WO2020255119A1

WO2020255119A1 - Physical means and methods for modulating plants, plant parts and plant products

Info

Publication number: WO2020255119A1
Application number: PCT/IL2020/050659
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tamar Levin; Orit ISH-YEMINI
Original assignee: Enp (T.O) Ltd.
Priority date: 2019-06-19
Filing date: 2020-06-15
Publication date: 2020-12-24
Also published as: IL288664A

Abstract

The invention relates to a plasma modified field (PMF) generating system and methods for inducing effects on plants and plant parts thereof. Specifically, the invention discloses a method of increasing number of flowers or inflorescences of a plant, to a range being at least 10% over natural number of flowers or inflorescences in a non-treated plant, characterized by step of emitting a PMF on said plant or a portion thereof

Description

PHYSICAL MEANS AND METHODS FOR MODULATING PLANTS, PLANT PARTS AND

PLANT PRODUCTS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally pertains to modified plasma application. More specifically, the invention relates to a plasma modified field (PMF) generating system and methods for inducing effects on plants and plant parts thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Over the past 50 years, the need to increase food production has resulted in the loss of one-fifth of the world’s topsoil, one-fifth of its agricultural land and one third of its forests. To slow down, and ideally reverse, this trend in the face of a predicted population increase of 50 per cent, a water shortage and climate change, new approaches will be needed. In this context, crop biotechnology and genomics have a major contributory role to play in the sustainable improvement of crop and livestock productivity, human and animal health and the development of renewable resources such as fibres, plastics, biofuels and plant-made pharmaceuticals.

One of the major challenges for agriculture is the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly systems to address the need to feed the growing world population.

(Povero, Giovanni, et al. 2016 "A systematic approach to discover and characterize natural plant biostimulants." Frontiers in plant science 7: 435.)

The major challenge to agriculture and the main driver for modern crop development are the need to balance (1) the provision of an adequate food supply in the face of a globally expanding population with (2) resultant environmental impact from urbanization, habitat loss, the impact of introduced species, water shortage and climate change. To achieve this, existing practices must be adapted and new solutions developed that will allow the improvement of farm productivity and food quality with lower environmental impacts.

Additionally, The US FDA recognized an unmet need in the pharmacopeia for herbal medicines and developing botanical products and implanted in 2004 documented guidance for a new class of drugs called“botanical drug products”. These botanical drug products must have demonstrated safety and efficacy profiles and established quality control for consistent production. However, only two botanical drugs products have passed FDA by the end of 2016.

There has been rising interest in botanical drugs, with many players investigating the commercial potential. The global market for plant-derived and botanical drugs is expected to reach $39.6 billion by 2022.

Specifically, increased patient interest in the medical use of cannabis has been accompanied by renewed scientific interest in the medical use of substances found in the cannabis plant.

In summary, basic food security is in danger - and under growing pressure, along with the need for new drugs, Therefore three is still unmet need for plants, for food or for feed, and for plant based medicines, with decreasing area of arable land, This need could be overcame by improvements in yield, such as increasing the crop and plant yield. And enhancing the, quality of crops, particularly under unfavorable growing environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to disclose a method of increasing number of flowers or inflorescences of a plant, to a range being at least 10% over natural number of flowers or inflorescences in a non-treated plant, characterized by step of emitting a PMF on said plant or a portion thereof

Another object of the invention is to disclose the method as defined in any of the above wherein said plant is selected from a group consisting of medicinal plants, crops, or fruit trees.

Another object of the invention is to disclose the method as defined in any of the above, wherein said crops is selected from a group consisting of food crops, feed crops, non-food crops, fibre crops, oil crops, ornamental crops, industrial crops, secondary crops, and any combination thereof.

Another object of the invention is to disclose the method as defined in any of the above, wherein said non-food crops are selected from a group consisting of horticulture, floriculture, industrial crops, and any combination thereof.

Another object of the invention is to disclose the method as defined in any of the above wherein said food crops is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, rice, wheat, sugarcane and other sugar crops, maize (corn), soybean oil, potatoes, palm oil, cassava, legume pulses, sunflower seed oil, rape and mustard oil, sorghum, millet, groundnuts, beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, soybeans, cottonseed oil, yams any combination thereof.

Another object of the invention is to disclose the method as defined in any of the above wherein said medicinal plants are selected from a group consisting of cannabis, gingko, turmeric, evening primrose oil, flax seed, tea tree oil, echinacea, grapeseed extract, lavender, chamomile, aloe, neem, basil (tulsi), ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, myrrh, moringa oleifera, sandalwood, ginseng, red clover, burdock, bayberry, safflower, fennel, chives, cilantro, apple mint, thyme, golden oregano, variegated lemon balm, rosemary, variegated sage, chirayta, black pepper, marshmallow root and leaf, cardamom, coriander ginger and cloves, chamomile, calamus, ajwain, basil, cardamom, chrysanthemum, coriander, fennel, peppermint, spearmint, ginger, golden seal, chirayata cayenne, lal mirch, myrrh, camphor, gugguk, giloe, golden , barberry and any combination thereof.

Another object of the invention is to disclose the method as defined in any of the above, wherein said method comprises steps of a. measuring natural number of flowers or inflorescences in a plant;

b. defining a desired number of flowers or inflorescences in said plant; exposing said plant or said portion thereof to at least one first protocol of PMF emission treatment, said protocol comprising a predefined combination of at least one pulse profile and at least one time interval pattern.;

c. analyzing resulted number of flowers or inflorescences in said plant

d. if resulted number of flowers or inflorescences equals said desired number of flowers or inflorescences, harvesting the same; and

e. if resulted number of flowers or inflorescences does not equal said desired number, exposing said plant or plant portion thereof either to said at least one first protocol or to at least one second protocol of PMF emission treatment of the plant or plant portions during life cycle of said plants; said first and said second protocols comprising a predefined combination of at least one pulse profile and at least one time interval pat term

Another object of the invention is to disclose the method as defined in any of the above, wherein said portion is selected from a group consisting of, stems, leaves, inflorescences and flowers, and any combination thereof. One object of the invention is to disclose a method for increasing flower or inflorescence number in a medicinal plant to a range being at least 10% over flower or inflorescence number in a non- treated plant, characterized by step of emitting a PMF on said medicinal plant or a portion thereof.

Another object of the invention is to disclose the method as defined in any of the above, wherein said medicinal plant is cannabis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig.l depicts an example of untreated cannabis plant; and

Fig.2 depicts an example of a treated cannabis plant

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided, alongside all chapters of the present invention, so as to enable any person skilled in the art to make use of said invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention. Various modifications, however, is adapted to remain apparent to those skilled in the art, since the generic principles of the present invention have been defined specifically to provide method for affecting plants and plant parts by application of modified plasma to these plants and plant parts. Moreover, the present invention provides a method for increasing yield of crops and medicinal plants such as cannabis plant using modified plasma treatment. Specifically, the present invention discloses a system configured to increase number of flowers of these plants, by a modified plasma treatment of the plants or plant parts during life cycle of these plants.

The term "modified plasma" or "plasma modified field" or "PMF" as used herein refers to a non-thermal/cold plasma coupled to or modified or transformed or interacts with , at least one of ferroelectric means or elements, ferromagnetic means or elements, piezoelectric means or elements or by a combination of all elements or any partial combination thereof. According to a main embodiment, the modified plasma is further adjusted or influenced by a reflecting element as inter alia disclosed. It is within the scope of the present invention that a "plasma modified field" or "PMF" refers to plasma oscillations influenced by a coupling element selected from the group consisting of at least one ferroelectric element, at least one ferromagnetic element, at least one piezoelectric element or by any combination thereof, as well as by a reflecting element. Pulse profile as used herein refers to pulse characterization by duration of each pulse cycle, number of pulse cycles, pattern of each pulse cycle in terms of number and duration of“on pulses” and number and duration of“pauses”) for a predefined desirable organism.

Pulses can be of various types, which mean having different rate units or pulse cycles pattern, as defined above.

Some of the parameters defining the pulse profile include: i. Number of pulse cycles in use, ii. Time period for a rate unit or pulse cycle; and iii. Number of ON and OFF actions for each rate unit or pulse cycle. Accordingly, the rate units can be characterized by the number of ON and OFF actions.

The main distinguishing feature of the uniqueness of the non-thermal plasma device of the current invention is that the current plasma device has a pulse profile which is activated in a variety of operating regimens/protocols; wherein these operating regimens/protocols can vary between a plurality of pulse profiles. These operating regimens/protocols can vary also in the patten of time intervals which can be up to several days.

In light of the above, the operating regimens/protocols as used herein refer to a variety of pulse profiles with a variety of time intervals patterns_T a combination of at least one pulse profile and at least one time interval pattern. This combination can be changed according to the desired needs.

Such as if resulted number of flowers or inflorescences does not equal said desired number, exposing said plant or plant portion thereof either to said at least one first protocol or to at least one second protocol of PMF emission treatment of the plant or plant portions during life cycle of said plants; said first and said second protocols comprising a predefined combination of at least one pulse profile and at least one time interval pattern, or different combination of at least one pulse profile and at least one time interval pattern Thus, the pulse profile and pulse operating regimen/protocol are planned or pre-determined according to the desired effects. The effect on the plant is achieved by planned protocol/regimen of a series of pulses which are hours or days apart, according to the desired effect on the plant.

The PMF system disclosed by the current invention is disclosed in patent IL-226-105 (by Ish - Yamini Tomer and Levin), US 8896211B2 (by Ish Yamini Tomer and Levin), and in US10266802B2 (by Ish -Yamini Tomer and Levin).

Patent IL-226-105 by Ish -Yamini Tomer and Levin discloses: "The effect of the PMF treatment as described above is tested on various beneficial crops, particularly on the root of the plant. The regenerative effect of the treatment can be demonstrated by evaluating parameters associated with improved plant growth, improved plant yield and improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Such parameters include in a non-limiting manner, plant growth rate, plant height, fruit yield, fruit size, improved and extended root system, fruit brix and combinations thereof.

Patent IL-226-105 does not disclose PMF treatment on flowers. Additionally, Patent IL-226-105 does not disclose the effective pulse operating regimen/protocol

US 10,266,802 B2 by Ish -Yamini Tomer and Levin discloses system and method for providing at least one biological effect in at least one microorganism. US 10,266,802 B2 and US 8,896,211 B2 mention also that the non-thermal plasma system useful for functional recovery, for pain relief, water purification, gas pollution purification, ozone decomposition, disease and/or medical disorders therapy, plant growth, increase and improve agriculture yield, such as fruit size, fruit weight and increase root system strength. However, US10,266,802 B2 and US 8,896,211 B2 do not disclose the effective pulse operating regimen/protocol, of a series of pulses which are hours or days apart, according to the desired effect on the plant. Furthermore, the effect of the modified plasma treatment as described above in patent IL-226-105 (by Ish -Yamini Tomer and Levin), US 8896211B2 (by Ish Yamini Tomer and Levin), and in US10266802B2 (by Ish -Yamini Tomer and Levin) is tested on various beneficial and do not disclose any effect on flowers and flower count.,

As used herein after the term "crop" refers in agriculture, to a plant or plant product that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or subsistence. By use, crops fall into six categories: food crops, for human consumption (e.g., wheat, potatoes); feed crops, for livestock consumption (e.g., oats, alfalfa); fibre crops, for cordage and textiles (e.g., cotton, hemp); oil crops, for consumption or industrial uses (e.g., cottonseed, corn); ornamental crops, for landscape gardening (e.g., dogwood, azalea); and industrial and secondary crops, for various personal and industrial uses (e.g., rubber, tobacco).

Crop may refer either to the harvested parts or to the harvest in a more refined state. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or aquaculture. A crop is usually expanded to include macroscopic fungus (e.g. mushrooms), or alga (algaculture).

Most crops are harvested as food for humans or fodder for livestock. Some crops are gathered from the wild (including intensive gathering, e.g. ginseng).

Important food crops: The importance of a crop varies greatly by region. Globally, the following crops contribute most to human food supply: fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains , nuts, rice, wheat, sugarcane and other sugar crops, maize (corn), soybean oil, , potatoes, palm oil, cassava, legume pulses, sunflower seed oil, rape and mustard oil, , sorghum, millet, groundnuts, beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, soybeans, cottonseed oil, groundnut , yams.

Important non-food crops include horticulture, floriculture and industrial crops. Horticulture crops include plants used for other crops (e.g. fruit trees). Floriculture crops include bedding plants, houseplants, flowering garden and pot plants, cut cultivated greens, and cut flowers. Industrial crops are produced for clothing (fiber crops), biofuel (energy crops, algae fuel), or medicine (medicinal plants).

As used herein after the term yield refers to the measure of grains or seeds generated from a unit of land expressed as kilograms per hectare.

In agriculture, crop yield (also known as "agricultural output") refers to both the measure of the yield of a crop per unit area of land cultivation, and the seed generation of the plant itself (e.g if three grains are harvested for each grain seeded, the resulting yield is 1:3). That figure, 1:3, is considered by agronomists as the minimum required to sustain human life.

The unit by which the yield of a crop is measured is kilograms per hectare or bushels per acre.

This measure is more commonly used for legumes, grains or cereal.

As used herein after the term grain refers to a small, hard, dry seed, with or without an attached hull or fruit layer, harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and legumes. After being harvested, dry grains are more durable than other staple foods, such as starchy fruits (plantains, breadfruit, etc.) and tubers (sweet potatoes, cassava, and more). This durability has made grains well suited to industrial agriculture, since they can be mechanically harvested, transported by rail or ship, stored for long periods in silos, and milled for flour or pressed for oil. Thus, major global commodity markets exist for maize, rice, soybeans, wheat and other grains but not for tubers, vegetables, or other crops.

Grains and cereals are synonymous with caryopses, the fruits of the grass family. In agronomy and commerce, seeds or fruits from other plant families are called grains if they resemble caryopses.

Grains, commonly referred to as‘cereals’ or‘cereal grains’, are the edible seeds of specific grasses belonging to the Poaceae (also known as Gramineae) family. Wheat, oats and rice are the grains most commonly eaten in Australia, with others such as rye, barley, corn, triticale, millet and sorghum making a smaller contribution. Some types of wheat such as spelt, freekeh, emmer and eikorn are also becoming more popular.

True Cereal Grains: There are a number of different types of grains found within the true cereal grains which are from the botanical family‘Poaceae’ including wheat, oats, rice, corn (maize), barley, sorghum, rye, and millet. Within these groups there are also varieties such as farro, freekeh, emmer and spelt which are all types of wheat as well as new grains like triticale which is a mixture of wheat and rye.

Pseudo-Cereal Grains: The‘pseudo-cereal’ group are not part of the Poaceae botanical family, in which‘true’ grains belong, however they are nutritionally similar and used in similar ways to ‘true’ grains. Many of these, such as amaranth, buckwheat and quinoa (pronounced‘keen-wah’), are not actually grains but are in fact seeds from a number of different plant species external to the Poaceae family. As such, they are not by definition‘true’ grains, yet they are considered‘pseudo cereals’ since their overall nutrient composition is similar and they are prepared and used in similar ways to‘true’ grains. Pseudo-cereals are increasingly being used in the manufacture of niche breads, flatbreads, crispbreads, pasta, breakfast cereals and snack bars as well as on their own as alternatives to rice, pasta and cous cous.

Cereal grains: All cereal crops are members of the grass family (Poaceae). Cereal grains contain a substantial amount of starch, a carbohydrate that provides dietary energy. a. Warm-season cereals comprise: finger millet, fonio, foxtail millet, Japanese millet, Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen, kodo millet, maize (corn), millet, pearl millet, proso millet, sorghum.

b. Cool-season cereals: barley, oats, rice, rye, spelt, teff, triticale, wheat, wild rice;

c. Pseudocereal grains: Starchy grains from broadleaf (dicot) plant families, which comprise: amaranth (Amaranth family), buckwheat (Smartweed family), chia (Mint family), quinoa (Amaranth family, formerly classified as Goosefoot family), kaniwa, kiwicha;

d. Pulses: Pulses or grain legumes, members of the pea family, have a higher protein content than most other plant foods, at around 20%, while soybeans have as much as 35%. As is the case with all other whole plant foods, pulses also contain carbohydrate and fat. Common pulses include: Chickpeas, common beans, common peas (garden peas), fava beans, lentils, lima beans, lupins, mung beans, peanuts, pigeon peas, runner beans, soybeans, Oilseeds.

e. Mustard family: Rapeseed, black mustard, India mustard, rapeseed (including canola), Aster family: Sunflower seeds, safflower

f. Other families: flax seed (Flax family), hemp seed (Hemp family), poppy seed (Poppy family)

Solanum is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, which include three food crops of high economic importance, the potato, the tomato and the eggplant. It also contains the nightshades and horse nettles, as well as numerous plants cultivated for their ornamental flowers and fruit.

Solanum species show a wide range of growing habits, such as annual and perennials, vines, subshrubs, shrubs, and small trees. Many formerly independent genera like Lycopersicon (the tomatoes) and Cyphomandra are now included in Solanum as subgenera or sections. Thus, the genus today contains roughly 1,500-2,000 species.

Most parts of the plants, especially the green parts and unripe fruit, are poisonous to humans (although not necessarily to other animals), but many species in the genus bear some edible parts, such as fruits, leaves, or tubers. Three crops in particular have been bred and harvested for consumption by humans for centuries, and are now cultivated on a global scale:

Tomato, S. lycopersicum: Tomato varieties are sometimes bred from both S. lycopersicum and wild tomato species such as S. pimpinellifolium, S. peruvianum, S. cheesmanii, S. galapagense, S. chilense, etc. (Such varieties include— among others— Bicentennial, Dwarf Italian, Epoch, Golden Sphere, Hawaii, Ida Red, Indigo Rose, Kauai, Lanai, Marion, Maui, Molokai, Niihau, Oahu, Owyhee, Parma, Payette, Red Lode, Super Star, Surecrop, Tuckers Lorcing, V 121, Vantage, Vetomold, and Waltham

Potato, S. tuberosum, is the fourth largest food crop.

Eggplant (also known as brinjal or aubergine), S. melongena

Fruit trees: Examples of fruit trees are: Abiu, Almond, Amla (Indian gooseberry), Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Bael, Ber (Indian plum), Carambola (starfruit), Cashew, Cherry, Citrus (orange, lemon, lime, etc.), Coconut, Crab Apple, Damson, Durian, Elderberry, Fig, Grapefruit, Guava, Jackfruit, Jujube, Lemon, Lime, Loquat, Lychee, Mango, Medlar, Morello cherry, Mulberry, Olive, Orange, Pawpaw, both the tropical Carica papaya and the North American Asimina triloba, Peach and nectarine, Pear, Pecan, Persimmon, Plum, Pomelo, Quince, Pomegranate, Rambutan, Sapodilla (chikoo), Soursop, Sugar-apple (sharifa), Sweet chestnut, Tamarillo, Ugli fruit or Walnut.

As used hereinafter, the term Medicinal plants or medicinal herbs, refer to various types of plants used in herbalism ("herbology" or "herbal medicine")· It is the use of plants for medicinal purposes, and the study of such uses.

As used hereinafter, the term“herb” refers to any part of the plant like fruit, seed, stem, bark, flower, leaf, stigma or a root, as well as a non-woody plant. These medicinal plants are also used as food, flavonoid, medicine or perfume and also in certain spiritual activities.

The medicinal plants synthesize hundreds of chemical compounds for functions including defense against insects, fungi, diseases, and herbivorous mammals. Numerous phytochemicals with potential or established biological activity have been identified.

Medicinal plants are considered as rich resources of ingredients which can be used in drug development either pharmacopoeial, non- pharmacopoeial or synthetic drugs. A part from that, these plants play a critical role in the development of human cultures around the whole world. Moreover, some plants are considered as important source of nutrition and as a result of that they are recommended for their therapeutic values.

The medicinal plants comprise, inter alia, plants like: cannabis, gingko, turmeric, evening primrose oil, flax seed, tea tree oil, echinacea, grapeseed extract, lavender, chamomile, aloe, neem, basil (tulsi), ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, myrrh, moringa oleifera, sandalwood, ginseng, red clover, burdock, bayberry, safflower, fennel, chives, cilantro, apple mint, thyme, golden oregano, variegated lemon balm, rosemary, variegated sage, chirayta, black pepper, marshmallow root and leaf, cardamom, coriander ginger and cloves, chamomile, calamus, ajwain, basil, cardamom, chrysanthemum, coriander, fennel, peppermint, spearmint, ginger, golden seal, chirayata cayenne, lal mirch, myrrh, camphor , gugguk, giloe, golden seal, and barberry.

Cannabis plant is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae

Three species are recognized: Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. Additionality, there are also legal cannabinoid-containing plants, comprising, electric daisy, liverwort, or flax seeds.

As used herein after, the term“cannabis plant and plant portion thereof’ refers hereinafter to several structures, found in cannabis plants. Cannabis grows on long skinny stems with its large, iconic fan leaves extending out from areas called nodes. The cannabis plant has, inter alia, several other portions: roots, Cola: A cola refers to a cluster of buds that grow tightly together. While smaller colas occur along the budding sites of lower branches, the main cola (sometimes called the apical bud) forms at the very top of the plant. Stigma and Pistil: The pistil contains the reproductive parts of a flower, and the vibrant, hair-like strands of the pistil are called stigmas. Stigmas serve to collect pollen from males. The stigmas of the pistil begin with a white coloration and progressively darken to yellow, orange, red, and brown over the course of the plant’s maturation. They play an important role in reproduction, but stigmas bring very little to the flower’s potency and taste. Bract and Calyx: A bract is what encapsulates the female’s reproductive parts. They appear as green tear-shaped“leaves,” and are heavily covered in resin glands which produce the highest concentration of cannabinoids of all plant parts. Enclosed by these bracts and imperceptible to the naked eye, the calyx refers to a translucent layer over the ovule at a flower’s base. Trichome: Despite their minute size, it’s hard to miss the blanket of crystal resin on a cannabis bud. This resin (or“kief’ when dry) is secreted through translucent, mushroom-shaped glands on the leaves, stems, and calyxes. Trichomes were originally developed to protect the plant against predators and the elements. These clear bulbous globes ooze aromatic oils called terpenes as well as therapeutic cannabinoids like THC and CBD. The basis of hash production depends on these trichomes and their potent sugar-like resin.. Several previous studies have investigated the effect of non-thermal plasma on a variety of plants. However, all these studies have been performed by early exposure of the plants' seeds to non- thermal plasma in atmospheric pressure and with different kinds of non-thermal/cold plasma technologies, i.e. the seeds were exposed to the non-thermal plasma. Sera et a\ studied the effect of non-thermal plasma on several species, including cannabis. Sera et al studies are summaries hereinafter:

Sera et al (2010) (Sera, B., Spatenka, P., Sery, M., Vrchotova, N., Hruskova, I. 2010. Influence of plasma treatment on wheat and oat germination and early growth. IEEE T. Plasma. Sci. 38, 2963- 2968.) , have studied the effect of cold plasma treatment on a germination enhancement of wheat and oat caryopses by exposure of the wheat and oat corns seeds to cold plasma discharge underpower of 500 W, air gas flow of 200 ml/min for different time durations (from 0 to 2400 s). The results showed that non-thermal plasma treatment inhibited the germinating acceleration of wheat in first days but enhancement of footstalk was observed on plants grown from seeds treated for medium time. On the other hand, plasma treatment did not affect germination of oat seeds, but accelerated the rootlet generation at plants grown from treated seeds.

On 2012, Sera et al [Sera, B. et al. 2012. Hemp [Cannabis sativa L seeds after plasma treatment. IEEE, 1371-1374] studied the pre-treatment of non-thermal plasma on seeds of three hemp cultivars (Finola, Bialobrzeskie, and Carmagnola) for three-time expositions (180 s, 300 s, and 600 s). the results showed that commercial Plasonic AR-550-M apparatus was not suitable for plasma pre-treatment, because all seeds were obviously under a big stress. However, GlidArc plasma pre-treatment positively affected the seeds of the cultivar Finola in all tested expositions above all.

On 2017, Sera et al [ Sera, B. et al. 2017. Seed germination and early growth responses to seed pre-treatment by non-thermal plasma in hemp cultivars (Cannabis sativa L.). Plasma Chem. Plasma Process. 37(1), 207-221.0] have studied the effect of different non-thermal plasma sources pretreatments on hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds, as well as the differences in response among seeds of three hemp cultivars in four time expositions (0,180, 300, 600 s). The results obtained in this study describes different effect of various plasma treatment on germination and early growth of hemp seeds. Ling et al (Ling et al, 2018 Effects of low- vacuum helium cold plasma treatment on seed germination, plant growth and yield of oilseed rape. Plasma Sci. Technol.20, 1-7.) studied the effects of low-vacuum helium cold plasma treatment on the seed germination, plant growth and yield of oilseed rape by exposing the seeds to low- vacuum helium cold plasma ranging from 0- 120 W for 15 s.. The results show that cold plasma treatment has the potential to improve the yield of oilseed rape through the enhancement of permeability, wettability and capacity of water uptake of the seeds, seed germination and plant growth.

Chittapun, S. et al.( Chittapun, S. et al. 2018. Seed germination and seedling growth of rice in response to atmospheric air dielectric -barrier discharge plasma. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol. 40(4), 819-823) explored the effect of atmospheric air dielectric barrier discharge plasma on seed germination and early growth in rice seeds. Rice seeds were exposed to plasma for 10, 30 and 60 s. It is shown that plasma treatment had positive effects on germination of rice seeds. The results suggested that the exposure of rice seeds to plasma has the potential to promote seed germination and seedling growth by changing the surfaces of rice seeds.

Reviewing all the above studies reveals that all these studies have been performed by early exposure of the non-thermal plasma, i.e. exposure of the seeds

In view of the above, the distinguishing features of the current invention are:

a. The plant portion exposed to PMF is a whole fresh plant or plant parts (portions) of a growing plant such as stems, leaves, inflorescence, flowers, and any combination thereof but not seeds;

b. The Modified Plasma Field (PMF) - The current invention discloses pre-determined changeable pulse profile, compared to most non-thermal plasma use which use constant pulse and not a pulse profile with all disclosed features.

c. The pulse operating regimen/protocol of the Modified Plasma Field (PMF)- The current invention discloses a variety of pulse operating regimens/protocols, thus enabling achieving the desired effect on the flowering of the exposed plant(s)or plants parts.

d. PMF treatment of the whole plant affects the number of flowers.

As used herein the term "about" denotes ± 25% of the defined amount or measure or value. EXAMPLE 1:

Goal The goal of the study is to examine the effects induced by exposing whole fresh cannabis plants to Modified Plasma Field (PMF) in various pulse operating regimens/protocols on number of flowers.

Both studies were performed on Santhica 27(FR) plants grown in soil (6 plants for PMF treatment (exposure) ; 6 plants for control)

The exposure of the plants to the PMF took place by treatment cycle, which includes 3 phase- treatment, and pause days.

The number of flowers was counted.

Study 1: Pulse operating regimen/protocol and pulse profile #1. The treatment phases were conducted on the 1 ^st the 4^th and the 7^th day. The exposure of the plants to the PMF field was performed as follows: first exposure (for a few minutes) three days off, second exposure (for a few minutes) with three days off and final exposure (for a few minutes). The study included also a control group (non- treated/not exposed plants) (see Table 1).

Time length for each treatment phase/exposure between 3.15 and 5.25 minutes (setting the pulse profile on the device for between 4 and 8 pulses)

Table 1 depicts Study 1: Design for studying the treatment effects on fresh plants grown in soil when using PMF on plants grown until having flowers (stage 2, N=6 plants selected from stage land 6 samples of flowers)

Table 1: Design of study 1: Operating regimen/protocol and pulse profile #1

Study 2: Pulse operating regimen/protocol and pulse profile #2

The protocol for study 2 is:

The treatment: 1st day treatment and 1 day pause; 2nd day treatment and 1 day pause and 3rd day treatment and 1 days pause + 1 day pause;

Time length for each treatment event is between 5.25 and 8.75 minutes; setting the pulse profile on the device for between 8 and 12 pulses.

Table 2 describes Study 2 Design for studying the treatment effects on fresh plants grown in soil when using PMF on plants grown until having flowers (stage 2, N=6 selected from stage 1- 3 treated and 3 control).

Table 2: Design of study 2: Operating regimen/protocol and pulse profile #2

Environmental conditions for keeping plants between treatments (temperature, lightening water supply, humidity, pH) for treated and control samples are identical and are summari ed below. Protocol and Environmental conditions for Studies 1 and 2. The environmental conditions for this study were as follows:

a. Seed Germination took 2-7 days at 12°C in the dark.

b. Following germination, the cannabis seeds were placed in soil containing: Floragard TKS 2 Instant Plus; a coarsely structured culture substrate providing optimum water absorption, and a natural, high-quality guano fertilizer. The plants were grown in plant chambers under the following conditions: 18 hours / day at 21-25°C and 6 hours / day at 17-21°C. Relative humidity was 65-70% for seedlings and 55% for juvenile plants.

c. When the plants were 20-30 cm tall, with a minimum of 20 fully developed leaves (5-6 weeks), they were ready for exposure to the modified plasma field: 6 were randomly assigned to a treatment group and 6 to a control group. Growing conditions before and between treatments were constant for the treated and control plants.

d. Following Stage 1, flowering was brought on in both treated and control plants by switching the light cycle in the growth chamber from 16 hours of light during the day and 8 hours at night, to 12 hours in the day and 12 hours of light at night. Relative humidity was 90 (±10%) during the day and 80±10% during the night. Ambient temperature was 18° C (about 24°C on the leaf surface) and 16°C at night.

e. When the flowers matured (4-5 weeks), two flower samples were taken from different parts of each of the 3 treated and 3 control plants. The samples were then freeze-dried and sent for analysis.

Following the treatment days and the pause days, an in-door analysis of plants started in terms of physical and physiological parameters and also follow up on the plants growth and during the stage when flowers bloom.

The results of the study revealed that the number of flowers is significantly higher in the treatment group than in the control group. The results show difference of above 50 % (53.77%, Student’s t- test analysis t= 1.92 p<.09 )in study 1, and above 120% (121.40%. Student’s t-test analysis t= 2.88 p<.01 in study 2 (see Table 3).

Table 3: Treatment effect on number of flowers

Difference in percentages discloses the percentage (%) of flowering calculated by (number of flowers in treated plant- minus number of flowers in control non- treated plants) divided by number of flowers in the control non treated group.

The results of the two studies clearly show that PMF treatment increase the number of flowers. The results emphasize the importance of PMF as a method and a system, for increasing the count of flowers, See also Fig.l which depicts an example of untreated cannabis plant; and Fig.2 which depicts an example of a treated cannabis plant

The results of the two studies further demonstrate that the differences in pulse profiles and time intervals between treatments (exposures) result in differences in number of flowers.

Claims

1. A method of increasing number of flowers or inflorescences of a plant, to a range being at least 10% over natural number of flowers or inflorescences in a non-treated plant, characterized by step of emitting a PMF on said plant or a portion thereof

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said plant is selected from a group consisting of medicinal plants, crops, or fruit trees.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said crops is selected from a group consisting of food crops, feed crops, non-food crops, fibre crops, oil crops, ornamental crops, industrial crops, secondary crops, and any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said non-food crops are selected from a group consisting of horticulture, floriculture, industrial crops, and any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said food crops is selected from the group consisting of fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, rice, wheat, sugarcane and other sugar crops, maize (corn), soybean oil, potatoes, palm oil, cassava, legume pulses, sunflower seed oil, rape and mustard oil, sorghum, millet, groundnuts, beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, soybeans, cottonseed oil,, yams any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said medicinal plants are selected from a group consisting of cannabis, gingko, turmeric, evening primrose oil, flax seed, tea tree oil, echinacea, grapeseed extract, lavender, chamomile, aloe, neem, basil (tulsi), ginger, black pepper, cinnamon, myrrh, moringa oleifera, sandalwood, ginseng, red clover, burdock, bayberry, safflower, fennel, chives, cilantro, apple mint, thyme, golden oregano, variegated lemon balm, rosemary, variegated sage, chirayta, black pepper, marshmallow root and leaf, cardamom, coriander ginger and cloves, chamomile, calamus, ajwain, basil, cardamom, chrysanthemum, coriander, fennel, peppermint, spearmint, ginger, golden seal, chirayata cayenne, lal mirch, myrrh, camphor, gugguk, giloe, golden , barberry and any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said method comprises steps of measuring natural number of flowers or inflorescences in a plant;

a. measuring natural number of flowers or inflorescences in a plant; b. defining a desired number of flowers or inflorescences in said plant; exposing said plant or said portion thereof to at least one first protocol of PMF emission treatment, said protocol comprising a predefined combination of at least one pulse profile and at least one time interval pattern.;

c. analyzing resulted number of flowers or inflorescences in said plant ;

e. if resulted number of flowers or inflorescences does not equal said desired number, exposing said plant or plant portion thereof either to said at least one first protocol or to at least one second protocol of PMF emission treatment of the plant or plant portions during life cycle of said plants; said first and said second protocols comprising a predefined combination of at least one pulse profile and at least one time interval pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said portion is selected from a group consisting of, stems, leaves, inflorescences and flowers, and any combination thereof.

9. A method for increasing flower or inflorescence number in a medicinal plant to a range being at least 10% over flower or inflorescence number in a non-treated plant, characterized by step of emitting a PMF on said medicinal plant or a portion thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said medicinal plant is cannabis.