Re: More on seaweed
Nan Sterman wrote:
>
> 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
Thank you for this most interesting insight. It sounds like a very good
explanation of the effect.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata,
New Zealand (astride the "Ring of Fire" in the SW Pacific).
