Arborescent Leaf Extract for Plant Defense Elicitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Deciduous leaves of arborescent woody plants are largely unused and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions when composted, incinerated, or buried, necessitating a method to recycle and reduce their environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the collection, extraction using solvents like aqueous or hydroalcoholic solutions, and application of the extract for phytosanitary purposes to stimulate plant defenses and enhance the performance of phytosanitary products, thereby reducing the need for chemical pesticides and stabilizing their use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-generated harmful factors
If deciduous leaves are collected and disposed of through composting, incineration, or burial, then the biomass is eliminated, but greenhouse gas emissions increase and environmental harm occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful disposal method into a beneficial application by extracting active compounds from the leaves and using them as phytosanitary products. The extraction process recovers valuable substances that would otherwise be lost, and the resulting extract provides plant protection benefits, effectively transforming waste into a useful resource while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions associated with traditional disposal methods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a recovery process where active compounds are extracted from the leaf biomass using solvents. This recovery step captures valuable substances before final disposal or degradation, allowing the biomass to be reused for phytosanitary purposes rather than being directly composted, incinerated, or buried, thus preventing substance loss and environmental harm
2Reliability
If chemical pesticides are used to protect plants, then pathogen attacks are prevented, but environmental hazards and chemical residue issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs plant defense elicitors that stimulate the plant's own natural defense mechanisms. Rather than applying external chemical pesticides, the treatment activates the plant's innate immune system to produce its own protective compounds, allowing the plant to protect itself against pathogens while avoiding the environmental hazards associated with synthetic chemicals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses extracts containing defense elicitors as intermediary substances that bridge the gap between plant and pathogen. These elicitors act as signaling molecules that trigger the plant's defense response, providing an alternative to direct chemical pesticide application while maintaining effective plant protection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method recycles abundant biomass, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and enhances plant health by using the extract's elicitor and biocidal properties to prevent pathogen attacks and improve the performance of phytosanitary products, providing photoprotection and reducing environmental hazards.
Implementation Method 1
extracting from said leaves by means of a solvent
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for reusing deciduous leaves of arborescent woody plants, which allows obtaining an extract used for a phytosanitary application, in particular the elicitation of a plant, preventive or curative treatment of a plant against a pathogenic agent, or improvement of the performance of a phytosanitary product.