Abstract. Birch pollen are known to release ice-nucleating macromolecules (INM), but
little is known about the production and release of INM from other parts of
the tree. We examined the ice nucleation activity of samples from 10
different birch trees (Betula spp.). Samples were taken from nine
birch trees in Tyrol, Austria, and from one tree in a small urban park in
Vienna, Austria. Filtered aqueous extracts of 30 samples of leaves, primary
wood (new branch wood, green in colour, photosynthetically active), and
secondary wood (older branch wood, brown in colour, with no photosynthetic
activity) were analysed in terms of ice nucleation activity using VODCA
(Vienna Optical Droplet Crystallization Analyser), a cryo
microscope for emulsion samples. All samples contained ice-nucleating
particles in the submicron size range. Concentrations of ice nuclei ranged
from 6.7×104 to 6.1×109 mg−1 sample. Mean
freezing temperatures varied between −15.6 and −31.3 ∘C; the
range of temperatures where washes of birch pollen and dilutions thereof
typically freeze. The freezing behaviour of three concentrations of birch
pollen washing water (initial wash, 1 : 100, and 1 : 10 000) were
significantly associated with more than a quarter of our samples, including
some of the samples with highest and lowest activity. This indicates a
relationship between the INM of wood, leaves, and pollen. Extracts derived
from secondary wood showed the highest concentrations of INM and the highest
freezing temperatures. Extracts from the leaves exhibited the highest
variation in INM and freezing temperatures. Infrared spectra of the extracts
and tested birch samples show qualitative similarity, suggesting the chemical
components may be broadly similar.