554706
2 IJUN 2M
Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Patent Application No. 554706 filed on 23 April 2007
Plant Propagation
We, BioDiscovery New Zealand Limited of 24 Balfour Road, Parnell, Auckland, a New Zealand Company, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in the following statement:
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PLANT PROPAGATION
TECHNICAL FIELD
[01] The invention relates to a method of enhancing the survival and growth of seedlings and transplanted cuttings, and combinations for use in the method as a seed coating or growth medium amendment.
[02] In particular, although not exclusively, the invention relates to a method of enhancing survival and growth of seedlings and transplanted cuttings of Pinus radiata by the amendment of the growth medium with a combination of charcoal and application of at least one selected isolate of a 15 Trichoderma spp.
BACKGROUND ART
[03] Plantation forestry requires the propagation of large 20 numbers of seedlings and cuttings. Progeny of a known cross are propagated by the use of seedlings. The use of cuttings allows for clonal propagation.
[04] The propagation of large numbers of trees with
predictable or known growth characteristics is essential to the efficiency of modern plantation forestry. Hence, forestry nurseries are established for the purpose of propagating many thousands of seedlings and cuttings.
[05] The early stages of growth are vital to the survival of seedlings and cuttings. Significant losses may occur at this stage in forestry nurseries due to poor root initiation and development, or disease.
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[06] Plant growth regulators may be applied during these early stages to promote root initiation and development. Pesticides may be applied to combat disease. These steps introduce
additional costs and can be variable in their effectiveness.
[07] Improved methods of propagation that provide for enhanced growth of seedlings and cuttings are desirable. Any reduction in the losses that occur during propagation would be of
economic benefit to plantation forestry. Methods that are environmentally benign and sustainable are particularly sought after.
[08] It is an object of this invention to provide an improved 15 method of plant propagation.
[09] It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of plant propagation that is environmentally benign and sustainable.
[10] These objects are to be read disjunctively with the object to at least provided the public with a useful choice.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[11] In a first aspect the invention consists in a method of vegetative propagation including the step of:
1.
Transferring a cutting of a tree species used in plantation forestry to a growth medium amended with a combination of charcoal and at least one selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp.,
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where the charcoal is prepared from biomass that is primarily plant matter by the method of flash carbonization.
[12] Preferably, the tree species used in plantation forestry 5 is selected from the group consisting of: Pinus spp. More preferably, the tree species used in plantation forestry is Pinus radiata.
[13] Preferably, the charcoal is prepared from biomass that is 10 primarily plant matter by the method of flash carbonization described in the specification accompanying United States patent no. 6,790,317.
[14] Preferably, the selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. 15 is selected from the group consisting of: Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma harzianum. More preferably, the at least one selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. is a group of isolates consisting of: AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4; AG#5; and AG# 6 .
[15] Preferably, the method of vegetative propagation provides an enhanced growth of the transferred cutting of greater than 140% .
[16] In a second aspect the invention consists in a growth medium amendment including a combination of charcoal and at least one selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp., where the charcoal is prepared from biomass that is primarily plant matter by the method of flash carbonization.
[17] Preferably, the charcoal is prepared from biomass that is primarily plant matter by the method of flash carbonization
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described in the specification accompanying United States patent no. 6,790,317.
[18] Preferably, the selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. is 5 selected from the group consisting of: Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma harzianum. More preferably, the at least one selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. is a group of isolates consisting of: AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4; AG#5; and AG#6.
[19] In a third aspect the invention consists in a method of growing seedlings in a growth medium including the steps of:
• Coating a seed of a tree species used in plantation forestry with a combination of charcoal and at least one
selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. to provide a coated seed; and
• Transferring the coated seed to the growth medium,
where the charcoal is prepared from biomass that is primarily plant matter by the method of flash carbonization.
[20] Preferably, the tree species used in plantation forestry is selected from the group consisting of: Pinus spp. More
preferably, the tree species used in plantation forestry is Pinus radiata.
[21] Preferably, the charcoal is prepared from biomass that is primarily plant matter by the method of flash carbonization
described in the specification accompanying United States patent no. 6,790,317.
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[22] Preferably, the selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. is selected from the group consisting of: Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma harzianum. More preferably, the at least one selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. is a group of isolates
consisting of: AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4; AG#5; and AG#6.
[23] In a fourth aspect the invention consists in a seed coating including a combination of charcoal and at least one selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. where the charcoal is
prepared from biomass that is primarily plant matter by the method of flash carbonization.
[24] Preferably, the charcoal is prepared from biomass that is primarily plant matter by the method of flash carbonization
described in the specification accompanying United States patent no. 6,790,317.
[25] Preferably, the selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. is selected from the group consisting of: Trichoderma atroviride
and Trichoderma harzianum. More preferably, the at least one selected isolate of a Trichoderma spp. is a group of isolates consisting of: AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4; AG#5; and AG#6.
[26] The following terms and phrases are intended to have the 25 meaning provided:
[27] "ARBOR-GUARD™" means the trade name product comprising the isolates of Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma harzianum nominally identified as AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4;
AG#5; and AG#6.
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[28] "Beneficial filamentous microbial species" means a species of microorganism that adopts a filamentous growth form and is beneficial to the growth of plants.
[29] "Charcoal" means the black porous residue, consisting
(when pure) wholly of carbon, obtained from partly burnt wood, bones etc.
[30] "Enhanced growth" means the increase in height of a 10 treated cutting or seedling relative to the height of an untreated cutting or seedling.
[31] "Flash carbonization means a process of producing charcoal involving the ignition of a flash fire at elevated
pressure in a packed bed of biomass.
[32] "Growth medium" means a seedling or potting mix or soil.
[33] "Primarily plant matter" means the biomass is greater 20 than 80% by weight plant matter.
[34] "Propagation" means the reproduction of a plant by asexual or sexual means.
[35] "Seed coating" means a coating applied to a seed prior to transfer of the seed to a growth medium.
[36] "Vegetative propagation" means the production of new plants by taking cuttings.
[37] The invention will now be described in detail and with reference to the following drawings and examples. The examples
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are illustrative of the invention and are not limiting to its scope.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 - Growth of Pinus radiata cuttings following transfer to a growth medium not amended (left) and amended (right) with a combination of charcoal and AG#1, AG#2, AG#3, AG#4, AG#5 and AG#6.
Figure 2 - Comparison of growth of two Pinus radiata cuttings following transfer to a growth medium not amended (right) and amended (left) with a combination of charcoal and AG#1, AG#2, AG#3, AG#4, AG#5 and AG#6.
Figure 3 - Graph recording mean height (cm) of Pinus radiata seedlings following treatment of seeds with (from left to right): comparative treatment (1); comparative treatment (2); and a group of isolates of Trichoderma species consisting of: AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4; AG#5; and AG#6 (3). Comparison is with an untreated control (4).
Figure 4 - Graph recording mean diameter (mm) of Pinus radiata seedlings following treatment of seeds with (from left to right): comparative treatment (1); comparative treatment (2); and a group of isolates of Trichoderma species consisting of: AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4; AG#5; and AG#6 (3). Comparison is with an untreated control (4).
Figure 5 - Graph recording mean shoot and root dry weight (g) of Pinus radiata seedlings following treatment of seeds with (from left to right): comparative treatment (1); comparative treatment (2); and a group of isolates of Trichoderma species consisting of: AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4; AG#5; and AG#6 (3). Comparison is with an untreated control (4).
Figure 6 - Graph recording mortality (rated 0 to 9) of Pinus radiata cuttings following treatment and transfer to a growth medium where the treatments and amendment to growth medium (if any) are (from left to right): fungicide/charcoal type 1 (1); comparative treatment (2); comparative treatment (3); mix of isolates of Trichoderma spp./charcoal type 2 (4); mix of isolates of Trichoderma spp./charcoal type 3 (5); and comparative treatment (6). Comparison is with an untreated control (7).
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Figure 7 - Graph recording dry weight (g) of Pinus radiata cuttings following treatment and transfer to a growth medium where the treatments and amendment to growth medium (if any) are (from left to right): mix of isolates of Trichoderma spp./charcoal type 3 (1); comparative treatment (2); comparative treatment (3); comparative treatment (4); fungicide/charcoal type 1 (5); and mix of isolates of Trichoderma spp./charcoal type 2 (6). Comparison is with an untreated control (7).
Figure 8 - Graph recording height (cm) of Pinus radiata cuttings following treatment and transfer to a growth medium where the treatments and amendment to growth medium (if any) are (from left to right): comparative treatment (1); fungicide/charcoal type 1 (2); comparative treatment (3); comparative treatment (4); mix of isolates of Trichoderma spp./charcoal type 2 (5); and mix of isolates of Trichoderma spp./charcoal type 3 (6). Comparison is with an untreated control (7).
Figure 9 - Scanning electronmicrograph of the growth of mycelia of filamentous fungi on charcoal.
Figure 10 - Scanning electronmicrograph of Pinus radiata root growth following treatment with a mix of isolates of Trichoderma spp.
[38] The invention resides in the use of charcoal in combination with at least one selected isolate of a beneficial filamentous microbial species, such as at least one selected isolate of Trichoderma spp.
[39] It is anticipated that the invention may be applied to a range of species of shrub or tree including: Pinus spp. (e.g. Pinus radiata, Pinus taeda); Pseudotsuga spp. (e.g. Pseudotsuga menziesii); Picea spp. (e.g. Picea abies, Picea sitchensis); Cupressus spp. (e.g. Cupressus macrocarpa);
Acacia spp.; Alnus spp.; Quercus spp.; Sequoiadendron spp. (e.g. Sequoiadendron giganteum); Salix spp. (e.g. Salix viminalis. Salix discolor. Salix alba. Salix sachalinensis.
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Salix miyabeana, Salix purpurea and Salix dasyclados); Betula spp.; Cedurus spp.; Fraxinus spp.; Larix spp. (e.g. Larix decidua); Eucalyptus spp. (e.g. Eucalyptus grandis, Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus nitens, Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus 5 urophylla, Eucalyptus urophylla, Eucalyptus globulus); and Popul us spp . .
[40] It is anticipated that the invention may also be applied to a range of fruit and nut species including: apples;
apricots; avocado; banana; blueberries; cherimoya; cherries; currants; feijoas; figs; gooseberries; grapefruit; grapes; guava; kiwifruit; lemons; kumquats; limes; loquats; lychee; mandarins; mango; mulberries; nashi; nectarines; olives; oranges; passion fruit; paw paw; peaches; pears; persimmons; 15 plums; quinces; raspberries; strawberries; tamarillos;
tangelos; almonds; chestnut; hazelnuts; macadamia; peanuts; pecan; pistachio; and walnuts.
[41] Whilst not wishing to be bound by theory it is believed 20 that the microscopic structure of the charcoal used in the combination of the invention provides a haven for the growth of beneficial filamentous microbial species, in particular isolates of the filamentous fungus Trichoderma spp. (refer Figures 9 and 10).
[42] It will be recognized that in such an association between the charcoal and the beneficial filamentous microbial species the form of the charcoal will also be important. For example, charcoal obtained from different sources may differ in its
microscopic structure.
[43] Flash carbonization as described in the specification accompanying United States patent no. 6,790,317 and is
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proposed as a preferred method of preparing the charcoal. It will also be recognized that any processing of the charcoal that destroys the microscopic structure could be inconsistent with realizing the advantages of the invention.
EXAMPLES
[44] In one embodiment of a first mode of propagation, cuttings of Pinus radiata are transferred to a growth medium 10 that has been amended with the combination of charcoal and a selection of isolates of Trichoderma spp. found in the trade name product ARBOR-GUARD™.
[followed by page 12]
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Amended
Not amended
I—1 rt
Height
Health
Height
2
3
7
2
4
2
3
9
0
3
2
1
3
2
1
4
3
0
3
6
2
4
3
7
2
3
7
2
3
9
2
7
4
13
2
4
11
2
6
3
9
2
3
7
2
7
3
6
3
8
0
3
0
0
3
2
2
4
1
4
.62%
142%
Enhanced growth
Table 1. Comparison of health (graded 0 to 4) and height (cm) of Pinus radiata seedlings following transfer to growth medium with or without an amendment of ARBOR-GUARD™ and charcoal.
[45] A comparison of the growth of the cuttings of Pinus radiata following transfer to a growth medium that is not amended and a growth medium that is amended is provided in Figure 1 and Table 1.
[46] In one embodiment of a second mode of propagation seeds of Pinus radiata are coated with a combination of charcoal and a selection of isolates of Trichoderma spp. found in the trade
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name product ARBOR-GUARD™. The coated seeds are then transferred to a growth medium.
[47] In the first mode of propagation plant growth regulators 5 may also be applied to the cuttings prior to transfer to promote root initiation. In both modes of application it is desirable to exclude the use of fungicides.
[48] In one embodiment of a third mode of propagation seeds of 10 Pinus radiata were treated with either:
1. Charcoal (1, 2 or 3) and a mixture of isolates of Trichoderma atroviride and Trichoderma harzianum nominally identified as AG#1; AG#2; AG#3; AG#4; AG#5; and
AG#6 . , or
2. Fungicide (THIRAM™; tetramethylthiuram disulfide).
[49] Following treatment the cuttings were planted in a
commercial nursery. The resulting plants were assessed for dry weight, height and mortality after 6 months growth in the nursery.
[50] All liquid formulations were applied as drenches and all 25 powder formulations as dips. Treatments were replicated five times in a randomized block design.
[51] A comparison of the growth of the cuttings of Pinus radiata following treatment and transfer to a growth medium is
provided in Table 2.
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Treatment
Sprayed with AG and charcoal 2 Sprayed with AG and charcoal 3
Fungicide and charcoal 1 Untreated control
Table 2. Comparison of treatments of Pinus radiata cuttings following transfer to growth medium.
[52] Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to features having known equivalents then such equivalents are incorporated as if individually set forth.
[53] It is to be appreciated that additions, modifications and/or improvements may be made to the invention described without departing from the scope of the invention.
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Cutting dry wt
(g)
Cutting height Mortality
(cm) (%)
31.35 31.7 5.2
37.46 29.9 5.6
32.67 33.1 2.3
29.76 28.3 8.5
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