Re: More on seaweed
I've been reading all of the claims about seaweed and thinking back to the
days when I was a algologist (someone who studies seaweed) years ago. I
wonder if the protective properties of seaweed spray (frost protection,
fungal protection) etc. are related to the mucoidal properties of seaweed
-- for those of you who are not familiar with this aspect of seaweed, think
about how the surfaces of most fresh seaweed feel slimy -- the slime (if I
recall correctly)helps the seaweed flow through the water (among other
things) and is also the source of agar and carageenan which are important
products for creating suspensions. If you look at the ingredient list of
your toothpaste, cottage cheese, ice cream, and other products that are
emulsions (even prepackaged chocolate milk), you will no doubt see either
agar or carageenan listed there -- also in those no-fat salad dressings
(that's what thickens them and makes them, in my husband's words, "like
snot"). Anyway, I expect that if you have a watered-down solution of agar
and/or carageenan coating your plants it would be in essence a layer of
gelatin coating that would both be a barrier to fungi and bacteria, and
create a layer of insulation from frost.
Just a thought....
Nan
**********
'''''''''''''''''''''''
Nan Sterman
San Diego County California
Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11
