A method for treating leafy plant materials

Abstract

The present invention describes a method for treating a leafy plant material object or conifer material object, said method comprising - immersing the leafy plant material object or conifer material object in an aqueous impregnation solution; - applying vacuum impregnation to the aqueous impregnation solution when said leafy plant material object or conifer material object is immersed in the aqueous impregnation solution; wherein air removal from the tissue of said leafy plant material object or conifer material object is controlled by controlling pressure change of the vacuum impregnation to provide for partial impregnation so that maximum 80% of the surface area of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated.

Description

[0001] A METHOD FOR TREATING LEAFY PLANT MATERIALS

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a method for treating a leafy plant material object or conifer material object.

[0004] Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention is directed to a method for treating a leafy plant material object or conifer material object, said method comprising

[0006] - immersing the leafy plant material object or conifer material object in an aqueous impregnation solution;

[0007] - applying vacuum impregnation to the aqueous impregnation solution when said leafy plant material object or conifer material object is immersed in the aqueous impregnation solution; wherein air removal from the tissue of said leafy plant material object or conifer material object is controlled by controlling pressure change of the vacuum impregnation to provide for partial impregnation so that maximum 80% of the surface area of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated.

[0008] To drive the impregnation so that maximum 80% of the surface area of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated is important to improve the rooting of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object. With a surface impregnation higher than 80%, the plant cannot recover from the treatment and the improved rooting is thus not achieved. According to the present invention, the impregnation is local and below 80% of the leave surface, which enables efficient delivery of nutrients but not overstressing the cuttings.

[0009] Moreover, as may be seen in the examples (see figs. E and F), the rooting percentage is substantially increased for cuttings treated by the method according to the present invention.

[0010] Specific embodiments of the invention

[0011] Below there are some embodiments of the present invention.

[0012] As should be understood from the above, the method according to the present invention may be performed on both leafy plant material objects and conifer material objects. According to one embodiment, the method is performed on a leafy plant material object, such as a cutting thereof.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the surface area of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated in a range of 2 - 80%, preferably in a range of 2- 60%, more preferably in a range of 10 - 80%, more preferably in a range of 10 - 60%, more preferably in a range of 20 - 80%, most preferably in a range of 20 - 60%.

[0014] Furthermore, according to yet another embodiment, the vacuum impregnation is performed from an initial atmospheric pressure, then a pressure decreases down to a minimum pressure and finally a pressure increases back to atmospheric pressure again, and wherein this pressure change profile is performed with a parabolic shape. As the minimum pressure point can be reached more gently and slower, the air may be removed to the desired extent and the impregnation phase of the liquid into the tissue starts mildly. Furthermore, the desired pressure may be reached more accurately. Moreover, using a parabolic shape of the curve leads to milder treatment, as is further explained below.

[0015] Using a parabolic vacuum curve for treating cuttings such as according to the present invention has benefits. Since the pressure drops more gradually, especially as it gets closer to the lowest point, it allows air to be removed from the plant tissue in a gentler, more controlled way. This slow transition helps start the liquid impregnation process without putting too much stress on the tissue. The parabolic shape also gives better control over the pressure, particularly in the low-pressure range where things can get delicate. This means that the treatment tends to be more consistent and evenly distributed. Compared to a straight, linear drop in pressure, the parabolic approach puts less strain on the tissue because the sharpest pressure changes happen more slowly. In the end, it’s a much gentler process that helps protect the integrity of the cuttings and reduces the risk of damage.

[0016] According to yet another embodiment, the vacuum impregnation is performed to a minimum pressure in a range of from 500 - 50 mbar. Moreover, according to one embodiment, the vacuum impregnation is performed with a pressure change profile with a parabolic shape and wherein the minimum pressure is in a range of from 500 - 50 mbar, preferably 400 - 60 mbar, more preferably 300 - 50 mbar, more preferably 200 - 60 mbar. Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the vacuum impregnation is performed with a cycle from an initial atmospheric pressure, then a pressure decrease down to a minimum pressure and finally a pressure increase back to atmospheric pressure again, and wherein the entire vacuum impregnation cycle is performed during a time of maximum 180 seconds, preferably maximum 60 seconds, more preferably maximum 30 seconds.

[0017] It is possible to treat the material with a longer treatment time, but it is preferred to use short treatment times as suggested according to the present invention. Moreover, there is also a likely minimum treatment time, such as minimum 5 seconds, to ensure that enough of the surface is impregnated. Furthermore, there is also a relationship between treatment time and pressure profile for the vacuum impregnation / infusion, where the minimum pressure is at least as low as 300 mbar according to the invention. Moreover, also the parabolic pressure profile is preferred according to the present invention.

[0018] Taking all these aspects into account, according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vacuum impregnation is performed with a cycle from an initial atmospheric pressure, then a pressure decrease down to a minimum pressure and finally a pressure increase back to atmospheric pressure again, and wherein the entire vacuum impregnation cycle is performed during a time of maximum 180 seconds, preferably maximum 60 seconds, more preferably maximum 30 seconds, and minimum 2 seconds, more preferably minimum 5 seconds, preferably in a range of 2 - 30 seconds, more preferably in a range of 5 - 30 seconds, most preferably in a range of 10 - 30 seconds, most preferably with a pressure change profile with a parabolic shape where the minimum pressure is in a range of from 500 - 50 mbar, preferably 400 - 60 mbar, more preferably 300 - 50 mbar.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, maximum 80% of the surface area of the leaves of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated, such as that a range of 2 - 80%, preferably in a range of 2- 60%, more preferably in a range of 10 - 80%, more preferably in a range of 10 - 60%, more preferably in a range of 20 - 80%, most preferably in a range of 20 - 60%, of the leaves of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated.

[0020] Moreover, according to one embodiment, the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is a cut flower, a cutting or a forest plant, preferably a cutting.

[0021] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the impregnation solution comprises one or more nutrients and one or more antiseptic agents. The impregnation solution may also comprise other additives. Therefore, according to one embodiment, the impregnation solution also comprises one or more carbohydrates, one or more growth hormones, or one or more vitamins, or a combination thereof, preferably one or more micronutrients and macronutrients, optionally one or more rooting hormones and / or antimicrobial agents.

[0022] Moreover, according to yet another embodiment, the impregnation solution is optimized in terms of electrical conductivity (EC) value. Description of the drawings

[0023] Below there is provides some figures and description thereto.

[0024] Air removal from the tissue may be controlled according to the present invention by the pressure change and shall lead to the impregnation level below 80% of the leaves surface area (example: Figure A: Above 80% surface impregnation, Figure B: Below 80% of the surface impregnation, Figure C: 0% surface impregnation). From the figures it may be seen that the object shown in Figure B is better than A when comparing the darker parts. Figure A: Above 80% impregnation of the leave surface, where darker areas represent the impregnation pattern.

[0025] Figure B: Below 80% of the leave impregnation, where darker areas represent the impregnation pattern.

[0026] Figure C: 0% surface impregnation.

[0027] Air removed from the tissue is highly controlled by the vacuum curve that is optimized to slow down when reaching the lowest pressure point to secure the controlled and desired air removal and liquid replacement by less than 80% surface area impregnation. A vacuum curve applied in a parabolic shape decreases stress applied to the tissue compared to the linear shape, especially since the lowest pressure is reached slower compared to the higher pressure ranges. One example of a parabolic shape of the pressure profile (vacuum curve) according to the present invention is shown in fig. D.

[0028] In figs. E and F there are presented comparable results. In fig. E there is presented comparable results for 5 different clones in terms of the percentage of eucalyptus cuttings successfully rooted after 75 Days where treatment according to the present invention is compared with control, i.e. no treatment.

[0029] Moreover, in fig. F there is presented 3 minimum vacuum pressures tested and their effect on the rooting % of eucalyptus cuttings. All the minimum pressures tested were within the range of 300 - 50 mbar according to the present invention. Minimum pressure A was the lowest and minimum pressure C was the highest within the range, while minimum pressure B was within these two minimum pressures, and minimum pressure B resulted in the highest rooting %.

Claims

Claims1 . A method for treating a leafy plant material object or conifer material object, said method comprising- immersing the leafy plant material object or conifer material object in an aqueous impregnation solution;- applying vacuum impregnation to the aqueous impregnation solution when said leafy plant material object or conifer material object is immersed in the aqueous impregnation solution; wherein air removal from the tissue of said leafy plant material object or conifer material object is controlled by controlling pressure change of the vacuum impregnation to provide for partial impregnation so that maximum 80% of the surface area of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method is performed on a leafy plant material object.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface area of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated in a range of 2- 80%, preferably in a range of 2- 60%, more preferably in a range of 10 - 80%, more preferably in a range of 10 - 60%, more preferably in a range of 20 - 80%, most preferably in a range of 20 - 60%.

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the vacuum impregnation is performed from an initial atmospheric pressure, then a pressure decrease down to a minimum pressure and finally a pressure increase back to atmospheric pressure again, and wherein this pressure change profile is performed with a parabolic shape.

5. The method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the vacuum impregnation is performed to a minimum pressure in a range of from 500 - 50 mbar.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the vacuum impregnation is performed with a pressure change profile with a parabolic shape and wherein the minimum pressure is in a range of from 500 - 50 mbar, preferably 400 - 60 mbar, more preferably 300 - 50 mbar, more preferably 200 - 60 mbar.

7. The method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the vacuum impregnation is performed with a cycle from an initial atmospheric pressure, then a pressure decrease down to a minimum pressure and finally a pressure increase back to atmospheric pressure again, and wherein the entire vacuum impregnation cycle is performed during a time of maximum 180 seconds, preferably maximum 60 seconds, more preferably maximum 30 seconds.

8. The method to any of claims 1-7, wherein the vacuum impregnation is performed with a cycle from an initial atmospheric pressure, then a pressure decrease down to a minimum pressure and finally a pressure increase back to atmospheric pressure again, and wherein the entire vacuum impregnation cycle is performed during a time of maximum 180 seconds, preferably maximum 60 seconds, more preferably maximum 30 seconds, and minimum 2 seconds, more preferably minimum 5 seconds, preferably in a range of 2 - 30 seconds, more preferably in a range of 5 - 30 seconds, most preferably in a range of 10 - 30 seconds, most preferably with a pressure change profile with a parabolic shape where the minimum pressure is in a range of from 500 - 50 mbar, preferably 400 - 60 mbar, more preferably 300 - 50 mbar.

9. The method according to any of claims 1-8, wherein maximum 80% of the surface area of the leaves of the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is impregnated.

10. The method according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the leafy plant material object or conifer material object is a cut flower, a cutting or a forest plant, preferably a cutting.

11. The method according to any of claims 1 -10, wherein the impregnation solution comprises one or more nutrients and one or more antiseptic agents.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the impregnation solution also comprises one or more carbohydrates, one or more growth hormones, or one or more vitamins, or a combination thereof, preferably one or more micronutrients and macronutrients, optionally one or more rooting hormones and / or antimicrobial agents.

13. The method according to any of claims 1-12, wherein the impregnation solution is optimized in terms of electrical conductivity (EC) value.

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