Novel method for cultivating plant and derivative effect thereof

Abstract

In the present invention, an artificial modification is made such that the flow of water and nutrients, i.e., circulation of nutrients, to a portion of a plant body is in the opposite direction from the natural direction. This is fatal to the plant body, applying intense stress and causing many portions to wither. However, even if intense stress is applied by the method of the present invention, a very small fraction of plants survive and grow, and therefore the plants can be adapted and acclimatized in order to leave the next generation. The present invention utilizes variations that occur and mutations that are induced in such instances. The present invention is carried out using cutting, layering, and grafting, and is successful in some crops. At present, layered muskmelon has particularly excellent compatibility with the present invention. It is confirmed that the present invention yields many advantages over control rootstock, such as an increase in sugar content and an increase in the robustness of rootstock. An effect is also achieved wherein some of these advantages are inherited by the next generation. The method according to the present invention is simple and can be carried out by anyone without genetic testing. Additionally, it is believed that the present invention opens the way for new development in the research of plant physiology as well.

Description

New plant cultivation methods and their derived effects

[0001] The present invention relates to a novel plant cultivation method that has never been seen before in the agricultural field.

[0002] Background technology includes crop propagation methods such as cuttings, layering, and grafting. These are used to obtain new plants from parts of the plant. The orientation is always fixed, with the part closest to the root facing the root. In fruit trees, for example, genetic mutations known as branch mutations are sometimes observed in parts of the plant, particularly in branches, and if advantages are confirmed, they are registered as new varieties. The freeze-thaw awakening method subjects plants to extremely low temperatures that are not normally present, bringing out their ability to adapt to low temperatures.

[0003] not clear

[0004] not clear

[0005] The present invention proposes a new method for cultivating plants, puts it into practical use, and aims to contribute to its development. Specifically, by reversing the nutrient circulation in a part of the plant body from its natural direction and applying severe stress to the plant, it is possible to bring out the plant's potential and utilize its useful properties.

[0006] Thanks to the tireless efforts of mankind, a wide variety of cultivation methods for plants, especially agricultural crops, have been put into practical use. Further efforts will undoubtedly lead to further evolution and development. This invention does not attempt to point out or solve the problems inherent in these methods. The inventor has been cultivating plants for many years, but felt he had reached a dead end, or perhaps a limit, in terms of cold resistance and virus resistance. He has tried various measures, but none have been sufficiently effective. Furthermore, he has not found any method that surpasses conventional methods. Therefore, a new cultivation method that differs from conventional methods was needed.

[0007] In this invention, the nutrient circulation of a part of a plant is reversed from its natural direction using techniques such as cuttings, layering, and grafting. This places intense stress on the plant, causing various changes within the plant in order to survive, grow, and produce the next generation. These changes and mutations are thought to affect a wide range of areas, including growth habit, disease resistance, and branch mutation. Useful changes among these can be used to improve crop cultivation methods.

[0008] Although actual verification is necessary for each individual case, the following effects are tentatively considered: Improvement of crop characteristics, particularly robustness and improved sugar content Possibility of dwarf cultivation Contribution to the emergence of mutants, breeding, and variety improvement Impact on the flavor of recreational crops such as tea, coffee, and hops Changes in the active ingredients of medicinal plants and their utilization Note: Investigations into cold resistance and antiviral properties are currently underway. [Explanation of symbols in figures, tables, and text] The following symbols are used for the explanation and understanding of the present invention: SPP: Abbreviation for Specialized Plants, meaning a plant to which the present invention is applied SP*: Abbreviation for Specialized*, where * represents the name of the crop or variety. Also used are terms such as SP seeds, SP seedlings, and SP stocks, as well as SP cuttings, SP layering, and SP grafting. / means seed collection, meaning the collected seeds themselves or the plants cultivated using those seeds SP / : means seeds obtained from a plant to which the present invention is applied or the plants cultivated using those seeds SP / / : Seeds obtained from plants cultivated conventionally using SP / seeds, or plants cultivated using those seeds. SPn: A plant to which the present invention has been applied n times to branches, etc., from a plant to which the present invention has been applied. If no n is specified, it means the first time. SP0: Conventional operations or plants completely unrelated to the present invention. If not particularly necessary, SP0 is omitted. SP-n: A branch, etc., from a plant to which the present invention has been applied is separated and treated with conventional methods such as cuttings, layering, or grafting, restoring the nutrient circulation of the entire plant to its original direction. n is usually 1. SPa, SPb, SPc...: For plants with roots that grow at each node, such as pumpkins, multiple SP seedlings can be produced. In this case, the symbols SPa, SPb, SPc... are assigned starting from the base. Although SPj seedlings were actually produced, the earlier the nodes, the weaker they tend to be, so in practice, SPa, SPb, and SPc are considered the most practical.

[0009] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing how to carry out SP cuttings. (Example 1) Figure 2 is a photograph with text superimposed on it, showing an example of SP cuttings in gardenia. (Example 1) Figure 3 is a photograph with text superimposed on it, showing an explanatory diagram of how to carry out SP cuttings in pumpkin. (Example 2) Figure 4 is a photograph with text superimposed on it, showing a photograph of the base of a plant when an SP seedling made from an SP cutting of a melon was planted and the young fruit had swelled. (Example 2) Figure 5 is a photograph with text superimposed on it, showing a photograph of the swelled young fruit of the same plant as in Figure 4. (Example 2) Figure 6 is a photograph with text superimposed on it, showing an example of SP grafting in loquat. (Example 3)

[0010] The plants to which this invention can be applied vary greatly depending on the plant species and variety. While most plants are difficult to apply, some, such as muskmelon, are extremely compatible with this invention. The following are examples of SP cuttings, SP layering, and SP grafting. [Example 1] Example 1 concerns SP cuttings. Figure 1 shows the procedure for an example of SP cuttings. Cuttings are made as in conventional cuttings, but in this invention, the cuttings are inserted in the reverse direction as shown in Figure 1. They are then maintained in the same manner as conventional cuttings. The nutrient circulation of the cutting itself is reversed from its natural direction. Figure 2 shows an example of SP cuttings using gardenia according to the present invention. The cuttings are inserted with the branched portion facing downward to avoid any confusion. The entire cutting is inverted when grafted. Rooting, sprouting of axillary shoots, and growth were confirmed, and photographs were taken. Other successful examples include tomatoes, lantana (seven-variegated jasmine), and grapes. [Example 2] Example 2 concerns SP layering. Figure 3 shows the procedure for an embodiment of the present invention, using a pumpkin as an example. As with conventional methods, seeds are sown in pots, germinated, and allowed to grow. SP cuttings are performed when about 10 true leaves have opened. The base of the true leaves is a node, so the node where roots are to be developed is first selected. The node should be solid, and a location with another node near the base of the node should be selected. The selected node is fixed in soil in another pot with stones or other materials, and the roots are allowed to develop. Once sufficient rooting is confirmed, the seedling is cut at the location shown in Figure 3 to become an SP seedling. The SP seedling will have a base cut, a node with a side bud, a rooted area, and a cut at the tip of the branch. The nutrient circulation between the node with the side bud and the rooted area is reversed from the normal direction. Figure 4 shows the base of an SP cutting using a muskmelon according to the present invention. Although this is self-rooting, it appears completely different from conventional methods, and it feels unnatural. Water and nutrients absorbed by the root buds flow in the opposite direction to normal and are supplied to the main branch from which the side buds have grown. Products such as sugars produced in the main branch flow in the opposite direction and are stored in the root hairs. At this time, the original shoot tip before the SP layering and the original root side follow different paths. The shoot tip side shrinks and dies, while the root side swells and does not die. The SP / SP / SP on the nameplate in the figure refers to a melon plant to which this invention has been applied over three generations. Figure 5 shows the same plant as in Figure 4, but near the fruit.As the fruit grows and thickens, a net forms over time. The white powder-like substance is hydrated lime, which prevents the fruit from cracking. Before explaining the SP layering of muskmelon, we will first explain sugar content measurement and grouping. [Sugar Content Measurement] To obtain as unbiased data as possible, we performed the following procedure. Each fruit was divided in half, and one half was used to measure the top, middle, and bottom on the right side and the top, middle, and bottom on the left side. Measurements were recorded at six locations per fruit. A commercially available visual sugar content meter was used for the measurements. The average of the two locations on the left and right was considered the average sugar content for the top, middle, and bottom of the fruit, respectively, and the average of the six locations was considered the total sugar content of the fruit. [Grouping] To examine the usefulness of this invention, a control and an inventive plant were grown in the same location at the same time and managed in the same way, and treated as a group. [Results] Muskmelons grown using this invention showed increased robustness, including increased resistance to pests and diseases. When grown with their own roots in open-air tunnels, they remained resistant to withering even after harvest. Furthermore, the main branch becomes apical dominant, making side buds weak. This reduces the labor required for side bud pruning, which is advantageous for muskmelon cultivation, where one fruit is harvested per plant. Higher sugar content was also obtained compared to not only the control plants but also the SP / plants. Tables 1, 3, and 4 show that the control SP0 plants, which were not treated with this invention, either withered or, at best, produced fruit with low sugar content due to pests and diseases. In contrast, the SP / seeds obtained by applying this invention, grown using conventional methods with their own roots and in open-air tunnels, rarely suffered from pests and diseases and produced fruit with higher sugar content. This indicates that some of the benefits of this invention extend to the next generation of seeds. While the details cannot be known without genetic testing, it is conceivable that various acclimation and mutation inductions are occurring within the muskmelons in order to survive, grow, and produce the next generation under intense stress. We believe that some of these mutations are also transmitted to the next generation. Since cultivation using SP / seeds looks the same as normal cultivation, commercially available SP / seeds may be more advantageous than the SP seedlings themselves, which look different. If mutations are fixed through cultivation using SP / seeds and their usefulness is confirmed, there is a possibility that new varieties may be registered. Tables 2, 3, and 4: This internal acclimatization and induction of mutations are not all good. There is a possibility that changes in the components and composition within the plant body may occur in plants to which this invention is applied.We believe this point should be particularly considered for medicinal plants. Taking this into consideration, we have so far only consumed our produce ourselves and have not provided or transferred SP seedlings or seeds to others. However, I have eaten over 50 muskmelons to which this invention was applied and have not experienced any health problems. On the contrary, the enhanced taste and ease of cultivation have made me appreciate the usefulness of this invention. In summary, the best results were obtained in the examples with SP seedlings, followed by regular cultivation using SP / seeds and conventional cultivation. Other successful examples have also been tried with tomatoes, pumpkins, and dried gourds. [Example 3] Example 3 focuses on SP grafting. Grafting is expected to expand the range of applicable crops. Loquats were grafted with a portion of the nutrient circulation reversed from the natural direction, and successful rooting and growth were confirmed. If this invention is successful with plants that are difficult to propagate by cuttings or layering, it will broaden the range of applicable crops. Reverse grafting of cuttings is also a viable option, but has not been successful to date. As shown in Figure 6, the example of loquat grafting is quite complex and intricate. Two branches are tied together and allowed to take root. Once successful grafting is confirmed, both branches are cut above the tie. Side shoots are waited for to sprout from the two branches below the tie. During this time, the branch that will serve as the rootstock and the branch that will serve as the scion are determined. All side shoots from the branch that will serve as the rootstock are removed. Once the side shoots on the branch that will serve as the scion have grown to a certain extent, the base of the branch is tied. This increases the scion's supply of nutrients from the rootstock. The tie is tightened while monitoring the growth of the side shoots, gradually cutting off the nutrient circulation of the side shoot from the bottom of the scion, and finally cutting it. The growth of the side shoots is then confirmed, demonstrating the success of this grafting. The nutrient circulation between the point where the two branches are tied and the branch that will serve as the scion is reversed from its normal direction. A notable feature of this method, as shown in Figure 6, is that the loquat branch appears to be floating in the air. Also, the side shoots that grew from the thin SP part are thick, creating an imbalance. Despite this, the loquat is growing well.

[0011] The following are conceivable: Improvements in crop characteristics may be utilized in crop cultivation. Improvements in robustness may be utilized in reduced-pesticide cultivation. Use in dwarf cultivation. Sales and supply of seedlings and seeds of crops to which this invention is applied. Use of this invention in the expression of mutants, breeding, and variety improvement. Use in improving the flavor of recreational crops such as tea, coffee, and hops. Confirming increases or decreases in active ingredients and new ingredients in medicinal plants, and making effective use of the results. Use in plant physiology research and education.

Claims

1. A cultivation method in which the flow of water and nutrients in a part of the plant body is reversed from the natural nutrient circulation.

2. Plants obtained by the present invention, including their harvested products.

3. Seedlings, seeds, and subsequent generations of plants derived from plants obtained by the present invention 4. Lectures, books, literature, etc. relating to the present invention, and intellectual property rights

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