A tea tree seedling cultivation method using cold plasma treatment

Abstract

The present invention discloses a tea seedling raising method using cold plasma treatment, which belongs to the technical field of tea tree breeding. The seedling raising method comprises the following steps: performing cold plasma treatment on tea seeds; the power of the cold plasma treatment is 150 to 200 W, and the time is 14 to 18 seconds. Cold plasma treatment can activate the activity of multiple enzymes in the seeds, thereby improving the drought resistance, salt resistance, and low temperature resistance of the crops; it can produce a benign stimulation to the seeds, significantly increase the permeability of the seed coat, enhance the hydrophilicity and water absorption capacity of the seeds, and thus improve the decomposition and metabolism capacity of the seed storage substances; it can activate the internal mechanism of the seeds, improve the performance of the seedlings, and regulate the secondary metabolic cycle; it can also effectively kill pathogens on the surface of the seeds, thereby improving the disease resistance of the seeds during the germination process. The present invention significantly improves the germination rate of tea seeds and the survival rate of seedlings after transplanting by performing cold plasma treatment on tea seeds.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of tea tree breeding, in particular to a tea tree seedling breeding method using cold plasma treatment. Background Art

[0002] Tea production is a vital agricultural industry in hilly and mountainous areas. Currently, a variety of methods are used to cultivate tea seedlings, including seedling cultivation, layering, and cuttings. However, each method requires high soil, temperature, water, and humidity requirements, making rapid and large-scale seedling cultivation challenging in many regions. Therefore, reducing the environmental requirements for tea seedling cultivation, improving seedling emergence and survival rates, and achieving rapid and large-scale seedling cultivation remain challenges facing those skilled in the art.

[0003] Cold plasma is a fourth state of matter, where solid, liquid, and gas coexist. It is primarily composed of a large number of free electrons and charged ions. Cold plasma technology is widely used in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental fields, but its application in agriculture is relatively new. Currently, its application in agriculture is primarily focused on increasing vegetable and fruit production, with no reports on its application in tea seedling cultivation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a tea tree seedling raising method using cold plasma treatment to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art.

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0006] One of the technical solutions of the present invention is a tea seedling cultivation method using cold plasma treatment, comprising the following steps: performing cold plasma treatment on tea seeds; the power of the cold plasma treatment is 150 to 200 W, and the time is 14 to 18 seconds.

[0007] Furthermore, the discharge medium of the cold plasma treatment is helium.

[0008] Furthermore, the power of the cold plasma treatment is 180W and the time is 16s.

[0009] Furthermore, the method further includes freezing the tea seeds before subjecting the tea seeds to the cold plasma treatment.

[0010] Furthermore, the freezing treatment temperature is -5 to 0°C and the time is 20 to 24 hours.

[0011] Furthermore, the cold plasma treatment of the tea seeds also includes enzymatic hydrolysis of the tea seeds; the enzymatic hydrolysis step includes: adding the tea seeds treated with cold plasma into water, adding a complex enzyme, enzymolyzing at 45-50° C. for 4-5 hours, and taking out to obtain enzymatically hydrolyzed tea seeds.

[0012] Furthermore, when the tea tree seeds treated with cold plasma are added to water, the mass ratio of the tea tree seeds treated with cold plasma to water is 1:2-3.

[0013] Furthermore, the complex enzyme is prepared by mixing cellulase, ligninase, protease and pectinase in a mass ratio of 2-3:1-2:1-2:1-2.

[0014] Furthermore, after the enzymatic hydrolysis treatment, the method further comprises: sowing the enzymatically hydrolyzed tea seeds in a substrate, and covering the upper layer with a substrate having a thickness of 2 to 3 cm.

[0015] Furthermore, the matrix is formed by mixing pine needle soil, vermiculite and tea seed cake in a mass ratio of 1 to 2:1 to 2:1.

[0016] Pine needle soil refers to the decay of fallen pine needles that accumulate on the ground over time and, under certain environmental conditions, are activated by microorganisms. This soil is rich in nutrients and can provide ample nutrition for tea seed germination. Pine needle soil is commercially available.

[0017] Tea seed meal is the residue left after the oil cake is pressed and chemically refined. It is high in protein and provides ample nutrition for tea seed germination. Tea seed meal is commercially available.

[0018] Vermiculite has good air and water permeability, which can make the substrate loose and breathable, increase the loosening effect, allow the seeds to breathe normally in the substrate, and promote seed germination.

[0019] Furthermore, the tea tree seeds are large-leaf tea tree seeds.

[0020] The present invention discloses the following technical effects:

[0021] (1) The present invention performs cold plasma treatment on tea seeds before sowing. During the seed treatment process, cold plasma activates the activity of multiple enzymes in the seeds, thereby improving the drought resistance, salt resistance and low temperature resistance of the crops, and improving the germination rate and survival rate of the seeds. Cold plasma can produce a benign stimulation to the seeds, which can significantly increase the permeability of the seed coat, enhance the hydrophilicity and water absorption capacity of the seeds, and then improve the decomposition and metabolism capacity of the seed storage substances, thereby significantly promoting seed germination and seedling growth. Cold plasma can activate the internal mechanism of the seeds, improve the performance of the seedlings, regulate the secondary metabolic cycle, and thus improve the survival rate of the seedlings. During the process of cold plasma treatment of seeds, cold plasma can also effectively kill pathogens on the surface of the seeds, thereby improving the disease resistance of the seeds during the germination process and significantly reducing the occurrence of seedling diseases. The present invention significantly improves the germination rate of tea seeds and the survival rate of seedlings after transplanting by performing cold plasma treatment on tea seeds.

[0022] (2) Through experimental research, the present invention found that the optimal parameter for treating tea seeds with cold plasma is to treat them with a processing power of 180W for 16s. Under this condition, the seed germination rate can be increased by about 25% and the seedling transplant survival rate can be increased by about 30%.

[0023] (3) The present invention also freezes the tea seeds before subjecting them to cold plasma treatment. The freezing treatment can stimulate the vitality of the seed embryos, inhibit the activity of dormancy substances, release seed dormancy, and accelerate seed germination.

[0024] (4) The present invention also performs an enzymatic hydrolysis treatment on the tea seeds after the cold plasma treatment. During the enzymatic hydrolysis process, multiple enzymes work synergistically to destroy the seed shell structure, increase the seed shell permeability, promote the entry of water and nutrients into the seed shell, provide the nutrients required for embryo growth, and improve the seed germination rate. The synergistic combination of freezing treatment, enzymatic hydrolysis treatment, and cold plasma treatment can further improve the germination rate of tea seeds and the survival rate of seedlings after transplantation. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail. This detailed description should not be considered as limiting the present invention, but rather as a more detailed description of certain aspects, features, and embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] It should be understood that the terms described herein are intended only to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, for numerical ranges herein, it should be understood that each intermediate value between the upper and lower limits of the range is also specifically disclosed. Each smaller range between any intermediate value within a stated value or stated range and any other stated value or intermediate value within the stated range is also encompassed by the present invention. The upper and lower limits of these smaller ranges may be independently included or excluded within the scope.

[0027] Unless otherwise indicated, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art. Although only preferred methods and materials are described herein, any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein may also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention. All documents mentioned in this specification are incorporated by reference to disclose and describe the methods and / or materials associated with the documents. In the event of any conflict with any incorporated document, the contents of this specification shall prevail.

[0028] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations may be made to the specific embodiments of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the present invention. The present description and examples are intended to be illustrative only.

[0029] The words “include,” “including,” “have,” “contain,” etc. used in this document are open-ended terms, meaning including but not limited to.

[0030] The experimental methods described in the following examples, comparative examples and effect verifications are all conventional methods unless otherwise specified; the parts are all parts by mass; the tea seeds used are all large-leaf tea seeds (Menghai species) from the same batch purchased on the market.

[0031] Three parallel experiments were repeated for each of the following examples and comparative examples. 1,000 seeds were sown in each group. The average value of the three groups was taken when calculating the germination rate, survival rate, and other results.

[0032] The seedling raising experiments in the following examples and comparative examples and the planting experiments after transplanting tea seedlings were all carried out at a tea planting base in Menghai County.

[0033] Example 1

[0034] A tea tree seedling raising method using cold plasma treatment comprises the following steps:

[0035] (1) Cold plasma treatment: Tea seeds were treated with cold plasma for 14 s at a treatment power of 150 W (the discharge medium was helium);

[0036] (2) Seed sowing: The tea seeds treated with cold plasma were sown in a matrix (mixed with pine needle soil, vermiculite, and tea dregs in a mass ratio of 1:1:1), and the upper layer was covered with a matrix with a thickness of 3 cm, and the moisture content of the matrix was maintained at 30%.

[0037] Example 2

[0038] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 150 W and the time is 15 s.

[0039] Example 3

[0040] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 150 W and the time is 16 s.

[0041] Example 4

[0042] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 150 W and the time is 17 s.

[0043] Example 5

[0044] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 150 W and the time is 18 s.

[0045] Example 6

[0046] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 160 W and the time is 16 s.

[0047] Example 7

[0048] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 170 W and the time is 16 s.

[0049] Example 8

[0050] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 180 W and the time is 16 s.

[0051] Example 9

[0052] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 190 W and the time is 16 s.

[0053] Example 10

[0054] The same as Example 1, except that the power of the cold plasma treatment is 200 W and the time is 16 s.

[0055] Comparative Example 1

[0056] The purchased tea tree seeds were directly sown in a substrate (mixed by pine needle soil, vermiculite, and tea meal in a mass ratio of 1:1:1), and the upper layer was covered with a substrate with a thickness of 3 cm, and the moisture content of the substrate was maintained at 30%.

[0057] Fifteen days after sowing, the germination of each group of tea seeds was observed and the germination rate was calculated (with the emergence of the cotyledons as the germination standard); when the unearthed tea seedlings grew to about 25 cm in height, each group of tea seedlings was transplanted. The management method after transplanting was the same as that of ordinary tea seedlings. Two months after transplanting, the survival rate of the tea seedlings after transplanting was calculated. The statistical results of Examples 1-10 and Comparative Example 1 are shown in Table 1:

[0058] Table 1

[0059] Group Germination rate / % Survival rate / % Example 1 65.4 66.5 Example 2 67.3 68.8 Example 3 68.6 70.6 Example 4 67.5 69.4 Example 5 66.9 68.9 Example 6 74.8 75.9 Example 7 80.1 81.1 Example 8 85.2 87.7 Example 9 81.6 82.4 Example 10 79.7 81.8 Comparative Example 1 60.2 57.3

[0060] As shown in Table 1, compared with Comparative Example 1, in which tea seeds were not treated with cold plasma, Examples 1-10, which treated tea seeds with cold plasma, significantly increased the germination rate of the seeds and the survival rate of the tea seedlings after transplanting. Furthermore, the higher the cold plasma treatment power, the better, and the longer the treatment time, the better. Excessive treatment power and time can have adverse effects on the germination of tea seeds and the growth of tea seedlings. The highest germination rate and survival rate were achieved when the cold plasma treatment power was 180 W and the treatment time was 16 seconds.

[0061] Example 11

[0062] A tea tree seedling raising method using cold plasma treatment comprises the following steps:

[0063] (1) Freezing treatment: Freeze the tea seeds at -3°C for 24 hours to obtain frozen tea seeds;

[0064] (2) Cold plasma treatment: Frozen tea seeds were treated with cold plasma for 16 s at a treatment power of 180 W (the discharge medium was helium);

[0065] (3) Seed sowing: The tea seeds treated with cold plasma were sown in a matrix (mixed with pine needle soil, vermiculite, and tea dregs in a mass ratio of 1:1:1), and the upper layer was covered with a matrix with a thickness of 3 cm, and the moisture content of the matrix was maintained at 30%.

[0066] Example 12

[0067] A tea tree seedling raising method using cold plasma treatment comprises the following steps:

[0068] (1) Freezing treatment: Freeze the tea seeds at -3°C for 24 hours to obtain frozen tea seeds;

[0069] (2) Cold plasma treatment: Frozen tea seeds were treated with cold plasma for 16 s at a treatment power of 180 W (the discharge medium was helium);

[0070] (3) Enzymatic hydrolysis: Add the tea seeds treated with cold plasma into water 3 times the mass of the tea seeds, add a complex enzyme (cellulase, ligninase, protease, and pectinase mixed in a mass ratio of 2:1:1:1), and enzymatically hydrolyze at 48°C for 4 hours. Then, remove the tea seeds to obtain enzymatically hydrolyzed tea seeds.

[0071] (4) Seed sowing: The tea seeds treated with cold plasma were sown in a matrix (mixed with pine needle soil, vermiculite, and tea dregs in a mass ratio of 1:1:1), and the upper layer was covered with a matrix with a thickness of 3 cm, and the moisture content of the matrix was maintained at 30%.

[0072] Fifteen days after sowing, the germination of tea seeds in each group was observed, and the germination rate of Examples 11-12 was calculated (with the emergence of cotyledons as the germination standard). When the unearthed tea seedlings grew to about 25 cm in height, the tea seedlings in each group were transplanted. The post-transplant management method was the same as that of ordinary tea seedlings. Two months after transplanting, the survival rate of the tea seedlings in Examples 11-12 after transplanting was calculated. The results are shown in Table 2:

[0073] Table 2

[0074] Group Germination rate / % Survival rate / % Example 11 89.6 90.9 Example 12 95.2 97.1

[0075] By comparing the data of Examples 11-12 in Table 2 with the data of Example 8 in Table 1, it can be found that freezing the tea seeds before subjecting them to cold plasma treatment, and enzymatically hydrolyzing the tea seeds after subjecting them to cold plasma treatment, further improved the germination rate of the tea seeds and the survival rate of the tea seedlings after transplanting on the basis of the plasma treatment.

[0076] The embodiments described above are merely descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Without departing from the spirit of the present invention, various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by persons skilled in the art should fall within the scope of protection defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A tea tree seedling raising method using cold plasma treatment, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: The tea tree seeds were treated with cold plasma at a power of 180 W and a time of 16 s. The method further comprises freezing the tea tree seeds before the cold plasma treatment of the tea tree seeds; The freezing treatment temperature is -5 to 0°C and the time is 20 to 24 hours; The method further comprises enzymatically treating the tea tree seeds after the cold plasma treatment of the tea tree seeds; The enzymatic hydrolysis step comprises: adding the tea tree seeds treated with cold plasma into water, adding a complex enzyme, performing enzymatic hydrolysis at 45-50° C. for 4-5 hours, and taking out the tea tree seeds to obtain enzymatic hydrolyzed tea tree seeds; The complex enzyme is prepared by mixing cellulase, ligninase, protease and pectinase in a mass ratio of 2-3:1-2:1-2:1-2; After the enzymatic hydrolysis treatment, the method further comprises: sowing the enzymatically hydrolyzed tea tree seeds in a substrate, and covering the upper layer with a substrate having a thickness of 2 to 3 cm; The matrix is prepared by mixing pine needle soil, vermiculite and tea dregs in a mass ratio of 1 to 2:1 to 2:

1.

2. The tea tree seedling raising method according to claim 1, wherein: The discharge medium of the cold plasma treatment is helium.

3. The tea tree seedling raising method according to claim 1, wherein: The tea tree seeds are large-leaf tea tree seeds.