GB2620338A - Plant propagation - Google Patents

Plant propagation Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2620338A
GB2620338A GB2316120.1A GB202316120A GB2620338A GB 2620338 A GB2620338 A GB 2620338A GB 202316120 A GB202316120 A GB 202316120A GB 2620338 A GB2620338 A GB 2620338A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
plant
shell
optionally
capsule
cover
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
GB2316120.1A
Other versions
GB202316120D0 (en
Inventor
Green Fred
Ebblewhite Nigel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
James Hutton Institute
Original Assignee
James Hutton Institute
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by James Hutton Institute filed Critical James Hutton Institute
Publication of GB202316120D0 publication Critical patent/GB202316120D0/en
Publication of GB2620338A publication Critical patent/GB2620338A/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01CPLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
    • A01C1/00Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting
    • A01C1/04Arranging seed on carriers, e.g. on tapes, on cords ; Carrier compositions
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01GHORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G31/00Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01GHORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G31/00Soilless cultivation, e.g. hydroponics
    • A01G31/02Special apparatus therefor
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01GHORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/02Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
    • A01G9/029Receptacles for seedlings
    • A01G9/0293Seed or shoot receptacles

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Cultivation Receptacles Or Flower-Pots, Or Pots For Seedlings (AREA)

Abstract

The present invention relates to plant propagation. In particular, the present invention relates to a plant growing or propagation system, to materials and apparatus for use in the system and to methods using the system. We describe a system for growing a plant, the system comprising plant propagation material and a capsule (10) for growing the plant propagation material. The capsule comprises a shell (11); a cover (13) sealed to the shell (11), thereby defining a cavity; a plant growing medium (12) for receiving the plant propagation material, the plant growing medium (12) being reliably contained within the cavity; and a root aperture formed or formable in the shell (11), such that, in use of the system, the plant propagation material produces roots and at least one plant root grows through the root aperture. We also describe capsules and methods for producing capsules and methods of growing a plant.

Claims (57)

1. A system for growing a plant, the system comprising plant propagation material and a capsule for growing the plant propagation material, wherein the capsule comprises: (i) a shell; (ii) a cover sealed to the shell, thereby defining a cavity; (iii) a plant growing medium for receiving the plant propagation material, the plant growing medium being reliably contained within the cavity; and (iv) a root aperture formed or formable in the shell, such that, in use of the system, the plant propagation material produces roots and at least one plant root grows through the root aperture.
2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plant propagation material is at least one seed or vegetative propagation material, optionally a leaf or stem cutting.
3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 further comprising a mineral nutrient solution, to which, in use of the system, the plant root is exposed.
4. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the root aperture is formable by removing a portion of the shell or by puncturing the shell.
5. A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the shell further comprises a root aperture seal or closure and the root aperture is formable by removing, puncturing or dissolving the root aperture seal or closure, optionally the root aperture seal or closure is a mesh or fabric, optionally a biodegradable mesh or fabric, further optionally a non-woven fabric.
6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shell is a moulded plastic shell, optionally a biodegradable plastic shell, or a composite material.
7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the cover comprises a single or multilayer mesh or film, optionally a biodegradable mesh or film, a paper sheet or a metal foil, optionally an aluminium foil; further optionally the cover is piercable.
8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plant growing medium is a coco peat growing medium and/or an agar plant growing medium.
9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plant growing medium is inoculated with a microbial volatile organic compound-producing organism, optionally Cladosporium sphaerospermum strain TC09.
10. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the capsule is provided with a machine-readable label, wherein the label indicates at least one of: a name of the plant, and an orientation for the capsule; optionally wherein the machine-readable label is a coded machine-readable label; further optionally wherein the coded machine-readable label is a barcode or QR code.
11. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the plant propagation material is a seed and the seed is provided to the plant growing medium by: (i) inserting the seed into the plant growth medium prior to sealing the cover to the shell, or (ii) piercing the cover or shell and inserting the seed into the plant growth medium through the cover.
12. A system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a needle seeder apparatus coupled to a seed reservoir, wherein the apparatus is arranged such that, in use, a needle seeder places one or more seeds from a reservoir of seeds in the seed reservoir into the plant growing medium in the cavity by piecing the cover or shell.
13. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 wherein the plant propagation material is a vegetative propagation material in the form of a plant cutting, and wherein the cover is pierceable such that the plant cutting is plantable into the plant growing medium by piercing the cover and inserting the cutting into the plant growing medium.
14. A system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a plant cutting apparatus for obtaining a plant cutting from a plant and a transplanting apparatus to transplant the plant cutting into the capsule by piercing the cover of the capsule and inserting the cutting into the plant growing medium through the cover.
15. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shell of the capsule is provided with a flange to engage with robotic devices.
16. A system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a capsule manipulation assembly for placing a plurality of capsules into an array, the array having a capsule density, whereby in use, the capsules are manipulated to reduce the capsule density of the array to provide additional space for each capsule for enhanced plant growth.
17. A system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a hydroponic plant growth assembly.
18. A system as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a mineral nutrient solution.
19. A system as claimed in claim 17 or claim 18 further comprising a generator apparatus for generating micro- and/or nano-bubbles from at least one gas and introducing the micro- and/or nano-bubbles to a mineral nutrient solution to which the plant root is exposed.
20. A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein at least 50%, of the micro- and/or nano bubbles generated have a diameter of less than 1000nm, optionally less than 500 nm, optionally less than 60 nm of less, optionally 20 nm or less.
21. A system as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20 wherein the micro- and/or nano-bubbles are generated in the presence of one or a mixture of gases selected from oxygen, nitrogen, CO2 and air.
22. A system as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21 further comprising means for admixing the micro- or nano-bubbles with one or more compounds capable of inducing a change in a phenotype or a physiology of a plant.
23. A system as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22 further comprising means for adding a microbial volatile organic compound-producing organism, optionally Cladosporium sphaerospermum strain TC09, to the micro- and/or nano-bubbles.
24. A plant propagation capsule comprising: (i) a shell; (ii) a cover, the cover being sealed to the shell thereby defining a cavity; (iii) a plant growing medium for receiving a plant propagation material, the plant growing medium being reliably contained within the cavity; and (iv) a root aperture formed or formable in the shell, through which root aperture a plant root can grow during use of the capsule.
25. A capsule as claimed in claim 24 wherein the root aperture is formable by removing a portion of the shell or by puncturing the shell.
26. A capsule as claimed in claim 25 wherein the shell further comprises a root aperture seal or closure and the root aperture is form able by removing, puncturing or dissolving the root aperture seal or closure, optionally the root aperture seal or closure is a mesh or fabric, optionally a non-woven fabric; further optionally a biodegradable mesh or fabric.
27. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26 wherein the cover is a film, preferably a biodegradable film, a paper sheet, or a metal foil, optionally aluminium foil.
28. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 27 wherein the cover is piercable such that the plant propagation material, optionally a seed or plant cutting, is insertable into the plant growing medium through a pierced aperture in the cover.
29. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 28 wherein the plant growing medium is a coco peat growing medium and/or an agar plant growing medium.
30. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 29 wherein the plant growing medium is inoculated with a microbial volatile organic compound-producing organism, optionally Cladosporium sphaerospermum strain TC09.
31. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 30 wherein the capsule is provided with a computer-readable label, wherein the label indicates at least one of a name of the plant and an orientation for the capsule; optionally wherein the computer-readable label is a coded computer-readable label; further optionally wherein the coded computer-readable label barcode or QR code.
32. A capsule as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 31 wherein the shell of the capsule is provided with a lip, rim or flange to engage with robotic devices.
33. A method of producing a plant growing capsule, the method comprising the steps of: i) providing a shell having a neck defining an opening to the shell and a shell wall, defining a cavity; ii) dispensing a metered quantity of plant growing medium into the cavity; and iii) sealing the shell with a cover, thereby containing the plant growing medium within the cavity.
34. A method as claimed in claim 33 wherein the metered quantity is dispensed with an apparatus comprising a reservoir for storage of the plant growing medium and a volumetric metering device in fluid communication with the reservoir.
35. A method as claimed in claim 33 or claim 34 wherein the step of sealing the shell comprises applying a seal or cover to the neck of the shell.
36. A method as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35 wherein the step of sealing the shell comprises sealing the shell with a film or foil material.
37. A method as claimed in claim 36 wherein the cover is a film, preferably a biodegradable film, optionally a polylactic acid film; a paper sheet; or a metal foil, optionally an aluminium foil; optionally wherein the cover is piercable.
38. A method as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 37 wherein at least one seed is placed into the plant growing medium prior to sealing the shell.
39. A method as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 37 wherein at least one seed is placed into the plant growing medium after sealing the shell by piercing the cover.
40. A method as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 37 wherein a plant cutting is placed into the plant growing medium after sealing the shell by piercing the cover.
41. A method as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 40 wherein the plant growing medium is a coco peat growing medium and/or an agar plant growing medium.
42. A method of growing a plant, the method comprising the steps of: (i) providing a capsule having a shell and a cover sealable to the shell, thereby defining a cavity; (ii) substantially filling the cavity with a metered amount of plant growing medium; (iii) sealing the cover to the capsule; (iv) piercing the cover to form an aperture in the cover; (v) providing at least one plant propagation material in the plant growing medium; (vi) growing a plant from the plant propagation material, whereby a stem of the plant grows through the aperture in the cover; (vii) forming or providing a root aperture in the shell; and (viii) allowing a plant root to grow through the root aperture.
43. A method as claimed in claim 42 further comprising exposing the plant root to a mineral nutrient solution.
44. A method as claimed in claim 42 or claim 43 wherein the root aperture is formed by removal of a portion of the shell or by puncturing the shell.
45. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 44 wherein the shell further comprises a root aperture seal and the root aperture is formed by removing, puncturing or dissolving the root aperture seal, optionally the root aperture seal is a mesh, optionally a biodegradable mesh.
46. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 45 wherein the plant propagation material is a seed or a plant cutting.
47. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 46 wherein the step of providing at least one plant propagation material comprises: (i) placing a seed in the plant growing medium prior to sealing the cover to the shell; or (ii) piercing the cover or shell to insert the seed into the plant growth medium.
48. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 46 wherein the step of providing at least one plant propagation material comprises piercing the cover and inserting a vegetative plant material, optionally a plant cutting, into the plant growing medium.
49. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 48 wherein the plant growing medium is inoculated with at least one microbial volatile organic compound-producing bacterium or fungus, optionally Cladosporium sphaerospermum strain TC09.
50. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 49 wherein the capsule is a capsule as claimed in any one of claim 24 to 32 or a capsule obtainable by the method of any one of claims 33 to 41.
51. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 50 further comprising the step of providing a sleeve to receive the capsule and the plant, optionally wherein the sleeve comprises a retaining portion for retaining the plant root within the sleeve, optionally the retaining portion comprises a water reservoir for providing water and/or nutrients to the plant root.
52. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 51 further comprising the steps of: (i) providing a plurality of capsules in an array having a capsule density; and (ii) manipulating the capsules at a point during the step of growing the plants, to reduce the capsule density of the array to provide additional space for the plants to grow.
53. A method as claimed in any one of claims 42 to 52 further comprising the step of generating micro- and/or nano-bubbles from at least one gas and introducing the micro- and/or nano-bubbles to a mineral nutrient solution to which the plant root is exposed.
54. A method as claimed in claim 53 wherein at least 50%, of the micro- and/or nano bubbles generated have a diameter of less than 1000nm, optionally less than 500 nm, optionally less than 60 nm of less, optionally 20 nm or less.
55. A method as claimed in claim 53 or claim 54 wherein the micro- and/or nano-bubbles are generated in the presence of one or a mixture of gases selected from oxygen, nitrogen, CO2, or air.
56. A method as claimed in any one of claims 53 to 55 wherein the micro- or nano-bubbles are admixed with one or more compounds capable of inducing a change in a phenotype or physiology of the plant.
57. A method as claimed in any one of claims 53 to 56 further comprising the step of adding a microbial volatile organic compound-producing organism, optionally Cladosporium sphaerospermum strain TC09, to the micro- and/or nano-bubbles.
GB2316120.1A 2021-03-22 2022-03-22 Plant propagation Pending GB2620338A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB2103986.2A GB202103986D0 (en) 2021-03-22 2021-03-22 Plant propagation
PCT/EP2022/057558 WO2022200391A1 (en) 2021-03-22 2022-03-22 Plant propagation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB202316120D0 GB202316120D0 (en) 2023-12-06
GB2620338A true GB2620338A (en) 2024-01-03

Family

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Family Applications (2)

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GBGB2103986.2A Ceased GB202103986D0 (en) 2021-03-22 2021-03-22 Plant propagation
GB2316120.1A Pending GB2620338A (en) 2021-03-22 2022-03-22 Plant propagation

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB2103986.2A Ceased GB202103986D0 (en) 2021-03-22 2021-03-22 Plant propagation

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GB (2) GB202103986D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2022200391A1 (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150156973A1 (en) * 2012-02-17 2015-06-11 Oms Investments, Inc. Plant growing system and methods of using the same
WO2017156410A1 (en) * 2016-03-11 2017-09-14 Moleaer, Inc Compositions containing nano-bubbles in a liquid carrier
WO2019017765A1 (en) * 2017-07-19 2019-01-24 Liang Chan Ning An apparatus and method for growing a plant
KR101954246B1 (en) * 2018-08-30 2019-03-05 주식회사 에이아이플러스 Smart plant cultivation device and smart plant cultivation system using internet-of-things
EP3721979A1 (en) * 2017-12-08 2020-10-14 Takeshi Ohdaira Charged nanobubble dispersion, production method for charged nanobubble dispersion, production device for charged nanobubble dispersion, and method for using charged nanobubble dispersion to control growth rate of microorganisms and plants

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
PL2460582T3 (en) 2009-07-30 2020-11-16 Satoshi Anzai Super-micro bubble generation device
US20170020095A1 (en) 2015-07-23 2017-01-26 Stephen Donald Kamholz Plant growing apparatus, systems and methods
JP7155243B2 (en) 2017-04-10 2022-10-18 ロベル,ケヴィン Methods and Materials for Extending Plant Survival in Non-Refrigerated Storage Environments
CA3093543A1 (en) 2018-03-20 2019-09-26 Christopher D. DARDICK Fungal volatile organic compound enhances plant growth characteristics
WO2020018993A1 (en) 2018-07-20 2020-01-23 Maui Greens, Inc. System amd method for growing and handling plants

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150156973A1 (en) * 2012-02-17 2015-06-11 Oms Investments, Inc. Plant growing system and methods of using the same
WO2017156410A1 (en) * 2016-03-11 2017-09-14 Moleaer, Inc Compositions containing nano-bubbles in a liquid carrier
WO2019017765A1 (en) * 2017-07-19 2019-01-24 Liang Chan Ning An apparatus and method for growing a plant
EP3721979A1 (en) * 2017-12-08 2020-10-14 Takeshi Ohdaira Charged nanobubble dispersion, production method for charged nanobubble dispersion, production device for charged nanobubble dispersion, and method for using charged nanobubble dispersion to control growth rate of microorganisms and plants
KR101954246B1 (en) * 2018-08-30 2019-03-05 주식회사 에이아이플러스 Smart plant cultivation device and smart plant cultivation system using internet-of-things

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
ZHIJIAN T. LI ET AL, "Exposure in vitro to an Environmentally Isolated Strain TC09 of Cladosporium sphaerospermum Triggers Plant Growth Promotion, Early Flowering, and Fruit Yield Increase", FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE, vol. 9, (2019-02-01), Ch, ISSN:1664-462X, doi:10.3389/fpls.2018.01959 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2022200391A1 (en) 2022-09-29
GB202103986D0 (en) 2021-05-05
GB202316120D0 (en) 2023-12-06

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Owner name: THE JAMES HUTTON INSTITUTE,

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