JPWO2007058347A1 - Method and apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for promoting fruit set of a cultivated plant, comprising controlling a portion that affects the fruit set of the cultivated plant within a growth temperature range of the cultivated plant and an appropriate temperature range for the fruit set. In particular, the growing and growing method of the cultivated plant, which is characterized by cooling the inflorescence during the development of the cultivated plant body so as to maintain the temperature within the appropriate temperature range for the cultivated plant, and the part that affects the fruit set of the cultivated plant, The above-described problems are solved by a cultivated plant fruit accelerating device having means for controlling the cultivated plant within the growth temperature range or the appropriate fruit temperature range.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for promoting fruit and growth of a cultivated plant and a device for promoting fruit and growth, and more particularly to a method for promoting fruit and growth and a device for promoting fruit and growth of the cultivated plant at high and low temperatures.

Since summer in Japan is hot and humid compared to that in Europe and the United States, various stresses such as salt stress, drought stress, light stress, and temperature (high / low temperature) stress are obstacles to commercial cultivation. Above all, temperature (high / low temperature) stress is one of the biggest obstacles to the annual production of horticultural crops because it requires a lot of energy to control it.
In addition, the import of fresh vegetables in the summer is increasing rapidly due to the decline in the agricultural production population and the aging of the population. However, in order to maintain food safety and diversity, it is necessary to maintain a domestic horticultural production base, and establishment of annual cultivation techniques for horticultural crops is urgently needed. In addition, regarding global warming, there are concerns about the impact on agriculture not only in Japan but also globally, and various countermeasures against high temperature stress have been proposed.

(Prior art 1)
Cooling the entire cultivation facility such as a greenhouse is inefficient and uneconomical for large-scale cultivation and is not a definitive solution.
(Prior Art 2, Patent Document 1)
A high temperature stress resistance imparting agent for agriculture and horticulture is disclosed. However, it is desirable to avoid using chemicals for environmental protection.
(Prior Art 3, Patent Document 2)
Application to transformed plants, particularly tomatoes, etc. is disclosed. However, in order to ensure food safety, etc., seeding by genetic manipulation requires careful verification until commercialization.
(Prior Art 4, Patent Document 3)
A method for cooling a culture solution in a hydroponic cultivation apparatus is disclosed. However, cooling or heating only the underground part (root), and its effect on fruit vegetables with the highest temperature sensitivity of the reproductive organs is unclear. (Patent Document 3)
JP-A-11-199419 JP 2002-95370 A JP-A-9-84470

As described above, the conventional methods have problems in economic efficiency, environment, and food safety. Moreover, although methods such as night cold seedlings, high-cold region seedlings, and light-shading cultivation are mentioned, on the contrary, due to problems such as causing a decrease in fruit set rate, a sufficient method has not been established yet. Therefore, the present inventor constructed the present invention by paying attention to the following points.

(Points of interest)
The present inventor has been studying the high temperature stress response of plants, and has published the results of the effects of high temperature stress on cultivated crops as shown in the following references. From the results of the inventor's research, for example, in tomatoes, the fruit yield decreases even if the average temperature rises by 1 ° C. from the upper limit of the optimum temperature for growth. It has been clarified that only the developing stamens are not affected and are affected. Furthermore, the developmental stage of the flower which is most sensitive to such stress has been clarified.
From these research results, the present inventor has come up with the present invention that effectively cools only the developing pupae including the stamens, which are most sensitive to high temperatures, to the optimum growth temperature. That is, the present invention aims to provide a method for promoting fruit and growth of a cultivated plant and a device for promoting fruit and growth, which are simple in construction, economical, environmentally friendly and free from food safety concerns. And
(References)
(1) Comparing heat stress effects on
male-fertile and male-sterile tomatoes.MM Peet, S. Sato and R. Gardner.Plant,
Cell and Environment 21: 225-241. 1998.
(2) Physiological
factors limit fruit set of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) under
chronic, mild heat stress.S. Sato, MM Peet and JF Thomas.Plant, Cell and
Environment. 23: 719-726. 2000.
(3) Determining
critical pre- and post-anthesis periods and physiological processesin Lycopersicon
esculentum Mill.exposed to moderately elevated temperatures.Suguru Sato, Mary M. Peet and Judith F. Thomas. Journal of Experimental
Botany.53 (371): 1187-1195.2002.
(4) The effects
of moderately elevated temperature stress on the timing of pollen release
and germination in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.). Suguru Sato and
Mary M. Peet. Journal of Horticultural Science
and Biotechnology. 80, 23-28. 2005.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventor proposes the following invention.

(Invention according to Claim 1)
The present invention relates to a fruit of a cultivated plant characterized by controlling a portion of the cultivated plant that has an influence on the quality of the harvested product and is highly temperature-sensitive by controlling the temperature within the appropriate temperature range of the cultivated plant by cooling or heating.・ Growth promotion method.
(Invention according to Claim 2)
The present invention is the method for promoting fruit / growth of a cultivated plant according to claim 1, wherein the floret of the cultivated plant is cooled or heated so as to maintain a temperature range appropriate for the fruit.
(Invention according to claim 3)
The present invention has means for controlling a portion of a cultivated plant that affects the quality of the harvested product and has a high temperature sensitivity within the proper temperature range or the proper fruit temperature range of the cultivated plant by cooling or heating. It is an apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants.
(Invention of Claim 4)
The fruit plant of the cultivated plant according to claim 3, further comprising means for cooling or warming the floret of the cultivated plant body within the proper temperature range or the proper fruit temperature range of the cultivated plant.・ Growth promoting device.
(Invention according to claim 5)
The present invention has a means for cooling or warming the floret of the cultivated plant with air so as to keep the floret in an appropriate temperature range for fruit set. Device.
(Invention of Claim 6)
The means for cooling or heating the air is an air temperature adjusting unit, and a sending unit for sending out the air adjusted by the air temperature adjusting unit to an appropriate temperature range for growing plants or an appropriate temperature range for fruiting;
6. The cooling / warming air supply means for supplying the cooled / warmed air to a portion that is connected to the delivery means and affects the fruit set / growth of the cultivated plant. Equipment for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants.
(Invention of Claim 7)
In the present invention, the air temperature control unit includes a water tank cooled by a chiller or heated by a heater, and a coiled pipe disposed in the water tank, or a heat insulating container for storing outside air cooled or heated by a small cooler or heater. The apparatus for promoting fruit growth and growth of cultivated plants according to claim 6.
(Invention of Claim 8)
In the present invention, the air temperature adjustment unit
The apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a small cooling / heating chamber.
(Invention according to claim 9)
According to the present invention, the cooling / warming air supply means includes a pump for sending air, a main pipe connected to the pump, and a branch pipe connected to the main pipe and having a cooling / warming air outlet. The apparatus for promoting fruit settling / growth of cultivated plants according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by comprising:
(Invention according to claim 10)
According to the present invention, the cooling / warming air supply means has a height adjusting means capable of adjusting the height in accordance with the temperature-sensitive portion sequentially formed on the cultivated plant as the plant body develops. The apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants according to claim 9.
(Invention of Claim 11)
The height adjusting means is arranged on the height adjusting pipe, the height adjusting pipe capable of adjusting the height according to the temperature sensitive part sequentially formed on the cultivated plant as the plant body develops. A suspension wire winding coil and a suspension wire that can be wound and unwound by the suspension wire winding coil, and the suspension wire and the main pipe are connected to each other. Item 10. A fruit / growth promoting device for a cultivated plant according to Item 10.
(Invention of Claim 12)
The cultivated plant fruit / growth promoting device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the cooling / warming air outlet has a pressure-sensitive valve or an electromagnetic valve.
(Invention of Claim 13)
According to the present invention, there is provided the apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of a cultivated plant according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the temperature-sensitive portion that is sequentially formed on the cultivated plant is a flower cluster.

According to the present invention configured as described above, the problems can be solved as follows.
(1) Fruit quality In Japan, the fruitiness and yield of fruits and vegetables decline due to high temperatures in summer. In order to improve productivity in summer, phytohormone treatment has been carried out, but synthetic plant hormones are registered as pesticides, and the treatment requires labor costs. It is not a realistic solution.
In the present invention, from the previous research (references 1, 2, 3, and 4 above), since the mean temperature rise during development is very small, it is also known as stress. Since air is sent to lower the temperature surrounding the kite to the optimum temperature for growth, it can be expected that the effect of improving the fruit setting according to the present invention is extremely high.
Furthermore, since the present invention has a pressure-sensitive valve or a valve having an opening / closing function by an electromagnetic valve at the air outlet, the cooled air is blown out to the flower bunches, so that the flower blooms. The flower vibrates, and it can be expected that fruit set is further promoted by releasing pollen.

(2) Economic efficiency In addition to the necessity of drugs as needed for improving the fruit yield rate with conventional synthetic plant hormones, hormone agents must be processed manually, one by one in the middle of development, The labor cost is extremely high. On the other hand, the present invention has been developed so that the position of the cooling air outlet can be adjusted by a hanging wire according to the plant and the flower floret. Can be promoted.
Some have also proposed the idea of air-conditioning the entire greenhouse. However, since the greenhouse used for greenhouse cultivation has extremely low thermal insulation, it is considered that the promotion of fruit set by cooling of the entire greenhouse is extremely low in economic efficiency. On the other hand, in the present invention, a very small amount of air is cooled and transported to the flower bunches by insulated pipes, so that power consumption is extremely small and economical.

(3) Environment For example, in addition to the synthetic plant hormones described above, bumblebees have been widely introduced to promote fruit set of tomatoes. However, when bumblebees are released to the outside environment, there are some voices that their use should be restricted as an alien species because existing bees compete with the growing environment. On the other hand, since the present invention only cools a very small amount of air and sprays it on the plant body, it is considered that the load on the environment is extremely small.

(4) Food safety Synthetic plant hormones are registered as pesticides and their use is severely restricted. On the other hand, since the present invention is simply cooled air, the possibility of changing the fruit quality itself is extremely low, and the safety is considered to be extremely high.

  Embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as the present invention) will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the experiment of the apparatus of the present invention, fruit vegetables are used to cool the inflorescence, which is an organ with high temperature sensitivity, to an appropriate temperature. The present invention can be applied not only to cooling the flower bunches to an appropriate temperature but also to heating them.

(1) Whole structure of fruit planting / growth promoting method for cultivated plant of the present invention As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises an air cooling part, and a sending means for sending air cooled by the air cooling part, It is comprised by the cooling air supply means which is connected to this sending means and supplies the cooled air to the part which influences the fruit set of a cultivated plant. For example, the air pushed out from the pump 13 is cooled by passing through a coil in a small cooler that stores water cooled by a chiller, and is covered with a heat insulating coating suspended in a cultivation facility. Send to the vicinity of the plant 7 through the main pipe 1. The cooling air 5 passes from the vicinity of the plant body 7 through the branch pipe 3 that is heat-insulated and is sent to the vicinity of the inflorescence of the plant body 7, and blows out vigorously from the outlet of the branch pipe 3 to the plant body 7. Below, the principal part of the fruit and growth promotion method and fruit and growth promotion apparatus of the cultivation plant of this invention is demonstrated.

(2) Fruiting / Growth Promoting Device of the Present Invention As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in the device of the present invention, the main pipe 1 is installed from the upper part of the cultivation facility using the hanging wire 2. Due to its structure, the position of the branch pipe 3 can be adjusted to the height of the developing ridge 6 accurately, and the branch pipe 3 can be adjusted in the vertical and horizontal directions by using a flexible material. It becomes possible. A cooling air outlet having an air valve 4 is provided at the tip of the branch pipe 3, and the cooling air 5 is ejected to the developing bottle 6.

(3) When using a cooling water tank of the present invention, a cooling water tank As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air extruded from the pump 13 is stored in the small cooler 14 in which water cooled by the chiller is stored. It is cooled by passing through the inside of the coil, passes through the heat-insulated main pipe 1 suspended in the cultivation facility, and is sent to the vicinity of the plant body 7 by the branch pipe 3 connected to the main pipe. Thus, it can blow with a very simple structure. Or you may preserve | save the external air cooled with the small cooler in the heat insulation container.
2. When using a small cooling device or in place of the cooling water tank, although not shown, cooling air generated in a small cooling chamber (corresponding to 14) can be used. In large-scale cultivation, a small cooling device capable of controlling the temperature is desirable when the temperature is controlled within the growth temperature range of the cultivated plant and the appropriate fruit temperature range. For example, if an ice heat storage device is used as the small cooling device, an efficient heat exchange circuit can be configured.

(4) Cooling air supply means of the present invention The main pipe 1 that sends the cooling air 5 generated by the air cooling unit to the vicinity of the plant body 7 and the cocoon that is connected to the main pipe 1 and is developing the cultivated plant body 7 6 is constituted by a branch pipe 3 having an air outlet through which cooling air 5 is blown.
(Main pipe configuration)
As shown in FIG. 4, the main pipe 1 is configured such that the height can be adjusted via, for example, a hanging wire winding coil 12 disposed in the height adjusting pipe 11, and the cultivated plant body grows. The main pipe 1 can be moved up and down according to the position of the eaves 6. Alternatively, the position of the cultivated plant body 7 can be adjusted from the lower part to the upper part in accordance with the development of the cocoon 6 of the plant body 7. In order to stabilize the position of the main pipe 1 when the cooling air 5 is ejected, the suspension wire 2 and the menn pipe 1 are connected by the fixing wire 8 through the support base 10.

(Branch pipe configuration)
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a plurality of branch pipes 3 are provided, and can be freely connected to the developing pipe 6 of the main pipe 1 and the cultivated plant body 7, for example, rubber, plastic, etc. By using a flexible material, the vertical and horizontal positions can be adjusted. The branch pipe 3 has an air outlet 4 for blowing the cooling air 5 against the cocoon 6 during the development of the cultivated plant body.
Further, in the present invention, if the air outlet 4 is provided with a pressure-sensitive valve or a valve having an opening / closing function by an electromagnetic valve, the cooled air is blown out to the flower bunches, so that the flower blooms. The flowers vibrate and the fruit set is further promoted by the release of pollen.
The main pipe 1 and the branch pipe 3 may be covered with, for example, a heat insulating material 9 to keep the temperature of the cooling air 5 constant. The cooling air 5 is sent out by an air pump 13. Alternatively, a closed-loop electrothermal element that uses latent heat of liquid evaporation and condensation, for example, a heat pipe or a cooled thin tube is arranged in the branch pipe 3 and is arranged in the vicinity of the tub 6. .

(5) Effect of the present invention According to the present invention configured as described above, it was carried out on tomatoes that are highly sensitive to high temperatures, and the fruit set rate was verified, so that a very high effect could be verified. FIG. 5 explains the result.
First, the effect on high temperature stress (cooling part and timing of cultivated plants)
In the case of fruit vegetables such as tomatoes and the like, which affect the quality of the harvested plant and are highly temperature sensitive, such as tomatoes, flower bunches are desirable. The cooling period was carried out at the stage of drought that was most susceptible to high temperature stress.
(Temperature conditions)
The tomato growth temperature range is 18 to 32 ° C. In addition, the appropriate temperature range for the inflorescences of the tomatoes to grow is different from day to night, but is generally 20 to 26 ° C. Therefore, in order to cool the air, the water temperature by the chiller was set to 5 ° C., and the temperature of the cooling air was set to about 23 ° C., and sprayed on the ridge according to the present invention configured as described above.
(Fruit rate according to the present invention)
When the day / night temperature was 28/22 ° C, the fall rate was about 10%, while at 32/26 ° C, 95% fell. On the other hand, when the same cultivation conditions were adopted by the cultivation method of the present invention, the fall rate could be suppressed to about 20%, and the fall rate could be greatly improved. Even for fruit vegetables that are vulnerable to low temperature stress or leaf root vegetables that are considered to be relatively resistant to low temperatures, the effect of improving the fruit set rate can be expected by supplying heated air.
2. Effect on pollination The present invention has a structure in which air is pumped out by a pump 13 and intensively blown out to an eave 6 through an air valve 4 air outlet, and a pressure-sensitive valve is installed at the air outlet. The air that reached a constant pressure was pushed out vigorously, and the pollen was released by shaking the inflorescence, which had the effect of promoting fruit set.
(Economic)
The present invention is economical because it uses only temperature-controlled air, for example, cooled air.

(environment)
In 2001, the Agricultural Chemicals Law was amended to eliminate the need for fruit set accelerators. As a foreign organism that is used as an alternative, bumble bees also have a high effect on pollination and do not need to be used.
(Food safety)
It is possible even with a cultivation method close to nature, and there is no problem.

(Application to other crops)
Since the solanaceous family tomatoes contain fruit vegetables such as eggplant, peppers, and peppers and their fruiting characteristics are similar to tomatoes, the present invention can be applied to other cultivated plants.
(Summary)
Even if it is a cultivated plant that knows as an average temperature rise that has a slight wrinkle during development due to a very simple configuration, the present invention, for example, by sending cooling air to the development stage with the highest sensitivity to high temperature stress, It can be expected that the fruit-setting factory effect according to the present invention for reducing the temperature surrounding the persimmon to the optimum temperature for growth is extremely high.
Furthermore, since the present invention has a pressure-sensitive valve or a valve having an opening / closing function by a solenoid valve at the air outlet, the flower that is flowering is blown out by vigorously blowing the cooled air into the flower floret. It can be expected that fruit will be further accelerated by releasing pollen.

As described above, the present invention has a very simple configuration, enhances the fruit setting of cultivated plants, is economical, and has no burden on the environment. In addition, a method and apparatus for promoting fruit set of cultivated plants that are extremely practical and ensure food safety are provided.

The figure explaining the method of this invention The figure which shows the relationship between the apparatus of this invention, and a plant body The figure explaining the branch pipe of this invention The figure explaining the main pipe and branch pipe of this invention. Effects of the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main pipe 2 ... Suspension wire 3 ... Branch pipe 4 ... Air valve 5 ... Cooling air 6 ... 蕾 7 ... Plant body 8 ... Fixed wire 9 ... Heat insulating material 10 ... Support stand 11 ... Height adjustment pipe 12 ... Suspension wire winding coil 13 ... Pump 14 ... Small cooler

Claims (13)

The part of the cultivated plant that affects the quality of the harvest and is sensitive to temperature,
In the proper temperature range of the cultivated plant,
A method for promoting fruit set and growth of cultivated plants, which is controlled by cooling or heating. Inflorescence of cultivated plant body,
To keep the temperature within the proper temperature range,
The method for promoting fruit set and growth of cultivated plants according to claim 1, wherein the method is cooled or heated. The part of the cultivated plant that affects the quality of the harvest and is sensitive to temperature,
In the proper growth temperature range or the proper fruit setting temperature range of the cultivated plant,
An apparatus for promoting fruit growth / growth of cultivated plants, comprising means for controlling by cooling or heating. Inflorescence of cultivated plant body,
In the proper growth temperature range or the proper fruit setting temperature range of the cultivated plant,
The apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants according to claim 3, further comprising means for cooling or heating. Inflorescence of cultivated plant body,
To keep the temperature within the proper temperature range,
The apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants according to claim 4, further comprising means for cooling or heating with air. Means for cooling or heating the air,
An air temperature adjustment unit;
Sending means for sending out the air adjusted to the appropriate temperature range or the appropriate fruit temperature range of the cultivated plant by the air temperature adjusting unit;
6. The cooling / warming air supply means for supplying the cooled / warmed air to a portion that is connected to the delivery means and affects the fruit set / growth of the cultivated plant. Equipment for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants. The air temperature control unit
7. A water tank cooled by a chiller or heated by a heater, a coiled pipe disposed in the water tank, or a heat insulating container for storing outside air cooled or heated by a small cooler or heater. The planting / growth promoting device for cultivated plants according to 1. The air temperature adjuster
The apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants according to claim 6, wherein the apparatus is a small cooling / heating chamber. Cooling / warming air supply means
A pump for delivering air;
A main pipe connected to the pump;
The apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants according to any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a branch pipe connected to the main pipe and having a cooling / warming air outlet. Cooling / warming air supply means
10. The cultivation plant according to claim 9, further comprising a height adjusting means capable of adjusting the height in accordance with the temperature-sensitive portion sequentially formed on the cultivated plant as the plant body develops. Fruit and growth promoting device. The height adjusting means, as the plant body develops, a height adjusting pipe that can adjust the height according to the temperature sensitive part that is sequentially formed in the cultivated plant,
A hanging wire winding coil disposed on the height adjusting pipe;
The fruit of the cultivated plant according to claim 10, comprising a suspension wire that can be wound and unwound by the suspension wire winding coil, and the suspension wire and the main pipe are connected. Growth promotion device. The apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of cultivated plants according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the cooling / warming air outlet has a pressure-sensitive valve or a solenoid valve. The apparatus for promoting fruit and growth of a cultivated plant according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the temperature-sensitive portion that is sequentially formed on the cultivated plant is a flower cluster.