JP2022177868A - Wrapped plant, and plant preservation method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a wrapped plant that is less prone to decrease in freshness.SOLUTION: A wrapped plant comprises a plant stored in a sealed container. The oxygen content in the container (vol.%) is lower than the oxygen content in the air (vol.%).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to packaged plants. The present invention relates to a method for preserving plants.

Plants such as ornamental flowers are often sold in plastic sleeves. Plants are desired to maintain their freshness for as long as possible at the time of sale and when the sleeve is removed and displayed in a vase or the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a packaged plant whose deterioration in freshness is suppressed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for preserving plants capable of suppressing deterioration of freshness.

The inventors have discovered that the freshness of plants can be maintained by reducing the oxygen concentration in the surrounding environment of the plants, leading to the present invention.

(Item 1)
including a plant housed in a sealed container;
The oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the container is lower than the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere.
packaged plants.

(Item 2)
The carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) in the container is higher than the carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere,
A packaged plant according to item 1.

(Item 3)
the gas in the container consists of 80% by volume nitrogen, 10% by volume oxygen and 10% by volume carbon dioxide;
A packaged plant according to items 1 or 2.

(Item 4)
Place the plant in a container, make the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the container lower than the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere, and then seal the container, or
The oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the container is made lower than the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere, and after placing the plant in the container, the container is sealed.
How to save plants.

(Item 5)
making the carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) in the container higher than the carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere;
A method for preserving a plant according to item 4.

(Item 6)
The composition ratio of the gas in the container is 80% by volume nitrogen, 10% by volume oxygen, and 10% by volume carbon dioxide,
A method for preserving a plant according to item 4 or 5.

Even after being taken out of the container, the packaged plant of the present invention is kept fresh with less loss of freshness. Also, by using the preservation method of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the freshness of plants.

1 is a front view of a packaged plant; FIG. Fig. 10 is a front view of a variation of a packaged plant; (a) to (d) are respectively a top view, a front view, a bottom view, and an enlarged view of a through-hole of a mesh body used in a modified packaged plant. Fig. 10 is a front view of another variation of a packaged plant; Fig. 10 is a front view of another variation of a packaged plant;

<1 Packaged plants and methods for preserving plants>
The packaged plant P and the method for preserving the plant P of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plant P is housed in a bag 10 (an example of a container). The bag 10 is made of, for example, a gas-impermeable material and has flexibility. Examples of gas impermeable materials include plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Bag 10 is preferably transparent. The bag 10 is sized to accommodate at least the flowers (in the case of flowering plants) and leaves of the plant P, and preferably is large enough to accommodate the entire plant P. The bag 10 has an opening at its end for putting the plant P inside.

The bag 10 is sealed while containing the plant P and gas having a predetermined composition ratio. The oxygen concentration (% by volume) of the gas inside the bag 10 is lower than the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere. Specifically, since the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere is about 20.9476% by volume, the oxygen concentration of the gas inside the bag 10 is lower than 20.9476% by volume. By making the oxygen concentration in the bag 10 lower than the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere, the freshness of the plant P can be maintained for a long period of time. The carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) of the gas within the bag 10 is preferably higher than the concentration (% by volume) of carbon dioxide in the air. Specifically, since the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is approximately 0.040% by volume, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the gas within the bag 10 is preferably higher than 0.040% by volume. By making the carbon dioxide concentration in the bag 10 higher than the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, the freshness of the plant P can be maintained for a long period of time. In one embodiment, the gas composition within bag 10 is 80% by volume nitrogen, 10% by volume oxygen, and 10% by volume carbon dioxide.

As a method of making the oxygen concentration of the gas in the bag 10 lower than the oxygen concentration in the air, for example, a method of introducing a mixed gas in which the oxygen concentration is lower than the oxygen concentration in the air into the bag 10 . Alternatively, air is introduced into the bag 10, and then nitrogen or carbon dioxide is introduced into the bag 10, thereby making the oxygen concentration of the gas inside the bag 10 lower than the oxygen concentration in the atmosphere. In addition, as a method for increasing the carbon dioxide concentration of the gas in the bag 10 to be higher than the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, for example, a mixed gas whose carbon dioxide concentration is higher than the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is placed in the bag 10 There is a way to put it in. Alternatively, there is a method of introducing air into the bag 10 and then introducing carbon dioxide into the bag 10 to make the carbon dioxide concentration of the gas inside the bag 10 higher than the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.

When the plant P and the gas are put into the bag 10, the plant P may be put into the bag 10 first, and then the gas inside the bag 10 may have a predetermined composition ratio. Alternatively, conversely, the plant P may be placed in the bag 10 after the gas in the bag 10 has a predetermined composition ratio.

Examples of methods for sealing the bag 10 include a method of tying the vicinity of the opening of the bag 10 with a fixing member 20 such as rubber or string, and a method of bonding the opening of the bag 10 (for example, thermocompression bonding). Although it is preferable that the plant P is completely contained within the bag 10 , there is no problem even if the stem of the plant P protrudes from the bag 10 .

<2 Examples>
By the method shown below, the difference in the freshness of the plant due to the difference in the composition ratio of the gas was confirmed.

(1) In the example, a commercially available polypropylene bag was filled with chrysanthemums and carnations together with a gas composed of 80% by volume nitrogen, 10% by volume oxygen, and 10% by volume carbon dioxide, The bag was sealed by rubber-tying the bag together with the chrysanthemum and carnation stems. The chrysanthemum and carnation stalks were placed in a vase containing water to supply water to the chrysanthemum and carnation. The chrysanthemums and carnations were stored in a sealed bag for 5 days, after which the bag was opened and stored for 7 days. The conditions of chrysanthemums and carnations were visually observed.
(2) In the comparative example, the gas in the bag was changed to the atmosphere (nitrogen: about 78.084% by volume, oxygen: about 20.9476% by volume, carbon dioxide: about 0.040% by volume). tested by the same method.

Two days after opening the chrysanthemum and carnation of the comparative example, the lower leaves drooped and yellowing of the leaves progressed. On the other hand, the leaves of chrysanthemums and carnations of Examples did not deteriorate even 7 days after opening. Thus, it was found that the chrysanthemums and carnations of the examples were able to maintain their freshness better than the chrysanthemums and carnations of the comparative examples.

<3 Modifications>
The above embodiment shows a preferred specific example of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. The present invention can employ, for example, the following modifications. Modifications shown below can be combined as appropriate.

(3-1) The container is not limited to the bag 10, and may be cardboard, for example.

(3-2) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bag 10 may contain a mesh body 30 . A plurality of through holes 31 are provided in the mesh body 30 . The mesh body 30 is made of a plastic mesh material such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and is preferably transparent. A plurality of mesh bodies 30 may be stacked. In one embodiment, the mesh body 30 is about half the size of the bag 10, has open top and bottom ends, and covers the flowers and leaves of the plant P. As shown in FIG. The through-hole 31 has a size through which gas (mainly oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapor) can pass.

As shown in FIG. 3( d ), a plurality of fiber portions extend from the peripheries of the through holes 31 , which are formed by drilling when forming the through holes 31 . This fiber part absorbs the moisture inside the bag 10 by capillary action. Thereby, the inside of the bag 10 can be maintained at an appropriate humidity, and the freshness of the plant P can be maintained. In addition, since the fiber portion can absorb the moisture inside the bag 10, the inner surface of the bag 10 can be prevented from becoming cloudy due to the moisture. Thereby, the visibility of the plant P in the bag 10 from the outside can be maintained.

(3-3) As shown in FIG. 4, the bag 10 may contain a humidity conditioning material 40 . The humidity conditioning material 40 is made of, for example, a hygroscopic nonwoven fabric. By including the humidity conditioning material 40 in the package 100, the humidity in the bag 10 can be adjusted more effectively.

(3-4) As shown in FIG. 5, the packaged plant P may further include a moisture supply material 50 for supplying the plant P with moisture. Thereby, the freshness of the plant P can be maintained for a longer time. The water supply material 50 is arranged so as to be in contact with the stem or root of the plant P. As the moisture supply material 50, a sheet moistened with water, jelly-like water, or a bag containing water can be used. The water supply material 50 may contain nutrients that nourish the plant P.

10 bags (containers)
20 Fixing member 30 Mesh body 31 Through hole 40 Humidity conditioning material 50 Moisture supplying material P Plant

Claims (6)

including a plant housed in a sealed container;
The oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the container is lower than the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere.
packaged plants. The carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) in the container is higher than the carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere,
A packaged plant according to claim 1. the gas in the container consists of 80% by volume nitrogen, 10% by volume oxygen and 10% by volume carbon dioxide;
3. A packaged plant according to claim 1 or 2. Place the plant in a container, make the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the container lower than the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere, and then seal the container, or
The oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the container is made lower than the oxygen concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere, and after placing the plant in the container, the container is sealed.
How to save plants. making the carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) in the container higher than the carbon dioxide concentration (% by volume) in the atmosphere;
The method for preserving a plant according to claim 4. The composition ratio of the gas in the container is 80% by volume nitrogen, 10% by volume oxygen, and 10% by volume carbon dioxide,
The method for preserving a plant according to claim 4 or 5.

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