JP4899052B2 - Plant culture method and plant culture apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a plant culturing method and a plant culturing apparatus for cultivating a plant by changing a gravitational environment.

  In general, it is known that changes in the gravitational environment affect plant growth. For example, as shown in Non-Patent Document 1, the enzyme activity of the enzyme phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), which produces phenylalanine, which is a major source of secondary metabolites, is microgravity in the space shuttle. There is a report that it will decrease below.

On the other hand, on the ground, in order to cultivate plants by changing the gravitational environment, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, there is known an animal and plant breeding apparatus that creates a simulated weightless state by applying gravity from multiple directions. It has been. This conventional animal and plant breeding apparatus creates a pseudo weightless state by rotating a container in which animals and plants are accommodated with two axes, and grows animals and plants.
Cowles et al. (1984) Growth and lignification in seedlings exposedto eight days of microgravity. Annals of Botany vol.54: pp.33-48 Japanese Patent Publication No. 07-089798

  However, the conventional method of cultivating plants by changing the gravitational environment is intended to create a weightless state, and it is not considered to create an overgravity state. Therefore, the plant could not be cultured properly in the hypergravity state.

  Then, the objective of this invention aims at providing the plant culture apparatus and plant culture method which can culture a plant appropriately in a hypergravity state.

The plant culturing method according to the present invention is characterized by cultivating a plant by irradiating the plant with light from the rotation axis of the rotating container while rotating the container in which the plant is stored and applying centrifugal force to the plant. To do.

According to the plant culturing method having such characteristics, since the centrifugal force acts on the container by orbiting the container, it is possible to stably create an overgravity state for a long time on the ground, and cultivate the plant. Can do. Moreover, since plant culture | cultivation is accelerated | stimulated by irradiating light to a plant, a plant can be cultured appropriately in a hypergravity state. Since the light is irradiated from the rotating axis of the rotating container, the angle and the distance between the rotating container and the rotating axis are in a fixed relationship. Therefore, the light irradiated to the plant regardless of the peripheral rotating position of the container. The irradiation direction and the amount of irradiation light can be made constant.

  In this case, it is desirable to circulate the container on a horizontal plane. When the container is rotated, vertical gravity due to its own weight and centrifugal force act on the plant. Therefore, by rotating the container on the horizontal plane, the direction of the excessive gravity acting on the plant can be kept constant regardless of the rotation position of the container, and a stable overgravity state can be created.

  It is desirable that the container is supported so as to be swingable around a circumferential tangent line around which the container circulates. As a result, when the container is circulated, centrifugal force acts on the container, so that the container oscillates around the tangent of the circumference that rotates. Therefore, since excessive gravity acts on the container in a fixed direction, it is possible to apply excessive gravity to the plant in a fixed direction regardless of the circulation speed of the container.

  In the plant culture method according to the present invention, it is desirable to irradiate the plant with light in the direction in which the excess gravity, which is a combination of gravity and centrifugal force, acts on the plant. Since a plant has a property of growing in a direction with a large amount of light, it can be grown in a direction opposite to the direction in which the excess gravity acts on the plant by irradiating light from the direction in which the excess gravity acts on the plant.

  Moreover, it is desirable to adjust the light quantity of the light irradiated to a plant with a predetermined period. By adjusting the amount of light applied to the plant at a predetermined cycle (for example, one day), the plant can be cultured in a natural sunshine environment that repeats sunset and sunrise in a one-day cycle.

  Moreover, it is desirable to adjust the irradiation angle of the light irradiated to a plant according to a predetermined period or the rotation speed of a container. By adjusting the irradiation angle of light at a predetermined cycle (for example, one year or one day), plants can be cultured in a natural sunlight environment in which sunlight moves while changing the irradiation angle. On the other hand, when the circulation speed is changed, the centrifugal force acting on the container changes. Along with this, the inclination angle of the container supported so as to be swingable also changes. For this reason, by adjusting the light irradiation angle according to the inclination angle of the container determined by the rotation speed, it is possible to cultivate plants in a natural sunlight environment regardless of the circulation speed of the container.

  Moreover, it is desirable to adjust the light quality of the light irradiated to a plant. Thereby, the light quality such as the wavelength of light can be selectively adjusted to irradiate the plant, so that the plant can be cultured by irradiating light of light quality suitable for various culture purposes.

  In the plant culture method according to the present invention, it is desirable to rotate the container. When the container orbits at a constant speed, the relationship between the direction of the container and the light irradiation direction is constant. Therefore, by rotating the container around the central axis of the container, the irradiation direction of the light applied to the plant can be changed, and the plant can be cultured in a natural sunlight environment.

  Further, it is desirable that the container is swung with a circumferential tangent line around the container as a rotation axis. The container can be rotated regardless of the direction of overgravity acting on the plant by rotating the container and swinging the circumference tangent around the container as a rotation axis. Thus, excessive gravity can be applied from a desired direction.

  The plant culturing apparatus according to the present invention is a plant culturing apparatus for cultivating a plant, a container in which the plant is accommodated, a rotating mechanism for rotating the container so that centrifugal force acts on the container, and a plant accommodated in the container. And a light source that emits light.

  According to the plant culturing apparatus having such a feature, when the container is circulated by the rotation mechanism, a centrifugal force acts on the container, so that a stable overgravity state is created on the ground for a long time, and the plant is cultured. Can do. Moreover, since light is irradiated to a plant from a light source, culture | cultivation of a plant is accelerated | stimulated and a plant can be cultured appropriately in a hypergravity state.

  In this case, it is desirable that the rotating mechanism circulates the container on a horizontal plane. When the container circulates, vertical gravity and centrifugal force due to its own weight act on the plant accommodated in the container. Therefore, by rotating the container on the horizontal plane, the rotation mechanism can keep the direction of the excessive gravity acting on the plant constant regardless of the rotation position of the container, and a stable overgravity state can be created.

  It is desirable that the container is supported so as to be swingable around a circumferential tangent line around which the container circulates. As a result, when the container is circulated by the rotation mechanism, centrifugal force acts on the container, so that the container oscillates with the tangent line of the circumference that rotates around the rotation axis. Therefore, since excessive gravity acts on the container in a certain direction, it is possible to give the plant excessive gravity in a certain direction regardless of the circumferential speed of the container.

  It is desirable that the light source be provided in a direction opposite to the direction of the container on which the excessive gravity, which is a combination of gravity and centrifugal force, acts. Plants have the property of growing in the direction with more light. Therefore, by irradiating light from the direction in which excessive gravity acts on the plant, the plant can be grown in the direction opposite to the direction in which excessive gravity acts.

  Moreover, it is desirable that the light source is provided on a rotating shaft of a rotating container. Since the angle and distance between the container circulated by the rotation mechanism and the rotation axis are in a fixed relationship, the light source is irradiated on the plant regardless of the rotation position of the container by providing the light source on the central axis of the container. The direction and the amount of irradiation light can be made constant. Therefore, the growth direction of the plant can be made constant.

  Moreover, in the plant culture apparatus which concerns on this invention, it is desirable to have a light quantity adjustment part which adjusts the light quantity of a light source with a predetermined period. Plants can be cultured in a natural sunshine environment that repeats sunset and sunrise in a one-day cycle by adjusting the light amount of a light source that irradiates the plant with light at a predetermined cycle (for example, one day). it can.

  Moreover, in the plant culture apparatus which concerns on this invention, it is desirable to have a position adjustment part which adjusts the position of a light source according to a predetermined period or the circumferential speed of a container. By adjusting the position of the light source at a predetermined cycle (for example, one day), the plant can be cultured in a natural sunlight environment in which sunlight moves while changing the irradiation angle. On the other hand, when the rotation speed of the container by the rotation mechanism is changed, the centrifugal force acting on the container changes. Along with this, the inclination angle of the container supported so as to be swingable also changes. For this reason, by adjusting the position of the light source according to the inclination angle of the container determined by the rotation speed, the irradiation angle of the light irradiated to the plant can be changed, and it is close to the natural regardless of the circulation speed of the container. Plants can be cultured in a sunshine environment.

  Moreover, in the plant culture apparatus which concerns on this invention, it is desirable to have a light quality adjustment part which adjusts the light quality of the light irradiated to a plant. As a result, the light quality adjusting unit can selectively adjust the light quality such as the wavelength of light, so that it is possible to cultivate plants by irradiating light of light quality suitable for various culture purposes.

  Moreover, in the plant culture apparatus which concerns on this invention, it is desirable to have a rotation mechanism which rotates a container. When the container rotates at a constant peripheral rotation speed, the relationship between the direction of the container and the light irradiation angle is constant. Therefore, by rotating the container around the central axis of the container, the irradiation direction of the light applied to the plant can be changed, and the plant can be cultured in a natural sunlight environment.

  Moreover, in the plant culture apparatus according to the present invention, it is preferable that the container further includes a swing driving unit that swings the container around a circumferential tangent line around which the container circulates. Thereby, the swing drive unit can swing the container regardless of the direction of the excessive gravity acting on the plant by swinging with the circumferential tangent around which the container circulates as the rotation axis. Hypergravity can be applied to a plant from a desired direction.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, a plant can be cultured appropriately in a hypergravity state, and it becomes possible to culture a plant in a wider gravitational environment.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a plant culture method and a plant culture apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  First, the plant culture apparatus 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is demonstrated using FIG.1 and FIG.2. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the plant culture device 1, and FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the periphery of the support portion 7 in the plant culture device. The plant culturing apparatus 1 includes a plurality of buckets (containers) 3 that contain plants 2 to be cultured, a swing rotor 4 (rotation mechanism) that is rotatably supported on a horizontal plane while supporting the bucket 3 in a swingable manner, A rotation drive unit (rotation mechanism) 5 that rotates the swing rotor 4, a light source 6 that is mounted on the rotation axis of the swing rotor 4 and above the bucket 3, and an amount of light that adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light source 6. An adjustment unit 9, a position adjustment unit 10 that adjusts the position of the light source 6 up and down on the rotation axis of the swing rotor 4, and a light quality adjustment unit 13 that adjusts the light quality of light emitted from the light source 6 are provided. Yes. The irradiation light amount includes not only the lighting state of the light source 6 but also the state where the light source 6 is not lit (the light amount is zero). The light quality includes various properties of light such as the wavelength of light.

  The swing rotor 4 has a plurality of arms 4a extending radially from the center, and a support portion 7 for swingably supporting the bucket 3 is provided at the tip of each arm 4a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the support portion 7 is branched in two directions from the tip of the arm 4 a, and a pair of support arms 7 a that extend farther apart than the width of the bucket 3, and the pair of support arms 7 a. A support pin 7b is provided between the bucket 3 and the bucket 3 so as to be swingable. The length of the pair of support arms 7 a is determined so that the swinging bucket 3 does not interfere with the support portion 7 when the bucket 3 is engaged with the support pin 7 b and supported swingably.

  In this embodiment, the plant 2 is accommodated in a tissue culture pot (eg, agripot) 8 and the tissue culture pot 8 is accommodated in a bucket 3 as a set of three.

  Next, operation | movement of the plant culture apparatus 1 and the plant culture method using the plant culture apparatus 1 are demonstrated.

  First, the plant 2 to be cultured is accommodated in a plurality of tissue culture pots 8, and three tissue culture pots 8 are accommodated in each bucket 3. Then, the rotation drive unit 5 is operated to rotate the swing rotor 4 and light is emitted from the light source 6.

  The rotation of the swing rotor 4 is transmitted to the bucket 3 that is swingably supported by the support portion 7 of the swing rotor 4. Since the bucket 3 circulates around the rotation axis of the swing rotor 4 as a central axis, centrifugal force acts on the bucket 3. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, excessive gravity in which vertical downward gravity and centrifugal force are combined acts on the bucket 3 and the plant 2 accommodated in the bucket 3. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the plant culture apparatus 1 is in a state where the bucket 3 swings around the support pin 7 b as an axis and inclines in a direction in which excessive gravity acts. Due to the inclination of the bucket 3, excessive gravity acts in the bottom direction of the bucket 3, so the direction of excessive gravity acting on the bucket 3 is the same as the inclination direction of the bucket 3.

  Since the excessive gravity acting on the bucket 3 is determined by the radius of the circumference around which the bucket 3 circulates and the rotational speed, the distance from the rotational axis of the swing rotor 4 to the support portion 7 and the rotational speed of the rotational drive portion 5 are set. By doing so, the target hypergravity can be made to act on the plant 2.

  On the other hand, since there is nothing blocking the light between the light source 6 and the bucket 3, while the excessive gravity is acting on the bucket 3 by centrifugal force, The light from the light source 6 continues to be irradiated. By the way, when the swing rotor 4 is rotated at a constant speed, the centrifugal force acting on the bucket 3 is also constant, so that the inclination angle of the bucket 3 is constant. Since the light source 6 is mounted on the rotation axis of the swing rotor 4, when the swing rotor 4 is rotated at a constant speed, the distance between the bucket 3 and the light source 6 and the inclination angle of the light source 6 with respect to the bucket 3 are constant. Become. For this reason, the light source 6 irradiates light to the bucket 3 and the plant 2 accommodated in the bucket 3 from a constant irradiation angle with a constant light amount.

  It is desirable that the light source 6 be attached to the intersection of the action axis on which the excess gravity acts and the rotation axis of the swing rotor 4 when the desired excess gravity acts on the bucket 3.

  As described above, in a state in which predetermined excessive gravity is applied to the plant 2, the angle and the distance between the light source 6 and the bucket 3 are always constant. Therefore, the light amount adjusting unit 9 adjusts the amount of light emitted from the light source 6 to change the amount of light emitted to the plant 2, and the position adjusting unit 10 moves the position of the light source 6 up and down on the rotation axis of the swing rotor 4. To fluctuate. Specifically, in order to approximate the relationship between the ground and the sun, the light amount adjustment unit 9 turns on the light source 6 at the time of sunrise, increases the amount of light during the daytime, decreases the amount of light during the evening, and sets the time for sunset. Then, the light source 6 is turned off. On the other hand, the position adjustment unit 10 moves the position of the light source 6 upward from the substantially side direction of the bucket 3 until it reaches the sunset time from the sunrise time, and lowers the position in the substantially side direction of the bucket 3 again.

  Note that the light amount adjusting unit 9 and the position adjusting unit 10 adjust in a cycle of one day or one year in order to approximate the relationship between the ground and the sun.

  Further, when it is desired to irradiate the plant with light having a desired wavelength, the wavelength of light emitted from the light source 6 can be changed by selectively adjusting the desired wavelength by the light quality adjusting unit 13.

  As explained above, according to the plant culturing apparatus 1 and the plant culturing method using the plant culturing apparatus 1, the bucket 3 moves around the swing rotor 4 by rotating the swing rotor 4 supporting the bucket 3. Go around. Then, since centrifugal force is generated in the bucket, excessive gravity in which gravity and centrifugal force are combined acts. On the other hand, light is emitted from the light source 6 toward the bucket 3. Therefore, by accommodating the plant 2 to be cultured in the bucket 3 and operating the plant culture device 1, the plant 2 can be appropriately cultured while irradiating light in an overgravity state.

  Moreover, according to the plant culturing apparatus 1 and the plant culturing method using the plant culturing apparatus 1, since the bucket 3 is supported by the swing rotor 4 that is rotatably mounted on the horizontal plane, the bucket 3 is on the horizontal plane. Go around. When the bucket 3 circulates at a constant speed, constant gravity acts downward in the vertical direction, and when the bucket 3 circulates in the horizontal direction, a constant centrifugal force acts in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the hypergravity can be applied to the plant 2 from a certain direction, and the plant 2 can be cultured in a stable hypergravity state.

  Further, when the bucket 3 circulates and centrifugal force acts on the bucket 3, the bucket 3 swings around the support pin 3b of the support portion 7 as a rotation axis, and tilts in a direction in which excessive gravity acts. For this reason, excessive gravity always acts in the bottom direction of the bucket 3. Accordingly, the plant can be cultured while always applying excessive gravity to the plant 2 from a certain direction.

  Moreover, according to the plant culture apparatus 1 and the plant culture method using the plant culture apparatus 1, since the light source 6 is attached above the bucket 3, when the bucket 3 is circling at a constant speed, The plant 2 is irradiated with light from above at a constant irradiation angle. Therefore, the plant 2 having the property of growing toward the irradiated light can be cultured while promoting the upward growth.

  Furthermore, since the light source 6 is mounted on the rotating shaft of the swing rotor 4, the angle and distance between the light source 6 and the bucket 3 are constant, and the plant 2 is irradiated regardless of the rotating position of the rotating bucket 3. The light irradiation direction and the light irradiation angle are constant. Therefore, the plant 2 can be cultured while promoting growth in a certain direction.

  Moreover, according to the plant culture apparatus 1 and the plant culture method using the plant culture apparatus 1, the light amount adjusting unit 9 can adjust the light amount of the light emitted from the light source 6 at a predetermined cycle, and thus the rotation of the earth. It is possible to create an environment close to daytime and nighttime sunshine environments caused by Therefore, the plant 2 can be cultivated in a sunshine environment close to nature while allowing the plant 2 to act on the gravity.

  Moreover, according to the plant culture apparatus 1 and the plant culture method using the plant culture apparatus 1, the position adjusting unit 10 moves the position of the light source 6 up and down on the rotation axis of the swing rotor 4 to move the plant 2. Since the irradiation angle of the irradiating light can be changed, it is possible to create an environment close to the sunshine environment in which the sunshine angle changes due to the rotation of the earth. Therefore, the plant 2 can be cultivated under a natural sunshine environment regardless of the size of the hypergravity, while causing the plant 2 to act on the gravity. Further, by moving the position of the light source 6 up and down according to the amount of excessive gravity acting on the plant, light can be irradiated from the direction in which the plant 2 is desired to grow, and the growth direction of the plant 2 is adjusted. can do.

  Moreover, according to the plant culture apparatus 1 and the plant culture method using the plant culture apparatus 1, the light quality adjusting unit 13 can selectively adjust the light quality such as the wavelength of light and irradiate the plant. Therefore, it is possible to cultivate a plant by irradiating the plant 2 with light having a light quality suitable for various culturing purposes while allowing the plant 2 to act on the gravity.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the plant culture apparatus 11 which concerns on 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 5 shows the configuration around the support portion 7 of the swing rotor 4 of the plant culture apparatus 11 (not shown in its entirety) from the horizontal direction. In the second embodiment, in addition to the configuration of the first embodiment, a rotation mechanism 12 that rotates the bucket 3 between the support portion 7 of the swing rotor 4 and the bucket 3, and a support arm 7 a of the support portion 7. A swing drive unit 14 that is fixed and can control the rotation angle like a stepping motor, and a swing drive shaft 15 that is a drive shaft of the swing drive unit 14 and is fixed to the swing unit 12 a of the rotation mechanism 12. It has. The configuration of the plant culture device 11 according to the second embodiment is the same as that of the plant culture device 1 except that the support pin 7b of the plant culture device 1 according to the first embodiment is replaced with the swing drive shaft 15. Since all the configurations are provided, and the rotation mechanism 12 and the swing drive unit 14 are further added, detailed description regarding the same configuration is omitted.

  The rotation mechanism 12 includes a swinging portion 12 a that is swingably supported by a support pin 7 b of the support portion 7, and a rotation portion 12 b that is connected to the bucket 3 and rotates. In addition, it attaches so that the gravity center of the bucket 3 which accommodated the plant 2 and the gravity center of the autorotation mechanism 12 may be on the same vertical line in a stationary state.

  The swing drive unit 14 is fixed to the support arm 7a, and rotates the swing drive shaft 15 by controlling the rotation angle. The swing drive shaft 15 is rotatably supported with respect to the support arm 7a, and is fixed to the rotation portion 12b of the rotation mechanism 12.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the plant culture device 11 stores the plant 2 to be cultured in a plurality of tissue culture pots 8, and stores three tissue culture pots 8 in each bucket 3. Then, when the rotation drive unit 5 is operated, the swing rotor 4 rotates, and the bucket 3 that is swingably supported by the support unit 7 of the swing rotor 4 rotates around the rotation axis of the swing rotor 4.

  Since the centrifugal force acts on the circulating bucket 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the bucket 3 is inclined in the direction in which excessive gravity acts. At this time, when the excessive gravity to be applied to the bucket 3 is constant, the centrifugal force acting on the bucket 3 is constant, and the inclination angle of the bucket 3 is also constant.

  The rotation unit 12b of the rotation mechanism 12 rotates the bucket 3 in the same manner by performing one rotation per day. The bucket 3 rotates with the axis in the direction in which the excessive gravity acts through the center of gravity of the bucket 3 as a pivot. For this reason, when a constant hypergravity is applied to the bucket 3, the angle and distance between the light source 6 and the bucket 3 are constant, but the bucket 3 rotates, so that the light from the light source 6 is evenly distributed around the bucket 3. Irradiate.

  On the other hand, when it is desired to change the direction of overgravity acting on the plant, the swing drive unit 15 rotates the swing drive shaft 15 to a desired rotation angle. Since the swing drive shaft 15 is fixed to the swing portion 12a of the rotation mechanism 12, when the swing drive shaft 15 rotates, the rotation mechanism 12 and the bucket 3 swing using the swing drive shaft 15 as a rotation axis. . For this reason, by rotating the swing drive shaft 15 to a desired rotation angle by the swing drive unit 14, the bucket 3 can be inclined to a desired angle, and with respect to the plants accommodated in the bucket 3, Excess gravity can be applied from a desired direction.

  According to the plant culturing apparatus 11 and the plant culturing method using the plant culturing apparatus 11, as described above, the light amount adjusting unit 9 creates an environment close to day and night sunshine environment, and the position adjusting unit 10 changes the sunshine angle. Create an environment close to the environment. And the rotation part 12b of the rotation mechanism 12 can irradiate light from the circumference | surroundings of the plant 2 because the bucket 3 rotates. For this reason, the daylight and nighttime sunshine environment is created by the light amount adjusting unit 9, the sunshine environment at the sunshine angle is created by the position adjusting unit 10, and the sunshine environment in the sunshine direction is created by the rotation mechanism 12, respectively. A close environment can be created. Therefore, the plant 2 can be cultivated in a sunshine environment close to nature while allowing the plant 2 to act on the gravity.

  Moreover, according to the plant culture apparatus 11 and the plant culture method using the plant culture apparatus 11, the rotation angle rotated by the rocking drive unit 14 is controlled, irrespective of the direction of excessive gravity acting on the plant. Since the bucket 3 can be inclined at a desired angle, it is possible to apply excessive gravity to the plant from a desired direction.

  Here, the embodiment specifically shows that plants can be appropriately cultured according to the present embodiment. In the Examples, in order to investigate changes in phytochemical components in an overgravity state, the expression of genes that affect the expression of secondary metabolites is aimed at investigating the expression level of secondary metabolites that are phytochemical components. The amount is analyzed.

  Specifically, using the plant culturing apparatus 1, 10G (gravity 10 times the gravity on the ground) is applied while irradiating light from the light source 6, and this is continued for 10 days to cultivate the plant 2. did. RRNA was isolated from the harvested plant 2 and quantitatively analyzed by real-time PCR analysis. In the analysis, rRNA was used as an internal standard, and the expression levels of the following 4 genes in the lignin synthesis system were measured.

Experimental conditions are shown below.
・ Number of seeds: 3 ・ Gel amount: 7.3 ml
-Tissue culture pot lid: Micropore tape + 7/8 parafilm-Gravity environment: 10G
・ Culture days: 10 days ・ Internal standard: rRNA
-Gene to be analyzed (1) CINNAMATE 4-HYDROXYLASE (AtC4H)
(2) O-METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (AtOMT1)
(3) PEROXYDASE 30 (AtPER30)
(4) FERULATE 5-HYDROXYLASE1 (AtF5H1)

The analysis results are shown in Table 1.

  As can be seen from Table 1, the expression levels of the four genes in the lignin synthesis system all decreased, and the highest rate of expression decrease was (3) PEROXYDASE 30 at 61.5%.

  Table 1 also shows that the gene expression of all four lignin synthesis systems analyzed decreased, suggesting the possibility of decreased lignin synthesis. From this result, it was proved that the gene expression related to the secondary metabolite of the plant is changed by culturing the plant in the hypergravity environment, and the usefulness and the effect of the plant culturing method and the plant culturing apparatus according to the present invention were confirmed. It was done.

  Regarding the results of this experiment, there is a possibility that the gene expression of lignin is largely regulated particularly at the polymerization stage. The decrease in lignin may lead to the improvement of the taste of vegetables and the like, and the development of useful technologies such as the paper industry, and the expression level of other useful secondary metabolites may increase.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was concretely demonstrated based on the said embodiment, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. For example, the plant 3 may be directly accommodated in the bucket 3, or the plant 2 may be indirectly accommodated using a container other than the tissue culture pot 8. The bucket 3 may have any shape such as a vessel shape, a dish shape, and a cylindrical shape as long as the plant 2 can be placed thereon. The number of plants 2 accommodated in the bucket 3 may be other than three. The rotation mechanism 12 may be an independent component or a component included in the swing rotor 4 or the bucket 3.

It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the plant culture apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the periphery of the support part in a plant culture apparatus. It is a figure which shows the force which acts on a bucket. It is a figure which shows typically a state when a bucket is circulated. It is a figure which shows the support part periphery of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,11 ... Plant culture apparatus, 2 ... Plant, 3 ... Bucket, 4 ... Swing rotor, 5 ... Rotation drive part, 6 ... Light source, 7 ... Support part, 7a ... Support arm, 7b ... Support pin, 8 ... Tissue culture Pot, 9 ... Light quantity adjusting unit, 10 ... Position adjusting unit, 12 ... Rotating mechanism, 12a ... Oscillating unit, 12b ... Auto rotating unit, 13 ... Light quality adjusting unit, 14 ... Oscillating driving unit, 15 ... Oscillating driving shaft .

Claims (19)

A plant culture method comprising cultivating a plant by irradiating light to the plant from a rotation axis of the rotating container while rotating a container in which the plant is stored and applying a centrifugal force to the plant.   The plant culture method according to claim 1, wherein the container is circulated on a horizontal plane.   The plant culturing method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container is supported so as to be swingable about a circumferential tangent line around which the container circulates.   The plant culturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plant is irradiated with light in a direction in which hypergravity obtained by combining gravity and centrifugal force acts on the plant. The plant culture method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the amount of light irradiated to the plant is adjusted at a predetermined cycle. The plant culturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein an irradiation angle of light applied to the plant is adjusted according to a predetermined cycle or a circulation speed of the container. The plant culturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein a light quality of light irradiated to the plant is adjusted. The method of plant culture according to any one of claim 1 to 7, characterized in that for rotating the container. The plant culturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the container is swung with a circumference tangent around the container as a rotation axis. In a plant culture apparatus for cultivating plants,
A container in which a plant is stored;
A rotating mechanism for rotating the container so that centrifugal force acts on the container;
A plant culture apparatus comprising: a light source for irradiating light to a plant housed in the container. The plant culturing apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the rotation mechanism circulates the container on a horizontal plane. The plant culturing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the container is supported so as to be swingable around a circumferential tangent line around which the container circulates. The plant according to any one of claims 10 to 12 , wherein the light source is provided in a direction opposite to a direction in which excessive gravity, which is a combination of gravity and centrifugal force, acts on the container. Culture device. The plant culturing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 13 , wherein the light source is provided on a rotating shaft of the rotating container. Amount of light, the plant cultivation device according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that it has a light amount adjustment unit for adjusting a predetermined cycle of the light source. The plant culture apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 15 , further comprising a position adjusting unit that adjusts a position of the light source in accordance with a predetermined period or a rotating speed of the container. The plant culture apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 16 , further comprising a light quality adjusting unit that adjusts a light quality of light irradiated to the plant. The plant culture apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 17 , further comprising a rotation mechanism for rotating the container. The plant culturing apparatus according to any one of claims 10 to 18 , further comprising a swing drive unit that swings the container around a circumference tangent around the container as a rotation axis.

Images