Also, the developmental stage of the plant when frost
protection is required may also play a significant role since frost
tolerance and/or avoidance can vary on a seasonal and develop-
mental basis. In spite of these and other considerations, such as the
resistance of the public to genetically engineered crop plants, it is
likely that the development of transgenic plants expressing AFPs
will eventually result in crops and horticulturally important plants
that survive exposure to frosts of −5 or 6 ◦ C, and perhaps lower
temperatures. Such developments will have tremendous positive
results for growers by reducing or eliminating losses to damag-
ing frosts, and expanding both the geographical range and growing
periods for crops.