Naked Science Forum
General Science => Question of the Week => Topic started by: Lewis Thomson on 15/02/2022 15:10:39
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Krzysztof has written to The Naked Scientists to find an answer to this question.
'Why don't plants freeze to death during Winter?'
Discuss your budding thoughts in the comments below...
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plants that survive very low temperatures have the biologic equivalent of antifreeze in their cells preventing the crystallization of water.
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And others die (annuals having seeded) or become dormant and desiccated above ground.
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Plant cells survive sub-freezing temperatures by adjusting their solutes, proteins, and membrane lipids in order to withstand desiccation and avoid ice crystal formation.