The use of infrared thermal imaging in the study of ice nucleation and freezing of plants

Abstract The results of using an infrared camera, Inframetrics Model 760 LW (Inframetrics, Billerica, MA, USA) and imaging system to record the ice nucleation events in two crop species, potato and cauliflower, is reported. Exotherms were easily visualised by a colour change on videotape. The influence of surface water on potato foliage was illustrated to stimulate warm temperature ice nucleation whilst the absence of surface water allowed relatively deep supercooling (to −8°C). The technique enabled confirmation of the discrete freezing ability of cauliflower florets on an intact curd.