Grafting culture method and application of composition containing UV photocuring adhesive

Abstract

The invention discloses a grafting culture method and application of a composition containing a UV photocuring adhesive. The UV light-cured adhesive composition comprises a UV light-cured resin and hydrophilic particles dispersed in the UV light-cured resin, and the hydrophilic particles absorb water and swell. According to the grafting method of the UV glue containing the hydrophilic particles, the continuous and soft endogenous clamping force generated by water absorption swelling of the hydrophilic particles provides a stable microenvironment for the joint part of the rootstock and the scion, formation of calluses and communication of vascular bundles are facilitated, and grafting failures caused by disturbance or water loss are reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of plant cultivation and breeding, and in particular to a grafting culture method and application of a UV light-curing adhesive composition. Background Art

[0002] Grafting, a key asexual propagation technique in agriculture, is widely used to breed and improve high-quality varieties of commercial crops such as fruit trees, vegetables, and flowers. This technique involves attaching a branch or bud from one plant (the scion) to the stem or root of another (the rootstock), allowing the two to fuse and grow into a single entity, combining the beneficial traits of both parents. During the grafting process, ensuring that the cut cambium layers of the rootstock and scion are tightly aligned and stable before healing is crucial for successful grafting.

[0003] Traditional grafting often uses physical clamping tools such as plastic clips, grafting tubes, tape, or string to temporarily secure the grafted site. These clamps, especially the widespread use of disposable plastic clips, not only consume significant amounts of plastic resources and increase production costs, but also require manual removal of each grafted seedling after it has taken root, increasing labor intensity. Improper disposal of discarded plastic clamps can also cause "white pollution" to farmland and the environment, which is inconsistent with the requirements of sustainable modern agriculture.

[0004] In recent years, in order to overcome the shortcomings of traditional physical clamps, researchers have explored new grafting fixation methods. Among them, the use of ultraviolet (UV) curing adhesives to replace physical clamps has become a research direction. This type of method usually involves coating or spraying liquid UV glue on the grafting interface, and then irradiating it with UV light to quickly solidify the glue within seconds to form a flexible coating layer, thereby achieving fixation and protection of the interface. For example, patent CN117751783A discloses a grafting device and method based on UV adhesive, which uses a flexible film formed by curing UV glue to fix the grafted seedlings, and uses its degradability to achieve automatic shedding. A method of spray grafting using UV adhesive (polyurethane acrylate) is proposed to replace plastic clips.

[0005] However, the existing UV glue grafting technology still has some shortcomings. Simply relying on the adhesion and coating force of the UV glue curing layer itself may not be able to provide sufficient and continuous pre-tightening force in the early stages of grafting, especially when facing the plant's own growth force or external disturbances. In order to ensure the initial fixing effect, some solutions may still need to cooperate with complex bionic clamping structures or short-term physical auxiliary fixation1, which goes against the original intention of simplifying the structure and reducing costs. In addition, the ordinary UV glue curing layer mainly provides coating protection, and the pre-tightening force it generates is relatively limited and may be uneven.

[0006] Therefore, this field urgently needs a new type of grafting fixation technology that can completely abandon physical clamps and rely solely on the adhesive itself to provide stable and reliable pre-tightening force in the early stage of grafting, while maintaining the advantages of UV glue's fast curing, easy operation, and automatic shedding in the later stage, so as to adapt to the large-scale, automated, efficient and environmentally friendly modern grafting production needs. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to solve the deficiencies of the above technical solutions, the object of the present invention is to provide a grafting culture method and application containing a UV light-curing adhesive composition.

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is achieved through the following technical solutions.

[0009] The invention discloses an application of a UV light-curing adhesive composition in plant grafting. The UV light-curing adhesive composition comprises a UV light-curing resin and hydrophilic particles dispersed in the UV light-curing resin. The hydrophilic particles absorb water and swell.

[0010] In the above technical solution, the UV light-curable resin is a mixture of one or more of acrylate resins, polyurethane acrylate resins, epoxy acrylate resins and polyester acrylate resins.

[0011] In the above technical solution, the hydrophilic particles are superabsorbent polymers (SAP) or polysaccharide hydrophilic materials.

[0012] In the above technical solution, the water-absorbing polymer is one or both of cross-linked polyacrylic acid salt and cross-linked polyacrylamide.

[0013] In the above technical solution, the polysaccharide hydrophilic material is a mixture of one or more of alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose salt, chitosan derivative and modified starch.

[0014] In the above technical solution, the mass percentage of the hydrophilic particles in the UV light-curing adhesive composition is 0.1% to 10%, preferably 0.5% to 5%, and more preferably 1% to 2%.

[0015] In the above technical solution, the average particle size of the hydrophilic particles is 50 to 500 μm.

[0016] In the above technical solution, the preparation method of the UV light-curing adhesive composition is to mix the hydrophilic particles and the UV light-curing resin, and disperse the hydrophilic particles in the UV light-curing resin by mechanical stirring or ultrasonic dispersion to obtain the UV light-curing adhesive composition.

[0017] Another aspect of the present invention also includes a plant grafting culture method comprising the following steps:

[0018] Step 1, butting the cut surfaces of the rootstock and the scion to form a joint;

[0019] Step 2: applying the UV light-curing adhesive composition to the joint portion to completely cover the gap at the joint to form a covering layer;

[0020] Step 3, irradiating the wrapping layer with UV light to cure the UV curable resin in the UV curable adhesive composition to form a cured adhesive layer surrounding the bonding portion;

[0021] In step 4, the hydrophilic particles in the solidified adhesive layer absorb the tissue exudate of the stock or scion or moisture in the environment, swell, and generate inward clamping pressure to fix the scion on the stock, thereby completing the grafting.

[0022] Step 5: After the grafting is completed, the grafted seedlings are cultured under adaptive conditions. As the grafted seedlings grow, the solidified adhesive layer cracks and / or degrades, and eventually breaks under the action of the stem growth force and falls off naturally from the junction without human intervention.

[0023] In the above technical solution, the wavelength of the UV light is 320-400 nm, and the irradiation time is 3-20 s.

[0024] In the above technical solution, the coating is performed by spraying, brushing, dipping or dripping.

[0025] The advantages and beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0026] 1. The present invention realizes self-tightening in the initial stage of grafting by generating internal pressure through the swelling of hydrophilic particles, completely replacing traditional plastic or metal clips. It also does not require the auxiliary clamping device required by existing UV glue technology, greatly simplifying the grafting operation process and the structural complexity of the automated grafting equipment, reducing equipment cost and maintenance difficulty.

[0027] 2. This invention uses UV glue instead of disposable plastic clamps, thus avoiding the generation of large amounts of plastic waste at the source. The cured glue layer will eventually fall off automatically. If biodegradable materials are used, it will be more environmentally friendly and in line with the concepts of green agriculture and sustainable development.

[0028] 3. The pre-tightening force is gentle and uniform, improving the quality of grafting: the pressure generated by the swelling of hydrophilic particles is evenly distributed on the entire contact interface on a microscopic scale. The action is gentle and continuous, avoiding local crushing or tissue necrosis that may be caused by physical clamps, and is conducive to the close fit of the rootstock and scion cambium and the rapid formation of callus tissue, thereby potentially improving the grafting survival rate and the quality of the grafted seedlings.

[0029] 4. The UV glue containing hydrophilic particles of the present invention can be prepared by simple mixing, the gluing method is flexible (such as spraying), the UV curing process is fast (completed in seconds), and the entire grafting and fixing step can be completed in a short time with high efficiency. It is very suitable for integration with automated and assembly-line grafting equipment.

[0030] 5. Wide Applicability and Potential Cost-Effectiveness: The grafting method of this invention is applicable to a wide range of plant types, including vegetables, fruit trees, and flowers. A wide selection of hydrophilic particles and UV collagen materials allows for an optimized formulation that balances cost and performance. By reducing fixture and removal costs, the method is expected to significantly reduce the overall cost of grafting seedlings, offering promising economic benefits, particularly in large-scale commercial seedling production. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the grafting process of the UV light-curing adhesive composition in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the principle of pre-tightening force generated by the solidified adhesive layer containing hydrophilic particles absorbing water and swelling in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of the automatic shedding process of the cured adhesive layer as the plant grows and the environment acts in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Among them, 1: rootstock, 2: scion, 3: hydrophilic particles, 4: UV light-curing resin, 5: cured glue layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The technical solution of the present invention is further described below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0036] Example 1

[0037] like Figure 1-Figure 3 A plant grafting and cultivation method containing a UV light-curing adhesive composition comprises the following steps:

[0038] like Figure 1 As shown, step 1, preparing a UV light-curing adhesive composition: slowly adding cross-linked sodium polyacrylate with SAP particles having a particle size of 100-300 μm to an acrylic ester UV light-curing resin 4 glue solution (as a base resin), and using a mechanical stirrer to stir at 500 rpm for 30 minutes at room temperature to ensure that the SAP particles are evenly dispersed in the acrylic ester UV light-curing resin 4 glue solution without obvious agglomeration, to obtain a UV light-curing adhesive composition, wherein the SAP particles account for 1% of the total mass of the UV light-curing adhesive composition.

[0039] Step 2, grafting operation: select cucumber rootstock 1 and scion 2 with the same growth, use a sterilized blade to cut the cucumber rootstock 1 flatly, cut the scion 2 to form a wedge-shaped incision, insert the wedge-shaped incision of the scion 2 into the flat section of the rootstock 1, adjust the position so that the two are docked to form a joint.

[0040] Step 3, gluing and curing: Use a small pneumatic spray device or a manual glue dispenser to evenly apply (such as spraying) the UV light-curing adhesive composition prepared in step 1 to the joint of the cucumber rootstock 1 and the scion 2, ensuring that the joint interface gap is completely covered and extends about 3-5 mm to both sides to form a coating layer with a thickness of about 0.8 mm. Then use a handheld UV LED lamp to irradiate the coating layer for 8 seconds to completely cure the UV light-curing resin 4 to form a transparent, flexible cured adhesive layer 5 surrounding the joint.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, step 4, swelling, fixation and cultivation: the grafted cucumber seedlings are moved into a healing chamber maintained at 85-95% RH. After about 15-20 minutes, the solidified adhesive layer 5 formed in step 3 begins to swell slightly due to the internal hydrophilic particles 3 absorbing environmental moisture and plant wound exudate. This swelling generates an inward clamping pressure (preload) that secures the scion 2 to the stock 1, completing the grafting.

[0042] like Figure 3 As shown, step 5, automatic shedding: continue to cultivate the grafted seedlings under suitable conditions, and the grafted seedlings survive and grow normally. After being planted in the field or greenhouse, as the cucumber plant stems thicken and are affected by environmental factors such as sunlight exposure, temperature and humidity changes, the cured adhesive layer 5 gradually ages, turns yellow, and becomes brittle. About 3-5 weeks after grafting, the cured adhesive layer 5 begins to crack and eventually breaks into pieces under the action of the stem growth force, and falls off naturally from the grafting site without human intervention.

[0043] Example 2

[0044] A plant grafting and cultivation method containing a UV light-curing adhesive composition comprises the following steps:

[0045] Step 1, preparation of a UV light-curing adhesive composition: slowly add food-grade sodium alginate particles (powder) with a particle size of 50-150 microns to a polyurethane acrylate (PUA) type UV light-curing resin 4 glue (as a base resin), and use a mechanical stirrer to stir at 1500 rpm at room temperature for 20 minutes to ensure that the sodium alginate particles (powder) are evenly dispersed in the polyurethane acrylate (PUA) type UV light-curing resin 4 glue without obvious agglomeration, to obtain a UV light-curing adhesive composition, wherein the SAP particles account for 2% of the total mass of the UV light-curing adhesive composition.

[0046] Step 2, grafting operation: select tomato rootstock 1 and scion 2 with the same growth, and use cleft grafting to graft, that is, make a longitudinal incision at the top of the rootstock 1, cut the lower end of the scion 2 into a double-sided wedge shape, insert it into the incision of the rootstock 1, and adjust the position so that the two are butted together to form a joint.

[0047] Step 3, Gluing and Curing: Use a precision dispensing valve to evenly apply the UV light-curing adhesive composition prepared in step 1 to the junction of the tomato and the scion 2, ensuring that the joint interface gap is completely covered and extends about 3-5 mm to both sides to form a coating layer with a thickness of about 0.6 mm. Then use a tunnel-type UV curing oven (conveyor belt speed 1 m / min, UV lamp power 20 W, main wavelength 395 nm) to irradiate the coating layer for 6 seconds to completely cure the UV light-curing resin 4 to form a flexible cured adhesive layer 5 surrounding the junction.

[0048] Step 4: Swelling, Fixation, and Cultivation: The grafted tomato seedlings are placed in a healing chamber maintained at 90% RH. After approximately 20-40 minutes, the solidified adhesive layer 5 formed in Step 3 begins to swell slightly due to the sodium alginate particles absorbing ambient moisture and plant wound exudate. This swelling generates an inward clamping pressure that secures the scion 2 to the stock 1, providing stable initial fixation and completing the grafting.

[0049] Step 5, automatic shedding: Continue cultivating the grafted seedlings under suitable conditions until they survive and grow normally. After being planted in the field or greenhouse, the cured adhesive layer 5 gradually ages, turns yellow, becomes brittle, and biodegrades as the cucumber plant stems thicken and are exposed to environmental factors such as sunlight, temperature, and humidity. Approximately 3-5 weeks after grafting, the cured adhesive layer 5 begins to crack and degrade, eventually breaking into fragments under the influence of stem growth forces and naturally shedding from the grafting site. This process requires no human intervention and causes minimal environmental pollution.

[0050] The grafting survival rate is a key indicator for measuring the success of grafting technology. The grafting methods in Examples 1 and 2, as well as the grafting methods using traditional plastic fixtures and conventional UV-curable resin (without hydrophilic particles) were used. 100 plants were grafted using each of the above grafting methods and cultured under a standard healing environment. The number of surviving plants was counted 21 days after grafting and the survival rate was calculated, as shown in Table 1.

[0051] Table 1

[0052]

[0053]

[0054] As shown in Table 1, the grafting methods of Examples 1 and 2 achieve a higher survival rate for the grafted seedlings, while also offering significant advantages such as simplified operation, environmental friendliness, and ease of automation. Although direct comparative experimental data await further large-scale verification, based on its mechanism of action and the performance of existing related technologies, the present invention has great potential in ensuring a high survival rate.

[0055] The above is an exemplary description of the present invention. It should be noted that, without departing from the core of the present invention, any simple deformation, modification or other equivalent replacement that can be made by other skilled in the art without expending creative labor falls within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. Application of a UV light-curing adhesive composition in plant grafting, characterized in that: The UV light-curing adhesive composition includes a UV light-curing resin and hydrophilic particles dispersed in the UV light-curing resin, wherein the hydrophilic particles absorb water and swell.

2. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The UV light curing resin is a mixture of one or more of acrylate resin, polyurethane acrylate resin, epoxy acrylate resin and polyester acrylate resin.

3. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The hydrophilic particles are water-absorbing polymers or polysaccharide hydrophilic materials.

4. The use according to claim 3, characterized in that The water-absorbing polymer is one or both of cross-linked polyacrylic acid salt and cross-linked polyacrylamide.

5. The use according to claim 3, characterized in that The polysaccharide hydrophilic material is a mixture of one or more of alginate, carboxymethyl cellulose salt, chitosan derivative and modified starch.

6. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The mass percentage of the hydrophilic particles in the UV light-curing adhesive composition is 0.1% to 10%, preferably 0.5% to 5%, and more preferably 1% to 2%.

7. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The average particle size of the hydrophilic particles is 50 to 500 μm.

8. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The preparation method of the UV light-curing adhesive composition comprises mixing the hydrophilic particles and a UV light-curing resin, and dispersing the hydrophilic particles in the UV light-curing resin through mechanical stirring or ultrasonic dispersion to obtain the UV light-curing adhesive composition.

9. A plant grafting culture method, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step 1, butting the cut surfaces of the rootstock and the scion to form a joint; Step 2, applying the UV light-curing adhesive composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8 to the joint portion, completely wrapping the gap at the joint to form a wrapping layer; Step 3, irradiating the wrapping layer with UV light to cure the UV curable resin in the UV curable adhesive composition to form a cured adhesive layer surrounding the bonding portion; Step 4, the hydrophilic particles in the solidified adhesive layer absorb tissue exudate from the stock or scion or moisture in the environment, swell, and generate inward clamping pressure to fix the scion on the stock, completing the grafting; Step 5: After the grafting is completed, the grafted seedlings are cultured under adaptive conditions. As the grafted seedlings grow, the solidified adhesive layer cracks and / or degrades, and eventually breaks under the action of the stem growth force and falls off naturally from the junction without human intervention.

10. The plant grafting culture method according to claim 9, characterized in that: The wavelength of the UV light is 320-400 nm, and the irradiation time is 3-20 seconds; the coating is performed by spraying, brushing, dipping or dripping.

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