Antifreeze bacteria

Technical articles - Climate resilience

Viticulture Viticulture

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain A506, an antagonistic species to Pseudomonas syringae.

Bacteria present on the surface of plants can have antifreeze properties. The bacterium Pseudomonas syringae is naturally present in the atmosphere and on plants. Its membrane contains a protein that allows it to protect itself against ice crystals. These crystals therefore form at a certain distance from the bacterium without direct contact with its plasma membrane. It is thus partly responsible for frost damage on plants.

It is possible to combat this bacterium using another in order to limit or even destroy its population. Trials are underway with Pseudomonas fluorescens A506 but no efficacy has yet been proven.