The Peculiarities of Water Crystallization and Ice Melting Processes in the Roots of One-Year Plants (Plantago major L)

Results are presented of a water phase transition study in plantain (Plantago major L.) roots, which were used as a model system to research the peculiarities of water crystallization and ice melting processes in complex heterogeneous biological systems. It was confirmed that water in such systems is crystallized in two clearly distinguished temperature ranges: -10 to -25°C and -25 to -45°C. These water fractions are conditionally attributed to extracellular (-10 to -25°C) and intracellular (-25 to -45°C) solutions. A possible explanation is given for such significant supercooling of the intracellular solution. The values of osmotic pressures of extraand intracellular solutions were determined according to ice melting curves. It is noted that the intracellular solution, which crystallized at lower temperatures, had a lower osmotic pressure.