Plants are vulnerable to sudden cold snaps. This is largely because the cells of crops like wheat are made up of about 80 percent water. When temperatures drop low enough for that water to freeze, the cells can burst, much like bottles of water left outside in freezing weather. This can lead to the death of the plants. However, if the cold sets in gradually—say, during autumn when temperatures slowly decline—wheat has time to adapt to the impending winter, a process experts refer to as “hardening off.” During this period, the plant undergoes significant changes: its growth slows down, and it focuses its energy on accumulating the fats, sugars, and proteins necessary for surviving the winter. Any excess water begins to crystallize not within the cells, but in the spaces between them when faced with mild frosts.
It’s ideal when everything goes according to plan—when the cold arrives slowly, step by step, allowing plants to gradually acclimate. But what happens when a sudden freeze hits?
In such cases, the unprepared cells can perish. This isn’t just about dead flowers on windowsills; sudden cold can lead to significant losses in agriculture. It’s no secret that every year, a portion of winter grain crops must be reseeded. Remember the winter of 1978/79, when many fruit orchards in Moscow and the surrounding region were devastated?
During the search for solutions, it became clear that the key was to find substances that could “boost” the adaptive mechanisms in plants.
This research spanned several years, leading to the development of a special preparation called Kartolin. This substance helps plants accumulate more proteins, fats, and sugars than usual, which are essential for better cold tolerance. Additionally, treated grains contain less “ice-dangerous” water.
In experiments conducted at temperatures where plants typically perish—between 18 and 20 degrees Fahrenheit—all of the untreated wheat stems died, while 30 to 40 out of 100 treated with Kartolin survived. In other words, the preparation increases the frost resistance of plants by 30 to 40 percent. Positive results have also been observed in trials with fruit trees. However, the search continues, and we hope that in time, substances will be discovered that will enable plants to withstand severe cold, preserving a significant portion of the harvest for people.