Biophysical evidence that frostbite is triggered on nanocrystals of biogenic magnetite in garlic cloves (Allium sativum)

Abstract

Trace levels of biologically precipitated magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanocrystals are present in the tissues of many living organisms, including those of plants. Recent work has also shown that magnetite nanoparticles are powerful ice nucleation particles (INPs) that can initiate heterogeneous freezing in supercooled water just below the normal melting temperature. Hence there is a strong possibility that magnetite in plant tissues might be an agent responsible for triggering frost damage, even though the biological role of magnetite in plants is not understood. To test this hypothesis, we investigated supercooling and freezing mortality in cloves of garlic (Allium sativum), a species which is known to have moderate frost resistance. Using superconducting magnetometry, we detected large numbers of magnetite INPs within individual cloves. Oscillating magnetic fields designed to torque magnetite crystals in situ and disturb the ice nucleating process produced significant effects on the temperature distribution of supercooling, thereby confirming magnetite’s role as an INP in vivo. However, weak oscillating fields increased the probability of freezing, whereas stronger fields decreased it, a result that predicts the presence of magnetite binding agents that are loosely attached to the ice nucleating sites on the magnetite crystals.

Magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanocrystals present in many animal and plant tissues are known to be potent ice nucleating particles. Results from a study on garlic predict the presence of magnetite binding agents in plants that help to prevent frostbite.