-based compositions for the protection of plants from cold damage
AssigneeWashington State University
InventorsXiao Zhang, Changki Mo, Matthew David Whiting, Qin Zhang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Compositions and methods of protecting plants from cold damage are provided. In particular, the invention provides compositions comprising plant-based nano- and/or micron-sized particles which, when applied to plants or plant parts such as buds, form a non-hydrophilic deposit or film with low thermal conductivity, thereby conferring protection against damage from ice nucleation and cold stress.
Claims4
A method of preventing or limiting ice nucleation on buds of a plant, comprising the steps of
- selecting a plant having a plurality of buds or bud sites, wherein the plant is in a growth stage preceding a fruit set stage;
- spraying onto the plant an aqueous composition which includes
- at least one of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) and cellulose nanofibers (CNF) extracted from wood biomass, and
- at least one surfactant;
- wherein the step of spraying is performed so as to adhere the at least one material onto the buds or bud sites of the plant forming a hydrophobic deposit such that ice nucleation is prevented or limited, and wherein said spraying is performed prior to or during the plant being exposed to freezing temperatures.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.