Plant Defense Elicitor Scheduling Using Weather-Based Infection Risk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current agricultural practices face challenges in effectively controlling plant diseases caused by infectious agents, particularly bacterial and fungal infections, due to the difficulty in predicting optimal application times for plant defense response eliciting agents, which are influenced by meteorological conditions and require precise timing to avoid unnecessary stress and cost inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines an optimal application schedule for plant defense response eliciting agents by analyzing meteorological data and infection risk, adjusting for agent-specific parameters, and using computer-implemented models to predict application times that maximize efficacy while minimizing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If plant defense response eliciting agents are applied preventively to control plant diseases, then disease control efficacy is improved, but the cost and environmental impact increase due to unnecessary applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease control efficacyVSAvoidchemical product consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of infection risk parameters based on meteorological data and disease-specific models before applying the eliciting agent. This allows preventive applications to be made only when truly necessary, optimizing both efficacy and resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors meteorological parameters and updates infection risk assessments in real-time. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic adjustment of application schedules based on actual weather conditions and disease pressure, preventing unnecessary applications while maintaining effective disease control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If plant defense response eliciting agents are applied at fixed intervals, then application scheduling is simplified, but treatment efficacy decreases due to lack of adaptation to meteorological conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication scheduling simplicityVSAvoidtreatment efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static fixed-interval scheduling to dynamic weather-based scheduling. Application timing is automatically adjusted according to real-time meteorological conditions and calculated infection risk parameters, maintaining simplicity for the user while significantly improving treatment efficacy through adaptive timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If traditional chemical pesticides are used to control plant diseases, then immediate disease control is achieved, but environmental impact and consumer safety concerns increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisease control effectivenessVSAvoidenvironmental impact
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the fundamental parameter of what is being applied - from synthetic chemical pesticides to natural plant defense response eliciting agents. These elicitors trigger the plant's own immune system, providing effective disease control without the environmental harm and consumer safety issues associated with traditional chemicals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of externally imposed chemical treatments, the system enables plants to defend themselves by applying eliciting agents that activate their intrinsic defense mechanisms. This self-service approach eliminates the need for harmful external chemicals while maintaining effective disease control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4678003A1Methods and compositions for the control in the field of infectious diseases in plants
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 UNIV DE GIRONA
  • EP4678003A1 patent drawingFigure 1[a]~1[c]
  • EP4678003A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4678003A1 patent drawingFigure 3[a]~3[d]

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining an application schedule of a plant defence response eliciting agent, to control a plant disease caused by one or more infectious agents in one or more plants to be treated with said plant defence response eliciting agent. The invention further relates to a phytosanitary composition comprising said plant defence response eliciting agent and uses and methods thereof for the control in the field of a plant disease.