A method for treating a plant material

Abstract

The present invention describes a method for treating a plant material, said method comprising the following steps: —exposing the plant material to vacuum impregnation in an aqueous solution; —applying a pulsed electrical field (PEF) treatment to the plant material in the aqueous solution before, simultaneously as or after exposing the plant material to vacuum impregnation in an aqueous solution; —applying a drying step to the PEF treated plant material for removing water/moisture from surfaces of the plant material before packing the treated plant material; said method also comprising an active step for preventing microbial contamination of the aqueous solution.

Claims

1-20. (canceled)

21. A method for treating a plant material, said method comprising the following steps: exposing the plant material to vacuum impregnation in an aqueous solution; said method also comprising an active step for preventing microbial contamination of the aqueous solution.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the vacuum impregnation is performed at a minimum pressure of 100 mbar.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method also involves applying a drying step for removing water/moisture from surfaces of the plant material before packing the treated plant material.

24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method involves applying a pulsed electrical field (PEF) treatment to the plant material in the aqueous solution before, simultaneously as or after exposing the plant material to vacuum impregnation in an aqueous solution.

25. The method according to claim 21, wherein the active step for preventing microbial contamination involves adding one or more antimicrobial agents to the aqueous solution.

26. The method according to claim 21, wherein the active step for preventing microbial contamination involves an active treatment of the aqueous solution.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the active treatment is a UV treatment.

28. The method according to claim 21, wherein the impregnation is a partial impregnation, preferably wherein the impregnation is a partial impregnation where the plant material receives a maximum of a 50% weight gain after the partial impregnation.

29. The method according to claim 21, wherein the aqueous solution comprises at least one additive of folic acid, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), ethylene blockers, e.g. 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP), amino acids, e.g. cysteine, plant hormones, e.g. IBA, an antiseptic agent, e.g. silver nitrate, or a combination thereof.

30. The method according to claim 21, wherein one or more growth agents are added to the aqueous solution.

31. The method according to claim 21, wherein the aqueous solution is recirculated and reused.

32. The method according to claim 24, wherein the pulsed electrical field (PEF) treatment involves applying an electric field between electrodes so that the electric field on edges of the electrodes amounts to a maximum of 50% when compared to the electric field level in a middle point or middle plane between the electrodes.

33. The method according to claim 24, wherein a resting period is applied subsequent to the PEF treatment.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the resting period is performed in a relative humidity of at least 60% and in a temperature range of 4-10° C.

35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the resting period involves removing water from surfaces of the plant material.

36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the resting period involves putting the plant material on a net material to remove water from surfaces of the plant material.

37. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method involves a subsequent freezing step.

38. The method according to claim 21, wherein the method involves storing the plant material in a controlled storing environment.

39. The method according to claim 38, wherein the storing environment involves a temperature of 4-10° C.

40. The method according to claim 38, wherein the storing environment involves a humidity of above 50%.

41. The method according to claim 38, wherein the storing is performed by incorporating the plant material into one or more package with modified atmosphere.

42. The method according to claim 38, wherein the method also involves a cutting step performed during the resting period, after the resting period, before the storing or in connection to the start of the storing.

43. The method according to claim 21, wherein the plant material comprises one or more sprouts, cuttings or cut flowers.

Description

RESULTS

[0030] In FIG. 1 the rooting results for Pelargonium Interspecific Calliope Dark Red are presented. Rooting started on day 15 for the PEF treated sample while control plants rooted 4 days later, on day 19. The rooting percentage reached 100% for the treated plants while only 19% of the control plants rooted on day 19 of the trial.

[0031] In FIG. 2 the rooting results for Pelargonium Zonate Classic Diabolo are shown. Rooting started earlier for the PEF treated plants compared to the control plants (day 15 for treated and day 18 for control). The rooting percentage was also increased by the treatment, from 50% for control to 83% for the PEF treated plants (on day 25).