Dyeing solution, method for dyeing cut flowers, and flower vase.

Abstract

To provide a dyeing solution and a dyeing method that can suitably dye cut flowers. [Solution] A dyeing solution containing a xanthene pigment, used for dyeing cut flowers belonging to the Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales orders. A method for dyeing cut flowers, comprising the step of allowing cut flowers belonging to the Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales orders to absorb a dyeing solution containing a xanthene pigment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a staining solution, a method for staining cut flowers, and a vase.

Background Art

[0002] As a method for appreciating cut flowers in bouquets and flower arrangements, there is a method where not only one can enjoy the original color of the flowers, but also after allowing the flowers to absorb a fluorescent dye, ultraviolet light (black light) is irradiated to enjoy the color produced by the light emission of the fluorescent dye (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] According to studies by the present inventors, when staining cut flowers with a dye, depending on the combination of the dye and the cut flower, the cut flower may not be stained well and light emission from the cut flower may not be obtained. Therefore, an object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide a staining solution and a staining method capable of suitably staining cut flowers.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] The present invention includes the following aspects. [1] A staining solution containing a xanthene dye, which is used for staining cut flowers belonging to the order Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales. [2] The staining solution according to [1], wherein the content of the xanthene dye is 0.5% by mass or more based on the total amount of the staining solution. [3] The staining solution according to [1] or [2], wherein the cut flower belongs to the family Liliaceae of the order Liliales, the family Asteraceae of the order Asterales, or the family Rosaceae of the order Rosales. [4] A staining solution containing two or more xanthene dyes, as described in any one of [1] to [3]. [5] A method for dyeing cut flowers, comprising the step of allowing cut flowers belonging to the orders Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales to absorb a dyeing solution containing a xanthene pigment. [6] The method for dyeing cut flowers according to [5], wherein the xanthene pigment content is 0.5% by mass or more based on the total amount of the dyeing solution. [7] A method for dyeing cut flowers as described in [5] or [6], wherein the cut flowers belong to the family Liliaceae of the order Liliales, the family Asteraceae of the order Asterales, or the family Rosaceae of the order Rosales. [8] The dyeing method according to any one of [5] to [7], further comprising a step of drying cut flowers before the dyeing process. [9] A method for dyeing cut flowers according to any one of [5] to [8], wherein the dyeing solution contains two or more xanthene pigments.

[10] A vase in which cut flowers belonging to the orders Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales are placed, and the cut flowers are dyed with xanthene pigments.

[11] The vase described in

[10] , further equipped with an ultraviolet irradiation device for causing cut flowers to glow.

[12] The vase described in

[10] or

[11] , wherein the cut flowers are dyed with two or more xanthene pigments. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a dyeing solution and a dyeing method that can suitably dye cut flowers. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention is a dyeing solution containing a xanthene pigment, which is used for dyeing cut flowers belonging to the orders Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales.

[0008] Xanthene dyes are dyes assigned color index numbers from 45000 to 45999 (CI45000 to CI45999). Xanthene dyes may be fluorescent dyes and may emit light upon irradiation with ultraviolet light (for example, ultraviolet light with a central wavelength of 350 to 410 nm).

[0009] The staining solution may contain one type of xanthene dye, and may contain two or more types. Preferably, the staining solution may contain at least one selected from the group consisting of uranine (CI 45350), eosin Y (CI 45380), rhodamine B (CI 45170), and sulforhodamine B (also known as Red No. 106, CI 45100), more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of uranine, eosin Y, and sulforhodamine B, and even more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of uranine and sulforhodamine B.

[0010] When the dyeing solution contains two or more xanthene pigments, it may contain sulfohodamine B and uranine, sulfohodamine B and eosin Y, or uranine and eosin Y. Preferably, the dyeing solution contains sulfohodamine B and uranine. When the dyeing solution contains two or more xanthene pigments, in addition to suitably dyeing and emitting light from cut flowers, it is also possible to impart a desired observation color under both visible light (bright conditions) and ultraviolet light (dark conditions). This allows one cut flower to be enjoyed in two different aesthetic states depending on the lighting environment.

[0011] The xanthene pigment content may be 0.05% by mass or more, 0.1% by mass or more, 0.2% by mass or more, 0.3% by mass or more, or 0.4% by mass or more, based on the total amount of the dyeing solution. From the viewpoint of more favorably dyeing cut flowers, it is preferably 0.5% by mass or more, 0.6% by mass or more, 0.7% by mass or more, 0.8% by mass or more, 0.9% by mass or more, or 1% by mass or more. The xanthene pigment content may be 5% by mass or less, 4% by mass or less, 3% by mass or less, or 2% by mass or less, based on the total amount of the dyeing solution.

[0012] When the staining solution contains two types of xanthene dyes, the mass ratio of the two xanthene dyes may be 0.05 or more, 0.1 or more, or 0.2 or more, and may be 1 or less, 0.6 or less, or 0.4 or less. This mass ratio represents the ratio of the less abundant dye to the more abundant dye among the two dyes.

[0013] The staining solution may contain water in addition to the xanthene dye. The water content may be 90% or more, 95% or more, or 97% or more by mass, or 99% or less by mass, based on the total volume of the staining solution.

[0014] The staining solution may further contain an organic solvent that is miscible with water in order to improve the solubility of the xanthene dye. Such an organic solvent is preferably an alcohol-based organic solvent such as methanol, ethanol, or 2-propanol, and more preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of ethanol and 2-propanol. The content of the organic solvent may be 1% by mass or more, 2% by mass or more, 10% by mass or less, 5% by mass or less, or 3% by mass or less, based on the total amount of the staining solution.

[0015] The staining solution may further contain additives. Examples of additives include surfactants, preservatives, pH adjusters, and antioxidants. The total amount of additives may be 0.1% by mass or more, 0.5% by mass or more, or 1% by mass or more, and may be 3% by mass or less, 2% by mass or less, or 1.5% by mass or less, based on the total amount of the staining solution.

[0016] The pH of the staining solution may be 2.0 or higher, 3.0 or higher, 4.0 or higher, 5.0 or higher, 6.0 or higher, or 7.0 or higher, and may be 10.0 or lower, 9.0 or lower, or 8.0 or lower. The pH of the staining solution is measured at 25°C.

[0017] The staining solution described above is suitably absorbed by cut flowers belonging to Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales, and therefore can suitably dye such cut flowers. In order to allow the dyed cut flowers to emit light more favorably, the petals of the cut flowers are preferably white.

[0018] The cut flowers belonging to Liliales may be cut flowers belonging to Liliaceae or Alstroemeriaceae. Specific examples of such cut flowers include lily, alstroemeria, Allium cowanii, tulip, and the like.

[0019] The cut flowers belonging to Asterales may be cut flowers belonging to Asteraceae. Specific examples of such cut flowers include spray chrysanthemum, ping pong chrysanthemum, bloom chrysanthemum, disbud chrysanthemum, and the like.

[0020] The cut flowers belonging to Rosales may be cut flowers belonging to Rosaceae. Specific examples of such cut flowers include rose, Spiraea cantoniensis, and the like.

[0021] The cut flowers belonging to Fabales may be cut flowers belonging to Fabaceae. Specific examples of such cut flowers include sweet pea, and the like.

[0022] The cut flowers belonging to Asparagales may be cut flowers belonging to Amaryllidaceae or Orchidaceae. Specific examples of such cut flowers include garlic chives, epidendrum, dendrobium, and the like.

[0023] The cut flowers may preferably belong to the Liliales, Asterales, or Rosales orders, more preferably to the Liliaceae family of the Liliales, Asterales, or Rosaceae family of the Rosales orders, and even more preferably to be lilies, spray chrysanthemums, or roses.

[0024] Another embodiment of the present invention is a method for dyeing cut flowers, comprising the step of absorbing a dyeing solution containing a xanthene pigment into cut flowers belonging to the orders Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales (absorption step). Details of the cut flowers and dyeing solution are as described above.

[0025] In the absorption process, for example, the tip of the cut stem of the cut flower is immersed in the dyeing solution to allow the flower to absorb it. Before allowing the flower to absorb the dyeing solution, it is preferable to filter the solution to remove insoluble components. The immersion time in the dyeing solution may be, for example, 1 to 12 hours.

[0026] The dyeing method according to this embodiment may further include a step of drying the cut flowers (drying step) before the absorption step. The drying step makes the dye solution more easily absorbed by the cut flowers. In the drying step, for example, the cut flowers are left to stand for 1 to 8 hours in an environment with a temperature of 15 to 30°C and a humidity of 10 to 40%.

[0027] The dyeing method according to this embodiment may further include a storage step (storage step) in which the tips of the stems of the dyed cut flowers are immersed in a preservation solution after the absorption step. The preservation solution used in the storage step may contain a known nutrient (for example, a commercially available nutrient) that is appropriately selected according to the type of cut flower.

[0028] Another embodiment of the present invention may be cut flowers dyed by the dyeing method described above. That is, the cut flowers according to one embodiment are cut flowers belonging to the Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales orders, dyed with a xanthene pigment. The dyed cut flowers may be placed in a vase, for example, for display. That is, another embodiment of the present invention may be a vase in which cut flowers belonging to the Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales orders are placed, and the cut flowers are dyed with a xanthene pigment.

[0029] Dyed cut flowers emit light when exposed to ultraviolet light. Therefore, dyed cut flowers may be used together with an ultraviolet irradiation device (light source) that emits such ultraviolet light. The ultraviolet irradiation device (light source) may be installed, for example, in the flower vase described above. The central wavelength of the ultraviolet light may be, for example, 350 to 410 nm, and preferably 360 to 370 nm from the viewpoint of making the cut flowers emit light more effectively.

[0030] Dyed cut flowers may be used in conjunction with an optical filter in addition to an ultraviolet irradiation device (light source). The optical filter may be installed, for example, in the above-mentioned vase. The optical filter can be appropriately selected to transmit the necessary wavelengths of ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet irradiation device (light source) and block unwanted wavelengths. Preferably, the optical filter has a transmittance of 60% or more at 365 nm and a transmittance of 20% or less at 400 nm. Such an optical filter is preferably used in conjunction with an ultraviolet irradiation device (light source) that emits ultraviolet light with a central wavelength of 360 to 370 nm. [Examples]

[0031] The present invention will be described more specifically below based on examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0032] <Test Example 1> 0.5% by mass aqueous solutions of each xanthene dye shown in Tables 1-4 were prepared. Each aqueous solution was filtered using a disc syringe filter (pore diameter 0.45 μm) to remove insoluble components and obtain staining solutions. The pH of the sulforhodamine B staining solution was 7.2, the pH of the uranine staining solution was 7.8, the pH of the eosin Y staining solution was 7.1, and the pH of the rhodamine B staining solution was 2.6. The pH of each staining solution was measured at 25°C using a pH meter (model number: PH-6011A-OM, Monotaro Co., Ltd.).

[0033] Using the staining solutions obtained above, cut flowers of the types shown in Tables 1-4 were stained, and then the luminescence of the stained cut flowers was observed. The cut flowers were removed from the water and laid flat on a table, then dried for 3 hours at room temperature (23°C) and humidity (25%). The stems were then cut diagonally 3 cm from the cut end using pruning shears, and the lower part of the stems was immersed in each dyeing solution for 5 hours. Next, the cut flowers were removed from the dyeing solution, the parts that had been in contact with the dye were washed with tap water, and then the stems were cut diagonally 3 cm from the cut end. The dyed cut flowers were then stored in a solution of commercially available cut flower freshness preservative diluted to the specified concentration. The dyed cut flowers were moved to a darkened room and their luminescence was evaluated by illuminating them with a UV lamp (UVGL-25, 365nm irradiation mode, manufactured by Funakoshi). The evaluation criteria were as follows: If the result was A, B, or C, the cut flowers were dyed suitably; if it was A or B, the cut flowers were dyed more suitably; and if it was A, the cut flowers were dyed particularly suitably. The results are shown in Tables 1-4. A: The entire petal glowed uniformly. B: The edges of the petals or the entire petal exhibited mottled luminescence. C: Part of the petals glowed. D: We were unable to confirm the luminescence of the petals.

[0034] [Table 1]

[0035] [Table 2]

[0036] [Table 3]

[0037] [Table 4]

[0038] Furthermore, in the example using sulfolhodamine B as the xanthene dye, the type of cut flower, the amount of sulfolhodamine B in the dyeing solution, and the presence or absence of a drying step before dyeing, as well as the degree of drying, were changed as shown in Table 5, and the luminescence of the dyed cut flowers was observed in the same manner as above. Note that the drying loss rate (%) in Table 5 is the rate of mass loss of the cut flower due to the drying step, which is calculated by the following formula. Drying weight loss rate (%) = (Mass of cut flowers before drying - Mass of cut flowers after drying) / Mass of cut flowers before drying × 100 Furthermore, if "None" is written in the Drying Loss Rate (%) column in Table 5, it means that the drying process was not performed.

[0039] [Table 5]

[0040] <Test Example 2> Aqueous solutions containing the types of xanthene dyes shown in Table 6, in the amounts (mass%) shown in the same table, were prepared. Each aqueous solution was filtered using a disc syringe filter (pore diameter 0.45 μm) to remove insoluble components and obtain staining solutions a to d according to the examples.

[0041] [Table 6]

[0042] Following the same procedure as in <Test Example 1> above, cut flowers of the types shown in Table 7 were dyed using dye solutions a to d. The luminescence of the dyed cut flowers was then observed, and the luminescence state was evaluated based on the same evaluation criteria. Furthermore, for cut flowers in which luminescence was observed, the color under visible light (bright conditions) and the color of the luminescence during illumination were visually observed. The evaluation results of the luminescence state and the observation results of the color are shown in Table 7. Note that the petals of all cut flowers were white before dyeing.

[0043] [Table 7]

Claims

1. It contains xanthene pigments, A dye solution used for dyeing cut flowers belonging to the orders Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales.

2. The staining solution according to claim 1, wherein the content of the xanthene dye is 0.5% by mass or more based on the total amount of the staining solution.

3. The dyeing solution according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cut flower belongs to the family Liliaceae of the order Liliales, the family Asteraceae of the order Asterales, or the family Rosaceae of the order Rosales.

4. The staining solution according to claim 1 or 2, comprising two or more of the xanthene dyes.

5. A method for dyeing cut flowers, comprising the step of absorbing a dyeing solution containing a xanthene pigment into cut flowers belonging to the orders Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales.

6. The method for dyeing cut flowers according to claim 5, wherein the content of the xanthene pigment is 0.5% by mass or more based on the total amount of the dyeing solution.

7. The method for dyeing cut flowers according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the cut flowers belong to the family Liliaceae of the order Liliales, the family Asteraceae of the order Asterales, or the family Rosaceae of the order Rosales.

8. The dyeing method according to claim 5 or 6, further comprising the step of drying the cut flowers before the aforementioned step.

9. The method for dyeing cut flowers according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the dyeing solution contains two or more xanthene pigments.

10. A vase in which cut flowers belonging to the orders Liliales, Asterales, Rosales, Fabales, or Asparagales are placed, A vase containing the aforementioned cut flowers, stained with xanthene pigment.

11. The flower vase according to claim 10, further comprising an ultraviolet irradiation device for causing the cut flowers to emit light.

12. The vase according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the cut flowers are dyed with two or more xanthene pigments.

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