Patent Application
20240206471
This invention consists of a formulation or composition to eliminate the Tillandsia sp or the “air plant” by dehydrating it, regardless of its location or host plant species.
The plant species—Tillandsia sp, commonly known as an “air plant” is an epiphytic plant, without roots, which sits on the trunk and branches of other plant species, such as a tree.
In some countries, for example Japan or the USA, landscape designers promote their growth because they are very decorative, but in commercial tree plantations, such as fruit tree plantations, it is a plague.
Within the Tillandsia sp family, the recurvata and aeroanthos varieties are known to innoculate their host (supporting branch) with a biotic, called hydroperoxyl-cycloartane, which dries out the branch. The Tillandsia sp is an epiphyte of the Bromeliaceae family, which includes more than 500 species in the Americas. This epiphyte feeds through leaves that are covered with trichomes responsible for collecting water and nutrients from the environment. Its root system is primitive, formed by rhizoids and adapted only to anchor or hold on to the host. These rhizoids secrete hydroperoxycycloartanes that act as inhibitors or allelopathic antibiotics that cause the death of buds, tissues, and abscission of the foliage thus causing death of the host branches.
As an example, and according to the report authored by Lilia García Azpeitia, Sofia Loza Cornejo and Xóchilt Aparicio Fernández of the Instituto Tecnológico, J. Mario Molina Pasquel y Henríquez, from Unidad Lagos de Moreno, and the Universidad de Guadalajara, (MX), the incidence of Tillandsia recurvata was analyzed at a stand plantation made up of 60% mesquite (Prosopis laevigata) and 40% Huizache (Acacia farnesiana), which was affected in 2016 by the aforementioned Tillandsia recurvata, causing damage to 100% of both species of trees due to the possible blockage of gas exchange and basic physiological functions such as photosynthesis, and, consequently, the death of some specimens. In 2017, inflorescence production was affected. Fruit production was nil, only a few per tree completed their formation, deficiencies were found in seed formation, size, and shape of pods, as well as in pod maturation. The results showed that the proliferation of Tillandsia recurvata is the cause of the forestry problem, which is consistent with the findings of the National Forestry Commission.
The species Tillandsia recurvata, Tillandsia aeranthos, and Tillandsia usneoide, or the so-called “Spanish Moss” has spread throughout the Americas, driven by increased humidity and higher ambient temperatures. This plant species is not a parasite since it does not feed on the host plant and its rhizoids support it on the host plant, but it kills it by asphyxiation, removing the sun or creating a microclimate of higher humidity with proliferation of fungi, but mainly by the generation of the aforementioned hydroperoxyl-cycloartane toxin.
In the United States, Tillandsia recurvata is called “ball moss” and in Mexico “heno motita”, which is considered a plague.
Manually removing Tillandsia sp from infested plantations is a daunting task, which is impractical and economically impossible. Spraying host plants with agrochemicals is always a possibility, but the risks and collateral damage to the environment, to the plant itself, and to the consumer through the consumption of contaminated fruits is well known. There is a clear need to combat this plague that affects plantations, especially those with commercial value, with a product that is harmless to the host plant species, that does not affect the environment, that does not affect the soil or water tables, and that only uses dehydrating to attack Tillandsia sp.
In tropical areas, which is its area of origin, Tillandsia sp. has natural predators that regulate its expansion (birds and insects), but this does not occur in subtropical, temperate and cold areas, where there are no such natural predators, which contributes to its indiscriminate expansion.
The objective of this invention is a composition that promotes the natural dehydration of Tillandsia sp in all its species on the same host plant species allowing the Tillandsia sp, once dehydrated, to degrade by natural causes without affecting the shoots, fruits and branches of the host tree.
The objective of the invention is that this composition, which is capable of dehydrating Tillandsia sp, will not affect the host plantation, will not affect the soil, will not contaminate the environment, will not pollute the water table and aquifers with toxic products, and will not present any threat to the consumer of the fruits and to the native fauna.
The objective of the invention is for this composition to be applied by direct spraying on the branches of the affected plant species and host of the Tillandsia sp, and that spraying of this novel composition will be the only activity necessary for the Tillandsia sp to become dehydrated and eventually degrade through the effects of wind and rain within a period of time averaging between 10 to 45 days.
The objective of the invention is to increase the pH of absorption in the Tillandsia s sp. The Tillandsia sp, does not feed on nutrients through its roots, which it does not possess as do the majority of other plant species. Instead, the Tillandsia sp is nourished through its leaves. The solution of the invention is absorbed by the leaves of the Tillandsias sp, resulting in their dehydration or death.
The objective of the invention is a composition capable of causing dehydration of the Tillandsia sp, which then causes it to dehydrate without affecting the host plant.
COMPOSITION TO DEHYDRATE THE Tillandsia sp, characterized in that it comprises, in an aqueous solution, a main component selected at least from sodium bicarbonate Na (NaHCO3), ammonium bicarbonate (NH4)HCO3 and calcium hydroxide, for a total, alone or combined with sodium bicarbonate, of from 0.045 g/cm3 of an aqueous solution up to 0.10 g/cm3 of an aqueous solution and 0.30 cm3 of hydroalcoholic solution of carminic acid up to a maximum of 0.80 cm3/cm3 of an aqueous solution.
For the purpose of specifying the preferred embodiments of this invention through the description thereof as given below, to illustrate it in detail, including within the scope of protection of the invention the possible means equivalent to those mentioned; being the scope of this invention determined by the first claim attached within the corresponding Claims chapter.
Sodium bicarbonate causes the Tillandsia sp to dehydrate. Ammonium bicarbonate is optional and the formulation works correctly even without this addition, but with slower results, therefore its inclusion accelerates the dehydration process. The inclusion of carminic acid has two rationales:
We began by spraying the branches, leaves, and trunk of the plant species where the Tillandsia sp was anchored with a solution in water containing 50 to 100 grams of sodium bicarbonate per 10,000 cm3. This aqueous solution proved to be very poor, giving dehydration results of Tillandsia sp of less than 30%.
The trunk, branches, and leaves of the host species were then sprayed with a room temperature aqueous solution of sodium bicarbonate at maximum solubility, about 1,000 g/10,000 cm3 of water. The result obtained was negative, since the leaves of the host species thus sprayed were found to be burned.
Next, we proceeded to form a sampler consisting of a base on which a series of wooden slats separated at parallel intervals were placed, to which perpendicular slats were crossed, achieving a plurality of cells for a total of 49 flat cells. One specimen of Tillandsia aeranthos and one of Tillandsia recurvata were placed inside each cell. Each box was designated with a sequential number from No. 1 to No. 49 and a photographic follow-up was taken every 5 days for a total of 30 days.
Test of NaHCO3 in water. A solution of 100 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box No. 1. After 30 days there was no dehydration effect, with a pH=8.
Test of only NaHCO3 in water. A solution of 300 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box 2. After 5 days, 30% dehydration was observed, and after 28 days the Tillandsia sp was completely dehydrated, with a pH=8.1
Test of only NaHCO3 in water. A solution of 500 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box 3. After 5 days, 40% dehydration was observed and after 20 days the Tillandsia sp were completely dehydrated, with a pH=8.2.
Test of only NaHCO3 in water. A solution of 700 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box No. 4. After 5 days, 50% dehydration was observed, and after 20 days the Tillandsia sp was completely dehydrated, with a pH=8.2.
Test of only NaHCO3 in water. A solution of 1000 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box No. 5. After 5 days, 50% dehydration was observed and after 20 days, the Tillandsia sp were completely dehydrated, with a pH=8.2. In this case, when the solubility limit is reached, the NaHCO3 is decanted.
Test of only (NH4) HCO3 in water. A solution of 100 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box 6. After 30 days, no dehydration effect was observed.
Test of only (NH4)HCO3 in water. A solution of 500 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box No. 7. After 30 days, no dehydration effect was observed.
Test of only (NH4) HCO3 in water. A solution of 1,000 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box No. 8. After 30 days, no dehydration effect was observed.
Test of only (NH4) HCO3 in water. A solution of 1,500 g/10,000 cm3 was added to box 9. After 90 days, a total dehydration effect was observed. The slow dehydration rate was observed in this test. The pH of the solution decreases with the concentration of (NH4) HCO3
Test of only carminic acid in hydroalcoholic solution. 1 cm3/10,000 cm3 of this carminic acid solution was added to box No. 10. After 30 days, no dehydration effect was observed. The pH of the aqueous solution was=7.70.
Test of only carminic acid in hydroalcoholic solution. 3 cm3/10,000 cm3 of this carminic acid solution was added to box No. 11. After 30 days, no dehydration effect was observed. The pH of the aqueous solution=7.77.
Test of only carminic acid in hydroalcoholic solution. 8 cm3/10,000 cm3 of said carminic acid solution was added to box No. 13. After 30 days no dehydration effect was observed. The pH of the aqueous solution=8.05.
Test of only carminic acid in hydroalcoholic solution. 8 cm3/10,000 cm3 of this carminic acid solution was added to box 14. After 30 days, no dehydration effect was observed. The pH of the aqueous solution was 8.05.
Test of only carminic acid in hydroalcoholic solution. 10 cm3/10,000 cm3 was added to box No. 15. After 30 days, no dehydration effect was observed. The pH of the aqueous solution=8.26. It is reasonable to conclude that the use of use of carminic acid alone does not dehydrate Tillandsia sp.
The following series of tests correspond to a solution with combined components. NaHCO3+carminic oxide was used. The working proportion of 700 g of NaHCO3 was used and kept fixed by varying the percentage of carminic acid added. 1 cm3 of carminic acid solution/10,000 cm3 of water was added to box No. 16 After 5 days dehydration of 50% was observed, and complete dehydration after 30 days (pH=8.27).
The solution with 3 cm3 of carminic acid solution/10,000 cm3 of water was used into box No. 17. After 5 days dehydration of 60% was observed, and complete dehydration after 20 days (pH=8.31).
The solution with 5 cm3 of carminic acid solution/10,000 cm3 of water was used into box No. 18. After 5 days dehydration of 70% was observed, and complete dehydration after 20 days (pH=8.32).
The solution with 8 cm3 of carminic acid solution/10,000 cm3 of water was used into box 19. After 5 days dehydration of 80% was observed, and complete dehydration after 20 days (pH=8.32).
A solution with 10 cm3 of the carminic acid solution/10,000 cm3 of water was used Into box No. 20. After 5 days dehydration of 80% was observed, and complete dehydration after 20 days (pH=8.33).
The following series of tests correspond to a composition with a fixed amount of NaHCO3 in 700 g/10,000 cm3 of water and a fixed amount of 5 cm3 of carminic acid solution in 10,000 cm3 of water. 2,000 g of ammonium bicarbonate is added to this composition. After 5 days, 80% of the Tillandsia sp were dehydrated and completely dehydrated after 10 days into box No. 21 but burnt plants and new shoots were observed.
A composition of 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water was placed into box 22 and Ponceau Red 4R was used instead of carminic acid, with 250 g of 4R/10,000 cm3 of water. After 5 days dehydration of 50% was observed, and complete dehydration after 60 days, but all the elements wetted by the aforementioned composition were completely colored. (pH=8.23)
A composition of 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water was placed into box 23 and Ponceau Red 4R was used instead of carminic acid, with 500 g of 4R/10,000 cm3 of water. After 5 days dehydration of 50% was observed, and complete dehydration after 60 days, but all the elements wetted by the aforementioned composition were completely colored. (pH=8.23).
A composition of 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water was placed into box 24 and Ponceau Red 4R was used instead of carminic acid, with 500 g of 4R/10,000 cm3 water. After 5 days dehydration of 50% was observed, and complete dehydration after 60 days, but all the elements wetted by the aforementioned composition were completely colored. (pH=8.23).
A composition of 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water was placed into box 25 and Ponceau Red 4R was used instead of carminic acid, with 1,000 g of 4R/10,000 cm3 water. After 5 days dehydration of 50% was observed, and complete dehydration after 60 days, but all the elements wetted by the aforementioned composition were completely colored. (pH=8.23).
In these examples with 4R it is evident that the variation thereof does not affect the performance of the composition and the final dehydration is slower, apart from the inconvenience of the dyeing of all the objects sprayed.
In this series of tests, a composition of 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water and 5 cm3 of carminic acid solution in 10,000 cm3 of water was added to 10 g of Ca(OH)2 (hydrated lime)/10,000 cm3 of water. When this composition was sprayed into box 26, 50% dehydration was observed after 5 days and complete dehydration after 20 days. (pH=8.19).
To the composition of 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water and 5 cm3 carminic acid solution in 10,000 cm3 water, 20 g of Ca(OH)2 (hydrated lime)/10,000 cm3 water was added. When this composition was sprayed into box 27, 50% dehydration was observed after 5 days and complete dehydration after 15 days. (pH=8.27).
To the composition of 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water and 5 cm3 carminic acid solution in 10,000 cm3 water, 30 g Ca(OH)2 (hydrated lime)/10,000 cm3 water was added. When this composition was sprayed into box 28, 50% dehydration was observed after 5 days and complete dehydration after 15 days. (pH=8.45).
In the next series of tests, a composition with 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water and 5 cm3 of carminic acid solution in 10,000 cm3 of water was used, and 40 g/10,000 cm3 of calcium sulfate (CaSO4) was added. When this composition was sprayed into box 29, 50% dehydration was observed after 5 days and complete dehydration after 20 days. (pH=7.08).
A composition with 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water and 5 cm3 of carminic acid solution in 10,000 cm3 of water was used into box 30, and 80 g/10,000 cm3 of calcium sulfate (CaSO4) was added. When this composition was sprayed, it was found to be 60% dehydrated after 5 days and fully dehydrated after 20 days. (pH=6.80).
A composition with 700 g/10,000 cm3 of Na bicarbonate water and 5 cm3 of carminic acid solution in 10,000 cm3 of water was used into box 31, and 120 g/10,000 cm3 of calcium sulfate (CaSO4) was added. When this composition was sprayed, it was found to be 70% dehydrated after 5 days and completely dehydrated after 20 days. (pH=6.36).
According to Example No. 1, the sole use of Na bicarbonate with a solution in water of 50 to 100 grams of Na bicarbonate per each 10,000 cm3, does not give any result, i.e., at low concentrations, the active ingredient (bicarbonate) is not a solution to the problem posed to dehydrate Tillandsia sp.
In Example 2, a test is carried out with the maximum concentration at the highest pKa at room temperature, i.e., with a concentration of 0.10 g/cm3. At this concentration, the solubility limit is reached, with the aggravating factor that burns the shoots and leaves of the host plant.
Examples 3 to 7, plotted in
In Examples No. 8 to No. 11, which were not plotted, it can be seen that the use of a solution in water of only (HN4)HCO3 produces very poor results, achieving dehydration of the Tillandsia sp only after 90 days with a concentration of 0.15 g/cm3 and no results for lower concentrations.
Examples No. 12 to No. 17 (not plotted) show that the use of a carminic acid solution with no other additive does not produce any appreciable dehydration results in the Tillandsia sp.
In Examples 18 to 22, a solution of bicarbonate of Na was used +carminic acid. As already mentioned, carminic acid increases the pH of the solution and in combination with the bicarbonate of Na, increases the absorption or fixation thereof on the Tillandsia sp. In other words, it acts as an adjuvant. The increase in the dehydration rate is observed after 5 days and the rapid total dehydration rate at 20 days is shown in
Example No. 23 illustrates by means of
In
It is then understood that:
The following chart summarizes the range of components of the ideal or preferred composition of the dehydrating solution of this invention:
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/052250 | 3/17/2021 | WO |
