Plant protecting and regulating compositions – Compositions for preservation or maintenance of cut flowers – Containing organic nitrogen compounds
Patent
1996-01-11
1998-01-20
Clardy, S. Mark
Plant protecting and regulating compositions
Compositions for preservation or maintenance of cut flowers
Containing organic nitrogen compounds
504136, 800DIG67, A01N 302
Patent
active
057101019
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application has been filed under 35USC371 as a national stage application of PCT/GB94/00924, filed Apr. 29, 1994.
The present invention is concerned with the sustenance of plant material, for example cut flowers, and plants.
After harvesting, plant material remains alive although death will begin to occur after a delay, mainly due to lack of water and essential nutrients. The plant material will begin to perish immediately following harvesting and deterioration may be very rapid indeed, depending on the particular plant material in question and the surrounding conditions (e.g. heat, humidity, etc.). For example, picked flowers may be noticeably wilted only minutes after the time of picking.
To prevent such rapid deterioration in their condition, cut flowers or foliage are generally placed with their stems extending into water. It is also conventional for sugars, such as glucose, to be added to the water to further maintain the cut plant material in a visually acceptable form.
Where the harvested plant material must be transported or stored for long periods of time, the maintenance of the plant matter in an acceptable condition is more problematic. It is usual for the plant matter to be chilled and maintained at temperatures between 1.degree. C. and 8.degree. C. The decreased temperature depresses the rate of metabolism in the plant cells thus delaying cell death and spoilage of the plant material as a whole. However, maintenance of low temperatures continually throughout transportation or storage is inevitably expensive and further the plant material may itself be distressed or even injured by exposure to such temperatures, especially where the exposure is prolonged. A further problem connected to cold storage or chilling of plant matter is the continuing vulnerability to attack by cryophilic bacteria or fungi.
A similar problem may also occur in the transport or storage of rooted plants, for example pot plants. Although these plants are generally more robust than cut plant material and are generally less stressed it is none the less desirable that the plants are healthy and attractive when offered for retail despite undergoing long periods of transport and/or storage. Thus, for example, it is generally recognised to be advantageous if any flowering plants are in bloom in an attractive manner. The problem encountered here, however, is maintaining the plant in the required state during transport or storage.
The present invention provides a composition which sustains plant material. In particular, the present invention provides a composition for sustaining plant material comprising an aminopurine or a derivative or salt thereof and at least one component selected from the group consisting of a water soluble polymer and a water soluble compound containing a sulphonyl group.
The word "sustains" is used herein to mean that the treated plant material is maintained in whatever state it is in at the time of application of the composition for a relatively long time compared to untreated plant material.
Thus, for example, if the composition is applied to cut flowers picked in bud, the flowers will remain unopened for up to two months after application of the composition. By comparison, untreated flowers will bloom and die in a much shorter time. Likewise, the composition according to the invention may be applied to pot plants, maintaining them In bud for several weeks,
The composition of the present invention is effective at sustaining plant material at temperatures of up to 30.degree. C., preferably 2.degree. C. to 18.degree. C., more preferably 5.degree. C. to 15.degree. C. Within this range it is preferred that the plant material is maintained at temperatures of 8.degree. C. and above, for example 8.degree. C. to 12.degree. C., in order to avoid stressing the plant material by chilling.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a composition comprising an aminopurine or a derivative or salt therof and a water-soluble polymer. This composition, which is preferably aqueous, may be used
REFERENCES:
patent: 3112192 (1963-11-01), Feichmtmeir et al.
patent: 4594092 (1986-06-01), Speltz et al.
patent: 5112380 (1992-05-01), Yamamoto et al.
Chemical Patents Index, Documentation Abstracts Journal, Section Ch, Week 9223, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB, Class C, AN 187699, & JP A 4,117,301(Kureha Chem Ind Co Ltd) 17 Apr. 1992, see abstract.
Chemical Patents Index, Documentation Abstracts Journal, Section Ch, Week 9332, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB, Class C, AN 252568 & JP A 63,181,93313 (Kyoeah Hakko Kogyo Co.) Oct. 1993, see abstract.
Central Patents Index, Basic Abstracts Journal, Section Ch, Week 6700, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB, Class C, AN 9647G & CA A,761,872 (Kelco Co), see Abstract.
Central Patents Index, Basic Abstracts Journal, Section Ch, Week 7023, Derwent Publications Ltd., London, GB, Class C, AN 41584R & JP A,7,016,054 (Mikasa Kagaku Kogyo KK), 4 Jun. 1970., see Abstract.
Carstairs Margaret Louise
Jennings Laurence William Irvine
British Technology Group Ltd.
Clardy S. Mark
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