WO2016095024A1

WO2016095024A1 - Method of treating marijuana plants with a reactive oxygen species

Info

Publication number: WO2016095024A1
Application number: PCT/CA2015/051301
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas SHIPLEY Iv; Ryan Britton DOUGLAS
Original assignee: Tweed Inc.
Priority date: 2014-12-17
Filing date: 2015-12-10
Publication date: 2016-06-23

Abstract

The present application provides a method of treating marijuana plants with a reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide to prevent and/or treat pathogen infection. Also provided are methods of treating materials, premises or equipment used to produce marijuana with a composition comprising a reactive oxygen species. Further methods of reducing and or controlling the odour of cannabis during its production are also disclosed.

Description

Method of Treating Marijuana Plants with a Reactive Oxygen Species Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to methods of treating marijuana plants with a reactive oxygen species.

Background

Marijuana (also referred to as marihuana or cannabis) has been used for medicinal purposes throughout history. Marijuana has been shown to provide therapeutic benefits as an appetite stimulant, as an antiemetic, as an analgesic and in the management of various conditions including glaucoma, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis and chronic inflammation.

A number of jurisdictions, including Canada, legally allow for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes with the approval of a physician. As of April 1 , 2014, in Canada, marijuana for medical purposes must be obtained from a licensed producer. Licensed producers are authorized, under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations to possess, sell, provide, ship, deliver, transport, destroy, produce, export and/or import marijuana for medicinal purposes. In some jurisdictions, including Canada, in order to produce medical marijuana in a regulatory compliant manner, it is necessary to cultivate the plants indoors.

During cannabis flowering, the odour of cannabis increases exponentially as the plant approaches harvest. In some jurisdictions, including Canada, licensed producers of medical marijuana are required to prevent any escape of odour from their building. As such, the odour load during the last few weeks of production causes undesired spoilage of air filtration systems which capture odour. For odour systems which oxidize odour, the odour load exceeds the load capacity of any economically feasible odour oxidation system. As such, there is a need in the art for agents and equipment which have feasible investment and operational costs but could control odour during short periods of increased odour load.

A number of factors can impact the yield of marijuana. For example, the presence of pathogens can dramatically impact the yield of marijuana. As such, there is a need in the art for agents that prevent and/or treat pathogen infection of cannabis. Definitions

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

Node - The area on a plant stem from which the leaves or secondary meristems grow. The area in between nodes is called the internode.

Sugar Leaf - A large fan leaf which has the primary role of producing sugars for the plant, as opposed to leaves which are in close proximity to calyxes.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1. The arrow indicates the direction of a liquid solution containing reactive oxygen species. Avoid spraying the reactive oxygen species directly into the cola.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to a method of treating marijuana plants with a reactive oxygen species or composition comprising a reactive oxygen species. Also provided are methods of treating materials, premises and/or equipment used in the production of marijuana. The reactive oxygen species includes but is not limited to peracetic acid, a hydroperoxide, a peroxide, and potassium percarbonate, ozone, hydroxyl radicals, trioxidane and

combinations thereof. The peroxide includes but are not limited to hydrogen peroxide, calcium peroxide, and urea peroxide. A worker skilled in the art would readily appreciate that as marijuana product is for human consumption, the reactive oxygen species or the composition comprising the reactive oxygen species must also be safe for human consumption. For example, the compositions may be food grade compositions. The present invention further relates to compositions for use in the treatment of marijuana.

Treatment of marijuana with a reactive oxygen species or composition comprising a reactive oxygen species may (a) reduce and/or control the odour of cannabis during production; (b) reduce the bio burden of bacteria, yeast and mould on plants; (c) treat a plant which shows signs of hosting a pathogenic fungi or bacteria; and/or prevent transmission of pathogen to other plants. In certain embodiments, the reactive oxygen species is hydrogen peroxide. A worker skilled in the art could readily determine an appropriate concentration of hydrogen peroxide. In certain embodiments, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is 0.05%, 0.1 %, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%, 1 %, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5% and 3%. A worker skilled in the art would readily appreciate appropriate diluents which are suitable for use in the methods of the invention. Such diluents must be safe for humans, be prepared, and stored in a manner where to peroxide is stable. The preparation may include potable water (including but not limited to reverse osmosized water).

Accordingly, in certain embodiments the invention provides for a method for reduction and/or control of the odour of cannabis during production comprising treatment of the plant or part thereof with a composition comprising hydrogen peroxide. In certain embodiments, the invention provides for a method to reduce bio burden of bacteria, yeast and mould on marijuana plants comprising treatment with a composition comprising hydrogen peroxide. In certain embodiments, the invention provides for a method for the treatment of plants which show signs of hosting a fungi or bacteria comprising treatment with a composition comprising hydrogen peroxide. In certain embodiments, the invention provides for a method to prevent transmission of pathogen to marijuana plants comprising treatment with a composition comprising hydrogen peroxide. For example, treatment of marijuana plants with hydrogen peroxide or compositions comprising hydrogen peroxide prevents the transmission of spore forming fungi by removing hyphae before spore forming bodies occur.

In certain embodiments, the reactive oxygen species is added to liquid fertilizer feed. The addition to the fertilizer may serve one or more of the following functions: a) Prevents exposure of and/or treats the root system of pathogenic bacteria, yeast and/or mould

b) Prevents to accumulation of biofilms in the irrigation lines and equipment c) Maintains the function of irrigation systems by preventing turbidity related

clogging of water lines, drip systems and spray nozzles.

d) Aids in the conversion of less readily available nitrogen, - such as ammonia - to stable and readily absorbed forms such as nitrate.

Microorganisms include but are not limited to parasitic fungus, including but not limited to yeast, mould, powdery mildew and bacteria including but not limited to Staphylococcus aumua, Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Escherichia coli and Salmonella. A worker skilled in the art would readily appreciate that the microorganisms include both plant pathogens and microorganisms that do not cause disease in plants. In certain embodiments, the treatment method comprises treating at least a portion of the shoot system of the cannabis plant. For example, the leaves of the cannabis plant, the stems of the plant or the whole shoot system may be treated. In certain embodiments, treatment is limited to areas of the cannabis plant which shows visible signs of infection.

A worker skilled in the art would readily appreciate appropriate techniques for application of the compositions of the invention. For example, the composition may be sprayed or misted onto at least a portion of the shoot system, the at least a portion of the shoot system may be dipped into the composition, the composition may be applied to the potting medium.

Application of the composition to the potting medium may be useful to treat pathogens in the soil. In certain embodiments, the composition is applied every 2 to 3 days in plants with visible signs of infection and applied until the disease is no longer evident. In other embodiments, the composition is applied prior to evidence of infection and re-applied every 2 to 3 days for the entire life of the plant. In some embodiments, the composition is applied 24 hours prior to harvesting. In some embodiments, the composition is applied to equipment and substrates to be utilized for propagation directly prior to their use. In some

embodiments, the composition may be added to the liquid fertilizer mixture; the composition may be automatically dosed using a probe which detects reactive oxygen, connected to software which controls a solenoid valve downstream of the composition under pressure. In some embodiments, the composition may be fumigated into a room filled with cannabis plants every two to three days during the vegetative phase of growth. In some embodiments, a very concentrated composition may be fogged into an empty room to prepare that area for hosting plants. In some embodiments, a newly propagated clone may be dipped in the composition, followed by spray or fog application until roots have formed. In some embodiments, the composition is applied to plants three hours prior to exposing the plant to beneficial organisms; doing so provides a non-competitive, empty ecological niche for the beneficial organism to establish a population which may result in: a) Greater uptake of nitrogen and/or phosphates; and/or

b) Provide resistance to infection from pathogenic bacteria, yeast or mould.

To gain a better understanding of the invention described herein, the following examples are set forth. It will be understood that these examples are intended to describe illustrative embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. Example:

BACKGROUND

During cannabis flowering, the odour of cannabis increases exponentially as the plant approaches harvest. Federal regulations under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act require Licensed Producers of medical marihuana to prevent any escape of odour from their building. As such, the odour load during the last few weeks of production causes undesired spoilage of air filtration systems which capture odour. For odour systems which oxidize odour, the odour load exceeds the load capacity of any economically feasible odour oxidation system.

One odour controlling agent commonly used in waste water treatment processes is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide's oxidative capabilities and break down products of water and oxygen made it an appealing material for the treatment of odour. Its low investment and operational cost, effectiveness, history of use in industry, low environmental impact, and lack of residue made it appealing for application to medical marihuana. The strict limits on bioburden, chemical contaminants, extraneous agents and additives increases the appeal of hydrogen peroxide.

By applying hydrogen peroxide above the plant canopy, the odour load escaping from the room was greatly reduced, allowing for the odour control system to remove the remaining load without causing undesired spoilage of filters. Co-incidentally, it was discovered that the application of hydrogen peroxide resulted in a decreased prevalence of a parasitic fungi, powdery mildew.

Below is a method for the use hydrogen peroxide for the purposes of reducing the bioburden on medical marihuana, and reducing the prevalence of parasitic fungi.

PURPOSE

To define the process for application of hydrogen peroxide to:

• Comply with the requirements of Sections 54, 55, 56, 58, 59, & 60 of the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (SOR/2013-119),

• Comply with the requirements of the Food and Drug Regulation - C.02.01 1 , and

• Reduce the bio burden of bacteria, yeast and mould on plants.

• Treat any plant which shows signs of hosting a pathogenic fungi or bacteria. • Prevent the transmission of spore forming fungi by removing hyphae before spore forming bodies occur.

RATIONALE

The application of hydrogen peroxide reduces the transmission of yeast, mould and bacteria by one or more of the following mechanisms:

• Washing the bacteria, hyphae or yeast cell off the leaf surface

• Preventing the development of spore forming bodies on the plant

• Preventing the germination of fungal spores

Infection response naturally raises the oxidoreductase levels in plants, leading to minimal impact and stress on the cannabis plant.

RELATED REFERENCES

Sections 54 of the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) (SOR/2013-1 19)

• Sections 55, 56, 58, 59 and 60 of the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations (MMPR) (SOR/2013-1 19)

• Food and Drug Regulation - C.02.01 1

• Peng, M. Kuc, J. Peroxidase-Generated Hydrogen Peroxide as a Source of

Antifungal Activity in Vitro and on Tobacco Leaf Disks. 1992. Phytopathology 82:696- 699.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

Materials

• 3% or 30% non-stabilized hydrogen peroxide

• Reverse osmosis water

Equipment

• Pesticide applicator

• Graduated cylinder PROCEDURE

1. Preparing the peroxide solution:

a. In a graduated cylinder measure out 400ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide, USP or

40ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide, USP.

b. Pour the hydrogen peroxide into a 2 gallon hand pump pesticide applicator. c. Fill the pesticide applicator to the 2 gallon fill line with reverse osmosized water and close the lid.

d. Pump the pesticide applicator until a sufficient pressure is reached. Sufficient pressure has been achieved once the applicator will spray a large volume of mist at a high velocity. The pump should provide resistance.

2. Application of hydrogen peroxide

NOTE: When applying peroxide for harvest, perform the application 24 hours in advance. This removes all parasitic fungi, while giving the plant enough time to dry.

• Avoid application of the hydrogen peroxide to the calyxes. Pay particular attention to leaves which shows visible infection of a parasitic fungus.

• Time permitting, take care to ensure the peroxide application pushes the

peroxide solutions from the center of the plants towards the outside "sugar leaves" to prevent soaking of the buds.

• Pump the pesticide applicator to re-pressurize as required.

• Apply the peroxide from the top down. Care should be taken to view the plant from multiple angles.

• To prevent the severity of humidity spikes, coverage should only include areas of visible infection.

• Repeat the application every 2 to 3 days, or when parasitic fungi become visible.

3. Recording the application

• Record the application of the hydrogen peroxide

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1 . A method of treating marijuana plant, said method comprising contacting the marijuana plant with a reactive oxygen species or a composition comprising a reactive oxygen species.

2. A method of treating materials, premises or equipment used to produce marijuana with a reactive oxygen species or composition comprising a reactive oxygen species.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said reactive oxygen species is selected from the group consisting of peracetic acid, a hydroperoxide, a peroxide, a hydroxyl radical, ozone, trioxidane, potassium percarbonate and combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein treatment of the marijuana plant (a) reduces and/or controls the odour of cannabis during production; (b) reduces the bio burden of bacteria, yeast and mould on the plant; (c) treats a pathogen; and/or (d) prevents transmission of pathogen to other plants.

6. The method of any one of claim 1 to 3, wherein application of said composition reduces the transmission of yeast, mould and bacteria by one or more of the following: a. washing the bacteria, hyphae or yeast cell off the leaf surface;

b. preventing the development of spore forming bodies on the plant; and c. preventing the germination of fungal spores.