WO2013038269A2

WO2013038269A2 - Apparatus and methods for treating sugarcane stem cuttings

Info

Publication number: WO2013038269A2
Application number: PCT/IB2012/002061
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edney MAGALHAES
Original assignee: Syngenta Participations Ag
Priority date: 2011-08-26
Filing date: 2012-08-24
Publication date: 2013-03-21
Also published as: BR112014004224B1; AR087677A1; BR112014004224A2; WO2013038269A3

Abstract

Methods of treating sugarcane stem cuttings are disclosed. Apparatus for treating sugarcane stem cuttings are also disclosed.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TREATING SUGARCANE STEM

CUTTINGS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to methods of treating sugarcane stem cuttings, and apparatus for treating sugarcane stem cuttings. BACKGROUND

Sugarcane or sugar cane (Saccharum) is a genus of 6 to 37 species (depending on taxonomic interpretation) of tall grasses (family Poaceae, tribe Andropogoneae), native to warm temperate to tropical regions of the Old World. Sugarcane has stout, jointed, fibrous stems that are rich in sugar and measure 2 to 6 meters tall. All of the sugarcane species interbreed, and the major commercial cultivars are complex hybrids. Specific examples of species include Saccharum arundinaceum, Saccharum bengalense, Saccharum edule, Saccharum officinarum, Saccharum procerum, Saccharum ravennae, Saccharum robustum, Saccharum sinense, and Saccharum spontaneum.

Sugarcane is a commercially important gramineous plant. Sugarcane acreage is increasing, and its uses include the production of sugar, Falernum, molasses, rum, cachaca (the national spirit of Brazil) and ethanol for fuel. The bagasse that remains after sugar cane crushing can be used to provide both heat energy used in the mill and electricity, which is typically sold to the consumer electricity grid and as a feedstock for the production of ethanol. Therefore, better agricultural practices for sugarcane growth are sought.

A seed of sugarcane is a dry one-seeded fruit or caryopsis formed from a single carpel, the ovary wall (pericarp) being united with the seed-coat (testa). The seeds are ovate, yellowish brown and very small, about 1 mm long. However, commonly, for commercial agriculture, the seed of a sugarcane is not sown or planted, but the sugarcane stem cuttings (also known as a stem section or part of a stalk or culm or seedling) of 40-50 cm in length are placed horizontally in furrows, which are generally wide at ground level and deep (e.g., 40 to 50 cm wide and 30 to 40 cm deep), and then lightly covered with soil. The stem of sugarcane comprises generally several nodes and internodes as in other grasses. The term "node" means the part of the stem of a plant from which a leaf, branch, or aerial root grows; each plant has many nodes. Suitable material for cuttings are pieces of cane stem cut generally from 8-14 month old healthy plants with the older basal stem cuttings or stem cuttings in the middle to top of the stem germinating stronger and faster. The cuttings are taken from plants which themselves have generally grown from stem cuttings.

In planting sugar cane fields, mature cane stems are cut into sections, either manually in the furrows or by automation and laid horizontally in furrows. In tropical countries sections with only 2 or 3 nodes are commonly used since temperatures for growth are more favorable.

Conventional sugar cane preparatory practices include, but are not limited to, warm water treatment of the stem cuttings, treatment of the stem cuttings with mercury preparations, not planting the stem cuttings too deep, managing the direct contact of the cuttings with fertilizer, ensuring sufficient soil moisture, application of pesticides (e.g. herbicide, insecticide, nematicide, etc) to the field and plant, and ensuring good soil aeration and soil temperature.

More recently, advances in sugar cane planting technologies have evolved and allowed for the planting of single node sugar cane stem sections. Single node stem sections have many advantages over traditional planting methods, especially with respect to a reduction in bulk material handling required for planting and associated labor. These single node stem sections comprise a stem section having an overall length ranging from about 2 to about 12 cm in length, more typically, from about 3 to about 8 cm in length, and desirably, from about 3.5 to about 4.5 cm in length.

What is needed is a method of treating sugarcane stem cuttings that effectively and efficiently treat sugarcane stem cuttings with a seed treatment composition while minimizing any waste of seed treatment composition and providing more uniformity to the treated sugarcane stem cutting. What is further needed is an apparatus that enables effective and efficient treatment of sugarcane stem cuttings with a seed treatment composition while minimizing any waste of seed treatment composition and providing more uniformity to the treated sugarcane stem cutting.

SUMMARY

The present invention continues the effort to further develop ways to effectively and efficiently treat sugarcane stem cuttings. The present invention is directed to methods and apparatus for treating sugarcane stem cuttings in a continuous dip process that treats sugarcane stem cuttings in an efficient manner while minimizing any waste of seed treatment composition, and providing a uniform treatment to the treated stem cutting.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus for treating sugarcane stem cuttings, the apparatus comprising a treatment tank comprising a tank housing, a tank housing inlet sized to accept sugarcane stem cuttings, a treatment fluid reservoir within the tank housing, and a tank housing outlet; a feeder operatively adapted and sized to feed sugarcane stem cuttings into the tank housing inlet of the treatment tank; a dryer positioned downstream from the treatment tank; and an apparatus conveyor system operatively adapted to move sugarcane stem cuttings(i) from the feeder to the treatment tank, (ii) from the treatment tank to the dryer, and (ii) thru the dryer.

The present invention is also directed to methods of treating sugarcane stem cuttings with a treating fluid. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of treating sugarcane stem cuttings comprises immersing the sugarcane stem cuttings in a treatment fluid for a relatively short period of time. In one exemplary embodiment, the method of treating sugarcane stem cuttings comprises immersing the sugarcane stem cuttings in a seed treatment fluid for a period of time less than 10 seconds.

The present invention is further directed to treated sugarcane stem cuttings, wherein the treated sugarcane stem cuttings are treated using the herein disclosed methods and/or apparatus.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a review of the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURE The present invention is further described with reference to the appended figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts a photograph of an exemplary apparatus for treating sugarcane stem cuttings according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a photograph of exemplary feeder, treatment tank, and dryer components within the exemplary apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts a photograph showing a frontal view of the exemplary feeder shown in FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 4 depicts a photograph showing a rear view of the exemplary apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 depicts a photograph showing a frontal view of the exemplary treatment tank and an exemplary post-immersion conveyor system extending from an exit of the treatment tank shown in FIGS. 1-2;

FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of the exemplary treatment tank shown in FIG. 5 as viewed along direction A; and

FIG. 7 depicts a frontal view of an exemplary paddle suitable for use in the treatment tank shown in FIGS. 1-6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

To promote an understanding of the principles of the present invention, descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention follow and specific language is used to describe the specific embodiments. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is intended by the use of specific language. Alterations, further modifications, and such further applications of the principles of the present invention discussed are contemplated as would normally occur to one ordinarily skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

The present invention is directed to apparatus for treating sugarcane stem cuttings, and methods for treating sugarcane stem cuttings with a stem cutting treatment composition. Typically, the sugarcane stem cuttings to be treated each independently comprise a stem section having an overall length ranging from about 2 to about 12 cm in length, more typically, from about 3 to about 8 cm in length, and desirably, from about 3.5 to about 4.5 cm in length. Typically, the sugarcane stem cuttings to be treated each independently comprise at least one node, more typically, a single node. One exemplary apparatus of the present invention suitable for treating sugarcane stem cuttings is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, exemplary apparatus 100 comprises exemplary feeder 10, exemplary treatment tank 20, exemplary dryer 30, and exemplary heater 40. Exemplary apparatus 100 also comprises an apparatus conveyor system (shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) operatively adapted to move sugarcane stem cuttings (i) from exemplary feeder 10 to exemplary treatment tank 20, (ii) from exemplary treatment tank 20 to exemplary dryer 30, and (ii) thru exemplary dryer 30.

Exemplary feeder 10 is operatively adapted and sized to feed sugarcane stem cuttings (not shown) into exemplary treatment tank 20. Components of exemplary feeder 10 are shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-3.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, exemplary feeder 10 comprises a feeder conveyor belt 11, a feeder motor 12 operatively adapted and sized to move feeder conveyor belt 11 along a feeder belt path (an upper portion of which is shown in FIG. 3), and spaced ribs 13 positioned along and extending upward from an outer surface 14 of feeder conveyor belt 11. Exemplary feeder 10 further comprises a feeder bin 15 (i) sized to contain sugarcane stem cuttings and (ii) positioned to feed sugarcane stem cuttings onto the apparatus conveyor system (e.g., onto feeder conveyor belt 11 of the apparatus conveyor system).

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, exemplary feeder 10 also comprises feeder guard rails 16 extending alongside edges of feeder conveyor belt 11. Feeder guard rails 16 prevent sugarcane stem cuttings from falling off of either of the side edges of feeder conveyor belt 11. Further, exemplary feeder bin 15 comprises feeder bin side walls 17, which enable controlled temporary storage and subsequent feeding of sugarcane stem cuttings from exemplary feeder bin 15 onto feeder conveyor belt 11 and into exemplary treatment tank 20. In addition, exemplary feeder 10 may comprise a feeder support member 18, feeder support member 18 being sized and configured to position a feeder off-load point 19 above a feeder loading point 101 along feeder conveyor belt 11 and within exemplary feeder bin 15.

Although not limited to a particular throughput, exemplary feeder conveyor belt 11 typically moves sugarcane stem cuttings through exemplary feeder 10 at a speed ranging from about 2.0 to about 5.0 meters/minute (m/min), more typically, about 3.0 to about 4.0 m/min, and even more typically, about 3.5 m/min. Typically, exemplary feeder conveyor belt 11 is capable of moving as many as 1000 sugarcane stem cuttings through exemplary feeder 10 per minute, more typically, from about 250 to about 600 sugarcane stem cuttings/minute.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, exemplary feeder 10 feeds sugarcane stem cuttings into exemplary treatment tank 20. Exemplary treatment tank 20 comprises a tank housing 21, a tank housing inlet 22 sized to accept sugarcane stem cuttings from exemplary feeder 10, a treatment fluid reservoir 23 within tank housing 21 (see, FIG.

6) and a tank housing outlet 24 (see, FIG. 6) sized to allow treated sugarcane stem cuttings (not shown) to pass therethrough.

As shown in FIG. 6, exemplary treatment fluid reservoir 23 within tank housing 21 is bound by (i) an outer tank housing wall 25 extending along an outer periphery 27 of tank housing 21, (ii) tank housing side wall 29 (see also, FIG. 4) and

(iii) tank housing side wall 201 opposite tank housing side wall 29 (see also, FIGS. 1 and 5). As shown in FIGS. 5-6, exemplary treatment fluid reservoir 23 within tank housing 21 may be further bound by (iv) an inner tank housing wall 26 within outer periphery 27 and extending between tank housing side walls 29 and 201 (i.e., less than a distance between tank housing side walls 29 and 201 or the complete distance between tank housing side walls 29 and 201).

In one exemplary embodiment, tank housing inlet 22 and tank housing outlet 24 are both positioned over and above treatment fluid reservoir 23 (as is the case in exemplary apparatus 100). In another exemplary embodiment, as shown in

FIG. 6, tank housing inlet 22 is along and extends through outer tank housing wall 25, and tank housing outlet 24 is positioned along and extends through inner tank housing wall 26.

As shown in FIG. 6, exemplary treatment tank 20 further comprises a rotating screen member 202 operatively adapted and sized to move sugarcane stem cuttings (not shown) thru treatment fluid reservoir 23 and toward tank housing outlet 24. Rotating screen member 202 comprises (i) a rotating screen member shaft 203 attached to rotating screen member motor 204 (shown in FIG. 4), (ii) one or more paddle shafts 205 directly or indirectly attached to rotating screen member shaft 203 so as to rotate through exemplary treatment tank 20 in response to a rotation force provided by rotating screen member motor 204 via rotating screen member shaft 203, and (iii) one or more porous paddles 206, each paddle 206 being directly or indirectly attached to a corresponding paddle shaft 205. As shown in FIG. 7, exemplary paddle 206 comprises an outer paddle periphery edge 207, horizontally-extending strand members 208, and vertically- extending strand members 209. It should be understood that any material may be used to form horizontally-extending strand members 208 and vertically-extending strand members 209. Suitable materials include, but are not limited to, metal wire, polymeric fiber, cellulosic fiber, etc. Further, it should be understood that each paddle may comprise (1) horizontally-extending strand members 208 alone, (2) vertically-extending strand members 209 alone, or (3) a combination of horizontally- extending strand members 208 and vertically-extending strand members 209 as long as the resulting paddle has a pore size and configuration that (i) prevents a sugarcane stem cutting from passing therethrough, and (ii) allows treatment fluid 210 within treatment fluid reservoir 23 to pass therethrough.

Desirably, outer paddle periphery edge 207 of each paddle 206 has an outer edge configuration so as to enable outer paddle periphery edge 207 to move proximate inner wall surfaces of tank housing 21, namely, inner wall surface 214 of outer tank housing wall 25, outer wall surface 212 of inner tank housing wall 26, inner wall surface 215 of tank housing side wall 29 and an inner wall surface of tank housing side wall 201 (not shown) opposite inner wall surface 215, so as to prevent sugarcane stem cutting from passing between outer paddle periphery edge 207 and any inner wall surfaces of tank housing 21.

In exemplary apparatus 100, rotating screen member 202 has an axis of rotation extending along rotating screen member shaft 203, and in a direction substantially parallel to an exit 211 of treatment tank 20 (see, FIGS. 5-6). As shown in FIG. 6, rotating screen member 202 rotates through exemplary treatment tank 20 in a direction R so as to move sugarcane stem cuttings (not shown) through treatment fluid 210 within treatment fluid reservoir 23 in a direction R, which is substantially orthogonal to the axis of rotation of rotating screen member 202.

As sugarcane stem cuttings (not shown) enter into treatment tank 20 through tank housing inlet 22, the sugarcane stem cuttings fall into treatment fluid 210 within treatment fluid reservoir 23. Outer surface 212 of inner tank housing wall 26 restricts the flow path of sugarcane stem cuttings so as to insure that sugarcane stem cuttings fall into treatment fluid 210. Paddles 206 further control the flow of sugarcane stem cuttings through treatment fluid reservoir 23 in direction R as rotating screen member 202 rotates along its axis of rotation extending along rotating screen member shaft 203. Once a given paddle 206 reaches a position proximate tank housing outlet 24, gravitational forces cause treated sugarcane stem cuttings on paddle 206 to fall through tank housing outlet 24 positioned along and extending through inner tank housing wall 26. Once treated sugarcane stem cuttings fall through tank housing outlet 24, the sugarcane stem cuttings advance further through exemplary apparatus 100 via a post-immersion conveyor system component of the apparatus conveyor system as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, exemplary apparatus 100 may further comprise at least one treatment fluid blower 213 positioned downstream from treatment fluid reservoir 23. Each treatment fluid blower 213 is operatively adapted and sized to remove excess treatment fluid 210 from treated sugarcane stem cuttings (not shown) following immersion in treatment fluid 210 within treatment fluid reservoir 23.

As further shown in FIGS. 1-5, from treatment tank 20, treated sugarcane stem cuttings (not shown) proceed to exemplary dryer 30 positioned downstream from exemplary treatment tank 20. Exemplary dryer 30 comprises a dryer conveyor belt 31, a dryer conveyor motor 32 operatively adapted and sized to move dryer conveyor belt 31 (via dryer conveyor motor shaft 33) along a dryer conveyor belt path (see, for example FIGS. 4-5), and dryer conveyor guard rails 34 operatively adapted and sized to keep treated sugarcane stem cuttings on dryer conveyor belt 31 for at least a portion of the dryer conveyor belt path. Exemplary dryer 30 may further comprise one or more blowers 35 and one or more blower motors 36 operatively adapted to supply forced air through dryer 30.

Exemplary dryer 30 may also comprise one or more heaters 40 in fluid communication with the one or more blowers 35 and the one or more blower motors 36 so as to provide heated forced air into dryer 30. When present, the one or more heaters 40 typically provide heated air at an air temperature ranging from about 30°C to about 12PC, more typically, from about 40°C to about 100°C.

As discussed above, although not limited to a particular throughput, exemplary dryer conveyor belt 31 typically moves treated sugarcane stem cuttings through exemplary dryer 10 at a speed ranging from about 2.0 to about 5.0 meters/minute (m/min), more typically, about 3.0 to about 4.0 m/min, and even more typically, about 3.5 m/min. Typically, exemplary dryer conveyor belt 31 is capable of moving as many as 1000 sugarcane stem cuttings through exemplary dryer 30 per minute, more typically, from about 250 to about 600 sugarcane stem cuttings/minute. As shown in FIGS. 1-5, exemplary apparatus 100 further comprises an apparatus conveyor system operatively adapted to move sugarcane stem cuttings (i) from exemplary feeder 10 to exemplary treatment tank 20, (ii) from exemplary treatment tank 20 to exemplary dryer 30, and (ii) thru exemplary dryer 30. Typically, apparatus conveyor system comprises (i) a feeder conveyor system comprising exemplary feeder conveyor belt 11, and (ii) a post-immersion conveyor system extending from tank housing outlet 24, out of exit 211 of treatment tank 20, and thru dryer 30.

As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the present invention, the post-immersion conveyor system of the apparatus conveyor system may comprise a tank conveyor system 216 extending from tank housing outlet 24 and out of exit 211 of treatment tank 20. Exemplary tank conveyor system 216 shown in FIG. 5 comprises a tank conveyor belt 217, a tank conveyor motor 218 (see, FIG. 4) operatively adapted and sized to move tank conveyor belt 217 (via tank conveyor motor shaft 219) along a tank conveyor belt path, and tank conveyor guard rails 220 operatively adapted and sized to keep treated sugarcane stem cuttings on tank conveyor belt 217 for at least a portion of the tank conveyor belt path. Desirably, tank conveyor guard rails 220 are configured to efficiently (i) accept and guide treated sugarcane stem cuttings onto tank conveyor belt 217 from tank housing outlet 24, and (ii) control flow of treated sugarcane stem cuttings along tank conveyor belt 217 from tank housing outlet 24 to exit 211 of treatment tank 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the present invention, the post-immersion conveyor system of the apparatus conveyor system may further comprise a separate dryer conveyor system comprising exemplary dryer conveyor belt 31 and its associated components, as discussed above, for moving treated sugarcane stem cuttings through dryer 30. It should be understood that in some embodiments of the present invention, the post-immersion conveyor system of the apparatus conveyor system may comprise a single, continuous conveyor system comprising (i) the above- described tank conveyor system 216 and (ii) the above-described dryer conveyor system comprising exemplary dryer conveyor belt 31 and its associated components.

As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments of the present invention, a portion of the apparatus conveyor system (e.g., the above-described tank conveyor system 216) extends over at least a portion of treatment fluid reservoir 23, thru at least a portion of tank housing 21, and out of exit 211 of tank housing 21. In this embodiment, tank conveyor system 216 and its components are designed so as to prevent treatment fluid 210 from exiting treatment tank 20. For example, treatment tank 20 and tank conveyor system 216 may comprise one or more of the following features: (1) tank conveyor belt 217 may have a porous belt configuration (e.g., a belt comprising a mesh structure) so that any treatment fluid 210 contacting tank conveyor belt 217 may flow through tank conveyor belt 217, (2) tank housing inner wall 26 may (i) have an opening therethrough below tank conveyor belt 217 so that any treatment fluid 210 contacting tank conveyor belt 217 may flow through tank conveyor belt 217 and back into treatment fluid reservoir 23, or (ii) have an angled configuration below tank conveyor belt 217 so that any treatment fluid 210 contacting tank housing inner wall 26 below tank conveyor belt 217 flows away from exit 211 and toward inner wall surface 215 of tank housing side wall 29 (shown in FIG. 6) and back into treatment fluid reservoir 23, and (3) treatment tank 20 may further comprise at least one treatment fluid blower 213 positioned downstream from treatment fluid reservoir 23 at exit 211 so as to force any treatment fluid 210 approaching exit 211 back into tank housing 21 and into treatment fluid reservoir 23 (as shown in FIG. 5).

Exemplary apparatus 100 may further comprise a treated sugarcane stem cutting storage bin 50 positioned downstream from a dryer exit 38 of dryer 30. Typically, treated sugarcane stem cutting storage bin 50 comprises a removable, transportable storage bin as shown in FIG. 3.

The present invention is further directed to methods of treating sugarcane stem cuttings. In desired embodiments of the present invention, the method of treating sugarcane stem cuttings comprises immersing the sugarcane stem cuttings in a treatment fluid using the above-described apparatus. Typically, the methods of treating sugarcane stem cuttings according to the present invention comprises immersing the sugarcane stem cuttings in a treatment fluid (e.g., a seed treatment fluid) for a period of time less than 10 seconds, more typically, a period of time ranging from about 4 to about 6 seconds.

The methods of treating sugarcane stem cuttings according to the present invention may comprise applying a variety of treatment fluids onto sugarcane stem cuttings. Treatment fluid components may include, but are not limited to, sugars, nutrients, fertilizers, micronutrient donors, biological agents, inoculants (e.g., nitrogen fixing bacteria), antibiotics, plant protection chemicals such as pesticides including insecticides, fungicides and nematicides, a safener, one or more substances that ensure germination and/or storage of the stem section, binders, fibrous material, and combinations thereof.

Examples of insecticidally, acaricidally, nematicidally, or molluscicidally active ingredients are, for example and not for limitation, representatives of the following classes of active ingredients: organophosphorus compounds, nitrophenols and derivatives, formamidines, triazine derivatives, nitroenamine derivatives, nitro- and cyanoguanidine derivatives, ureas, benzoylureas, carbamates, pyrethroids, chlorinated hydrocarbons and Bacillus thuringiensis products. Especially preferred components in mixtures are abamectin, cyanoimine, carbofuran, carbosulfan, aldicarb, acetamiprid, thiodicarb, nitromethylene, cadusafos, nitenpyram, clothianidin, dinotefuran, fipronil, lufenuron, pyriproxyfen, thiacloprid, fluxofenim; imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, beta cyfluthrin, lambda cyhalothrin, fenoxycarb, diafenthiuron, pymetrozine, diazinon, disulphoton; profenofos, furathiocarb, cyromazin, cypermethrin, tau-fluvalinate, tefluthrin or Bacillus thuringiensis products, very especially abamectin, thiodicarb, cyanoimine, acetamiprid, nitromethylene, nitenpyram, clothianidin, dinotefuran, fipronil, thiacloprid, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, sulfoxaflor, chlorantraniliprole, cyantraniliprole, beta cyfluthrin, lambda cyhalothrin, and tefluthrin.

Examples of fungicidally active ingredients are, for example and not for limitation, representatives of the following classes of active ingredients: strobilurins, triazoles, ortho-cyclopropyl-carboxanilide derivatives, phenylpyrroles, and systemic fungicides. Examples of suitable additions of fungicidally active ingredients include, but are not limited to, the following compounds: sedaxane, penflufen, azoxystrobin; bitertanol; carboxin; Cu₂0; cymoxanil; cyproconazole; cyprodinil; dichlofluanid; difenoconazole; diniconazole; epoxiconazole; fenpiclonil; fludioxonil; fluoxastrobin, fluquinconazole; flusilazole; flutriafol; furalaxyl; guazatin; hexaconazole; hymexazol; imazalil; imibenconazole; ipconazole; kresoxim-methyl; mancozeb; metalaxyl; mefenoxam; metconazole; myclobutanil, oxadixyl, pefurazoate; penconazole; pencycuron; prochloraz; propiconazole; pyroquilone; (±)-cis-l-(4- chlorophenyl)-2-(lH-l,2,4-triazol-l-yl)cycloheptanol; spiroxamine; tebuconazole; thiabendazole; tolifluamide; triazoxide; triadimefon; triadimenol; trifloxystrobin, triflumizole; triticonazole and uniconazole. Particularly preferred fungicidally active agents include sedaxane, penflufen, azoxystrobin, difenoconazole, fludioxonil, thiabendazole, tebuconazole, metalaxyl, mefenoxam, myclobutanil, fluoxastrobin, triticonazole, and trifloxystrobin.

Desirably, the methods of treating sugarcane stem cuttings according to the present invention do not induce germination of the sugarcane stem cuttings. Further, the methods of treating sugarcane stem cuttings according to the present invention do not cause any damage to the nodes or stem cuttings, and does not reduce the ability of stem cuttings to form or to emerge into new plants. As a result of the cutting treatment, the active ingredients of the treatment fluid form part of the stem section, for example, being adhered to the stem section and therefore available for pathogenic and/or pest control, or absorbed into the stem itself through the cut ends. Accordingly, one embodiment of the present invention provides a pest and/or pathogenic-resistant sugarcane stem cutting or section.

Suitably treatment of the sugarcane stem cutting with a coating or binder serves to retain moisture in the sugarcane stem cutting. In some embodiments, the coating or binder may be applied to the stem section at the same time as other treatments, such as compounds that exhibit inhibitory activity towards pests and/or pathogens, or compounds that exhibit either stimulatory or growth-promoting activity as discussed above. In other embodiments, a given sugarcane stem cutting may be treated with multiple treatment fluids by sending the sugarcane stem cutting through the above-described apparatus (e.g., exemplary apparatus 100) multiple times.

In one desired embodiment, the treated sugarcane stem cutting comprises a sugarcane stem cutting and one or more compounds selected from compounds that exhibit either stimulatory or growth-promoting activity (e.g., nutrients, fertilizers, micronutrient donors, biological agents, inoculants, antibiotics); and/or compounds that exhibit inhibitory activity towards pests and/or pathogens (e.g. a pesticide); and/or compounds that exhibit safening activity against pesticide (e.g a safener); and/or one or more substances that ensures germination and/or storage of the stem section are packed in a degradable casing.

It should be noted that although the detailed description herein describes treatment methods and apparatus for treating sugarcane stem cuttings, the present invention may be applied to any gramineous crop plant. Gramineous crop plants are from the genus Graminae, which is an alternative family name for Poaceae. Suitably the gramineous crop plant is from the sub-tribe Saccharinae. Suitably, the gramineous crop plant is selected from the group consisting of Saccharum spp., Sorghum spp., and bamboo. More suitably, it is Saccharum spp. (sugar cane). Bamboo means any of various usually woody, temperate or tropical grasses of the genera Arundinaria, Bambusa, Dendrocalamus, Phyllostachys, or Sasa.

With regard to sugarcane, there are several varieties or cultivars and germplasms, any of which may be treated using the methods and/or apparatus of the present invention. The gramineous crop plant may be transgenic or non-transgenic. Transgenic gramineous crop plants are produced by transformation via recombinant DNA technology in such a way that they are—for instance—capable of synthesizing selectively acting toxins as are known, for example, from toxin-producing invertebrates, especially of the phylum Arthropoda, as can be obtained from Bacillus thuringiensis strains; or as are known from plants, such as lectins; or in the alternative capable of expressing a herbicidal or fungicidal resistance. Examples of such toxins, or transgenic plants which are capable of synthesizing such toxins, are known to the skilled man. Also suitable are crop plants with particular trait characteristics built in, such as drought resistance or improved quality, such as enhanced sugar or ethanol content.

A plant variety exhibiting a trait of interest can be obtained by introducing into the plant a nucleic acid sequence associated with a trait of interest. Methods for preparing nucleic acid sequences, combining them with control sequences such as promoters and transcriptional or translational termination regions, and introducing said sequences into plants so that they express said sequences are well known in the art.

The genetic properties engineered into transgenic seeds and plants are passed on by sexual reproduction or vegetative growth and can thus be maintained and propagated in progeny plants. Generally, maintenance and propagation make use of known agricultural methods developed to fit specific purposes such as tilling, sowing or harvesting.

Examples of common sugar cane cultivars are RB 72-454; RB 85- 5156; RB 85-5453; RB 83-5486; RB 85-5536; RB 86-7515; RB 84-5257; RB 85- 5113; RB 85-5035; RB 84-5210; RB 92-8064; SP-72-1011; SP 79-1011; SP 91-3011; SP 77-5181; SP 84-1431; SP 83-5073; SP 85-3877; SP 83-2847; SP 84-5560; SP 81- 3250; SP 80-3280; SP 80-1816; SP 87-396; SP 80-1842; SP 86-42; SP 91-1049; SP 90-3414; SP 90-1638; SP 86-155; SP 87-365; SP 84-2025; SP 89-1115; I.A.C.91- 2195; I.A.C.96-2210; I.A.C. 87-3396; I.A.C.93-6006; I.A.C.91-2218; and I.A.C.91- 5155. A preferred cultivar of the sugarcane is known as SP-72- 1011.

While the specification has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that those skilled in the art, upon attaining an understanding of the foregoing, may readily conceive of alterations to, variations of, and equivalents to these embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention should be assessed as that of the appended claims and any equivalents thereto.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus for treating sugarcane stem cuttings, said apparatus comprising:

a feeder operatively adapted and sized to feed sugarcane stem cuttings into a treatment tank, the treatment tank comprising a tank housing, a tank housing inlet sized to accept sugarcane stem cuttings from the feeder, a treatment fluid reservoir within the tank housing, and a tank housing outlet;

a dryer positioned downstream from the treatment tank; and an apparatus conveyor system operatively adapted to move sugarcane stem cuttings (i) from the feeder to the treatment tank, (ii) from the treatment tank to the dryer, and (ii) thru the dryer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus conveyor system comprises (i) a feeder conveyor system, and (ii) a post-immersion conveyor system extending from the tank housing outlet and thru the dryer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein said apparatus conveyor system comprises a feeder conveyor belt, a feeder motor operatively adapted and sized to move said feeder conveyor belt along a feeder belt path, and spaced ribs positioned along and extending upward from an outer surface of said feeder conveyor belt.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said feeder comprises a feeder bin (i) sized to contain sugarcane stem cuttings and (ii) positioned to feed sugarcane stem cuttings onto said apparatus conveyor system.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said apparatus conveyor system comprises a tank conveyor system extending from the tank housing outlet, and a dryer conveyor system extending thru the dryer.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said apparatus conveyor system comprises a tank conveyor belt, a tank conveyor motor operatively adapted and sized to move said tank conveyor belt along a tank conveyor belt path, and tank conveyor guard rails operatively adapted and sized to keep treated sugarcane stem cuttings on said tank conveyor belt for at least a portion of said tank conveyor belt path.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said apparatus conveyor system comprises a dryer conveyor belt, a dryer conveyor motor operatively adapted and sized to move said dryer conveyor belt along a dryer conveyor belt path, and dryer conveyor guard rails operatively adapted and sized to keep treated sugarcane stem cuttings on said dryer conveyor belt for at least a portion of said dryer conveyor belt path.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said dryer comprises one or more blowers and one or more blower motors.

9. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said dryer comprises one or more heaters.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said feeder comprises a feeder support member, said feeder support member sized and configured to position a feeder off-load point above a feeder loading point.

11. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a treated sugarcane stem cutting storage bin positioned downstream from a dryer exit.

12. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said tank housing inlet and said tank housing outlet are positioned over and above said treatment fluid reservoir.

13. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein said tank housing has (i) an outer tank housing wall extending along an outer periphery of said tank housing, (ii) an inner tank housing wall within said outer periphery, and (iii) tank housing side walls extending between said outer tank housing wall and said inner tank housing wall, wherein said tank housing inlet is along and extends through said outer tank housing wall, and said tank housing outlet is positioned along and extends through said inner tank housing wall.

14. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein said treatment tank comprises a rotating screen member operatively adapted and sized to move sugarcane stem cuttings thru said treatment fluid reservoir and toward said tank housing outlet.

15. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said treatment tank comprises a rotating screen member operatively adapted and sized to move sugarcane stem cuttings thru said treatment fluid reservoir and toward said tank housing outlet, said rotating screen member having an axis of rotation extending in a direction substantially parallel to an exit of said treatment tank.

16. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein said treatment tank comprises a rotating screen member operatively adapted and sized to move sugarcane stem cuttings thru said treatment fluid reservoir and toward said tank housing outlet, said rotating screen member (i) having an axis of rotation, and (ii) comprising one or more porous paddles extending outward from said axis of rotation, wherein each porous paddle has a pore size and configuration that (i) is operatively adapted and sized to move sugarcane stem cuttings thru said treatment fluid reservoir and toward said tank housing outlet, (ii) prevents a sugarcane stem cutting from passing therethrough, and (iii) allows treatment fluid within said treatment fluid reservoir to pass therethrough.

17. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein said treatment tank comprises a rotating screen member operatively adapted and sized to move sugarcane stem cuttings thru said treatment fluid reservoir and toward said tank housing outlet, said apparatus further comprising a treatment tank motor operatively adapted and sized to rotate said rotating screen member along said axis of rotation.

18. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein a portion of said apparatus conveyor system extends over at least a portion of said treatment fluid reservoir, thru at least a portion of the tank housing, and out of said tank housing.

19. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 18, further comprising at least one treatment fluid blower positioned downstream from said treatment fluid reservoir and operatively adapted and sized to remove excess treatment fluid from treated sugarcane stem cuttings following immersion in a treatment fluid within said treatment fluid reservoir.

20. A method of treating sugarcane stem cuttings, said method comprising:

immersing the sugarcane stem cuttings in a treatment fluid using the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 19.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said immersing step comprises immersing the sugarcane stem cuttings in the treatment fluid for a period of time less than 10 seconds.