25/01/2023
Water inside trees during cold temperature:
When water freezes, it expands by approximately 9%. This change in volume can be problematic for plants, as it can damage cell walls by the increase of pressure and can also create pockets of air, which can limit the flow of nutrients and make the plants more vulnerable to pests and diseases.
Some trees have adaptations that help them withstand cold temperatures. Those adaptations include reduction of water content and production of anti-freeze compounds like sugar molecules and alcohols (such as trehalose, ethanol and glycerol), which lower the freezing point of water and reduce the overall risk of cracking or bursting.
