Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G22/00—Cultivation of specific crops or plants not otherwise provided for
  • A01G22/35—Bulbs; Alliums, e.g. onions or leeks
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
  • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
  • A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
  • A01G9/029—Receptacles for seedlings

Definitions

• the invention is in the field of agriculture and horticulture. More specifically, it is in the field of cultivating plants that require vernalization for germination and/or flowering.
• the invention relates to a method for producing a vernalized pot plant of a flowering plant, that blooms upon replanting or outplanting. The method now provides for a quick and beneficial cultivation result in the form of a blooming pot plant.
• the invention also relates to packaged pot plants produced by such a method and provides gardeners the possibihty to shape their garden with plants in bloom at any period of the year, even outside the blooming season of the plant.
• Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape-design projects, and include houseplants and cut flowers.
• the ability to produce flowers from such ornamental plants at any desired time of the year is for instance needed when decorating important events, but is usually quite expensive, as it requires out-of-season cultivation.
• US 5,058,318 describes a process for the production of members of the Lilium genus.
• Ornamental garden plants that require vernalization need to be placed in the soil well ahead of the winter, i.e. during the fall or autumn season or at the beginning of the preceding winter season that precedes their bloom period, so as the provide the seeds or bulbs with a sufficiently long cold period. This also directly implies that in certain countries, where the winter season is not characterized by prolonged cold periods, vernalizable flowering plants will not germinate and/or do not bloom.
• ice-tulips represent cut flowers, the bulb for which are harvested the previous year, planted in boxes of generally 60-100 bulbs, frozen for a period of 6-12 months, made to bloom, and eventually harvested and sold as cut flowers.
• the quality of ice-tulips is considered very low as compared to regular tulips (plant in bloom, optionally as cut flower, from a bulb that has not been frozen) and it is generally known that ice-tulip bulbs, due to their storage under frozen conditions, suffer from root rot.
• the retail tuhp for planting in household gardens, or garden tulip is a high quality but very expensive bulb. It would be desirous to be able to provide the consumer, especially in retail channels, with a less expensive bulb, which bulb will still produce flowers in a household garden.
• Another problem with the sale of such live produce as blooming vernalizable plants, especially from bulbs, is that the selling period is only very short. Generally, the selhng period in retail is a mere one to two weeks for bulbs in pots, which is extended when using dried unplanted bulbs. It would be desirous to extend the selling period of such products.
• pre-vernalized plants can be provided for direct replanting by consumers when produced by a method of the present invention.
• the pre-vernalized plants thus produced, allow the sale in retail stores of pot plants that produce flowers within 1-4 weeks.
• the inventors solved the aforementioned problem by providing a method for the manufacture of a vernalized plant product of a vernalization-requiring plant species, comprising the steps of:
• bl planting said propagation material in a container comprising a substrate to provide a planted propagation material; b2)- allowing the planted propagation material to form a rooted plant comprising a rooting system in said substrate and at least part of a stem system;
• said vernalized rooted plant c) subjecting said vernalized rooted plant to a second cold-treatment for arresting plant development and/or growth, wherein said second cold- treatment is at a temperature of -20 to -1 °C, preferably for a period of between 2 to 120 days; to provide a frozen vernalized rooted plant;
• step d) optionally storing said frozen, vernalized rooted plant of step c) at a temperature below 0 °C;
• step b) is adapted to provide a vernalized plant product comprising a frozen vernalized rooted plant suitable for outplanting in the form of 1-20 separable flowering units, and
• said vernalized plant product is packaged in a packaging for display and sale of said vernalized plant product in frozen form.
• the propagation material is subjected to a first cold- treatment for vernalization before planting.
• the first and or second cold-treatment step occurs in a protected environment comprising a controlled temperature.
• the vernalization-requiring plant is a bulbous plant, preferably a bulbous plant of the Liliaceae family, most preferably a tuhp.
• the propagating material provided in step a) is in stage G.
• said container is a biodegradable container, preferably a container for replanting or outplanting.
• step b) multiple seeds, bulbs and/or rootstocks are planted in a single container, preferably between 1-5 seeds, bulbs and/or rootstocks.
• said container is a receiver unit including a multiple number of container volumes.
• said container is a plant pot, preferably having dimensions of 5- 20 (1) 5-30 (w) cm.
• said method further comprises the step of storing said container in a domestic refrigerator or freezer and/or the step of replanting or outplanting said container, preferably in a garden.
• the maximum period at which the vernalized material is below 0 °C during step c) and d) is less than 14 weeks, preferably less than 13 weeks.
• the present invention provides a vernalized plant product, obtainable by a method according to the present invention as described above.
• the container is for replanting or outplanting.
• said propagating material is individually planted for replanting or outplanting in a biodegradable container.
• said packaging or container includes a color or color code so as to indicate the color or colors of the flower of the plant.
• the container comprises a layer of a porous medium covering the substrate.
• the vernalized plant product comprises a single frozen vernalized plant or a set of two frozen vernalized plants, preferably wherein said set of two plants are planted in separate containers or in a single container.
• the present invention provides a packaging comprising a vernalized plant product of the present invention as described above, preferably wherein said packaging is for storage of frozen products.
• the present invention provides a refrigerator or freezer comprising the vernalized plant product according to the present invention as described above, or the packaging according to the present invention as described above.
• Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a packaged, vernalized plant according to the invention.
• the figure merely illustrates a preferred embodiment according to the invention.
• the propagation material in aspects of this invention is a biological material subjected to subsequent process steps in methods of this invention, wherein the propagation material develops from a rootstock, bulb or seed into a rooted plant.
• the propagation material in any of these forms may represent that material under various physical conditions.
• the bulb indicated by the number [12] in this figure is to be understood as an embodiment of the propagation material which has the form of a planted bulb, that has developed into a rooted plant comprising a rooting system and at least part of a stem system, in vernalized or non-vernilized form, and in frozen or non-frozen form.
• the number [12] in Figure 1 may in one preferred embodiment refer to a frozen, vernalized rooted plant.
• vernalized refers to the process of promoting the development of a plant in terms of germination and/or flowering. More specifically, the term refers to the "acquisition or acceleration of the ability to flower by a chilling or cold treatment".
• the term covers plants for which the process of vernalization is essential to achieve flowering, and plants for which a period of cold leads to improved flowering, inter alia in these sense that (i) time to flowering is reduced, (ii) flower number per plant is increased and/or (iii) more uniform flowering is achieved.
• This treatment can be natural or artificial.
• the first cold-treatment need not occur in a controlled environment, but may occur outside, as a result of climatic influence.
• vernalization occurs under controlled conditions. After vernalization, vernalization-requiring plants do not necessarily initiate flowering, but acquire the ability to do so. In many plant species,
• vernalization requires long-term exposure to the low temperatures of a typical seasonal winter.
• vernalization-requiring plant species it is preferred that the plants are not induced to flower in the late autumn season as a result of short, transient exposure to a cold period, followed by exposure to warmer conditions, as this will result in flowering.
• Flowering of many vernalization-requiring plant species is also promoted by long photoperiods (exposure to light) and this photoperiod requirement provides another level of assurance that flowering does not occur in late autumn when the days are short.
• the vernalization thus represents a rest period (preferably at a temperature of between 0 to 10 °C, preferably for a period of 5 to 100 days) that is required for the plants to flower or bloom.
• plant refers to a plant, or part thereof, of a species that requires the process of vernalization to acquire or accelerate the ability to flower.
• plant as used herein, is preferably defined as comprising a root system (penetrated) in a substrate, and at least part of a stem system.
• a bulb herein represents a stem system.
• plant seed, rootstock, and “bulb”, are used in their art-recognized meaning.
• root system refers to the root structure of a plant, which, when said plant is planted in a substrate, is typically penetrated into said substrate.
• stem system refers to the stalk of a plant or the main trunk of a tree.
• a stem system may include, but is not limited to, bulb, stalk, stock, shoot, trunk and axis.
• a shoot is used herein to describe new plant growth that can grow from seed or axillary buds.
• a shoot may include but is not limited to: branch, bough, growth, offshoot, sprig and scion.
• Stems and shoots are node-bearing plant structures. The skilled person is well aware how to determine whether a plant has a root system and a stem system.
• bulb may refer to either its meaning in botany or in gardening, or both.
• a bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases that function as food storage organs during dormancy.
• plants with other kinds of storage organ are also called “ornamental bulbous plants” or just “bulbs”.
• the leaf bases of a bulb also known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions.
• At the center of the bulb is a vegetative growing point or an unexpanded flowering shoot.
• the base is formed by a stem, and plant growth occurs from this basal plate. Roots emerge from the underside of the base, and new stems and leaves from the upper side.
• G stage is the stage at which the gynoecium (the female flower parts, made up of one or more carpels, consisting of stigma, style and ovary) are well-formed, following the development of perianth and the androecium (stamens).
• the flower has fully developed inside the bulb. It is preferred that the bulb used in aspects of this invention prior to receipt of the first cold treatment is at stage G. Moreover, it is preferred in
• the bulb used in aspects of this invention prior to receipt of the first cold treatment is a harvested bulb that has optionally received additional treatment (such as drying or heating).
• substrate refers to the medium on which a plant grows and in which its roots are distributed.
• the substrate preferably provides the plant with nutrients such as water and minerals.
• a substrate can be a soil, preferably a potting soil - also referred to as a potting mix or potting compost.
• a wide array of soils or other substrates are available for cultivating plants.
• a substrate in aspects of this invention is not necessarily a soil. The skilled person is well aware of methods and means for cultivating plants without soil, inter alia encompassing
• hydroponics A suitable substrate in that context may for instance be a mineral or polymer.
• suitable substrate in that context may for instance be a mineral or polymer.
• suitable substrate in that context may for instance be a mineral or polymer.
• an inert medium such as perlite, gravel or rockwool.
• seed refers to seeds, bulbs or rootstocks, respectively, that require the process of vernalization to germinate and/or flower, by exposure to a cold treatment.
• a rootstock may refer to a rhizome or an underground stem.
• flowering or “to flower” as used herein, refers to the blooming or formation of flowers of flowering plants.
• a “flowering unit” refers to a single seed, bulb or rootstock that, when vernalized and placed under suitable conditions, produces at least one flower.
• the term "container”, as used herein, refers to a container for plant husbandry, i.e. a container suitable for cultivating or displaying at least one plant in a substrate.
• the container is preferably a plant pot and is more preferably a plant pot adapted or developed for placement in soil such as in a garden while containing the plant.
• the container or plant pot is preferably biodegradable, and may be based on coco or peat/turf, or any other biodegradable material. Suitable examples of such biodegradable plant pots include pots of the line Jiffypot®.
• the container is preferably a container for plant husbandry, i.e. a container suitable for cultivating or displaying at least one plant in a substrate.
• the container is preferably a plant pot and is more preferably a plant pot adapted or developed for placement in soil such as in a garden while containing the plant.
• the container or plant pot is preferably biodegradable, and may be based on coco or peat/tur
• the container may suitably be a receiver unit including a multiple number of container volumes.
• the receiver unit includes partitioning members, defining the container volumes, e.g., a one- or two-dimensional array of container volumes.
• the receiver unit may be replanted our outplanted in its entirety (as a whole), or as a multiple number of separate submodules. To that end, the receiver unit may be disassembled into a multiple number of individual containers for outplanting or replanting. To facilitate the disassembly, the receiver unit may be provided with breaking lines between individual container volumes, e.g., along the partitioning elements.
• outplanting refers to the process of moving the growing location of a plant to a location where it is allowed to flower. Outplanting may occur in an inside or outside soil, such as a garden soil. Alternatively, outplanting may refer to placing a plant of the invention in a windowsill or in a pot on a table. It is an aspect of this invention that products are suitable for outplanting in the form of 1-20 separable flowering units. As an example, this means that 1 to 20 bulbs, preferably 1-3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 tulip bulbs have been planted and grown in containers such that individual frozen bulbs can be separated from, for instance, a tray of bulbs, without damaging the roots of the individual bulb.
• the receiver unit includes partitioning members, defining the container volumes, e.g., a one- or two-dimensional array of container volumes.
• the receiver unit may be replanted our outplanted in its entirety (as a whole), or as a multiple number of separate submodules. To that end, the receiver unit may be disassembled into a multiple number of individual containers for
• the receiver unit may be provided with breaking lines between individual container volumes, e.g., along the partitioning elements.
• tail channel refers to selling locations from which households purchase their commercial plants or propagating material, such as garden centers or supermarkets, or any other suitable outlet capable of vending from freezers.
• the term "cold-treatment for vernalization”, as used herein, refers to a cold period of sufficient length and of sufficiently low temperature to confer upon the vernalization-requiring propagating material the ability to germinate and/or flower.
• the vernalization temperature is preferably 0 - 10 °C, more preferably 2-9 °C. This period is also referred to herein as the first cold-treatment.
• the vernalization temperature may also be a set of different temperatures between 0-10 °C, such as an initial first period of
• a temperature of 7-10 °C such as about 9 °C
• a subsequent second period of vernalization at a temperature of 1-4 °C such as about 2 °C for a period of between, for instance, 5 to 50 days.
• vernalization may, for instance, have a duration of 2-6 weeks, such as 3, 4 or 5 weeks, and a subsequent second period of vernalization may, for instance, have a duration of 2-6 weeks, such as 3, 4 or 5 weeks.
• the vernalization temperature may, in an alternative embodiment, comprise a gradual decrease in the temperature to which the propagating material is exposed in accordance with aspects of this invention, for instance from a temperature of 9 °C down to 2 °C, i.e. along a decreasing temperature gradient, suitably over a period of, for instance, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 weeks or longer.
• the gradient may, but need not be, constant.
• plants are not devernalized before planting.
• the cold-treatment for vernalization is herein also referred to as the first cold-treatment.
• planting refers to placing a propagating material such as bulbs in or onto substrate, such as soil. Sowing is the process of planting seeds. In sowing, little if any soil is placed over the seeds. More precisely, seeds can be generally sown into the soil by
• a bulb in aspects of this invention is preferably planted in suitable substrate, such as a potting soil, and the planted bulb is preferably thereafter covered with a small layer of sand, or another porous medium (e.g. gravel), so as to prevent emergence the of the bulb during formation of the root system.
• suitable substrate such as a potting soil
• cold-treatment for arresting plant development and/or growth refers to a period of cold sufficient to arrest plant development and/or growth. This cold-treatment is preferably at a temperature of -20 °C to -1 °C (minus 20 to minus 1 °C). This period is also referred to herein as the second cold-treatment.
• the term "for replanting or outplanting”, as used herein, refers to the type of container in which the plant contained after planting.
• the container is preferably such that a minimum number of steps is needed to plant a plant of the invention in soil, such as in the soil of a garden, or a decorative pot in a room.
• a plant of the invention in a container is
• a packaging for transporting frozen goods such as paper- or plastic-based packaging materials including carton, paperboard or corrugated fiberboard boxes or transparent containers or wrappings.
• the container holding the plant, or the packaging holding the container preferably contains a color or color code corresponding to the color of the flowers of the plant in said container holding the plant.
• the packaging is also suitably transparent.
• the container is preferably biodegradable, such that it can be placed in the soil of a garden in its entirety together with the plant.
• the rooted plant is preferably not removed from its container, prior to planting, so as to avoid damage to the root system. Replanting as referred to herein, includes the process of removing the rooted bulb together with the substrate from its container, and replanting it in soil or a different pot.
• Outplanting refers the process of moving the plant from a nursery bed, greenhouse, or other location to a different location fpor flowering, such as an outside area, preferably into a soil, e.g. of a garden, while leaving the plant in the container.
• Outplanting in the context of this invention includes reference to moving the frozen or thawed potted plant in its entirety to an indoor location for flowering.
• Flower bulbs refers to all taxa of ornamental flowering "bulbs” having true bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes, tuberous roots, or enlarged hypocotyls as underground storage organs (Le Nard, M., and A. A. De Hertogh. 1993. Tulipa. In A. De Hertogh and M. Le Nard, eds., The
• a preferred embodiment of a bulb in aspects of this invention is a tulip. Tulips are spring-blooming perennials that grow from bulbs.
• ornamental plant refers to plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display. More specifically, the term refers to garden plants or plants that are sold for cultivation and display in a garden.
• a preferred bulb of the invention is a bulb of a Liliaceae plant, most preferably a bulb from a species of the genus Tulipa.
• Flowering bulbs of the invention may be annuals, biennials, or perennials, and may bloom in spring, summer, or autumn, which periods refer to the plants natural blooming period.
• Tuhp preferably refers to Tulipa gesneriana L.
• refrigerator or freezer preferably refers to a refrigerator or freezer generally encountered in house-holds or in retail such as supermarkets.
• the refrigerator or freezer can be free-standing or build-in.
• multiple refrigerating or freezing units may be disposed side to side, or in line, as generally is the case in retail.
• frozen as used herein in the context of frozen plant, refers to a plant having an internal and/or external temperature below 0 °C, or refers to plants that are stored at a temperature of below 0 °C. Description of the preferred embodiments
• the present inventors now provide for a method using frozen potted flowering plants. In this way, the horticultural preparation can be delayed until just a few days or weeks prior to the intended blooming time.
• the present invention thus provides for a method for the production of flower arrangements, comprising a method using frozen potted flowering plants, and a process for producing frozen potted flowering plants.
• Processes for producing cut flowers, such as cut tulips are well known in the art, as are methods of producing early flowering plants, such as tuhps from bulbs. Methods for producing cut flowers, and methods for producing early flowering plants are not an aspect of this invention.
• planting stock is intended for maintaining the variety, for asexual reproduction through bulblets, and for increasing the size (or weight or quahty) of the bulbs. Planting stock is generally allowed to bloom for about three weeks, after which the flower is topped to control petal debris and to avoid energy-loss to seeds.
• Forcing bulbs are produced for forcing as fresh cut flowers. Forcing bulbs are usually small, planted closely together in large trays, vernalized, and allowed to bloom, after which the stems with flowers are harvested.
• Plant and landscaping bulbs are generally of large size and high quality and are produced for use in gardens or pots and sold in harvested (lifted), dried and non-vernalized form in retail channels.
• a forcing bulb is not generally suitable for use as a garden and landscaping bulb in retail.
• tulip bulbs may suffer from Fusarium and
• Penicillium infection and many cultivars are susceptible to flower abortion and abnormalities due to ethylene exposure or exposure to unfavorable storage conditions such as in retail displays (e.g. heat, drying). Regardless of the horticultural use, conventional bulb products are therefore preferably shipped at 17 °C under a ventilation rate of 150 m ⁇ .h 1 . With the exception of a treatment at 34 °C for early forcing, unplanted bulbs are not to be stored at temperatures exceeding 25 °C or temperatures lower that 0 °C. It is an advantage of the present invention, that these problem can now be circumvented by the use of the vernalized plant product of the invention. Due to the fact that the vernalized plant product of the invention is displayed and sold in frozen form, fungal infection is prevented, and unfavorable display conditions that result in flower abortion are prevented.
• bulbs for planting stock are initially placed at 23 to 25 °C for 3 to 4 weeks. Subsequently, depending on the cultivar, they are stored at progressively lower temperatures, from 23 to 20 °C down to 17 to 15 °C, until just before being planted. These temperatures are used to encourage enhanced production of large sized bulbs from the planting stock. Such conditions may suitably be used in aspects of the invention to provide bulbs at stage G (Rees, 1973. J. Hort Science 48: 149-154).
• cultivars For very early forcing, or early flowering, of forcing bulbs, most cultivars may be kept at 34 °C for a duration of 1 week immediately after lifting. Subsequently, they may be stored under dry and ventilated conditions at 17 to 20 °C. Such conditions may suitably be used in aspects of the invention to provide bulbs at stage G. It is preferred to be able to identify the stages of flower initiation, since the bulbs must reach stage G prior to the first cold treatment in accordance to the present invention.
• bulbs are generally placed at 17 to 23 °C prior to vernalization. Such conditions may suitably be used in aspects of the invention to provide bulbs at stage G prior to their exposure to the first cold treatment in accordance to the present invention.
• forcing of bulbs may ensure the availability of flowering bulbs much earlier in the year, forcing in general is not the solution for obtaining flowering bulbs at any time of the year, because forcing bulbs are usually harvested in areas with a warmer climate than that of the country or market for which the early flowering bulb plant is intended. Warmer climates at the production locations result in faster growth of the bulbs and an earlier harvest, but does not provide for the advantages of the present invention.
• a disadvantage of forced bulbs is that, once vernalized, their development will continue, and they have a limited shelf-life and time-to- market.
• the invention relates to plants, or plant parts, that require the process of vernalization to acquire the ability of, or accelerate/improve the process of, germination and/or flowering.
• a diverse group of plants - some of ornamental nature, others more functional, such as plants providing edible fruits or other edible plant parts - require vernalization for flowering or for improving the process of flowering.
• the plant is selected from the group of vernalizable bulbous plants, such as bulbous plants of the Liliaceae family, or the subfamily of Lilioideae, which includes the genus Tulipa and subgenera thereof such as Clusianae, Orithyia, Tulipa and Eriostemones.
• vernalizable bulbous plants such as bulbous plants of the Liliaceae family, or the subfamily of Lilioideae, which includes the genus Tulipa and subgenera thereof such as Clusianae, Orithyia, Tulipa and Eriostemones.
• Other plants in the Liliaceae family are lihes.
• Other suitable vernalizable plants are found in the family of Amaryllidaceae, which includes plants of the genus Narcissus.
• a plant of the invention is preferably a tulip, lily, narcissus, grape hyacinth and/or strawberry. More preferably, a plant of the invention is a tulip.
• Vernalization-requiring plant-species such as tuhps, must undergo a so-called "cold period” in order to develop long stems and to be able to flower. If the bulbs are planted in an area with cold winters, they will receive a natural cold period. However, when the bulbs of vernalization- requiring plants are placed in a cooling room before the winter months, they can flower earlier than their natural flowering date. This is what in the art is call “forcing”. Thus, "forcing” is defined as placing in a coohng room before the winter months, to achieve that bulbs flower earlier than their natural flowering date. In some embodiments of aspects of this invention, the invention comprises the step of "forcing".
• Vernalization-requiring bulbs are preferably exposed to a warm period prior to the cold period of vernalization, so that the flower inside the bulb can develop, and the bulb can reach stage G. This may occur in the controlled environment of a treatment room in which bulbs are heated or warmed at a specific temperature until reaching developmental stage "G" (Rees, 1973. J. Hort Science 48: 149- 154). Vernalization may be initiated after the bulbs have reached stage "G".
• the process of vernalization involves subjecting a propagation material, such as a seed, bulb, or other plant part, such as rootstock, before, during or after planting said material, preferably before planting, to a cold-treatment at a temperature of 0 to 10 °C, preferably at a temperature of 5 to 9 °C.
• a propagation material such as a seed, bulb, or other plant part, such as rootstock
• a cold-treatment at a temperature of 0 to 10 °C, preferably at a temperature of 5 to 9 °C.
• the process for the production of a vernalized frozen plant according to the present invention comprises two cold treatment periods.
• the first cold treatment period comprises the vernalization and root formation
• the second cold treatment period comprises the freezing and arrest of development.
• Bulbs subjected to the first cold treatment should be kept at a temperature that allows the roots to develop. This process of root formation generally takes at least three weeks, but may be chosen longer or shorter, depending on the species, variety , stem length and time of flowering required. Generally, a temperature between 0 and 10°C, preferably 2-9°C, will allow root formation.
• the first cold-treatment can be provided by any means, such as by placing the propagation material in a refrigerator or cold room.
• the cold treatments proposed are artificial in the sense that they are not provided by nature as seasonal cold periods of temperate climatic zones.
• the cold treatments occur in a protected environment having a controlled temperature, such as a cooling chamber, preferably comprising means for controlling the temperature of said environment independent of the outside climatic conditions ,.
• the environment wherein the material is cold-treated is ventilated with air.
• the period of the first cold-treatment is preferably 2-140 days, more preferably 10-100 days or 25-100 days, even more preferably 30-90 days and most preferably about 70-85 days. It is preferred that the length of the first cold treatment period is kept relatively short so as to keep the stem of the resulting flowering plant short but firm. A short but firm stem is particularly important for, for instance, garden tulips. A shorter first cold treatment period provides a shorter firm stem. Thus, the vernalization period of the plant of the present invention is preferable chosen such that a relatively short firm stem is obtained that is suitable for outdoor exposure.
• the duration of the first cold- treatment period is preferably adapted such that the flower stem at the fully grown flower is less than 70cm, preferably less than 60 cm, 50 cm, 40 cm, 30, cm, 25 cm, 20 cm, or 20 cm.
• the duration of the first cold-treatment period is adapted such that the flower stem length of the fully grown flower is the range of 15- 50 cm, preferably 20-40 cm, more preferably 25-35 cm.
• the temperature during this first cold-treatment may be constant, such as a 5°C, but preferably the temperature during the first cold
• propagation material in aspects of this invention can be vernalized without having yet been planted in or on a substrate such as a potting soil. It is preferred, in one embodiment of aspects of this invention, that the process of vernalization is applied on a propagation material before it is contacted with, or planted in or on a substrate.
• the process of vernalization is applied on a propagation material after or at least partly during a period when said material is contacted with, or planted into or on a substrate.
• the substrate is preferably contained in a container.
• allowing the propagation material to form a root system may occur after the period of the first cold-treatment, wherein the planted and vernalized propagation material is subjected to an elevated temperature as compared to the temperature of the first-cold treatment, for instance a temperature in the range of 12-30 °C, preferably 12-20°C.
• the period in which the planted propagation material is subjected to such an elevated temperature should be sufficient to allow the planted material to form a rooted plant comprising a rooting system in a substrate, and optionally at least part of a stem system.
• a vernalized plant of the invention is primed to quickly grow and flower.
• the vernalized plant germinates, develops roots and part of a stem system, but is non-flowering.
• a rooted plant in that stage is still in its vegetative or juvenile stage and is not flowering.
• the formation of such a rooted plant occurs during the first cold-treatment.
• the first-cold period is preferably initiated after the propagating material reaches stage G. It is possible to expose the propagating material prior to the first cold-treatment, and after reaching stage G, to a temperature of about 15-25 °C, preferably about 20 °C, for a period of between 1-5 weeks, such as 2, 3, or 4 weeks. This brief, relatively warm period is preferably provided to the harvested, dried propagating material in stage G.
• a single flowering unit of propagation material (such as a single seed, bulb or other plant part that can grow in a mature plant), is planted in or on a substrate in a container and allowed to form a rooted plant comprising a rooting system in a substrate, and optionally at least part of a stem system.
• more than one flowering unit of propagation material (such as multiple seeds, bulbs or other plant parts that can grow in a mature plant) is planted in or on a substrate in a container.
• 2-10, more preferably 2, 3, 4, or 5 flowering units of propagating material, such as seeds or bulbs are planted in a single container in accordance to embodiments of this invention.
• a flowering unit herein is a unit of propagating material that forms at least one flower.
• the propagation material that is planted is preferably of the same plant species, but may be of a different cultivar or variety.
• the container when planting multiple flowering units of propagating material per container, the container may comprise propagation material of different plant species that form a root system in a substrate, and optionally at least part of a stem system.
• a method for producing a plant of the invention may also refer to a method for producing more than one, or at least one, vernalized plant, possibly of a different species, that are in the same container, i.e. in a single plant pot.
• the propagating material prior to the first cold- treatment period is planted in small numbers, preferably individually, i.e. one, or with 2-4 flowering units, at most, in a single pot, or in individual sub -containers.
• physical separators may also be used when using larger trays, so as to physically separate the root systems of a single flowering unit or of no more than 2-4 plants flowering unit adjacent flowering units. It is thus suitable to use a tray with compartments, preferably removable compartments.
• multiple flowering units e.g. plants
• multiple flowering units are separated by the use of physical separators in a planting tray that at least partially separate the growing substrate of one flowering unit from the growing substrate of an adjacent flowering unit, such that these flowering units, when contained in their substrate can be broken apart or divided.
• a further step of a method of the invention involves subjecting a rooted plant as mentioned hereinbefore to a second cold-treatment for arresting plant development and/or growth.
• a refrigerator or freezer preferably also providing ventilation of air, can suitable be used for this purpose.
• the temperature of said second cold-treatment is sufficient to arrest plant development and/or growth and is preferably below 0 °C, more preferably below -1 °C, even more preferably in the range of -20 °C to -1 °C, and most preferably in the range of - 10 °C to -1 °C.
• a temperature of about - 1 °C, or lower very suitably arrests plant development and/or growth.
• the period of the second cold- treatment is such so as to arrest the development and/or growth of the rooted plant.
• the period of the second cold-treatment is 2- 120 days, more preferably 2-60 days or 2-30 days.
• the period of the second cold-treatment should not exceed 5 months, preferably it should be less than 4 months, more preferably less than three months, as it was established that prolonged periods of freezing, i.e. periods longer than 5 months, reduce plant or flower quahty and increase the susceptibility of said plant to root rot.
• the duration of the period during which the vernalized propagation material remains frozen, prior to its sale and outplanting, e.g. in a garden, is suitably 15- 16 weeks.
• the vernalized propagation material remains frozen for a period less than 14 weeks, more preferably less than 13 weeks, e.g. 12 weeks, in order to obtain relatively short, relatively strong stems.
• this condition does not only apply to the period of the second cold- treatment, but in fact applies to the combination of the period of the second cold-treatment and the period in which a packaged plant of the invention is stored, transported to the retailer, and displayed for sale.
• Said storage, transport and display preferably also takes place under freezing conditions, i.e. at temperatures below 0 °C.
• the plant or plants in a container for replanting or outplanting are optionally packaged, and then stored at a temperature of below 0 °C.
• the step of the second cold-treatment and the step of storing the frozen plant can, in fact, be one step wherein the rooted plant is subjected to a second cold-treatment for arresting plant development and/or growth and at the same time is stored under the temperature applied during the second cold-treatment. It is preferred that these steps are executed simultaneously.
• Storage of the frozen plant preferably occurs by non-natural or artificial means for cooling such as in a freezer.
• the period during which the vernahzed propagating material s kept frozen ie.e before it is sold and outplanted in, e.g., a household garden, is preferably not more that 6 weeks to 3 months. This period should not exceed 6 months.
• Packaging a plant of the invention is preferably not more that 6 weeks to 3 months. This period should not exceed 6 months.
• a further step of the invention involves packaging a frozen, vernalized plant of the invention.
• a frozen, vernalized plant of the invention is planted in a container for replanting or outplanting.
• a frozen, vernalized plant of the invention is in a container, preferably in a biodegradable plant pot, and may thereafter be packaged in for instance a box or another packaging type. The consumer can easily replant or outplant the plant in the container by planting the plant in the container in soil such as a garden.
• An advantage is that the availability (year-round) of vernalized plants in gardens is strongly increased, as, for instance in spring and summer, new frozen, vernalized plants can be planted whenever it is desired.
• a set of frozen vernalized yellow tulips according to the present invention which ae non-flowering at that moment, are planted in a garden so as to flower during Easter, during which time yellow is a popular coloring arrangement.
• the yellow tulips can be removed from the garden, and a set of frozen, vernalized orange tuhps can be planted that is anticipated to flower a month later, during, e.g., King's Day in the
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a packaged, vernalized plant 10 according to the invention.
• the plant 10 has a bulb 12, a stem 14 extending upwardly from said bulb 12, and a rooting structure 16 extending from said bulb 12 downwardly and sidewardly.
• the stem 14 may be (part of) the bulb 12, as in the case of tulip bulbs, the stem is botanically considered to represent the stem.
• the bulb 12 and the rooting structure 16 are embedded in a substrate 18 such as soil or a synthetic medium e.g.
• the substrate 18 is contained in a container 20. As shown in Fig. 1 the stem 14 extends upwardly such an upper part of the stem is located above the substrate 18. However, the stem can be shorter such that it is completely covered by the substrate 18. Further, the stem might have relatively short dimensions such that it might be even hardly visible.
• the container 20 contains a layer of sand or another porous medium 22 covering the substrate 18. In another embodiment, however, no sand or porous medium is applied on top of the substrate 18.
• a moisture impermeable or less permeable foil can be applied covering the content of the container 20. The foil may seal the container 20 to minimize an evaporation process. In the shown embodiment, no foil is applied e.g. in case of a relatively short storage time of the plant 10.
• the container 20 may have a cylindrical geometry, e.g., having a polygonal or rounded cross sectional shape.
• the container has a rectangular, square or circular cross sectional shape. It is noted that the container may have another geometry, e.g., a ball shape.
• the container 18 has been placed in a packaging such as a box or bag 24 for packaging the plant 10 so that customers may easily handle the container with reduced chance of damaging the plant 10.
• the packaging may contain a single container 18 or a multiple number of containers e.g. two, three, four or five containers.
• the container 18 may include a single plant 10 or some more plants, preferably 2-10 plants, more preferably 2, 3, 4 or 5 plants.
• step of packaging the plant 10 may
• the packaging step may include removing the substrate 18 with the plant 10 from the container 18 and placing said plant holding substrate 18 in another container, e.g., a biodegradable container or a pot.
• a container for plant husbandry is preferably suitable to hold 1-10, preferably 2-5, plants or bulbs of the invention and/or has dimension that do not exceed 50 cm (1) x 50 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), preferably dimensions that do not exceed 30 cm (1) x 30 cm (w) x 20 cm (h), more preferably dimensions that do not exceed 20 cm (1) x 20 cm (w) x 20 cm (h) or 15 cm (1) x 15 cm (w) x 15 cm.
• a container as recited in the context of the invention is preferably biodegradable. Preferably, dimension are exceeded if at least one value of length, width or height exceeds the indicated value.
• the optional step of packaging refers to a step wherein a plant of the invention in container for plant husbandry is placed in a packaging, preferably a paper-based packaging material, for instance a box having a square form.
• a box of the invention may be square and have the dimensions of about 12 cm (I) x about 14 cm (w) x about 20 cm (h). It is also envisaged herein that the plant is packaged in a foil, preferably a transparent foil, generally used to package plants or flowers.
• a plant of the invention is individually packaged, so as to provide a package of one frozen, vernalized plant in a container for plant husbandry. It is envisaged herein that two or more of such individually packaged plants are placed in a container or box suitable for holding a multitude of said individually packaged plants.
• a color code or color corresponding to the color of the flowers of a plant in a container in said packaging may be provided on the container or on the packaging itself.
• the plant of the present invention is a frozen potted plant.
• the plant of the present invention is not a cut flower in the sense that the term is used in the art, although it will be appreciated that once the plant of the invention is outplanted in, e.g., a household garden, the resulting stem and flower can be cut to be displayed elsewhere.
• Example 1 Producing a vernalized tulip.
• Tulip bulbs of the variety "Apricot Beauty” are bought from tulip bulb growers in a post-harvest period and placed in a climate room.
• the tulip bulbs in stage G (indicating initiation of the gynoecium as determinable in dissected bulbs) are subjected to a cold-treatment starting at a temperature of 10 °C or 9 °C which slowly drops the temperature of the bulbs towards 10 °C or 9 °C.
• tulip bulbs are individually planted in biodegradable plant pots formed of coco filled with a potting soil. Cold-treatment at a temperature of 9 °C is resumed until roots are developing from the bulbs.
• the temperature in the climate room is slowly brought towards 2 °C. After- six weeks at a temperature of 2 °C, the rooted tulip develops a rooting system in the substrate, and at least part of a stem system and is thereafter stored for ten days at temperature of -5 °C so as to arrest
• Example 2 Producing a vernalized tulip.
• Tulip bulbs of the variety "Apricot Beauty'" are bought from tulip bulb growers in a post-harvest period and placed in a climate room.
• the tulip bulbs are subjected to a cold-treatment at a temperature of 2 °C.
• tulip bulbs are individually planted in biodegradable plant pots formed of coco filled with a potting soil, the pots and soil being held at room temperature. While being held at a temperature of 2 °C, the rooted tulip is allowed to develop a rooting system in the substrate, and at least part of a stem system and is thereafter stored for 20 days at temperature of -8 °C so as to arrest development/induce dormancy.
• the frozen, vernahzed tulips are planted in soil in a garden during the spring season.
• the vernahzed tuhps quickly flower.
• Example 3 Producing a vernalized strawberry plant.
• Strawberry rootstock of the variety "Daroyai” is bought from strawberry growers in a post-harvest period and placed in a climate room.
• the strawberry rootstock is planted in a biodegradable plant pot formed of coco filled with a potting soil, and as a whole subjected to a cold-treatment at a temperature of 2 °C for three weeks. After three weeks of cold- treatment, the strawberry plant has developed a rooting system in the substrate, and at least part of a stem system and is thereafter stored for 30 days at temperature of -7 °C so as to arrest development/induce dormancy. After a period of storage of 30 days, the frozen, vernalized strawberry plants are planted in soil in a garden during the spring season. The vernalized strawberry plants quickly flower.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Botany (AREA)
• Cultivation Of Plants (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=57460576

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (1)

Citations (8)

• 2016
  • 2016-10-10 NL NL2017598A patent/NL2017598B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2017
  • 2017-09-18 WO PCT/NL2017/050611 patent/WO2018070864A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (8)

Non-Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events