Device for treating plants after harvesting

Abstract

To provide a plant treatment apparatus capable of increasing the amount of useful components in a harvested plant.SOLUTION: According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a plant treatment apparatus including a holding unit configured to hold a harvested plant, and an irradiation unit configured to emit light having a peak wave length in a wave length range of 270 to 290nm and light having a peak wave length in a wave length range of 370 to 400nm, wherein the irradiation unit is configured to irradiate the plant held by the holding unit with the light having a peak wave length in the wave length range of 270 to 290nm and / or the light having a peak wave length in the wave length range of 370 to 400nm.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for treating post-harvest plants. [Background technology]

[0002] Cannabinoid compounds and terpene compounds contained in plants are used for medical purposes in many countries. Recent research has focused on the pharmacological effects of rare cannabinoids other than the major cannabinoids (THC and CBD), while a technique has been developed to increase the amount of useful substances synthesized in plants by irradiating the plants with light. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a method for increasing the amount of secondary metabolites contained in harvested dicotyledonous flowers by irradiating the harvested plants with ultraviolet light and then irradiating them with blue or red light while drying. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2018-145345 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] There is a need for a technology that can efficiently increase the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in plants. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a method for treating post-harvest plants, comprising an irradiation step of irradiating a harvested plant with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, at an irradiation amount effective for increasing the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant, wherein the irradiation amount of light of all wavelengths in the wavelength range of 410 to 700 nm received by the plant during the irradiation is less than 20% of the irradiation amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or less than 20% of the irradiation amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. The present disclosure also provides a method for producing a product containing at least one rare plant cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound, comprising the step of drying a plant treated by the above-described treatment method.

[0006] The present disclosure also provides a method for producing an extract containing plant-based rare cannabinoid compounds or terpene compounds, the method comprising extracting at least one rare cannabinoid compound or terpene compound from a plant treated by the above-described treatment method. The present disclosure also provides a method for producing plant-based rare cannabinoid compounds or terpene compounds, which includes a step of purifying rare cannabinoid compounds or terpene compounds from plants treated by the above-mentioned treatment method.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, there is further provided a plant treatment device comprising: a holding unit capable of holding a harvested plant; and an irradiation unit capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, wherein the irradiation unit is capable of irradiating the plant held in the holding unit with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to efficiently increase the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in plants. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of an apparatus of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating another embodiment of the device of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] 1 is a graph showing changes in the content of total THC, total CBD, and monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and total terpene compounds in a harvested Cannabis plant (BLK Label) due to irradiation with light according to the present disclosure. [Figure 4] 1 is a graph showing changes in the content of total THC, total CBD, and monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and total terpene compounds in the harvested Cannabis plant RGM Argvana Heart due to irradiation with light of the present disclosure. [Figure 5] 1 is a graph showing changes in the contents of total THC, total CBD, and monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and total terpene compounds in the harvested Cannabis plant MUN Shine 6 due to irradiation with light according to the present disclosure. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the spectrum of a light source used in an experiment according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] From one perspective, the present disclosure provides a method for treating harvested plants, comprising an irradiation step of irradiating a harvested plant with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, at an irradiation amount effective for increasing the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant, wherein the irradiation amount of light with all wavelengths in the wavelength range of 410 to 700 nm received by the plant during the irradiation is less than 20% of the irradiation amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or less than 20% of the irradiation amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm.

[0011] In the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, a numerical range "a to b" (a and b are specific numerical values) means a range including the values ​​at both ends, "a" and "b." In other words, "a to b" is synonymous with "a or more and b or less," unless otherwise clearly stated. In this disclosure, a "harvested plant" or a "post-harvest plant" (the terms are used interchangeably herein) refers to a plant that is in a state where it is deprived of nutrients and water supply through its roots and is capable of biosynthesis of cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds (synthesis through the action of plant enzymes). In this case, water supply refers to water supply from a source other than water vapor contained in the ambient atmosphere. Alternatively, a "harvested plant" or a "post-harvest plant" refers to a plant that is in a state where it is not exposed to photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) at a photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) exceeding the plant's light compensation point and is capable of biosynthesis of cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds. For the avoidance of doubt, in this disclosure, when we simply refer to a "plant", we are referring to the plant after harvesting, unless the context makes it clear that such a limitation should not be imposed.

[0012] The post-harvest plants are not limited by the cultivation method before harvest. Thus, the post-harvest plants may be cultivated in soil (e.g., open field or greenhouse cultivation) or in a nutrient solution (e.g., hydroponics, solid medium cultivation, or spray cultivation) before harvest. When the treatment method of the present disclosure is carried out for the purpose of producing pharmaceuticals or foods, the post-harvest plants are preferably cultivated in a nutrient solution (particularly under sterile conditions) before harvest. Furthermore, the post-harvest plants may be cultivated from seeds or may be clonal plants (e.g., by cuttings or callus culture). The time from harvest to the irradiation step is not particularly limited as long as the harvested plant is capable of biosynthesizing at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound, but may be, for example, within 2 weeks, more specifically within 10 days, more specifically within 1 week, more specifically within 5 days, more specifically within 2 days, more specifically within 24 hours, more specifically within 12 hours, more specifically within 6 hours, more specifically within 3 hours, more specifically within 2 hours, or more specifically within 1 hour.

[0013] Preferably, the harvested plant is a plant that has been kept fresh at the time of the irradiation step. In the present disclosure, "freshness" refers to the ability of the harvested plant to biosynthesize at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound, and "freshness-maintained" refers to the freshness being maintained at the time of the irradiation step. The treatment for preserving freshness may be, for example, storing the harvested plants in the dark, and / or supplying the harvested plants with a liquid comprising water, and / or storing the harvested plants at low temperatures. In the present disclosure, a "dark place" refers to a place where the PPFD is below the light compensation point of the plant or 10 μmol / m 2 / s or less (more specifically, 5 μmol / m 2 / s or less, more specifically 2 μmol / m 2 / s or less, more specifically 1 μmol / m 2 / s or less). In the present disclosure, "low temperature storage" refers to storage in an environment of 0 to 15°C, for example, 0 to 10°C, more specifically 1 to 10°C, more specifically 4 to 10°C, and even more specifically 4 to 8°C.

[0014] A liquid comprising water can be supplied to a plant by, for example, spraying, immersion, or contact with a water-retaining material (e.g., a water-absorbent polymer). When harvesting is performed by cutting (e.g., stems), it is preferable to supply the liquid from the cut surface. When the supply is by spraying, the spray may be continuous or intermittent. In the present disclosure, the "liquid comprising water" may be water (including tap water) or water containing at least one substance selected from the group consisting of precursor substances of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds and plant hormones. Examples of precursor substances include amino acids such as phenylalanine and tyrosine, and glycolytic metabolites such as pyruvate and acetyl-CoA. Examples of plant hormones include abscisic acid, a hormone that promotes biosynthesis. The liquid containing water may contain additives such as alcohol for sterilization purposes, surfactants for improving water uptake, acids such as vinegar and citric acid for antibacterial / bacteriostatic purposes, sugars, vitamins, inorganic salts as energy sources, and plant aging hormone inhibitors for preventing plant aging, but when the treatment method of the present disclosure is carried out for the purpose of producing pharmaceuticals or foods, the liquid containing water preferably does not contain any additives. The water constituting the liquid is preferably sterilized water. The freshness preservation treatment is preferably started as soon as possible after harvest, for example, within 6 hours, more specifically, within 4 hours, more specifically, within 2 hours, more specifically, within 1 hour, more specifically, within 30 minutes, and most preferably immediately after harvest. The freshness preservation treatment is preferably continued until just before the irradiation step.

[0015] In the present disclosure, the post-harvest plant irradiated with ultraviolet light in the irradiation step (hereinafter also referred to simply as "irradiated plant") may be in the form of an entire plant including a shoot system and a root system, or in the form of a plant part such as a root or a shoot. The shoot includes at least one of a stem, a leaf, a flower, and a fruit (each of which may be a part, for example, a pericarp). The irradiated plant may be, for example, a shoot system including a flower, a leaf, a pericarp, or a flower and / or a leaf and / or a stem (more specifically, a shoot system consisting of a flower, a stem, and optionally a leaf, or a shoot system consisting of a stem and a leaf). The stem includes a rachis, a pedicel, and a pedicel. The flower may be a spike. In the present disclosure, the plant part includes a seed, and, if applicable, trichomes (hair-like protrusions). In the present disclosure, the irradiated plant species is not particularly limited as long as it is a plant species that can produce at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound. The irradiated plant species may, for example, have a UVR8 photoreceptor.

[0016] Specific examples of plants to be irradiated include plants of the Cannabaceae family (e.g., plants of the Cannabis genus (or Cannabis sativa)), plants of the Lupinaceae genus (e.g., hops (Humulus lupulus))), plants of the Apiaceae family (e.g., plants of the Caraway genus (Carum carvi)), plants of the Fennel genus (Foeniculum vulgare)), plants of the Dill genus (e.g., Anethum graveolens), plants of the Angelica genus (Angelica archangelica), plants of the Waterdrop genus (e.g., parsley (Petroselinum crispum)), plants of the Coriander genus (e.g., coriander (Coriandrum sativum)), L.)), Asteraceae (e.g., mugwort (e.g., tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)), Rosaceae (e.g., Rosa (e.g., rose)), Deer Daisy (e.g., chamomile (Matricaria recutita))), Piperaceae (e.g., pepper (e.g., pepper (Piper nigrum))), Lamiaceae (e.g., mint (or mint), basil (Ocimum basilicum)), lavender, and cinnamon (e.g., clary sage (Salvia sclarea), plants of the Verbenaceae family (for example, plants of the Verbena genus (or Verbena genus) (for example, Verbena (Verbena))), plants of the Gramineae family (for example, plants of the Cymbopogon genus (for example, lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus))), plants of the Orchidaceae family, plants of the Amaryllidaceae family (for example, Narcissus tazetta var.chinensis), Tribulaceae (e.g., Guaiacum officinale), Lauraceae (e.g., Laurus nobilis, Aniba rosaeodora), Cinnamomum camphora ssp., Lindera aggregata), Myrtaceae (e.g., Eucalyptus), Rutaceae (e.g., kumquat, citrus (e.g., Citrus aurantium, Citrus × bergamot, Citrus × paradisi, mandarin orange, Citrus × bergamia), Examples of suitable plants include, but are not limited to, plants of the Burseraceae family (e.g., Bursera (e.g., Linaloe (Bursera delpechiana)), Boswellia plants), and plants of the Cupressaceae family (e.g., Cypress pine (Callitris columellaris F. Muell.)). The irradiated plants may be genetically engineered, for example, by engineering genes for enzymes involved in the synthesis of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds, or for photoreceptors such as UVR-8 that are sensitive to UVA or UVB light.

[0017] In certain embodiments, the irradiated plant is a Cannabis plant (also referred to as "Cannabis"). In the present disclosure, the Cannabis plant is not particularly limited to any plant belonging to the Cannabis genus (Cannabis) of the Cannabaceae family, and includes any variety (also referred to as "strain" herein) (original species, variety, cultivated / horticultural variety) of Cannabis sativa (Cannabis sativa Linnaeus), Cannabis indica (Cannabis Indica Lamarck or C. sativa subsp. indica), Cannabis ruderalis (Cannabis ruderalis Janischewsky or C. sativa subsp. ruderalis), C. sativa subsp. sativa var. spontanea (or C. sativa subsp. spontanea), and C. sativa subsp. indica var. kafiristanica (or C. sativa subsp. kafiristanica), as well as genetically engineered varieties thereof. Cultivated varieties include hybrids (especially hybrids between C. sativa and C. indica). Cannabis plants can be classified into high-THC strains, high-CBD strains, and THC-CBD balanced strains based on the content of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). In the present disclosure, a high-THC strain refers to a strain whose flowers have a THC content of 10% or more after drying (e.g., natural drying or air-drying for about two weeks). Similarly, a high-CBD strain refers to a strain whose CBD content is 10% or more, and a THC-CBD balanced strain refers to a strain whose THC and CBD contents are both less than 10%. Examples of high-THC strains include BLK Label, Barak, Erez, Jasmin, Tal, Shira, Or, El-na, Alaska, Eran-Almog, Dorit, Omer, Zohar, Afina, Ludina, and Talea. Examples of high-CBD strains include MUN shine 6, Avidekel, and Rafael. Examples of balanced THC-CBD strains include RGM Argvana Heart, Mango, and Elida.

[0018] In the treatment method of the present disclosure, a harvested plant is irradiated with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm, more specifically in the wavelength range of 273 to 287 nm, and more specifically in the wavelength range of 275 to 285 nm, and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, more specifically in the wavelength range of 375 to 395 nm, and more specifically in the wavelength range of 380 to 390 nm. Hereinafter, the description of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm also applies to light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 273 to 287 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 275 to 285 nm, and the description of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm also applies to light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 375 to 395 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 380 to 390 nm. Light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm can each increase the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the irradiated post-harvest plant.

[0019] In some embodiments, the harvested plant is irradiated with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm. In some other embodiments, the harvested plant is irradiated with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. In still other embodiments, harvested plants are irradiated with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. Irradiating the plants with two types of light can efficiently increase the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in the irradiated plants. The two types of light can be irradiated sequentially or simultaneously. In a more specific embodiment, harvested plants are first irradiated with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm, and then with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, or first with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, and then with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm. In this embodiment, the interval between irradiation with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and irradiation with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is not particularly limited, but may be, for example, 30 seconds to 2 hours, more specifically 30 seconds to 1 hour, more specifically 30 seconds to 30 minutes, more specifically 30 seconds to 15 minutes, more specifically 30 seconds to 10 minutes, or more specifically 30 seconds to 5 minutes. In another, more specific embodiment, a harvested plant is at least simultaneously irradiated with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. The period of simultaneous irradiation is not particularly limited, but for example, the period during which light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm is irradiated with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm may be 40% or more, more specifically 50% or more, even more specifically 70% or more, even more specifically 90% or more, and even more specifically 95% or more.

[0020] The amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is not particularly limited as long as it is an amount effective to increase the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the irradiated post-harvest plant. For light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm, the amount effective for increasing the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound is, for example, 2,250 to 54,000 μmol / m 2 Between 3,000 and 45,000 μmol / m 2 Between 4,500 and 36,000 μmol / m 2 Between 6,000 and 27,000 μmol / m 2 Between 7,500 and 22,500 μmol / m 2 It can be between. For light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, an effective amount for increasing the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound is, for example, 33,750 to 1,620,000 μmol / m 2 Between 50,000 and 1,450,000 μmol / m 2 Between 80,000 and 1,200,000 μmol / m 2 Between 100,000 and 1,000,000 μmol / m 2 Between 120,000 and 750,000 μmol / m 2 It can be between.

[0021] When the irradiated plant is a high-THC strain or a THC-CBD balanced strain of a cannabis plant, the irradiated amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm is, for example, 9,000 to 27,000 μmol / m 2 More specifically, 10,000 to 25,000 μmol / m 2 , more specifically 12,000 to 22,000 μmol / m 2 , more specifically 15,000 to 20,000 μmol / m 2 It could be. When the irradiated plant is a high-THC strain of the Cannabis genus, the irradiance of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is, for example, 270,000 to 810,000 μmol / m 2, more specifically 400,000 to 700,000 μmol / m 2 , more specifically 450,000 to 650,000 μmol / m 2 , more specifically 500,000 to 600,000 μmol / m 2 It could be. When the irradiated plant is a high-CBD strain of the Cannabis genus, the irradiance of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is, for example, 67,000 to 210,000 μmol / m 2 , more specifically 75,000 to 180,000 μmol / m 2 , more specifically 90,000 to 165,000 μmol / m 2 , more specifically 100,000 to 150,000 μmol / m 2 It could be.

[0022] The photon flux density of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is not particularly limited as long as the amount of irradiation is combined with an irradiation time that is effective for increasing the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the irradiated post-harvest plant. From the viewpoint of efficiency, the lower limit of the photon flux density is, for example, 0.1 μmol / m for light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm. 2 / s or more, more specifically 0.5 μmol / m 2 / s, 1 μmol / m 2 / s, or 2 μmol / m 2 For light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, the lower limit of the photon flux density can be, for example, 5 μmol / m 2 / s or more, more specifically 10 μmol / m 2 / s, 20 μmol / m 2 / s, 50 μmol / m 2 / s, or 100 μmol / m 2 From the viewpoint of plant damage, the upper limit of the photon flux density is, for example, 100 μmol / m for light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm. 2 / s or less, more specifically 50 μmol / m 2 / s, 20 μmol / m 2 / s, or 10 μmol / m 2 For light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, the upper limit of the photon flux density is, for example, 2,000 μmol / m 2 / s or less, more specifically 1,000 μmol / m 2 / s, 750 μmol / m 2 / s, 500 μmol / m 2 / s, or 300 μmol / m 2 / s. The irradiation time of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is not particularly limited as long as the irradiation amount is combined with a photon flux density that is effective for increasing the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the irradiated post-harvest plant. From the viewpoint of efficiency, the irradiation time may be, for example, 30 seconds to 24 hours, more specifically 1 minute to 12 hours, more specifically 2 minutes to 6 hours, more specifically 5 minutes to 4 hours, more specifically 10 minutes to 2 hours, and more specifically 15 minutes to 1 hour.

[0023] Light in the wavelength range of 410 to 700 nm is less effective or does not contribute to increasing the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds compared to light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. Therefore, from the viewpoint of efficiency, the amount of light received by the irradiated plant over the entire wavelength range of 410 to 700 nm during the irradiation step is preferably less than 20% of the amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or less than 20% of the amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, more preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, more preferably less than 2%, and more preferably less than 1%. The irradiation step may be performed in a dark place or under indoor lighting. When carried out under indoor lighting, it is preferable to adjust the amount of light received by the irradiated plant over the entire wavelength range of 410 to 700 nm, including the amount of light from the indoor lighting, to be less than 20% of the amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or less than 20% of the amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. From another perspective, the irradiance (PPFD) of light in the wavelength range of 400 to 700 nm received by the irradiated plant during the irradiation step can be below the light compensation point of the plant. By keeping the PPFD below the light compensation point, activation of pathways that do not contribute to the synthesis of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds can be suppressed, thereby making it possible to efficiently increase rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds. On the other hand, because the absorption maximum wavelength of DNA and RNA is around 260 nm, there is concern that light with a wavelength of 260 nm or less may have a significant adverse effect on plants, such as cell damage. Therefore, the amount of light of all wavelengths in the wavelength range of 200 to 260 nm received by the irradiated plant during the irradiation step is preferably less than 20%, more preferably less than 10%, more preferably less than 5%, more preferably less than 2%, and even more preferably less than 1% of the amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm.

[0024] The light source that can be used to irradiate the target plant with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is not particularly limited as long as it can emit the light, and for example, a commonly used ultraviolet light source such as a UV lamp can be used. As the UV lamp, for example, a xenon lamp, a metal halide lamp, or a high-pressure mercury lamp can be preferably used. Furthermore, light extracted from sunlight using an optical filter or the like can also be used. When the light source used emits light in the wavelength range of 410 to 700 nm at a radiation amount that is 20% or more of the radiation amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, a filter having a higher transmittance for the latter light than the transmittance for the former light can be used in combination. Similarly, when the light source used emits light in the wavelength range of 200 to 260 nm at a radiation amount that is 20% or more of the radiation amount of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, a filter having a higher transmittance for the latter light than the transmittance for the former light can be used in combination. From the viewpoint of energy efficiency, the light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm may have a full width at half maximum (FWHM) of, for example, 0.1 to 20 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 15 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 10 nm, and even more specifically 0.1 to 5 nm. In a specific embodiment, the light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and the light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm are light having a single peak within each wavelength range. In a specific example, the light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm is light having a spectrum with a peak wavelength of 280±5 nm and a full width at half maximum of 0.1 to 10 nm, and the light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is light having a spectrum with a peak wavelength of 385±5 nm and a full width at half maximum of 0.1 to 10 nm.

[0025] Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and laser diodes (LDs) with a single peak in the emission spectrum are particularly preferred as light sources used to irradiate light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. When using LEDs or LDs as light sources, irradiation with light in a wavelength range effective for increasing the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in post-harvest plants can be easily achieved, while avoiding irradiation with light of wavelengths that do not contribute or contribute only slightly to increasing the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in post-harvest plants and / or light of wavelengths that may be harmful to plants. Furthermore, the use of LEDs or LDs is also preferred from the standpoints of energy efficiency and economy due to their energy-intensiveness, low heat generation, low power consumption, and long life. Additionally, the amount of irradiation can be easily controlled and managed. The light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or the light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm can be irradiated as continuous light, intermittent light such as pulsed light, or a combination thereof, but intermittent light is preferred. Intermittent light can prevent or reduce temperature increases in the irradiated plant and / or the light source. Specific examples of intermittent light include a pulse width of 100 ms or less, more specifically 50 ms or less, more specifically 20 ms or less, more specifically 10 ms or less, and a duty ratio of 50% or less, more specifically 40% or less, more specifically 30% or less, more specifically 20% or less, more specifically 10% or less, and more specifically 5% or less.

[0026] In this disclosure, rare cannabinoid compounds refer to cannabinoid compounds that can be naturally synthesized in the plants used, other than tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (Δ9-THCA), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) (in this disclosure, these four compounds may be collectively referred to as "major cannabinoid compounds"). Cannabinoid compounds that can be naturally synthesized in plants include cannabigerol-type compounds (e.g., cannabigerol-C5 (CBG-C5), cannabigerol-C5 monomethyl ether (CBGM-C5), cannabigerolic acid-C5 (CBGA-C5), cannabigerovarin (CBGV-C3), cannabigerolic acid-C5 monomethyl ether (CBGAM-C5), cannabigerovaric acid (CBGVA-C3), cannabigerol-C6 (CBG- C6), cannabigerolic acid-C6 (CBG-C6), cannabigerol-C4 (CBG-C4), cannabigerolic acid-C4 (CBG-C4), sesquicannabigerol (Sesqui-CBG), etc.), cannabidiol types (e.g., cannabidiol-C5 (CBD-C5), cannabidiol monomethyl ether (CBDM-C5), cannabidiol-C4 (CBD-C4), cannabidivarin (CBDV-C3), cannabidiolic acid ( CBDA-C5), cannabidivarinic acid (CBDVA-C3), cannabidiol-C7 (CBD-C7), cannabidiolic acid-C7 (CBDA-C7), cannabidiolic acid-C4 (CBD-C4, etc.), cannabinodiol type (e.g., cannabinodiol (CBND-C5), cannabinodivarin (CBND-C3), cannabinodiol acid (CBND-C5), cannabinodivarin (CBND-C3), etc.), cannabinol type (e.g., For example, cannabinol-C5 (CBN-C5), cannabinol-C4 (CBN-C4), cannabinol-C2 (CBN-C2), cannabivarin (CBN-C3), cannabinolic acid (CBNA-C5), cannabinol methyl ether (CBNM-C5), etc.), cannabichromene type (for example, cannabichromene (CBC-C5), cannabichromene acid (CBCA-C5), cannabivalichromene, cannabichromevarin (CBCV-C3),Cannabichromevaric acid (CBCVA-C3), etc.), cannabicyclol type (e.g., cannabicyclol (CBL-C5), cannabicyclolic acid (CBLA-C5), cannabicyclovaline (CBLV-C3), etc.), cannabielsoin type (e.g., cannabielsoin-C5 (CBE-C5), cannabielsoin-C3 (CBE-C3), cannabielsoic acid-C5 (CBEA-C5), cannabielsoic acid-C3 (CBEA-C3), etc.), cannabidiol type (e.g., cannabidiol-C5 (CBT-C5), cannabidiol-C3 (CBT-C3), cannabidiol-1 (CBT-C1), cannabidiol acid-C5 (CBTA-C5), cannabidiol acid-C3 (CBTA- C3), tetrahydrocannabinol types (e.g., Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-C5 (Δ9-THC-C5), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-C4 (Δ9-THC-C4), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin-C3 (Δ9-THCV-C3), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-C5 (Δ9-THCA-C5), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-C4 (Δ9-THCA-C4), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarinic acid-C3 (Δ9-THCVA-C3), etc.), iso-tetrahydrocannabinol types (e.g., Δ7-isotetrahydrocannabinol, Δ7-isotetrahydrocannabivarin, etc.), and cannabicitran types (e.g., cannabicitran (CBT-C5), etc.).

[0027] In specific examples, the rare cannabinoid compound is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of tetrahydrocannabinol-C4 (THC-C4), cannabiditriol-3 (CBT-3), cannabinodiolic acid (CBNDA), cannabidiol acid-3 (CBTA-3), cannabidiol acid-1 (CBTA-1), cannabidiol-4 (CBD-4), cannabivarin ersoic acid (CBEVA), cannabidiol-1 (CBT-1), cannabivaric acid (CBNVA), cannabigerol-C6 (CBG-C6), cannabigerolic acid-C4 (CBGA-C4), sesquicannabigerol (Sesqui-CBG), cannabidiol acid-C7 (CBDA-C7), cannabichromevaric acid (CBCVA), cannabigerolic acid-C6 (CBGA-C6), and cannabiersoic acid (CBEA).

[0028] In the present disclosure, terpene compounds refer to terpene compounds that can be naturally synthesized in plants, including terpenoids.Terpene compounds that can be naturally synthesized in plants include monoterpene compounds, sesquiterpene compounds, and diterpene compounds.Terpene compounds share precursors with cannabinoid compounds in plants. Examples of monoterpene compounds include acyclic monoterpene compounds such as ocimene, β-myrcene, geraniol, citral, citronellal, citronellol, β-citronellol, linalool, nerol, myrcenol, dihydromyrcenol, and lavandulol; monocyclic monoterpene compounds such as limonene, terpinene, phellandrene, terpinolene, cymene, menthol, thymol, carvacrol, α-terpineol, menthane, 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol), pulegone, bisabolene, and carveol; and polycyclic monoterpene compounds such as α-pinene, β-pinene, carene, sabinene, camphene, thujene, borneol, cineole, fenchol, camphor, carene, and bergamotene. Examples of sesquiterpene compounds include monocyclic sesquiterpene compounds such as guaiol, α-bisabolol, β-bisabolol, α-humulene, curcumene, elemene, and bisabolene; acyclic sesquiterpene compounds such as α-farnesene, β-farnesene, and nerolidol; and polycyclic sesquiterpene compounds such as β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, valencene, β-eudesmol, ledene, selinene, cadinene, copaene, and guaiene. Examples of diterpene compounds include phytol and geranylgeraniol. In specific examples, the terpene compound is one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of β-myrcene, ocimene, linalool, limonene, nerol, terpinolene, α-pinene, β-pinene, α-terpineol, borneol, fenchol, guaiol, α-bisabolol, α-humulene, β-farnesene, β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, nerolidol, valencene, phytol, geraniol, camphor, β-eudesmol, and ledene.

[0029] In the present disclosure, "an increase in the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound" or "an increase in the content of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound" means that the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound has increased compared to a harvested plant that has not been irradiated with light using the treatment method of the present disclosure, for example, when the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in a non-irradiated harvested plant is taken as 100%, the increase is 110% or more, preferably 120% or more, more preferably 130% or more, more preferably 140% or more, more preferably 150% or more, more preferably 160% or more, more preferably 170% or more, more preferably 180% or more, more preferably 190% or more, and more preferably 200% or more.

[0030] Quantification of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds may be performed using any known method, such as chromatography or mass spectrometry (MS), or any combination thereof, and may be performed in combination with electrospray ionization (ESI), flame ionization detection (FID), and / or supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Chromatography may be, for example, gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC) (e.g., high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-performance high-resolution liquid chromatography (UPLC), high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)), or supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Specific examples of measurement methods include GC-FID, GC / MS, LC / MS, MS / MS, GC / MS / MS, LC / MS / MS, ESI-MS / MS, ESI-LC / MS, ESI-LC / MS / MS, SFE-MS, SFE-MS / MS, SFE-SFC / MS, SFE-LC, and SFE-LC / MS. Rare cannabinoid compounds and terpene compounds may be quantified by different methods. For example, rare cannabinoid compounds may be measured by LC / MS and terpene compounds may be measured by GC / MS.

[0031] In some embodiments, a liquid comprising water is supplied to the irradiated plant during the irradiation step. The liquid comprising water is as described above in relation to the "freshness-preserving treatment." The liquid can be supplied by any method as long as it does not interfere with the light irradiation of the irradiated plant during the irradiation step. For example, the liquid may be supplied continuously by spraying, immersion, or contact with a water-retaining material, or may be supplied intermittently by spraying. The supply during the irradiation step can suppress a decrease in the freshness of the irradiated plant, and the irradiation step can promote the synthesis of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant.

[0032] In some embodiments, the treatment method of the present disclosure further comprises a storage step of storing the plant in a dark place for 12 hours or more immediately after the irradiation step. The start of the storage step is preferably as soon as possible after the irradiation step, for example, within 1 hour, more specifically within 30 minutes, more specifically within 15 minutes, and most preferably immediately after irradiation. By storing the plant in a dark place for 12 hours or more after irradiation, the synthesis of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant due to the irradiation step continues during the storage step, and the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant may be further increased. The storage time may be, more specifically, 16 hours or more, more specifically, 20 hours or more, more specifically, 24 hours or more, more specifically, 28 hours or more, more specifically, 32 hours or more, more specifically, 36 hours or more, more specifically, 40 hours or more, more specifically, 44 hours or more, more specifically, 48 hours or more. The upper limit of the dark storage time is not particularly limited as long as the content of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant is increased compared to a non-irradiated plant, but may be, for example, 500 hours or less, more specifically, 480 hours, more specifically, 360 hours, more specifically, 336 hours, more specifically, 240 hours, more specifically, 168 hours, or more specifically, 120 hours. The storage step may be room temperature storage (storage at a temperature between 15°C and 30°C, depending on the location and season) or low temperature storage. Furthermore, during the storage step, the plant may be supplied with a liquid comprising water. By storing the plant at a low temperature and / or supplying the plant with a liquid comprising water during the storage step, the loss of freshness of the plant can be suppressed, and thus the synthesis of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant by the irradiation step may be promoted. The dark place may be, for example, a storage or vault such as a refrigerator, the interior of a shipping container or the trunk of a rail car, aircraft, ship or lorry, or the interior of a light-tight wrapping or packaging material such as cardboard.

[0033] Plants treated by the above method have an increased content of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound compared to untreated plants, and are therefore suitable as raw materials for producing products containing rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds. In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for producing a product comprising at least one rare plant cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound, the method comprising drying a plant that has been treated by the above-described method for treating a post-harvest plant. In the present disclosure, plant-derived rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds means that the rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds are derived from plants, more specifically, are biosynthesized within the treated plants. Drying can be performed by any known method. For example, the temperature during the drying process can be, for example, between 15 and 35°C, more specifically between 18 and 30°C, and more specifically between 20 and 27°C. The relative humidity can be, for example, between 20 and 70%, more specifically between 25 and 65%, more specifically between 30 and 60%, and more specifically between 35 and 55%. The drying process can be, for example, for 2 to 15 days, more specifically between 3 and 14 days, and more specifically between 4 and 10 days. Drying is performed under shading, more preferably in a dark place. In the present disclosure, "shading" refers to preventing the plant from being exposed to PAR of PPFD at a level three or more times (more preferably two or more times) the plant's light compensation point. The drying process is preferably performed under sterilization, such as under ultraviolet irradiation. Products that can be produced by the manufacturing method of the present disclosure include, for example, dried plants (including plant parts, which can consist of, for example, dried flower spikes and / or dried leaves), or cut pieces, crushed pieces, ground pieces, or powder thereof. Specific examples of dried plants include dried cannabis, dried flowers, dried fruit, dried peel, potpourri, etc. Products containing rare cannabinoid compounds can be used as medical cannabinoids (or medical cannabis or medical marijuana) (dried products) and can also be used as raw materials for the production of medicines containing cannabinoid compounds. On the other hand, products containing terpene compounds can be used as fragrances and as raw materials for the production of functional foods, essential oils, or fragrances.

[0034] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for producing an extract containing rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds from plants, the method comprising the step of extracting at least one rare cannabinoid compound or terpene compound from plants that have been treated by the above-mentioned post-harvest plant treatment method. The extract may be in the form of an oil or resin. For extraction, the whole plant or parts of the plant (e.g., flowers and / or leaves) may be used as long as the plant has been treated by the above-mentioned post-harvest plant treatment method. The plant may be used as is for extraction, or may be cut and crushed before use. Extraction can be by any of the known methods for extracting cannabinoid or terpene compounds from plants, for example solvent extraction, supercritical extraction or supercritical fluid extraction.

[0035] The solvent used for solvent extraction can be appropriately selected from known organic solvents. Examples of organic solvents include methanol, ethanol, n- or isopropanol, butanol, acetonitrile, acetone, dioxane, ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, methyl t-butyl ether, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, tetrahydrofuran, dichloromethane, trichloromethane, tetrachloromethane, chloroform, trichloroethylene, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, heptane, octane, isooctane, toluene, and benzene. The organic solvents can be used alone or in combination. Supercritical fluid extraction can be carried out, for example, using CO2 as a solvent. Extraction may be performed with stirring or shaking. Extraction may also be performed under heating (e.g., 30 to 60°C) and / or pressure. Extraction may be reflux extraction. The extraction time is not particularly limited and can be appropriately determined from the viewpoint of extraction efficiency, and may be, for example, 5 minutes to 5 hours. The solvent may be removed from the obtained extract by, for example, rotary evaporation, and the obtained extract may be filtered using an appropriate filter or centrifuged to remove impurities.

[0036] The method of producing the extract of the present disclosure may further comprise a decarboxylation step prior to the extraction step, which converts cannabinoid compounds present in their acid form into their active form, resulting in a highly active extract. The decarboxylation step can be carried out by heating at a temperature of, for example, 70 to 180°C, more specifically 80 to 170°C, more specifically 90 to 160°C, and more specifically 100 to 150°C for, for example, 5 minutes to 8 hours, more specifically 10 minutes to 6 hours, more specifically 15 minutes to 4 hours, and more specifically 30 minutes to 2 hours. The plant material may also be dried and / or frozen prior to extraction and, if applicable, decarboxylation. Drying may be by any method, such as hot air drying, ambient temperature drying, vacuum drying, or freeze drying. Drying may be carried out under the conditions described above for the method of producing a product containing rare plant cannabinoid and / or terpene compounds. The extract containing rare cannabinoid compounds obtained by the above production method, if it is an oil, can be used as a medical cannabinoid (oil product) itself, and can also be used as a raw material for producing pharmaceuticals containing cannabinoid compounds (e.g., botanical drug substances).On the other hand, the extract containing terpene compounds obtained by the above production method can be used as an aromatic agent itself, and can also be used as a raw material for producing fragrances containing terpene compounds.The obtained terpene compound-containing extract can also be used as an additive to a cannabinoid compound-containing extract in the hope of achieving an entourage effect.

[0037] From yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for producing rare cannabinoid compounds or terpene compounds from plants, the method comprising purifying rare cannabinoid compounds or terpene compounds from plants treated by the above-mentioned post-harvest plant treatment method. Purification can be carried out by chromatography using a preparative column, such as flash chromatography, liquid chromatography (particularly HPLC), thin-layer chromatography (particularly TPTLC), or supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Preparative columns include, for example, silica gel columns (e.g., C18, C8). Purification can also be carried out by distillation (particularly fractional distillation). The eluent in the chromatography (for example, gradient method) may be, for example, the one mentioned above in relation to the extraction step, and more specifically, may be a mixed solvent of a non-polar solvent and a polar solvent. The rare cannabinoid compounds obtained by the above production method can be used as raw materials for producing pharmaceuticals containing cannabinoid compounds (e.g., botanical drug substances), while the terpene compounds obtained by the above production method can also be used as raw materials for producing aromatics or fragrances.

[0038] The present disclosure also provides a holding unit capable of holding a harvested plant; an irradiation unit capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in a wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in a wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm; wherein the irradiating unit is capable of irradiating the plant held in the holding unit with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. The plant treatment device of the present disclosure is suitable for carrying out the plant treatment method of the present disclosure described above.

[0039] (holding part) The holding unit is capable of holding a harvested plant (the entire plant or a part thereof) and has any configuration that allows the desired irradiated portion of the held harvested plant (which may be the entire held harvested plant) to be placed in the irradiation area of ​​the irradiation unit. The manner in which the holding unit holds the plant is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, placing, storing, clamping, or gripping. The holding unit is positioned so that the desired irradiated portion of the held harvested plant can be placed in the irradiation area of ​​the irradiation unit at least temporarily (for example, when the holding unit is in a predetermined position).

[0040] In some embodiments, the holder has a structure and size that allows a plant to be placed thereon. The placement surface of such a holder (placement portion) can be, for example, the upper surface of a floor, shelf, or stand, or at least a portion of the inner bottom surface of a container, tray, or basket. The placement surface is not limited to a single continuous surface, but may be composed of multiple separate surfaces, or may be a virtual surface such as the upper surface of a mesh or lattice panel. The shape of the placement portion is not particularly limited. In a specific example, the placement surface is the upper surface of a belt conveyor having a mesh or net-like belt portion. According to this specific example, the harvested plants placed on the upper surface of the belt can be irradiated from both above and below, thereby more efficiently increasing the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound by light irradiation according to the present disclosure. In another specific example, the support surface is made of a water-retaining material. According to this specific example, by supplying a liquid containing water to the water-retaining material, the liquid can be easily and / or continuously supplied to the harvested plant placed on the water-retaining material, thereby maintaining the harvested plant in a relatively fresh state. As a result, the amount of synthesis of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant due to the light irradiation of the present disclosure can be maintained, thereby more efficiently increasing the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound. The water-retaining material is not particularly limited as long as it can retain the liquid and supply it to the plant it comes into contact with, and any material known in the art can be used. Specific examples of water-retaining materials include nonwoven fabrics, sponges, and water-absorbent polymers. The liquid containing water can be supplied, for example, from a liquid supply unit described below.

[0041] In some other embodiments, the holding unit has a structure and size that allows the plant to be stored therein. The shape of such a holding unit (storage container) is not particularly limited. The storage container may also serve as a storage or repository. The storage container may be stationary, or may be movable or transportable (for example, a shipping container or the trunk of a truck). This allows the time during transportation or transport to be used for treating the plant, thereby improving time efficiency. The storage container may be equipped with an atmosphere control mechanism that controls the temperature and / or humidity of the internal atmosphere. As a specific example, the holder is a structure (e.g., a hollow rectangular parallelepiped or cylindrical body with one end open and the other closed) that can hold a harvested plant, which is a stem or a shoot system including a stem and flowers and / or leaves, in a substantially upright or inclined position and can hold a liquid at its bottom. According to this specific example, a liquid containing water can be easily and / or continuously supplied to the harvested plant held in the holder, thereby maintaining the plant in a relatively fresh state.

[0042] The material of the holder is generally not particularly limited, but when the holder can be located on the light path from the irradiator to the desired irradiated portion of the plant held in the holder, it is preferable that the material is substantially transparent to light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, or that the material has one or more openings (e.g., a mesh structure) that allow light to pass through. Here, "substantially transparent" to a specific light means that the light is transmitted at 50% or more, for example, 60% or more, preferably 70% or more, more preferably 80% or more, and more preferably 90% or more. Therefore, the holder can be configured, for example, with a mesh- or lattice-like mounting surface and / or walls.

[0043] The holding unit may constitute part of a transport mechanism capable of transporting the held harvested plants to the irradiation area of ​​the irradiation unit. This allows the plant treatment device of the present disclosure to continuously treat a large number of plants. In this case, the transport mechanism may be capable of further transporting the held harvested plants to the spray area of ​​the liquid spray unit (described below) and / or to a darkroom (described below). The transport mechanism may be, for example, a mesh conveyor, a transport stage, or a transport robot. The holding unit may be configured to include an upper surface of a transport mechanism that at least a portion of which passes through the irradiation area of ​​the irradiation unit and extends to the darkroom. As a specific example, the holding unit can hold a liquid containing water supplied from a liquid supply unit described below. According to this specific example, the freshness of the plant held by the holding unit can be maintained or a decrease in freshness can be suppressed at least during irradiation or in an irradiation chamber (described below). In a configuration in which the holding unit can hold the liquid together with the plant until the dark room described below or a configuration in which the holding unit can hold the liquid together with the plant until the drying chamber described below, the freshness of the plant can be maintained or a decrease in freshness can be suppressed until the dark room or the drying chamber, respectively.

[0044] (Irradiation unit) The irradiation unit can irradiate a plant ("irradiated plant") held in a predetermined position by the holding unit with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. The irradiation unit (more specifically, its light source) is positioned so that, at least temporarily (e.g., when the holding unit holds the irradiated plant in a predetermined position), the light emitted from the irradiation unit can be irradiated onto the desired irradiated portion of the plant held in the holding unit. The illumination unit may include an optical system consisting of one or more optical components known in the art, such as lenses, reflecting mirrors, optical filters, masks, and diffusers. The irradiating unit may irradiate the irradiated plant from any direction (one direction or two or more directions) around the plant. Preferably, the irradiating unit irradiates the irradiated plant from two directions. Irradiation from two directions, particularly from opposing directions (for example, up and down, left and right, or front and back), allows for efficient irradiation of a wider area of ​​the irradiated plant.

[0045] The irradiation unit includes a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. In some embodiments, the irradiation unit includes a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm, and in some other embodiments, the irradiation unit includes a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. In some other embodiments, the irradiator includes a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. This embodiment allows the same plant to be irradiated with two types of light, either sequentially or simultaneously, thereby efficiently increasing the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in the plant. Additionally, light with a more effective wavelength can be selected and irradiated depending on the type of plant to be irradiated or the target rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds, thereby efficiently increasing the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds depending on the type of plant to be irradiated and / or the target rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds. As a specific example, the irradiation unit includes a first light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm, a second light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, and a control unit that controls the first light source and the second light source, and the control unit controls the first light source and the second light source so that the irradiation unit emits either light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. The control unit may also control the turning on and off of the first light source and the second light source. In still some other embodiments, the irradiation unit includes a light source capable of simultaneously emitting light in a wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light in a wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm; a first optical filter having a transmittance for light in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm that is higher than the transmittance for light outside the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm; a second optical filter having a transmittance for light in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm that is higher than the transmittance for light outside the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm; an optical system capable of guiding the light emitted from the light source to the first optical filter and the second optical filter; and an optical system control unit that controls the optical system to guide the light emitted from the light source to either the first optical filter or the second optical filter.

[0046] From the viewpoint of efficiency, it is preferable that the irradiation unit does not emit light in the wavelength range of 410 to 700 nm, or emits light with an irradiance that is less than 20%, more specifically less than 10%, more specifically less than 5%, more specifically less than 2%, and more specifically less than 1% of the irradiance of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. Therefore, in some embodiments, a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm or a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm does not emit light in the wavelength range of 410 to 700 nm, or emits light with an irradiance that is less than 20%, more specifically less than 10%, more specifically less than 5%, more specifically less than 2%, and more specifically less than 1% of the irradiance of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, respectively. Alternatively or in addition, in view of adverse effects on plants, such as cell damage, it is preferable that the irradiation unit does not emit light in the wavelength range of 200 to 260 nm, or emits light at an irradiance of less than 20%, more specifically less than 10%, more specifically less than 5%, more specifically less than 2%, and more specifically less than 1% of the irradiance of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. Therefore, in some embodiments, a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm or a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm does not emit light in the wavelength range of 200 to 260 nm, or emits light with an irradiance that is less than 20%, more specifically less than 10%, more specifically less than 5%, more specifically less than 2%, and more specifically less than 1% of the irradiance of light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, respectively.

[0047] Examples of light sources for the irradiation unit include light-emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes (LDs), and xenon lamps, fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, metal halide lamps, and high-pressure mercury lamps equipped with necessary optical filters. The irradiation unit may be configured with an array of light sources. The optical filters may be optical filters whose transmittance for light having a peak wavelength in the 270-290 nm wavelength range is greater than that for light in the 410-700 nm wavelength range and / or light in the 200-260 nm wavelength range, and / or optical filters whose transmittance for light having a peak wavelength in the 370-400 nm wavelength range is greater than that for light in the 410-700 nm wavelength range and / or light in the 200-260 nm wavelength range. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or laser diodes (LDs) are particularly preferred as the light source. When using LEDs or LDs, it is possible to easily irradiate plants with light of wavelengths useful for increasing the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in plants, while avoiding irradiating plants with light of wavelengths that are not useful or may be harmful for increasing the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in plants. Furthermore, the use of LEDs or LDs is also preferable from the standpoints of energy efficiency and economy due to their energy intensiveness, low heat generation, low power consumption, and long life. Additionally, it is easy to control or manage the illuminance or irradiation amount.

[0048] An LED or LD suitable as a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm is an LED or LD having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm, more specifically an LED or LD having a spectrum with a peak wavelength of 280±10 nm and a full width at half maximum of 0.1 to 20 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 15 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 10 nm, and still more specifically 0.1 to 5 nm, more specifically an LED or LD having a spectrum with a peak wavelength of 280±5 nm and a full width at half maximum of 0.1 to 20 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 15 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 10 nm, and still more specifically 0.1 to 5 nm. An LED or LD suitable as a light source capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is an LED or LD having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, more specifically an LED or LD having a spectrum with a peak wavelength of 385±15 nm and a full width at half maximum of 0.1 to 20 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 15 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 10 nm, and more specifically 0.1 to 5 nm, more specifically an LED or LD having a spectrum with a peak wavelength of 385±10 nm and a full width at half maximum of 0.1 to 20 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 15 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 10 nm, and more specifically 0.1 to 5 nm, more specifically an LED or LD having a peak wavelength of 385±5 nm and a full width at half maximum of 0.1 to 20 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 15 nm, more specifically 0.1 to 10 nm, and more specifically 0.1 to 5 nm. The LDs or LEDs may be provided in the form of an array.

[0049] The irradiated area of ​​the irradiated part, especially in the non-irradiated state, has a PPFD of 10 μmol / m 2 / s or less, and 5 μmol / m 2 / s or less is more preferable, and 2 μmol / m 2 / s or less is more preferable, and 1 μmol / m 2 / s or less is more preferable. Therefore, in one specific example, the irradiating unit is placed in an irradiation chamber that can block photosynthetically active radiation from outside. According to this specific example, the plant can be kept in a dark place when not irradiated, thereby substantially preventing photosynthesis in the plant and avoiding energy consumption by photosynthesis and activation of other synthetic systems. As a result, the weight-increasing effect associated with irradiation by the device of the present disclosure can be achieved more efficiently. The irradiation unit may include a control unit that controls the irradiation unit (more specifically, its light source). The control unit controls the dimming and / or timing of turning on and off the light source. The control unit may control whether the irradiation unit emits continuous light, intermittent light, or a combination thereof. If the irradiation unit can emit intermittent light, the control unit may control the pulse width and / or duty ratio of the intermittent light. The control unit may be, for example, a pulse width modulation circuit, or a pulse width modulation circuit and a timer, and may be configured, for example, by a microcomputer, a relay and / or a switching element.

[0050] (Liquid supply section) In some embodiments, the plant treatment device of the present disclosure may further comprise a liquid supply. The liquid supply unit is configured to supply a liquid containing water to the plant held in the holder. As a specific example, the liquid supply unit supplies a liquid containing water to a holder that holds at least the stem of a plant. According to this specific example, the supplied liquid is absorbed into the plant through the stem held by the holder (more specifically, the cross section created at the time of harvesting), so that the maintenance of freshness of the plant or prevention of deterioration can be easily, effectively, and / or efficiently achieved. The liquid supply unit may include a light source that irradiates a water-containing liquid with ultraviolet light. This configuration allows microorganisms, such as bacteria, and / or viruses that may be present in the liquid to be killed by ultraviolet irradiation, thereby preventing or suppressing the intrusion of microorganisms into plants. Therefore, this configuration of the device is suitable for obtaining or producing rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds for use in foods or pharmaceuticals for human or non-human animal consumption, as well as products or extracts containing these. As a specific example, the liquid supply unit is a liquid injection unit configured to inject a liquid containing water toward the plants held in the holding unit. The injection may be performed using hydraulic pressure and / or air pressure. In a preferred example, the injection area of ​​the liquid injection unit is arranged to overlap with the irradiation area of ​​the irradiation unit, and the irradiation unit irradiates the plants in the liquid injection atmosphere from the liquid injection unit. According to this preferred example, temperature rise in the irradiated plants can be efficiently prevented or reduced, allowing for longer continuous irradiation or intermittent irradiation at shorter intervals. As a result, the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds can be efficiently increased.

[0051] (Other configurations) The plant treatment device of the present disclosure may include a darkroom that can block external photosynthetically active radiation. As described above with respect to the treatment method of the present disclosure, by storing a plant irradiated with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm in a dark place, it is possible to further increase the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in the plant. "Able to block photosynthetically active radiation from the outside" means that the photosynthetically active photon flux density inside the darkroom is 10 μmol / m when the lighting inside the darkroom is turned off. 2 / s or less, more specifically 5 μmol / m 2 / s or less, more specifically 2 μmol / m 2 / s or less, more specifically 1 μmol / m 2 This means that the speed can be less than / s. The darkroom may be provided separately from an irradiation chamber having an irradiation unit therein. When the irradiation chamber can block photosynthetically active radiation from the outside, the irradiation chamber can also serve as a darkroom. When the dark room is provided separately from the irradiation room, the holding unit can transport the plants from the irradiation room to the dark room. The darkroom may be equipped with a cooler to store the plants at low temperatures.

[0052] The plant treatment device of the present disclosure may be provided with a drying chamber, instead of or in addition to the dark room, that can regulate the internal temperature and / or humidity and block external photosynthetically active radiation. Drying the plants can suppress the decomposition of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds that have increased in the plants and / or damage to the plants due to, for example, mold. The drying chamber can maintain a room temperature of, for example, 15 to 35° C., more specifically 18 to 30° C., and more specifically 20 to 27° C., and a relative humidity of, for example, 20 to 70%, more specifically 25 to 65%, more specifically 30 to 60%, and more specifically 35 to 55%. For this purpose, an air conditioner or a ventilation fan may be provided in the drying chamber.

[0053] The plant treatment device of the present disclosure may include a reflector capable of reflecting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm. The reflector can be positioned with respect to the irradiating unit and the plant so that the light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm emitted from the irradiating unit is reflected once and / or twice or more times and irradiated onto the plant. For example, if the irradiating unit is configured to irradiate the plant from above, the holding unit may include a reflector on the side and / or below the plant so that the plant is also irradiated from the side and / or below. Alternatively, if the irradiating unit and holding unit are disposed within a housing, the reflector can be provided on at least a portion of the inner surface of the housing, for example, on the side and / or below the plant.

[0054] Thus, in specific embodiments, the plant treatment device of the present disclosure includes: an irradiation chamber having an irradiation unit therein; a dark room capable of blocking photosynthetically active radiation from the outside; wherein the holding unit constitutes part of a transport mechanism that transports the plant from the irradiation chamber to the darkroom so that the desired irradiated portion of the plant passes through the irradiation area of ​​the irradiation unit in the irradiation chamber. In a more specific embodiment, the plant treatment device of the present disclosure further includes a drying chamber capable of regulating the internal temperature and / or humidity and blocking photosynthetically active radiation from the outside, wherein the holding unit forms part of a transport mechanism that transports the plant from the irradiation chamber through the dark room to the drying chamber. According to these embodiments, the processes from irradiation to dark storage and even drying can be automated, thereby making plant processing significantly more efficient. In a specific embodiment, the irradiation chamber and / or the dark room and / or the drying chamber further includes a germicidal lamp for indoor sterilization. This embodiment allows plants to be treated in a clean atmosphere, more specifically, in a sterile atmosphere. Therefore, this configuration of the device is suitable for obtaining or producing rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds, products or extracts containing the same, for use as foods or medicines for human or non-human animal consumption.

[0055] The device of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, which are schematic diagrams showing specific examples of embodiments of the device of the present disclosure.

[0056] (Embodiment 1) 1, a device 100 according to the present disclosure includes a holder 110 and an irradiation unit 120. The holder 110 and the irradiation unit 120 may be contained within a housing 180. The holding portion 110 is capable of holding the stem of the plant P. The holding portion 110 may be configured to be capable of holding a liquid including water. The device 100 may include a plurality of holding portions 110. The irradiation unit 120 has a light source 122 capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm, a light source 123 capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, and a control unit 126 that controls the light sources 122 and 123, and can irradiate the plant P with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. The light sources 122 and 123 may be in the form of a light source array such as an LD array or an LED array. The entire housing 180 may be made of a light-blocking material, or at least a portion of the housing 180 may be made of a material that is substantially transparent to visible light (400 to 800 nm) so that the plant P can be seen from outside the housing. Device 100 may also be provided with reflector 182 capable of reflecting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. Reflector 182 may be disposed on at least a portion of the inner surface of housing 180, or may be provided in holder 110. The device 100 of the present disclosure may, for example, increase the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds in plants during display and / or transport.

[0057] (Embodiment 2) 2, one embodiment of the apparatus 200 of the present disclosure includes a holding unit 210 and an irradiation unit 220. The apparatus 200 further includes, as optional components, a liquid supply unit 230, an irradiation chamber 240, a darkroom 250, a drying chamber 270, and a transport mechanism 260. The holding unit 210 can hold the stem of the plant P, and can also hold the liquid 234 containing water supplied from the liquid supply unit 230. As shown in the figure, the device 200 can include a plurality of holding units 210. The holding unit 210 can hold the liquid by simply storing water or by using a water-retaining material. The holder 210 may be transported by a transport mechanism 260 from the liquid supply position to the drying chamber 270, or may form part of the transport mechanism 260 that extends from the liquid supply position to the drying chamber 270. The liquid supply unit 230 has a configuration that can hold a liquid 234 containing water and supply the liquid to the holding unit 210. The liquid is supplied from the liquid supply unit 230 to the holding unit 210 by pouring or spraying. The liquid supply unit 230 may be equipped with a light source that irradiates the liquid 234 containing water with ultraviolet light.

[0058] The irradiation unit 220 includes a light source 222 capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm, a light source 223 capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm, and a control unit 226 for controlling the light sources 222 and 223. The irradiation unit 220 can irradiate the plant P with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm. The light sources 222 and 223 may be in the form of a light source array such as an LD array or an LED array. The irradiation unit 220 may be provided within an irradiation chamber 240. In FIG. 2, the irradiation unit 220 is provided so as to be able to irradiate the plant P from above, but may additionally or alternatively be arranged so as to be able to irradiate the plant P from the side and / or below. It is preferable, but not essential, that the irradiation chamber 240 be able to block external photosynthetically active radiation. The dark room 250 and the drying room 270 are shielded from external photosynthetically active radiation. The dark room 250 and the drying room 270 may further be equipped with germicidal lamps 252, 272 for sterilization in the room. The drying chamber 270 is equipped with an air conditioner 274 that adjusts the temperature and / or humidity inside. The drying chamber 270 may be equipped with a ventilation fan instead of an air conditioner. The drying chamber 270 equipped with the air conditioner 274 can also serve as the darkroom 250. Although not shown, the irradiation section 220 and / or the darkroom 250 may be equipped with a cooler that maintains the internal temperature at a low temperature. This embodiment is suitable for continuous and / or automated and / or sterile treatment of plants.

[0059] Examples of uses of the present disclosure include store lighting, showcase lighting, food storage lighting, downlighting, etc. When used in a store, vegetables, fruits, fresh flowers, etc. displayed in the store or / and stored in a warehouse are irradiated with UV light under the conditions of the present disclosure after closing, and then stored in a dark place until business hours begin, thereby increasing the amount of useful components in the plants by the time business hours begin. When used at home, vegetables and fruits stored in a food storage room or fresh flowers arranged in a vase are irradiated with UV light under the conditions of the present disclosure before going to bed, thereby increasing the amount of useful components in the plants by the time the customer wakes up. A logistics container may be equipped with a UV irradiation device under the conditions of the present disclosure. By irradiating the plants with UV light and storing them in a dark place during transportation, the amount of useful components in the plants can be increased before they are delivered. A streetlight may be equipped with a device that irradiates UV light under the conditions of the present disclosure. For example, if plants are located near streetlights, such as in flowerbeds or parks, UV irradiation can be performed for 15 minutes to 3 hours after sunset, and then the lights can be turned off, producing the same effect as storing the plants in a dark place, increasing the amount of useful compounds in the plants, such as fragrance components, the next morning. [Example]

[0060] <Experiment 1> Gene expression analysis in Arabidopsis thaliana Arabidopsis thaliana, 2.5 μmol / m 2 The cells were irradiated with LED light (peak wavelength: 280 nm; full width at half maximum: 10 nm) at an irradiance of 6,750 μmol / m / s for 45 minutes (irradiation dose: 6,750 μmol / m 2 ). Immediately after irradiation, the shoots were frozen in liquid nitrogen, and then total RNA was prepared using NucleoSpin® RNA plant (Takara Bio Inc.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The total RNA was analyzed using RNA-seq (Takara Bio Inc.). The NovaSeq6000 system (Illumina Inc.) was used for sequencing. Three samples were analyzed for each experimental group. As a result, irradiation with light having a peak wavelength around 280 nm increased the expression of a gene (AT2G47460) involved in the flavonol synthesis process by more than three times (334%). This gene, AT2G47460, corresponds to the gene CAN738, which is involved in the synthesis of cannabinoid compounds and terpene compounds in Cannabis plants. Therefore, the above results suggest that the synthesis of cannabinoid compounds and terpene compounds in Cannabis plants can be stimulated by irradiation with light having a peak wavelength around 280 nm.

[0061] <Experiment 2> The following experiment was carried out in Israel. Three cultivars of the genus Cannabis (C. sativa L.), BLK Label, RGM Argvana Heart, and MUN Shine 6, were grown in a plant factory under the following controlled conditions. Room temperature: 22~23℃ low pressure sodium lamp Photosynthetic photon flux density: 200 μmol / m 2 / s Long-day conditions: light / dark = 16 hours / 8 hours The THC and CBD content ratios in the dried flowers of each variety are shown in the table below. BLK Label, RGM Argvana Heart, and MUN Shine 6 are classified as high-THC strains, THC / CBD balanced strains, and high-CBD strains, respectively.

[0062] [Table 1]

[0063] Approximately 40 to 60 days after sowing, flowers were harvested from the Cannabis plants. To minimize variations in the component content between individuals, flowers of similar color and size were selected for harvesting. Flowers collected from each plant were irradiated with LED light having a peak wavelength of 280 nm and a full width at half maximum of 10 nm (hereinafter simply referred to as "280 nm light") or LED light having a peak wavelength of 385 nm and a full width at half maximum of 11 nm (hereinafter simply referred to as "385 nm light") under the following conditions. NCSU334B and NVSU233B (manufactured by Nichia Corporation) were used as light sources for the 280 nm and 385 nm light, respectively. Irradiation was performed from directly above, and aluminum foil reflective surfaces were placed on all four sides of the irradiated plants.

[0064] [Table 2] Four flowers were collected as one sample, and four samples were prepared for each condition, meaning a total of 16 flowers were prepared for each plant.

[0065] The irradiated samples were transferred to a dark place at a temperature of approximately 25°C and a relative humidity of approximately 20% to 70% within 5 minutes of irradiation, stored for one week, and then dried. The non-irradiated samples were transferred to a dark place under the same conditions as above within 3 hours of harvesting, stored, and then dried. The dried samples were placed in bags, sealed, and stored until analysis.

[0066] The cannabinoid and terpene compounds contained in the dried flowers were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) for major cannabinoid compounds, liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC / MS) for rare cannabinoid compounds, and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC / MS) for terpene compounds (CannaSoulAnalytics, Israel).

[0067] (Result 1) The changes in the content of total THC, total CBD, and monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and total terpene compounds for each strain are shown in Figures 3 to 5. The changes in content are shown by expressing the content in the irradiated sample as a percentage of the content in the non-irradiated sample (Cont.) (100%). Note that total THC content means the THC content + THCA content, total CBD content means the CBD content + CBDA content, and total terpene content means the monoterpene content + sesquiterpene content. In Figures 3 to 5, an asterisk "*" indicates that the content was significantly (p≦0.05; t-test) changed in the irradiated samples (n=4) compared to the non-irradiated samples (n=4).

[0068] No changes in total THC or CBD content were observed with light exposure in BLK Label (a high-THC strain) and MUN Shine 6 (a high-CBD strain), whereas a decrease of just under 10% was observed in RGM Argvana Heart (a balanced strain) with 280 nm light (for any exposure time) and short-term (15 min) exposure to 385 nm light. The total terpene content of BLK Label (a high-THC strain) and RGM Argvana Heart (a balanced strain) was confirmed to increase with both light exposures, although the effective irradiation doses differed. On the other hand, an increase in the total terpene content of MUN Shine 6 (a high-CBD strain) was confirmed with short-term (15 minutes) irradiation with 280 nm light. Therefore, it was found that irradiation with 280 nm light and / or 385 nm light increases the total terpene compound content in Cannabis plants.

[0069] (Result 2) The results of analyzing the components that were increased in the samples in which a significant increase in terpene compounds was observed are shown in Tables 3 to 5 below. The components whose content was significantly increased (p≦0.05; t-test) in the irradiated samples (n=4) compared to the non-irradiated samples (n=4) are shown. The values ​​in the tables are the increase ratios calculated using the following formula: (average value of irradiated samples) / (average value of non-irradiated samples)×100(%).

[0070] [Table 3]

[0071] [Table 4]

[0072] [Table 5]

[0073] It has been confirmed that irradiation of Cannabis plants with 280 nm light and / or 385 nm light increases the amount of monoterpene compounds and sesquiterpene compounds. These terpene compounds are useful components of medical cannabis that have pharmacological effects on their own as well as entourage effects with THC and / or CBD.

[0074] (Result 3) The results of analyzing the increased content of rare cannabinoid compounds in all samples are shown in Tables 6 to 8 below. The components whose content was significantly increased (p≦0.05; t-test) in the irradiated samples (n=4) compared to the non-irradiated samples (n=4) are shown. The values ​​in the tables are the increase ratios calculated using the following formula: (average value of irradiated samples) / (average value of non-irradiated samples) × 100 (%).

[0075] [Table 6]

[0076] [Table 7]

[0077] [Table 8]

[0078] It has been confirmed that irradiation of cannabis plants with 280 nm and / or 385 nm light increases the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds. These rare cannabinoid compounds are useful components of medical cannabis that have an entourage effect with THC and / or CBD, and are also expected to have new pharmacological effects.

[0079] <Experiment 3> The items purchased were roses (cut flowers), Japanese daffodils (cut flowers), mandarin oranges (fruit), lemons (fruit), and coriander, all of which were grown outdoors. At the time of purchase, the roses and Japanese daffodils were arranged in water, and the mandarin oranges, lemons, and coriander were stored in the refrigerator. The harvested plants were irradiated with 280 nm light or 385 nm light under the following conditions: NCSU334B and NVSU233B (manufactured by Nichia Corporation) were used as light sources for 280 nm light and 385 nm light, respectively. For each plant, individuals of similar color and size were selected to minimize variations in component content between individuals.

[0080] The roses and Japanese daffodils were laid in a tray, and the cut surfaces of the stems were irradiated with light while water was supplied to them by capillary action. [Table 9]

[0081] The mandarin oranges and lemons were irradiated with light with the skin still attached. [Table 10]

[0082] The coriander was placed in a tray filled with water, and the cut surface of the stem was immersed in the water while being irradiated with light. [Table 11] In all cases, the irradiation was performed from directly above, and reflective aluminum foil surfaces were placed on all four sides of the irradiated plants.

[0083] Each irradiated plant was transferred to a dark place at a temperature of about 25°C and a relative humidity of about 20% to about 70% within 5 minutes after light irradiation and stored for 2 days. Non-irradiated plants were transferred to a dark place under the same conditions as above after receipt. The roses and Japanese daffodils were stored with the cut surface of the stem immersed in water, the mandarins and lemons were stored in a vinyl bag with multiple holes, and the coriander was stored under the same conditions as when irradiated with light. After storage in the dark, the rose and Japanese daffodil flowers, the mandarin orange and lemon peels, and the coriander peels were frozen in liquid nitrogen. They were then crushed using a mortar and pestle, placed in plastic storage bags, and stored at -70°C.

[0084] The changes in the content of terpene compounds in each plant were analyzed by GC-MS. For the analysis, one sample was prepared for each condition: 10 and 25 flowers for roses and Japanese daffodils, respectively; 6 and 7 peels for mandarins and lemons, respectively; and approximately 50 g for coriander. After thawing, the frozen samples were pretreated as follows. Methanol containing sodium sulfate and BHT was added to the thawed samples for extraction. Hexane was then added, the mixture was shaken, and the mixture was centrifuged to recover the hexane layer. The recovered hexane layer was subjected to GC-MS under the following conditions. Cannabis Terpene Mix B (Sigma-Aldrich) was used as a standard substance.

[0085] GC conditions: Inlet temperature: 250℃ Injection mode: Splitless Analytical column: InertCap Pure-WAX (film thickness 0.25 μm, inner diameter 0.25 mm x length 30 m) Temperature rise conditions: 45°C (2 minutes) → 10°C / min → 140°C (0.5 minutes) → 30°C / min → 250°C (8 minutes) Carrier flow rate: 1 mL / min MS conditions Ion source temperature: 220℃ Ionization method: EI Ionization energy: 70 eV Measurement mode: SIM Monitor ions

[0086] The following monitor ions were used to detect each compound. [Table 12]

[0087] (result) The results of analyzing the increased amounts of terpene compounds in all samples are shown in Tables 13 to 17 below. The components whose contents were significantly increased in the irradiated samples compared to the non-irradiated samples (p≦0.05; t-test) are shown. The values ​​in the tables are the increase ratios calculated using the following formula: (value of irradiated sample) / (value of non-irradiated sample)×100 (%).

[0088] [Table 13]

[0089] [Table 14]

[0090] [Table 15]

[0091] [Table 16]

[0092] [Table 17]

[0093] It has been confirmed that exposure to 280 nm and / or 385 nm light increases the amount of terpene compounds (monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenes) in various plant species belonging to families significantly different from those of the Cannabis genus. These components are used as medicines, functional foods, fragrances, and industrial raw materials.

[0094] To summarize the above results, it is understood that irradiation with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm can increase the amount of at least one rare cannabinoid compound and / or terpene compound in harvested plants, and that this effect is not limited to a specific family, genus, or species. The reason why the amount of rare cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds increased in harvested plants when exposed to light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm is thought to be because the cutting stress at harvest and / or subsequent drought stress caused plant hormones (e.g., ethylene, jasmonic acid, abscisic acid) and / or systemin to act, promoting the synthesis of cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds through light stimulation.

[0095] It is also speculated that storing plants in the dark after exposure to light suppresses photosynthesis, thereby (i) allowing amino acids to be preferentially used for the synthesis of cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds, and (ii) further promoting the synthesis of cannabinoid compounds and / or terpene compounds as a result of the generation of reactive oxygen species by cellular respiration instead of photosynthesis. The method and apparatus disclosed herein are also believed to be useful for plant stem cells, which have recently been widely used in cosmetics, medicinal herbs, edible flowers, fragrant wood chips, microalgae, seaweed such as Enteromorpha aegypti, and mushrooms.

Claims

1. a holding unit capable of holding a harvested plant; an irradiation unit capable of emitting light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm; wherein the irradiating unit is capable of irradiating the plant held in the holding unit with light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 270 to 290 nm and / or light having a peak wavelength in the wavelength range of 370 to 400 nm.

2. Further comprising a liquid supply unit, The device according to claim 1 , wherein the holding portion holds at least a stem portion of the plant, and the liquid supplying portion supplies a liquid comprising water to the holding portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the liquid supply comprises a light source that irradiates the liquid with ultraviolet light.

4. an irradiation chamber having the irradiation unit therein; a dark room capable of blocking photosynthetically active radiation from the outside; The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: a holding unit that forms part of a transport mechanism that transports the plant from the irradiation chamber to the darkroom so that a desired irradiated portion of the plant passes through an irradiation area of ​​the irradiation unit in the irradiation chamber.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the holding section is capable of holding the liquid together with the plant from the irradiation chamber to the dark chamber.

6. Further provided is a drying chamber capable of adjusting the internal temperature and / or humidity and shielding photosynthetically active radiation from the outside, The device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the holding unit forms part of a transport mechanism that transports the plant from the irradiation chamber to the drying chamber via the dark chamber.

7. The device according to claim 6 , wherein the irradiation chamber and / or the dark chamber and / or the drying chamber further comprise a germicidal lamp for room sterilization.

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