Method for determining the control location of phloem translocation, crop production method, and contrast agent used in living plants

Abstract

To provide a method for determining control location of phloem translocation, a method of crop production, and a contrast agent used in living plants.SOLUTION: For solving the above problem, the method for determining control location of phloem translocation determines where to control some or all of the phloem translocation through the stem so as to increase the amount of phloem translocation toward the target location of the plant, based on image information of the phloem of a living plant. Further, the method of crop production of the present invention controls phloem translocation toward the target location of the plant by suppressing or stopping the phloem translocation while some or all of the vessels of the stem of the plant are left in place by means of controlling phloem translocation. Furthermore, a contrast agent used to capture image information of the phloem of a living plant comprises metal and pseudo-nutrients.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for determining the control site of phloem translocation. The present invention also relates to a method for producing agricultural crops. The present invention also relates to a contrast agent for use in living plants. [Background technology]

[0002] In agricultural production, it is important to efficiently transfer and accumulate photosynthetic products produced in leaves to harvestable parts such as fruit stalks in order to increase crop yields.

[0003] Conventional crop cultivation management methods involve pruning, which involves removing excess leaves, shoots, or fruit stalks, to adjust the area and amount of photosynthesis produced in the leaves and manage the area so that it produces more.In addition, cultivation management is carried out to increase the production of photosynthesis products by adjusting the plant's growth environment (temperature control, amount of light supplied, amount of fertilizer applied, etc.).

[0004] Patent Document 1 describes a method of connecting a collection tube to the xylem or phloem of a plant, collecting plant fluids from within the plant, adjusting the collected plant fluids, and returning them to the inside of the plant. It also describes how this method regulates the growth of the fruit, which is the harvested part, prevents cracking, and controls the amount of water and nutrients (such as growth hormones).

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes that the harvested parts and leaves of the plant are covered with a bag or cover, and temperature control is performed on the harvested parts and the surrounding areas of the leaves to create a good growing environment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5848423 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-246879 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] However, with pruning, a traditional method of cultivating and managing agricultural crops, the translocation of photosynthetic products from the leaves to the harvesting site is left up to the plant, making it difficult for producers to control. In other words, even if pruning or improving the plant's growing environment can increase the production of photosynthetic products, it is not possible to artificially control the supply of the produced photosynthetic products to the harvesting site. Furthermore, Patent Document 1 attempts to control plant growth by collecting, adjusting, and returning plant body fluids to the inside of the plant, but the flow of the plant body fluids returned to the inside of the plant is left to the plant, and it is not possible to artificially control the efficient accumulation of photosynthetic products in the harvested area. Similarly, in Patent Document 2, even if the environment around the harvest site is adjusted, it is up to the plant whether the photosynthetic products produced in the leaves will be efficiently accumulated in the harvest site; and similarly, even if the environment around the leaves is adjusted, it is up to the plant whether the photosynthetic products produced in the leaves will be efficiently accumulated in the harvest site. Therefore, it is necessary to control the flow of photosynthetic products produced in the leaves (phloem translocation) so that they can be efficiently accumulated at the harvest site.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for determining a control location for phloem translocation, which controls phloem translocation in a plant so that photosynthetic products are efficiently accumulated in a target location (e.g., a harvest site) in the plant. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing agricultural crops, which controls phloem translocation in a plant so that photosynthetic products are efficiently accumulated in a target location (e.g., a harvest site) in the plant. Another object of the present invention is to provide a contrast agent for use in living plants. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] As a result of extensive research into the above-mentioned problems, the inventors have completed the present invention by identifying the location at which phloem translocation is controlled so that photosynthetic products can be efficiently accumulated in the desired location in the plant. That is, the present invention relates to the following method for determining a control site of phloem translocation. The present invention also relates to the following method for producing agricultural crops. The present invention also relates to the following contrast agent for use in living plants.

[0010] The method for determining the location to control phloem translocation to solve the above problem is characterized by determining the location to control part or all of the phloem translocation flowing through the stem based on image information of the phloem of a living plant, so as to increase the amount of phloem translocation toward the target location of the plant. This method for determining the control location for phloem translocation makes it possible to identify the structure of the plant's phloem and the direction of photosynthetic products flowing inside the phloem from image information of the phloem of a living plant, and has the effect of determining a control location where photosynthetic products produced in the leaves can be efficiently controlled to migrate and accumulate at the desired location in the plant.

[0011] A method for producing agricultural crops to solve the above problems is characterized in that a phloem translocation control means suppresses or stops phloem translocation while leaving some or all of the xylem in the plant stem intact, and controls phloem translocation so that it heads toward the plant's destination. According to this method of producing agricultural products, the phloem translocation can be controlled by the phloem translocation control means so that photosynthetic products produced in the leaves are directed to the desired location in the plant, thereby having the effect of efficiently producing agricultural products at the desired location.

[0012] Furthermore, one embodiment of the method for producing agricultural crops of the present invention is characterized in that the means for controlling phloem translocation is an incision. According to the method for producing agricultural products of the present invention, the phloem translocation control means can be achieved by making an incision with a blade, which has the advantage of simplifying the operation.

[0013] Furthermore, one embodiment of the method for producing agricultural crops of the present invention is characterized in that the phloem translocation control means is a cooling means. According to the method for producing agricultural crops of the present invention, the cooling of the phloem diversion control unit can be easily stopped, which has the effect of facilitating reversible control of phloem diversion.

[0014] Furthermore, one embodiment of the method for producing agricultural products of the present invention is characterized in that the cooling temperature of the cooling means is 0°C or higher and 20°C or lower. The method for producing agricultural crops of the present invention has the advantage that phloem translocation can be controlled to an extent that does not cause damage to the plant.

[0015] Furthermore, one embodiment of the method for producing agricultural crops of the present invention is characterized in that the location in the plant controlled by the phloem translocation control means is in the vicinity of a node in the stem of the plant. According to the method for producing agricultural products of the present invention, phloem tend to gather near the nodes of plant stems, making these areas suitable for control by the phloem translocation control means, and allowing photosynthetic products to be efficiently accumulated in the desired location of the agricultural products.

[0016] Furthermore, one embodiment of the method for producing agricultural crops of the present invention is characterized in that the location of the plant controlled by the phloem translocation control means is near the lower side of a node on the main axis of the plant. According to the method for producing agricultural crops of the present invention, there is an effect of increasing phloem diversion to the lateral axis branching from the upper node of the phloem diversion control section.

[0017] Furthermore, one embodiment of the agricultural crop production method of the present invention is characterized in that the location of the plant controlled by the phloem translocation control means is near the upper side of the node of the leaf immediately above the lateral axis, which is the target location of the plant, and on the main axis. The method for producing agricultural crops of the present invention has the effect of making it easier for photosynthetic products to flow to the lateral axis, which is the destination of the plant.

[0018] The contrast agent used in living plants to solve the above problems is characterized by containing a metal and a pseudo-nutrient. The contrast agent used in living plants contains pseudo-nutrients, which makes it difficult for the cut surfaces of the vascular bundles created to allow the contrast agent to be absorbed by the plants to close, thereby enabling the plants to absorb a large amount of metals and pseudo-nutrients. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] According to the present invention, a method for determining a control location for phloem translocation can be provided, which controls phloem translocation in a plant so that photosynthetic products are efficiently accumulated in a target location in the plant. Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for producing agricultural crops in which phloem translocation in a plant is controlled so that photosynthetic products are efficiently accumulated in a target location in the plant. Furthermore, the present invention can provide a contrast agent for use in living plants. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the state of plants in a method for producing agricultural products to which a phloem translocation control means according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing plants to which the agricultural product production method according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be applied. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the state of a plant when a phloem translocation control means according to a first embodiment of the present invention is not applied. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a plant showing a phloem translocation control unit according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a plant showing a state in which a contrast agent according to a first embodiment of the present invention is absorbed into the plant. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a plant showing a means for determining a control location for phloem translocation according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the state of plants in a method for producing agricultural products to which a phloem translocation control means according to a second embodiment of the present invention is applied. [Figure 8]1 shows image information used in a method for determining a location for controlling phloem translocation according to an embodiment of the present invention, where (A) is an example of image information showing the direction of phloem translocation when the first embodiment is applied, and (B) is an example of image information showing the direction of phloem translocation when the second embodiment is applied. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the method for determining a control location for phloem translocation, the method for producing agricultural crops, and the contrast agent used in living plants of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The method for determining the location to control phloem translocation of the present invention is characterized by determining the location to control part or all of the phloem translocation flowing through the stem based on image information (X-ray CT imaging images and RI imaging video images) of the phloem of a living plant, so as to increase the amount of phloem translocation toward the destination of the plant (e.g., the stalk, which is the accumulation site of photosynthetic products). The control location determined by this method for determining the control location for phloem translocation is then controlled by a phloem translocation control means to suppress or stop phloem translocation in a portion of the plant. This allows for control so that more phloem translocation moves toward the target location in the plant, thereby providing a production method that improves the production efficiency of agricultural crops. Furthermore, the method for determining the location for controlling phloem translocation of the present invention is based on image information of the phloem of a living plant, and the contrast agent used in the living plant contains a metal and a pseudonutrient. The pseudonutrient prevents repair of the cut portion of the vascular bundle created to allow the contrast agent to be absorbed, and allows the metal to be absorbed into the plant for a long period of time, resulting in a clear image.

[0022] It should be noted that the method for determining the location for controlling phloem translocation, the method for producing agricultural crops, and the contrast agent used in living plants described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely examples used to explain the present invention and are not limited to these.

[0023] [First embodiment] (Agricultural production methods) First, a method for producing agricultural crops according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 shows a method for producing agricultural products in which a location (phloem translocation control unit 3) for controlling phloem translocation has been determined in advance based on image information 5 of the phloem of a living plant 1, so as to increase the amount of phloem translocation toward a destination 2 of the plant (such as a fruit stalk, which is a photosynthate accumulation site 20). The method for producing agricultural products of the present invention comprises a plant 1, a phloem translocation control unit 3, and a phloem translocation control means 4.

[0024] (plant) The plant 1 of the present invention can be any plant having a vascular bundle 10 with phloem and vessels, such as an angiosperm. The plant 1 may be either a herbaceous plant or a woody plant, and examples thereof include agricultural crops consisting of herbaceous plants such as strawberries, melons, watermelons, tomatoes, eggplants, okra, pumpkins, rice, and wheat, agricultural crops consisting of woody plants such as persimmons, peaches, apples, grapes, loquats, oranges, and mandarin oranges, and ornamental plants consisting of herbaceous plants such as carnations, roses, chrysanthemums, and moth orchids.

[0025] The plant 1 is preferably an agricultural crop, and more preferably, the photosynthate accumulation part 20 of the agricultural crop, such as a fruit stalk, is edible. Since it is known that there is a positive correlation between the flow rate of phloem translocation and the amount of thickening and sugar content of the fruit stalk, it is possible to increase the thickness and sugar content of edible agricultural crops by controlling phloem translocation so that a large amount of photosynthate is supplied to the photosynthate accumulation part 20.

[0026] As shown in Figure 2, a plant 1 applicable to the present invention has a root 11, a main axis 12, and a lateral axis 13, with the base of the lateral axis 13 branching off from the main axis 12 being a node 14, and the main axis portion between the nodes 14 being an internode 15. The lateral axis 13 is provided with leaves and / or a pedicel which is a photosynthetic product accumulation area 20. The tip of the main axis 12 in the opposite direction from the root 11 is the growing point 16 of the plant. The main axis 12 and lateral axis 13 together constitute a stem 17.

[0027] (Phleum translocation control section) The phloem translocation control unit 3 corresponds to the stem 17 of the plant 1, and the main axis 12 in particular is a suitable location for efficiently controlling phloem translocation because it collects photosynthetic products produced in multiple leaf-bearing axons 13. The phloem translocation control unit 3 may be located in the center of an internode 15 of the main axis 12, but is preferably located near a node 14 of the main axis 12.

[0028] In the course of their research into phloem translocation, the inventors focused on controlling the growth of the plant 1 by controlling phloem translocation, which is the flow of photosynthetic products within the phloem. As a result, they found that the location of the phloem is difficult to identify in the internode 15 because the vascular bundles 10 are arranged in a vertical spiral. However, the vascular bundles 10 are arranged near the nodes 14 of the main axis 12 so that they converge on the lateral axis 13. This makes it easy to predict the location of the vascular bundles 10 from the appearance of the plant 1, making it suitable as a phloem translocation control unit 3. They then confirmed that phloem translocation can be controlled by providing a cutting portion 41 (incision), which serves as phloem translocation control means 4 (described later), near the nodes 14 of the main axis 12, and thus completed the present invention.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, before phloem translocation is controlled by the phloem translocation control unit 3 (before the incision is made), for example, a large amount of photosynthates flows in the direction of the roots 11, and the amount of phloem translocation in the photosynthate accumulation unit 20 is small. However, as shown in Figure 1, by controlling phloem translocation with the phloem translocation control unit 3 (after the incision is made), a large amount of photosynthates is supplied to the destination location 2 of the plant (photosynthate accumulation unit 20). 1 to 3 show an example of a plant 1 that grows upright from the ground, but the present invention is also applicable to a plant 1 that grows by creeping along the ground surface. In addition, the up-down direction of the plant 1 is such that the side of the growing point 16 corresponds to the upper side and the side of the roots 11 corresponds to the lower side.

[0030] The phloem commutation control unit 3 may be provided either above or below the node 14 of the main shaft 12. In other words, the phloem commutation control unit 3 is located directly above or directly below the node 14 on the main shaft 12. The location of the phloem translocation control unit 3 varies depending on the type of plant 1, the growth period, etc., but when the phloem translocation control unit 3 is provided near a node 14 of a side axis 13 having a photosynthate accumulation unit 20, it is preferable to provide the phloem translocation control unit 3 near the lower side of the node 14 on the main axis 12. In other words, the location of the plant 1 controlled by the phloem translocation control means 4 is preferably near the lower side of the node 14 on the main axis 12 of the plant 1. Providing the phloem translocation control unit 3 near the lower side of the node 14 on the main axis 12 has the effect of increasing phloem translocation from the node 14 above the phloem translocation control unit 3 to the side axis 13 branching off. This is because the inventors have confirmed that creating a cut 41 near the lower side of the node 14 of the lateral axis 13 containing the photosynthetic product accumulation region 20 tends to increase phloem translocation to the photosynthetic product accumulation region 20. 1 and 2 show an example in which one phloem diversion control unit 3 is provided for the plant 1, but a phloem diversion control unit 3 may be provided for each of the multiple nodes 14. Furthermore, multiple phloem diversion control units 3 may be installed in combination, such as by providing a phloem diversion control unit 3 near the upper side of one node 14 and a phloem diversion control unit 3 near the lower side of another node 14.

[0031] 4, when the phloem translocation control unit 3 is set near a node 14B of a side axis 13B (the immediately upper leaf) that extends adjacent to and above a side axis 13A having a photosynthate accumulation unit 20 and on the opposite side (the right side in FIG. 4) from the side axis 13A, it is preferable to set it on the main axis 12 and near the upper side of the node 14B. In other words, the location of the plant 1 controlled by the phloem translocation control means 4 is preferably near the upper side of the node 14B of the immediately upper leaf of the side axis 13A, which is the target location 2 of the plant, and on the main axis 12. As mentioned above, the direction of phloem translocation differs depending on the plant 1, but the inventors have confirmed that by providing a cut portion 41 near the upper side of the node 14B of the immediately upper leaf and on the main axis 12, there is a tendency to obtain the effect of making it easier for photosynthetic products to flow to the lateral axis 13A, which is the destination location 2 of the plant.

[0032] (Means for controlling phloem translocation) The phloem diversion control means 4 will be described with reference to Figure 1. The phloem diversion control means 4 is not particularly limited as long as it is a means for suppressing or stopping the flow of phloem in the vascular bundle 10 of the phloem diversion control unit 3. In this embodiment, the phloem diversion control means 4 corresponds to a means for cutting the phloem, and will be described in the case of a cutting unit 41 provided on the main shaft 12. The cut portion 41 is a cut made in the main axis 12, and does not remove all of the main axis 12 or the lateral axes 13, as in conventional pruning work in which excess leaves, shoots, or fruit stalks are removed. In other words, rather than cutting all of the multiple vascular bundles 10 in the main axis 12 or the lateral axes 13, the cut portion 41 cuts all or some of the phloem while leaving all or some of the vessels, thereby suppressing or stopping the flow of photosynthetic products through the phloem where the cut portion 41 is made. The width and depth of the cut of cutting portion 41 vary depending on the thickness of main axis 12, and may be any width and depth that is sufficient to cut the phloem. For example, the width of the cut is approximately 10 mm, and the depth is 2 mm to 3 mm. The cut of the cutting portion 41 is made in the vicinity of the upper or lower side of the node portion 14 on the main shaft 12 and from the side of the side shaft 13 toward the center of the main shaft 12 .

[0033] The cutting method and tools for the cutting portion 41 are not limited as long as they can make an incision in the main shaft 12, but a blade such as a razor or knife is easily available and is suitable. When using a blade, it is also preferable to apply a fungicide or a growth hormone that promotes plant growth. This can prevent infection from occurring at the cutting portion 41 and prevent the plant 1 from withering. In this embodiment, the phloem diversion control means 4 is formed by providing notches near the nodes 14 on the main shaft 12, which has the advantage of simplifying the operation.

[0034] [Method for determining the location of phloem translocation control] Next, a method for determining the control location of phloem translocation will be described with reference to Figure 6. The method for determining the phloem translocation control unit 3 is based on image information 5 of the phloem of a living plant 1. The image information 5 corresponds to two types of information: information that visualizes the structure of the vascular bundle 10 of the plant 1, and information that can identify the direction of phloem translocation of the plant 1 over time (identifying the location and amount reached by the components flowing through the phloem tube).

[0035] Specifically, an X-ray CT imaging image 51 corresponds to information that visualizes the structure of the vascular bundles 10 of the plant 1. The X-ray CT imaging image 51 used in the present invention is an image that is taken in a state where the metabolic functions of the plant 1 are not lost. Furthermore, the RI imaging moving image 52 corresponds to information that can identify the direction of phloem translocation in the plant 1 over time.

[0036] (X-ray CT imaging image) The X-ray CT imaging image 51 visualizes the vascular bundles 10 of the plant 1, and provides information that allows understanding of their structure and arrangement. In the present invention, the imaging is performed using conventional equipment, but the imaging device is characterized by the contrast agent 6 used.

[0037] [Contrast agent] The contrast agent 6 is used to make the X-ray CT imaging image 51 clearer. The contrast agent 6 is a solution containing a metal 61 and artificial nutrients 62. The contrast agent 6 can be introduced into the interior of the vascular bundles 10 of the plant 1 by any method, but an example of the method is to cut the vascular bundles 10 of the plant 1 and allow the contrast agent 6 to be absorbed into the interior of the plant 1 through the cut portion. For ease of operation, the cut portion of the vascular bundles 10 of the plant 1 can be cut by cutting the veins of a leaf, and the contrast agent 6 can be introduced into the plant 1 by keeping the cut surface constantly immersed in the contrast agent 6 contained in a container.

[0038] <Metals in contrast agents> The metal 61 of the contrast agent 6 used may be any metal that does not have an effect of withering the plant 1 when taken up by the plant 1. Examples of the metal 61 of the contrast agent 6 include barium or a salt thereof, which is not used for growing the plant 1, and copper, zinc, iron, or a salt thereof, which is used for growing the plant 1. When the metal 61 of the contrast agent 6 that is not used for growing the plant is used, since the metal 61 is not used for growing the plant 1, it is possible to take a clear image of the vascular bundle 10. Furthermore, when metal 61 of contrast agent 6 used for growing plant 1 is used, plant 1 is more likely to absorb metal 61, which has the effect of shortening the time it takes for the plant to absorb contrast agent 6 compared to when metal 61 not used for growing plant 1 is used.

[0039] The concentration of the metal 61 in the contrast agent 6 is 100 mM (mol / dm 3 ) or less ~0.1mM (mol / dm 3 ) or more are applicable. If the concentration of metal 61 in contrast agent 6 exceeds 100 mM, there is a high risk that plant 1 will wither. Furthermore, if there is too much metal 61, when X-ray CT imaging image 51 is taken, vascular bundles 10 will appear thick, making it difficult to grasp the overall structure of vascular bundles 10 of plant 1. Furthermore, if the concentration of metal 61 is less than 0.1 mM, when X-ray CT imaging image 51 is taken, vascular bundles 10 will appear thin, making it difficult to grasp the overall structure of vascular bundles 10 of plant 1.

[0040] The upper limit of the concentration of metal 61 is preferably 100 mM or less, more preferably 10 mM or less, even more preferably 1.0 mM or less, and even more preferably 0.1 mM or less. The lower limit of the concentration of metal 61 is preferably 0.01 mM or more, more preferably 0.1 mM or more, even more preferably 1.0 mM or more, and even more preferably 10 mM or more. These ranges are preferable because there is no risk of the plant 1 dying and the structure of the vascular bundles 10 can be clearly seen in the X-ray CT imaging image 51.

[0041] <Contrast agent mimic nutrients> The artificial nutrients 62 serve to prevent the cut portions of the vascular bundles 10 that are created when the contrast agent 6 is absorbed into the plant 1 from closing. Furthermore, the inclusion of the artificial nutrients 62 increases the amount of contrast agent 6 absorbed by the plant 1, which has the effect of enabling measurement of vascular bundles 10 over long distances. The pseudo nutrient 62 may be any component contained in the liquid flowing inside the plant 1, and specifically, sucrose is one example.

[0042] The concentration of the pseudo nutrient 62 in the contrast agent 6 can be the concentration of a general sucrose flowing in the phloem of the plant 1 to be measured, but it is not limited to 0 mM (mol / dm 3 )~500mM(mol / dm 3 ) or less is applicable. If the concentration of the pseudo nutrient 62 in the contrast agent 6 exceeds 500 mM, there is a high risk that the plant 1 will wither. 3 ) refers to a case where the artificial nutrients 62 are not contained, and even if the artificial nutrients 62 are not contained, it is possible to make the plant 1 absorb the contrast agent 6 (only the metal 61) and capture the vascular bundle 10 structure of the living plant 1 as an X-ray CT imaging image 51.

[0043] The upper limit of the concentration of the pseudo nutrient 62 is preferably 300 mM or less, more preferably 100 mM or less, even more preferably 50 mM or less, and even more preferably 10 mM or less. The lower limit of the concentration of the pseudo nutrient 62 is preferably more than 0.0 mM, more preferably 1.0 mM or more, even more preferably 5.0 mM or more, and even more preferably 10 mM or more. These ranges are preferable in that they do not pose a risk of killing the plant 1 and also serve to prevent the cut portion of the vascular bundle 10, which was created to allow the contrast agent 6 to be absorbed by the plant 1, from closing.

[0044] (RI imaging video) The RI imaging video 52 is generated for the purpose of measuring phloem translocation in the plant 1 and understanding its flow, and is not particularly limited as long as it allows the direction of flow within the phloem of the vascular bundle 10 to be identified over time. An example of the RI imaging video 52 is a video in which a radioactive isotope is taken up by the plant 1 and the organs and tissues to which the radioactive isotope is expected to move are photographed and recorded in a time series as video.

[0045] (Procedure for determining the location of phloem translocation control) Next, we will explain the procedure (method) for determining the location of control of phloem translocation. First, in a state where phloem translocation is not controlled by the phloem translocation control means 4 for the plant 1 (state shown in Figure 3), a contrast agent 6 is absorbed into the plant 1, and an X-ray CT imaging image 51 is taken, thereby obtaining a diagram (transparent image) of the arrangement of vascular tissue within the stem. Next, the structure of the vascular bundle 10 is identified from the X-ray CT imaging image 51, and the location where the cut portion 41 is to be provided is arbitrarily set. Then, RI imaging video images 52 are captured before and after applying the phloem diversion control means 4, and by comparing and confirming whether or not a large amount of phloem diversion is flowing to the target location 2 of the plant (such as the lateral axis with the fruit stalk), the location where phloem diversion is controlled (phloem diversion control unit 3) can be determined.

[0046] The above-described procedure can be performed on a plant 1 for which the phloem translocation control location is to be identified, thereby determining the phloem translocation control unit 3 for that plant 1. The determined information on the phloem translocation control location can be similarly applied to different strains of the same plant. Therefore, in the present invention, the person who determines the phloem translocation control location does not have to be the same person as the person who cultivates the plant. The person who determines the phloem translocation control location may determine the phloem translocation control unit 3 for the plant, and information on the determined phloem translocation control unit 3 may be provided to the plant breeder. For example, a recording medium containing information on the phloem translocation control unit 3 determined by the method for determining the phloem translocation control location of the present invention may be created and provided to the plant breeder. The plant breeder may then determine the phloem translocation control unit 3 for different strains of plants he or she owns based on the information on the recording medium, and use the phloem translocation control means 4 to produce the agricultural produce of the present invention. Examples of recording media include paper media and storage devices such as hard disks, and in the case of storage devices, the information of the phloem recirculation control unit 3 may be stored in the storage device as a control program to be displayed on the display device of an information terminal such as a computer or smartphone.

[0047] [Second embodiment] A method for producing agricultural products according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 7. The method for producing agricultural products from a plant 1 according to the second embodiment differs from the method for producing agricultural products according to the first embodiment in the phloem translocation control means 7. In the method for producing agricultural products according to the second embodiment, the same components as those in the method for producing agricultural products according to the first embodiment of the present invention are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described again.

[0048] (Means for controlling phloem translocation) The phloem diversion control means 7 of this embodiment employs a method of making it difficult for the liquid in the phloem to flow (suppressing the flow). Specifically, the cold guard ring method (cooling means 71) is used. The phloem is a living cell, and cooling the phloem to a temperature lower than the ambient temperature makes it difficult for the liquid in the phloem to flow. This phenomenon is utilized to control phloem diversion. Any cooling temperature can be used as long as it does not damage the plant 1 and is lower than the ambient air temperature. For example, although the cooling temperature varies depending on the type and growth state of the plant 1, a temperature between 0°C and 20°C can be used. From the viewpoint of reducing cooling costs, a temperature of 20°C or lower, which is close to the temperature during cultivation, is preferred. More preferably, a temperature between 4°C and 10°C, which is close to the ambient temperature and where the inhibitory effect on phloem diversion is more pronounced, is preferred.

[0049] The means for the cold guard ring method can be any method or device as long as it can cool the phloem diversion control unit 3. For example, an apparatus can be used in which a tube is wrapped spirally around the entire main axis 12 of the phloem diversion control unit 3 and a cooling liquid is circulated within the wrapped tube, or an apparatus can be used in which a semiconductor thermoelectric element (Peltier element) that can cause an endothermic reaction when electricity is passed through it can be used to cool the phloem diversion control unit 3. With these cooling devices, the cooling of the phloem diversion control unit 3 can be easily stopped by stopping the circulation of the cooling liquid or stopping the supply of electricity to the semiconductor thermoelectric element, which has the effect of making it easy to control reversible phloem diversion. [Industrial Applicability]

[0050] The method for determining the location for controlling phloem translocation, the crop production method, and the contrast agent used in living plants of the present invention are used to artificially control the location of the supply of photosynthetic products (the growing location of the plant). For example, they can be used to improve the volume and sugar content of fruit stalks of crops, or to control the growth of flower buds in ornamental plants. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1 plant 2. Plant destination 3. Phloem translocation control section 4. Methods for controlling phloem translocation 5. Image information 6 Contrast agents 7. Phloem Translocation Control Methods 10 Vascular bundle 11 roots 12 spindle 13 side axis 14 nodes 15 Internodes 16 growing points 17 Stems 20 Photosynthetic product accumulation area 41 Cut section 51 X-ray CT imaging images 52 RI imaging video 61 metal 62 Pseudo nutrients 71 Cooling means

Claims

1. The method is characterized by determining a location for controlling a part or all of the phloem translocation flowing through the stem so as to increase the amount of phloem translocation toward a target location in the plant based on image information of the phloem of a living plant; The image information of the phloem of the living plant includes information that visualizes the structure of the vascular bundle of the plant and information that can identify the direction of phloem translocation of the plant over time, the visualized information of the vascular bundle structure of the plant is an X-ray CT imaging image, The information that can identify the direction of phloem translocation of a plant over time is a radioisotope imaging video image, The living plant is an agricultural crop such as strawberry, melon, watermelon, tomato, eggplant, okra, pumpkin, rice, wheat, or a woody plant, or an ornamental plant such as a herbaceous plant; A method for determining a location for controlling phloem translocation, wherein determining a location for controlling part or all of the phloem translocation flowing through the stem so as to increase the amount of phloem translocation toward the destination of the plant based on image information of the phloem of the living plant involves identifying a vascular bundle from among multiple vascular bundles based on image information of the phloem of the living plant that plays a role in increasing the amount of phloem translocation toward the destination by controlling phloem translocation, and determining that vascular bundle as the location for controlling phloem translocation.

2. Determining a control location for phloem translocation by the method for determining a control location for phloem translocation according to claim 1; and A method for producing agricultural crops, characterized in that at the determined phloem translocation control location, a phloem translocation control means suppresses or stops phloem translocation while leaving some or all of the xylem in the plant stem intact, thereby controlling phloem translocation toward the plant's destination.

3. 3. The method for producing agricultural crops according to claim 2, wherein the phloem diversion control means is an incision.

4. 3. The method for producing agricultural crops according to claim 2, wherein the phloem diversion control means is a cooling means.

5. 5. The method for producing agricultural products according to claim 4, wherein the cooling temperature of the cooling means is 0°C or higher and 20°C or lower.

6. 3. The method for producing agricultural crops according to claim 2, wherein the location of the plant controlled by the phloem translocation control means is near a node of the stem of the plant.

7. 7. The method for producing agricultural crops according to claim 6, wherein the location of the plant controlled by the phloem relocation control means is near the lower side of a node on the main axis of the plant.

8. The method for producing agricultural crops described in claim 6, characterized in that the location of the plant controlled by the phloem relocation control means is near the upper side of the node of the leaf immediately above the lateral axis, which is the target location of the plant, and on the main axis.

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