By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Groundbreaking nanotechnology designed to protect cherries, apples and other popular fruits from frost damage is showing positive results in tests by Washington State University researchers.

The research team recently received a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to develop plant-based nanocrystals that coat and protect fruit buds during cold spells in the spring, when temperatures rise and fall unpredictably. The team also received an additional $100,000 from the tree fruit growers of Washington state through the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission to partially fund field trails in support of the technology.

The unique nanocrystal solution was formulated by Xiao Zhang, associate professor at ���سԹ�’ Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory, and a team of collaborators representing multiple disciplines.

“Frost damage happens in spring, as the flowers open and the sensitive tissues in the plant are exposed,” said Matthew Whiting, scientist and professor of horticulture at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center. “If we get a warm week, it signals to the plant that it needs to wake up.

“But plants lose their tolerance to the cold quite quickly, and that’s when we see frost damage,” Whiting added. “You see a lot of crop damage as a result.”

Positive results with preliminary trials

The team, led by professor Qin Zhang, director of WSU’s Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, also includes Xiao Zhang, Matthew Whiting, and Changki Mo, ���سԹ� associate professor of mechanical engineering. Together they conducted their first field trial with the nanocrystals this spring. It showed positive results.

The team will continue the trials over the next three years, seeking to perfect the dosage and application strategy, in addition to the nanocrystal technology.

“We will explore thermal properties of the nanocrystal spray, and focus on fully understanding the mechanism of nanocrystals in frost damage reduction,” Mo said.

If it proves feasible, the technology could have a large impact on the agriculture industry.

“Our preliminary results show the technology to be very promising, even better than we were expecting,” Qin Zhang said. “If we prove that the technology works, and if the method of application is perfected, it will not only have applications in tree fruit, but in many other crops, and beyond. The potential for this technology is huge.”

Unique and renewable characteristics

Since the nanocrystals are made from plant-based material, they represent a more environmentally friendly method for controlling temperatures for crops than current techniques.

Currently, growers use methods such as wind turbines to circulate air and raise the temperature of cold pockets in orchards. Or, they use heaters that cost upwards of thousands of dollars per night, which also give off significant pollution.

“With these unique structural characteristics and physical properties, and the fact that the nanocrystals are all made out of biobased materials and are considered renewable, we are identifying a high-value niche application for tree fruit and frost prevention and protection,” Xiao Zhang said.

Cross disciplines for the future of fruit protection

Researchers from across several disciplines at WSU are working to perfect the nanocrystal method, ensuring a quality product built for industry use, Qin Zhang said.

“No single person who works in chemical engineering and nanocrystal technology, horticulture, mechanical engineering or precision agriculture has complete knowledge on the subject,” Qin Zhang said. “It is truly a transdisciplinary team. Everyone provides expertise in their particular field. This integrated team is covering all knowledge to conduct this research.”

 

Contacts:

• Qin Zhang, director and professor at WSU’s Center for Precision and Automated Agricultural Systems, 509-786-9360, qinzhang@wsu.edu
• Xiao Zhang, associate professor at Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, 509-372-7647, x.zhang@wsu.edu
• Changki Mo, ���سԹ� associate professor of mechanical engineering, 509-372-7296, changki.mo@wsu.edu
• Matt Whiting, scientist and professor of horticulture at WSU’s Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, 509-786-9260, mdwhiting@wsu.edu
• Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� public relations specialist, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

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But when Lake started as a student at Washington State University Tri-Cities, pursuing undergraduate degrees in biology and humanities, she took her efforts to the next level, hoping to promote a culture of sustainability through campus initiatives and community projects.

Lake’s efforts began shortly after she attended a luncheon with CH2M. The organization had provided Lake with funds for a research project through the ���سԹ� Chancellor’s Summer Scholars program where she studied professional women in academia and highlighted the traits, qualities and academic contributions that made them successful. Lake presented her research during a meeting with company executives and attended the luncheon thereafter.

“During the luncheon, I asked representatives from CH2M if their company recycled and I discovered they had an impressive sustainability program,” Lake said. “All of their events are zero-waste. They made a corporate commitment to be as environmentally-friendly as they could.”

Lake said she didn’t think anything would come of that initial discussion, but CH2M communications specialist Lynn Tegeler and Director of Public Relations Dee Millikin contacted Ken Fincher, ���سԹ� assistant vice chancellor of advancement and engagement, voicing they would support Lake’s sustainability efforts in any way they could.

“Dr. Fincher came to me and that was right when I was getting involved with ���سԹ�’ environmental club,” Lake said. “We now had the corporate support, in addition to the administrative support, which was when everything really started to come together.”

Creating new opportunities

Backed by campus administration, community organizations and under the mentorship of Environmental Club advisor Gretchen Graber, Lake and her fellow environmental club members created a number of opportunities for the campus and regional community to get involved in sustainability efforts.

This past school year, the club organized two separate cleanup days at Bateman Island in Richland, Washington, in partnership with organizations such as the city of Richland, the Tapteal Greenway Association and several others. The two events attracted more than 120 volunteers who collected a combined 50 large bags of trash – half, of which was recycled.

“The Bateman Island events were actually far more successful than I had anticipated,” Lake said. “It was inspiring and encouraging to see just how many people, both from ���سԹ� and the general Tri-Cities community, were interested in cleaning up one of our local recreation areas.”

The club also organized their first Earth Day celebration last school year where they welcomed panel members from all over the mid-Columbia region. The event featured food from Ethos Trattoria, which uses sustainable materials, and the club handed out promotional items that define what people can do in their own homes and in the community to reduce, reuse and recycle.

“It’s a great way to publicize not only how people can start recycling more on campus, but also how they can take matters into their own home,” she said.

Lake said Graber was instrumental in the club’s success as she provided the knowledge, community connections and experience that served as a backbone to the group’s efforts.

“Working with Gretchen Graber in the club over the past year and a half has undoubtedly been one of the greatest learning experiences of my time at ���سԹ�,” she said. “Gretchen contributed tremendous efforts toward the club and was invaluable with regard to my growth as a leader and as an aspiring change agent. She connected the club with key community partners. She deserves so much credit.”

Partnering with campus community

Lake recently turned her attention toward working with the campus maintenance and facility teams to publicize recycling and other sustainable practices on campus, with the hope of adding to the positive momentum the university has taken within the last several years to reduce waste.

Carrie Ann Andersen, assistant director of campus facilities and operations, said she had her team make a conscious effort to reduce waste and improve upon the safety standards for cleaning materials on campus. Andersen said she and her team have added several recycling containers on campus, encouraged individuals to have their own paper recycling bins in their offices, as well as adding a few glass recycling containers on campus for the first time this year.

Anderson and her team also switched to environmentally-friendly cleaning products, which reduces the amount of contaminants that are released out into the environment.

“We have cut down the amount of waste and trash sent to the landfill by 50 percent in the last four years,” she said. “We used to have trash pick up on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Now, our trash pick up is on Monday and Friday.”

Anderson said Lake has been a huge help in spreading word of their efforts and educating individuals on how they, too, can take sustainability into their own hands.

“With Elinor, her biggest help is that she is out there, she is talking to people, she is educating them,” she said. “We’re creating a culture of recycling and a culture of sustainability. It’s not only helping the planet. It is good business. Everyone wins.”

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