Patent Application
20180160629
The invention relates generally to a sonication and imbibition process for the uptake of water or other substances along with dissolved substances into a seed, more specifically, to a method of treating seeds with sound waves for the purpose of imparting to the seed a memory for enhanced uptake of a substance that enhances a growth characteristic of the seed or resultant plant, or otherwise adds value to the seed during commercial processing. In particular, this invention incorporates the discovery that ultrasonically-treated seeds, once planted in the soil, tend to mature at a faster pace than conventionally planted seeds. Several mechanisms are disclosed, including a laboratory device, a pilot batch processing system and finally a design for a continuous processor which applied ultrasound to seeds traveling the length of the processor, which can be a long sonicated pipe to a helix or spiral system.
Seed dormancy is a unique form of developmental arrest utilized by most plants to temporally disperse germination and optimize progeny survival. During seed dormancy, moisture content and respiration rate are dramatically lowered. The initial step to break seed dormancy is the uptake (imbibition) of water necessary for respiration and mobilization of starch reserves required for germination. Imbibition is a biphasic process: I) the physical uptake of water through the seed coat and hydration of the embryo; and II) germination as determined by growth and elongation of the embryonic axis resulting in emergence of the plumule and radicle. The two phases are separated temporally, and seed that have completed phase I is said to be “primed seed,” that is, primed for phase II: germination. Phase I of imbibition is also used in the commercial processing of seed, i.e. wet milling fractionation of corn and the malting process for the fermentation of distilled spirits.
Priming of seed by the enhanced imbibing of water is advantageous to plant vigor, e.g. enhanced emergence, growth and yield characteristics. Seed priming also synchronizes the germination of seed resulting in a uniform field of plants that mature simultaneously for maximal yields at harvest. In addition to water, seed priming provides access to load the seed with nutrients, microorganisms, or pest inhibitors to promote seedling establishment. By adding a molecule to the seed during imbibition phase I, the molecule or organism can be stored in the primed seed and therefore, be present at planting. The “loading of molecules,” sometimes referred to a “loading of macromolecules” is very efficient in the seed when compared to the addition of similar molecules to the entire field. An example is the addition of fertilizer to stimulate root growth and hasten seedling emergence. The loading of the fertilizer into the seed prior to planting is more efficacious to the seedling and cost effective to the farmer. Other beneficial molecules to be loaded into seed are hormones such as the gibberelins/gibberellic acid to promote germination, cytokinins for cell elongation and inhibitors of abscisic acid to promote release from seed dormancy. Seed cultivars could be customized to specific growing regions by the addition of triazoles (plant growth regulators which moderate the effects of drought and high temperatures) or fungicides to inhibit the growth of fungi on seed and seedlings in cool, wet soil or insecticides to combat insects that attack seedlings such as corn rootworm. In addition to macromolecules, beneficial microorganisms such as Azospirillum or Rhizobium can be loaded during seed priming as a crop inoculant.
The commercial fractionation of corn begins with wet milling. Corn is a complex mixture of starch, protein, oil, water, fiber, minerals, vitamins, and pigments. Wet milling is the process of separating the corn components into separate homogenous fractions. In Iowa, approximately 20% of the 1 billion bushels of corn harvested each year is wet milled. The wet milling industry and collateral manufacturing represent a prodigious industrial effort. As the wet milling process is constantly refined by new technologies, novel by-products can be isolated in industrial quantities, e.g. ethanol, corn sweeteners, protein peptides, and vitamins C and E. The initial step in wet-milling, steeping, has not been altered by technological innovation. Steeping involves soaking the clean and dried corn (<16% water content) in warm water until it has swollen to 45% hydration. This process takes from 30-50 hr. at temperatures of 120-130° F. During the steeping process, large quantities of water are moved through massive vats of corn in a countercurrent stream. Also, during this time, beneficial microorganisms such as the lactobacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in the steep water aid in the proteolytic cleavage of corn proteins. However, the large volumes of steep water and the time required for hydration limit the effectiveness of the bacterial digestion. The digestion by-products are purified from the steep water primarily by evaporative concentration.
The malting process is the first step in the fermentation of grain to produce alcoholic spirits. The quality of the malt (and the resulting fermentation) is dependent upon the synchronous and efficient germination of the grain. Starches stored in the seed are converted into sugars during early stages of germination. At emergence, germination is halted and converted sugars are used during fermentation for the production of ethanol. Historically, the malting process was a labor-intensive task. The grain was spread onto a “malting floor,” imbibed with water from overhead sprinklers, and turned by hand daily over the course of one to two weeks to release trapped heat and gases. At plumule emergence, the starches have been converted to sugars, the germinated grain is kiln dried and ground to form malt. Microbreweries and distilleries still use variations of this old malting technique to produce high quality malt. Some distilleries induce uniform germination by the addition of gibberellic acid (GA) to produce the highest quality of malt for fermentation such as in single malt scotch distillation. GA is the plant hormone which regulates germination. Malt production of this quality is time consuming and expensive.
Water is the key factor that aids the germination of a seed. A seed can be prepared for germination by moistening. Care is to be taken not to over soak the seed fully in water. When water penetrates the seed, the seed bulges as shown in
You will see a wide variety of trees in your surroundings. Trees play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem and keeping the environment refreshing and pollution-free. Whenever you watch small or big trees, plants or shrubs, you must be curious about their growth and life cycle. The life cycle of any plant is divided in different phases and seed germination is basic stage to start the growth of a plant. You may think that a seed is lifeless, but it is not true. It consists of a plant in a resting, embryonic condition. Whenever it gets favorable environmental conditions, it starts to germinate. This process occurs through different steps in seed germination. Inactive seeds lying in the ground needs warmth, oxygen, and water to develop into plants.
The seed coat is the outer covering of a seed, which protects the embryo from any kind of injury, entry of parasites and prevents it from drying. The seed coat may be thick and hard, or thin and soft. Endosperm is a temporary food supply, which is packed around the embryo in the form of cotyledons or seed leaves. Plants are classified as monocots and dicots depending upon number of cotyledons.
All seeds need adequate quantities of oxygen and water and adequate temperature for germination. Some seeds also need proper light. Some can germinate well in the presence of full light, while others may require darkness to start germination. Water is required for vigorous metabolism. Soil temperature is equally important for appropriate germination. Optimum soil temperature for each seed varies from species to species.
There are several factors that can affect the germination process. Over watering can prevent the plant from getting enough oxygen. If the seed is deeply planted in soil, then it can use all the stored energy before reaching the soil surface. Dry conditions can prevent germination, as seed does not get enough moisture. Some seeds have such a hard seed coat that oxygen and water cannot get through it. If soil temperature is extremely low or high, then it can affect or prevent the germination process.
During the germination process of dicots, the primary root emerges through the seed coat when the seed is buried in soil. A hypocotyl emerges from the seed coat through the soil. As it grows up, it takes the shape of a hairpin, known as hypocotyl arch. Epicotyl structures, plumule, are protected by two cotyledons from any kind of mechanical damage. When the hypocotyl arch emerges out from the soil, it becomes straight, which is triggered by light. Cotyledons spread apart exposing the epicotyl, which contains two primary leaves and an apical meristem. In many dicots, cotyledons supply food stores to the developing plant and also turn green to produce more food by the process of photosynthesis.
During germination of grass seeds such as oats or corn, the primary root emerges from the seed and fruit and grows down. Then, the primary plant's primary leaf grows up. It is protected by a cylindrical, hollow structure known as the coleoptile. Once the seedling grows above the soil surface, growth of the coleoptile is stopped and it is pierced by a primary leaf.
Of course, all of the seeds in the ground are not lucky enough to get a proper environment to germinate. Many seeds tend to get dried and cannot develop into a plant. Some seeds get a sufficient amount of water, oxygen, and warmth, and seed germination starts.
As climate change globally can affect the time available for crop growth, generally making conditions for growth more severe and the growing periods shorter, the need to reduce and enhance seed growth and eventual plant production and harvesting within a shorter time period become apparent.
Thus, a need exists for (1) a method to enhance the ability of seeds to imbibe water and other substances and to (2) reduce the time needed for plant growth.
The present invention includes several aspects. Non-limiting aspects are enumerated as follows:
Aspect 1. A dry sonification process for a dry seed producing a sonically-treated dry seed having an enhanced germination characteristic and providing an enhanced growth characteristic to a plant resulting therefrom, the sonification process comprising:
2. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is at a frequency of about 15 kHz to about 175 kHz.
3. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is at a frequency of about 20 kHz to about 100 kHz.
4. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is at a frequency of about 20 kHz to about 30 kHz.
6. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is at an energy density of about 0.125 watt/cm2 to about 10 watts/cm2.
7. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is at a frequency of about 20 kHz to about 30 kHz and at an energy density of about 0.5 watts/cm2.
8. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is applied for about 1 minute or more.
9. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is applied for about 1 minute to about 20 minutes.
10. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is applied for about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes.
11. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy does not produce cavitation treatment of the sonically-treated seed.
12. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the alternating waveforms of the sound energy are applied for alternating periods of about 10 milliseconds to about 90 milliseconds.
13. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the alternating ultrasonic waveforms of the sound energy are any two or more of a sinusoidal waveform, a sawtooth waveform, a triangular waveform and a square waveform.
14. The dry sonification process of aspect 13, wherein the alternating ultrasonic waveforms of the sound energy are a sawtooth waveform alternating with a square waveform.
15. The dry sonification process of aspect 14, wherein the alternating ultrasonic waveforms of the sound energy are applied for alternating periods of about 20 milliseconds to about 80 milliseconds.
16. The dry sonification process of aspect 14, wherein the alternating ultrasonic waveforms of the sound energy are applied for alternating periods of about 50 milliseconds.
17. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is applied continuously.
18. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sound energy is applied in a pulsed manner.
19. The dry sonification process of aspect 1, wherein the sonification process is a batch process or a continuous process.
20. The dry sonification process of aspect 19, wherein the sonification process is a continuous process employing a continuous ultrasonic flow pipe.
21. A dry sonification process for continuously treating dry seeds with ultrasonic transmission, the process comprising:
continuously moving the dry seeds for a length of a flow pipe through a helical path within the flow pipe; and
as the dry seeds flow through the helical path within and for the length of the flow pipe, subjecting the seeds to ultrasonic transmission created by ultrasonic transducers arranged along the length of the flow pipe;
the dry seeds flowing through the helical path slurry being subjected to the ultrasonic transmission having such waveforms and being transmitted in a manner so as not to damage the seeds and to produce ultrasonically-treated seeds that have regulated germination characteristics, such that plants resulting from the ultrasonically-treated seeds when the seeds are planted have affected growth characteristics.
22. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the regulated germination characteristics are enhanced germination characteristics.
23. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is at a frequency of about 15 kHz to about 175 kHz.
24. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is at a frequency of about 20 kHz to about 100 kHz.
25. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is at a frequency of about 20 kHz to about 30 kHz.
26. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is at an energy density of about 0.125 watt/cm2 to about 10 watts/cm2.
27. The dry sonification process of 21, wherein the sound energy is at a frequency of about 20 kHz to about 30 kHz and at an energy density of about 0.5 watts/cm2.
28. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is applied for about 1 minute or more.
29. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is applied for about 1 minute to about 20 minutes.
30. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is applied for about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes.
31. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy does not produce cavitation treatment of the sonically-treated seed.
32. The dry process of aspect 21, wherein the alternating waveforms are applied for alternating periods of about 10 milliseconds to less than 400 milliseconds.
33. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the alternating waveforms of the sound energy are applied for alternating periods of about 10 milliseconds to about 90 milliseconds.
34. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the alternating ultrasonic waveforms of the sound energy are any two or more of a sinusoidal waveform, a sawtooth waveform, a triangular waveform and a square waveform.
35. The dry sonification process of aspect 34, wherein the alternating ultrasonic waveforms of the sound energy are a sawtooth waveform alternating with a square waveform.
36. The dry sonification process of aspect 35, wherein the alternating ultrasonic waveforms of the sound energy are applied for alternating periods of about 20 milliseconds to about 80 milliseconds.
37. The dry sonification process of aspect 35, wherein the alternating ultrasonic waveforms of the sound energy are applied for alternating periods of about 50 milliseconds.
38. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is applied continuously.
39. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the sound energy is applied in a pulsed manner.
40. The dry sonification process of aspect 21, wherein the continuous treatment involves recycling the dry seeds through the flow pipe for processing for such time to produce the ultrasonically-treated seeds that have the regulated germination characteristics, such that plants resulting from the ultrasonically-treated seeds when the seeds are planted have the affected growth characteristics.
41. Apparatus for treating dry seeds continuously with ultrasonic transmission, the dry seeds flowing for a length of a flow pipe through a flow path within the flow pipe, the apparatus comprising:
a flow pipe having a flow path from an inlet to an outlet of the flow pipe; and
a plurality of ultrasonic transducers with a power supply for generating the ultrasonic transmission by the transducers, the transducers arranged along the length of the flow pipe and of sufficient number and placement to provide ultrasonic transmission to the flowable slurry of seeds as they travel through the flow path;
the ultrasonic transmission being applied by the ultrasonic transducers in a manner so as not to damage the seeds and to produce ultrasonically-treated seeds that have regulated germination characteristics, such that plants resulting from the ultrasonically-treated seeds when the seeds are planted have affected growth characteristics.
42. The apparatus of aspect 41, wherein the regulated germination characteristics are enhanced germination characteristics.
43. The apparatus of aspect 41, wherein the flow path is a helical flow path formed by a helical tube spiraling for the length of the flow pipe for the helical flow path from an inlet to an outlet of the flow pipe; and the transducers arranged along the length of the flow pipe and of sufficient number and placement to provide ultrasonic transmission to the flowable slurry of seeds as they travel through the helical flow path.
44. The apparatus of aspect 43, further comprising:
a source of supply to supply the dry seeds to an inlet into the helical tube;
an air mover for moving the dry seeds by positive or negative air pressure on the dry seeds the length of the spiral tube;
a jacket over the helical tube which to contain a liquid surrounding the helical tube;
at least one ultrasonic generator to power the transducers capable of imparting ultrasonic energy though walls of the jacket, through the liquid within the jacket and through walls of the helical tube to sonicating the dry seeds flowing through the helical tube; and
an outflow connection from the helical tube through which the ultrasonically-treated dry seeds will pass out of the helical tube.
45. The apparatus of aspect 44, further comprising at least one conduit communicating from the outflow connection to the inlet to recycle the ultrasonically-treated dry seeds through the apparatus until the dry seeds are ultrasonically treated for a sufficient time that the ultrasonically-treated dry seeds have the regulated germination characteristics, such that plants resulting from the ultrasonically-treated seeds when the seeds are planted have the affected growth characteristics.
46. The apparatus of aspect 44, wherein the liquid within the jacket is selected from water or oil.
47. The apparatus of aspect 46, wherein the oil is silicone oil.
48. The apparatus of aspect 43, wherein the helical tube and the jacket are formed from a material which will allow ultrasonic transmission to pass through the material, and wherein the material is quartz glass, stainless steel or flexible plastic.
49. A dry ultrasonically-treated seed produced by the dry sonification process of aspect 1.
50. A dry ultrasonically-treated seed produced by the dry sonification process of aspect 21.
51. A dry ultrasonically-treated seed produced using the apparatus of aspect 41.
The invention relates to sonication of seeds. In an embodiment, the seed to be treated is placed between two ultrasonic transducers which emanate ultrasonic energies to the seed in a dry state. The seed is exposed to sound energy at frequencies of about 15 kHz to about 30 kHz for periods of about 1 minute to about 20 minutes. The invention is the discovery that both cavitation ultrasound and the use of alternating wave form ultrasound can be employed to treat various seeds to increase the speed of germination of the seed, and therefore reduce the time for plant growth maturity. Several mechanisms are disclosed, including a laboratory device, a design for a continuous processor which applies ultrasound to seeds traveling the length of the processor, which can be a long sonicated pipe to a helix or spiral system.
Sinusoidal ultrasonic energy generates cavitational forces by the adiabatic collapse of micro bubbles in the liquid medium, particularly those bubbles that collapse at the surface of the seed. The ultrasonic cavitational forces an enhanced stable memory for the seeds to imbibe water and/or other substances beneficial to the seed and/or plant. The ultrasonically treated seed can be dried, stored, and later imbibed with a substance that enhances a growth characteristic of the seed or resultant plant. Upon germination, the plant maintains the enhanced growth characteristics.
Alternating the ultrasonic transmission where the first part of the transmission is a sawtooth wave form lasting 50 milliseconds, followed by a square wave form lasting 50 milliseconds in the preferred embodiment, but other variations of the alternating sonic waveform can be employed. The alternating ultrasonic transmission applies the ultrasonic energy and the effect of faster seed germination more effectively than the use of Sinusoidal cavitational ultrasonic energy to generate seed germination.
Reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/986,757, filed Jun. 3, 2013, by the same inventor as the present inventor, Bruce K. Redding, Jr., published Dec. 4, 2014, under Publication No. US 2014/0352210 A1, which describes a means of treating seeds in a liquid medium with ultrasound for the purpose of speeding germination and eventual plant maturity.
Another aspect of the invention is to treat seeds, which are in a dry state and not pre-wetted, with ultrasound for the purposes of enhancing the growth of the seed and the resultant plant.
Another aspect of the present invention incorporates a further discovery that ultrasound can be applied directly to the soil, after the seed has been planted, and that reduced germination times can be achieved by the ultrasonic treatment of the seed in place, after the seed has been planted.
A purpose of the invention is to impart to seeds through sonication to reduce the time needed for germination of the seed, and therefore to speed maturing of the resultant plant.
In particular, an object of this invention is to develop a means for the continuous sonification of seeds, wherein the seeds are in a dry state, to increase the speed of germination and the volume of seeds which can be so treated.
These and other objects of the invention will be made clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading and understanding of this specification, the associated drawings, and appending claims.
As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents, and plural forms include the singular referent unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
As used herein, the term “about” with respect to any numerical value, means that the numerical value has some reasonable leeway and is not critical to the process or function of any method or the operation of the component being described or the system or subsystem with which the component is used, and will include values within plus or minus 5% of the stated value.
In general, the invention involves a novel sonication process and apparatus to treat dry seeds with ultrasonic energy. The process imparts an enhanced stable memory for subsequent uptake of a substance into a seed, particularly a substance useful for enhancing a growth characteristic of the seed with that characteristic transferring to an advantage for the resultant plant, and for the uptake of water into seeds for processing purposes. The growth characteristic is enhanced through the use of ultrasound, transmitted either using a sinusoidal ultrasonic transmission or one which employs alternating ultrasonic transmissions which rotate from one ultrasonic waveform to another, the ideal present embodiment being sawtooth to square alternating waveforms.
In the way of illustrative examples of applications of the present invention, it is anticipated that the present method is applicable to soften the outer shell layer of a seed shell as seen in
The biochemistry of this process begins with the imbibition of water or other nutrients through the seed coat and into the interior of the seed. Using corn seeds as an example: The water reacts with the cell embryo in a manner that releases a chemical known as gibberellic acid (GA), a plant hormone. The GA is transported throughout the seed until it arrives at the aleurone layer that surrounds the endosperm. In the aleurone layer, the GA acts to turn on certain genes in the nuclear cellular DNA. The genes are transcribed resulting in the creation of messenger RNA, which interacts with a ribosome to begin the process of protein synthesis, or translation. The result is the creation of a protein called amylase. The amylase is transported out from the aleurone cells and into the endosperm. The amylase is an enzyme that acts as a catalyst for the hydrolysis of starch into sugar.
Since cavitation results in mechanical stress, sonication may create or enlarge fissures in the seed coat pericarp similar to scarification, a well-known process by which certain seeds, especially seeds with thick seed coats, are able to germinate. Scarification is believed to accelerate the imbibition of water through the pericarp. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, simple scarification is unlikely to explain the novel effect disclosed herein, since scanning electron micrographs suggest no increase in the number of fissures in treated seed, but do indicate a change in pericarp texture. It has been found that the sonication process accelerates the imbibition of water. Cavitation may also result in physiological or biochemical changes in the seed that prime the germination process, so that upon exposure of the seed to planting conditions, less time is needed for the seed to initiate germination, measured by the time when the radicle pushes through the pericarp. One mechanism proposed for causing physiological or biochemical changes is the production of free radicals by cavitation. Thus, some cavitation may be beneficial, but it is challenging to control and may damage seeds.
Instead of applying only a sinusoidal waveform of ultrasonic energy, the alternating waveforms of the sound energy are any two or more of a sinusoidal waveform, a sawtooth waveform, a triangular waveform and a square waveform for reducing cavitation, while maintaining the vibratory energy of the ultrasound. Currently, an alternating sawtooth waveform followed by a square waveform depicted in
The alternating waveform ultrasound signal is intended to minimize the cavitation effect upon the skin of seeds and avoid damage to the seed shell, but still speed uptake of moisture. One typical result is shown in
The sonication is by the application of sound waves at ultrasonic frequencies from about 15 kHz to about 175 kHz, preferably about 20 kHz to about 100 kHz, more preferably about 20 kHz to about 30 kHz. In some tested embodiments, a frequency of about 23 kHz was used. Higher ultrasonic frequencies in the megahertz range are possible but there is a chance of seed damage.
Intensity or power output of the ultrasonic energy can be varied in different seeds for increased speed of germination. In the following experiments an energy density of just 0.5 watt/sq·cm of energy was employed, but ranges could be from about 0.125 mW/sq·cm to as high as about 10 watts/sq·cm.
The sound energy is applied for about 1 minute or more, such as for about 1 minute to about 20 minutes, or for about 5 minutes to about 20 minutes. In some experiments described below, the ultrasonic treatment lasted for various periods, such as about 1 minute, about 5 minutes, about 10 minutes, about 15 minutes and about 20 minutes. Other periods of sound energy application can be applied, not only in relatively easy multiples of each other.
When alternating waveforms are used, as is presently preferred, the alternating waveforms can be applied for alternating periods of about 10 milliseconds to less than about 400 milliseconds. Above about 400 milliseconds, cavitation is more likely as shown in
Laboratory apparatus used in the treatment of seeds while the seeds are in a wet state within a liquid slurry, such as water, according to the inventor's previous patent application mentioned above is illustrated diagrammatically in
While the apparatus shown in
Accordingly, a dry treatment process was needed, avoiding the filtration or drying steps associated with the wet treatment process. The present invention satisfies that need.
As diagrammatically shown in
A wired transducer assembly is shown in the upper right drawing of
The transducer array shown in
The helical tubing, the jacket or both, can be made of a material that will allow the ultrasonic transmission through the jacket and helical tube from transducers placed on the exterior walls of the jacket. Suitable materials include, without limitation, quartz glass, stainless steel or flexible plastic. The helical tube also can be made of flexible plastic tubing.
The photograph of
Preferably, compressed air or other gas can be used to drive the dry seeds through the helical flow pipe End Cap in Flow to the End Cap Outflow, under the ultrasound emanated from transducers placed along the length of the Jacket as shown in
The dry seeds may be treated by being subject to ultrasonic energy for treatment periods of more than about one minute, such as about 1 to about 20 minutes, and within that range, for example and ease of timing, for about 1, about 5, about 10, about 15 or about 20 minute exposures to the ultrasound. These are exemplary times using the laboratory batch treatment apparatus schematically illustrated in
In the continuous ultrasonic treatment process and apparatus for dry seeds the seeds are generally passed through the length of the helical flow path just once, but multiple treatments can be used to increase overall exposure times such that the sonically-treated dry seeds have an enhanced germination characteristic and plants resulting from the sonically-treated dry seeds have an enhanced growth characteristic.
A series of experiments was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the treating seeds with ultrasonic energy, both proof of concept using a wet method where seeds were immersed in water, and a method according to the invention for the ultrasonic treatment of dry seeds. The experiments set forth below are non-limiting examples.
The wet method experiments were conducted using the laboratory apparatus shown in
Two different crop seeds were examined, wheat and tomatoes. Each was sonicated at the same ultrasonic setting, using the transducer system shown in
In
The ultrasonic settings for each wet seed experiment were:
1. 10 grams of the target seeds, specifically corn, wheat, carrot and tomato seeds, were added to 1000 mL of tap water at ambient temperature in a beaker and stirred using a magnetic stirrer as shown in
2. The ultrasound, emanating from an ultrasonic transducer tip immersed within the water is activated for 20 minute test intervals.
3. The seeds after sonification are then filtered and planted while still damp in test aquariums.
4. The results are shown in Table 1, which shows the normal time for germination of seeds tested and harvest time of plants grown from the tested seeds to full plant maturity vs. the times generated by the ultrasonic wet treatment. In each instance the wet ultrasonic treatment process produced significantly faster germination and final harvest growth times than the control untreated wet seeds.
Experiments 2 and 3 were dry treatment experiments. The ultrasonic settings for these dry seed experiments were:
The following procedure was followed for dry seed experiment 2.
1. 10 grams of the target seeds, namely corn and soybean, were added to a miniature Zip Lock® bag composed of a combination of Saran® and polyethylene, at ambient temperature according to the configuration shown in
2. The ultrasound emanated from the two transducer blocks attached the sonic bag treat the seeds stored within the bag. The seeds after sonification do not require filtration or drying.
3. The seeds were exposed in the sonic bag for 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minute intervals.
4. The ultrasonically treated seeds were then planted in test aquariums as shown in
5. A comparison was made to show the point at which the treated seeds vs. untreated control seeds vs. wet treated seeds to determine the optimum treatment period giving the greatest yield and the fastest germination time.
Table 2 shows the results from experiments of direct seed sonification while the seeds were treated in a dry state under the laboratory sonic bag configuration.
The normal germination period for corn was 5-10 days. Under wet ultrasonic treatment the germination time was reduced to 3 days, with the optimum treatment being 1 minute of ultrasonic exposure. The dry treatment showed best results after 5 minutes of ultrasonic treatment and germinated in 3 days for corn seeds.
The normal germination period for soy was 7-10 days. Under wet ultrasonic treatment the germination time was reduced to 4 days, with the optimum treatment being 15 minutes of ultrasonic exposure. The dry treatment showed best results after 5 minutes of ultrasonic treatment and germinated in 5 days for soybean seeds.
The following procedure was followed for dry seed experiment 2.
1. The continuous helical system illustrated in
2. The helical jacket, as shown in
3. The jacket was loaded with tap water at ambient temperature.
4. One pound (456 g) of the target seeds, namely corn and soybean, were added to a storage tank as shown in
5. Compressed air was routed from a ½ inch (1.3 cm) diameter air line attached to a quarter turn air valve connected to a compressor set to deliver a stream of compressed air through the storage tank at 30 psi (207 kp) pressure.
6. Two different ultrasonic generators are connected to the transducers so that each generator operates 20 transducers. A mosfet bridge circuit was employed to balance the output of each transducer to the same frequency range. The ultrasound is set from the transducers to aim directly through the water jacket to the helical coil and through the coil to the seeds travelling within it. On average each seed is “hit” by or directly subjected to the ultrasonic transmission from all sides 10 times as it travels the length of the helical coil.
7. The ultrasound, emanating from the transducer blocks attached to the jacket, sonicates seeds which are propelled through the helical tube by the compressed air. The transit time for a seed through the helical tube is calculated to be 10 seconds to travel the length of the helical tube.
8. The seeds were exposed to the ultrasound in the helical tube for 1 to 5 passes through the helical treatment process.
9. The ultrasonically treated seeds were then planted in the test aquariums as shown in
10. A comparison was made to show the point at which the sonically-treated seeds vs. untreated control seeds vs. wet treated seeds to determine the optimum treatment period giving the greatest yield and the fastest germination time.
Table 3 shows the results from direct seed sonification while the seeds were treated in a dry state under the helical continuous system.
The normal germination period for corn was 5-10 days. Under wet ultrasonic treatment the germination time was reduced to 3 days, with the optimum treatment being 1 minute of ultrasonic exposure. The continuous dry treatment showed best results after 5 passes of ultrasonic treatment through the helical tube apparatus and germinated in 3 days for corn seeds.
The normal germination period for soybeans was 7-10 days. Under wet ultrasonic treatment the germination time was reduced to 4 days, with the optimum treatment being 15 minutes of ultrasonic exposure. The continuous dry treatment showed best results after 5 passes of ultrasonic treatment through the helical tube apparatus and germinated in a 5 days for soybean seeds.
1. 5 grams of untreated control seeds were planted in a separate test aquarium in rows 2 inches (5.1 cm) apart from one another and stretching down the length of the test aquarium, 12 inches (30.5 cm), in soil placed in the aquariums at a depth of 8 inches (20.3 cm). The control seeds were placed 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) into the soil.
2. The control seeds were then covered with soil.
3. The control aquarium was placed under one Plant Growth lamp Model no. BR-30, 75 Watts, supplied by Phillips Co. The lamps were 15 inches (38.1 cm) away from the soil, generating a surface temperature of about 80° F. (26.7° C.).
4. The control aquarium was placed on a test rack under the lamps and connected to a timer which activated the lamps at 8:00 AM and deactivated the lamps at 6:00 PM.
5. The soil was irrigated with ¼ cup (118.3 ML) of tap water at ambient temperature each morning precisely at 9:00 AM.
6.
1. 5 grams of ultrasonically-treated seeds were planted in a separate test aquarium in rows 2 inches (5.1 cm) apart from one another and stretching down the length of the test aquarium (the “treated seed aquarium”), 12 inches (30.5 cm), in soil placed in the treated seed aquariums at a depth of 8 inches (20.3 cm). The treated seeds were placed 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) into the soil.
2. The ultrasonically-treated seeds were covered with soil.
3. Each treated seed aquarium was placed under one Plant Growth lamp Model no. BR-30, 75 Watts, supplied by Phillips Co. The lamps were 15 inches (38.1 cm) away from the soil, generating a surface temperature of about 80° F. (26.7° C.).
4. The treated seed aquariums were placed on a test rack under the lamps shown in
7. 5. The soil was irrigated with ¼ cup (118.3 ML) of tap water at ambient temperature each morning precisely at 9:00 AM.
Thus, the control seeds and the ultrasonically-treated seeds were planted and grown in the same manner in the same location.
Both the control and test experiments are run until the seed germinated above the soil. The planting test has one control set of seeds vs. ultrasonically-treated seeds treated with the batch sonic bag experiment for 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes of exposure to ultrasound vs. ultrasonically-treated seeds treated continuously within the helical system for up to 5 passes.
An examination of the seeds after ultrasonic exposure, using a scanning electron microscope, shows that the characteristic micro-holes shown in
While the above experiments were conducted using the apparatus described in
Conventional sinusoidal ultrasound may still be effective with seed sonification, but the use of an alternating ultrasonic waveform system, which minimizes cavitation, is preferable.
The experimentation listed above showed that ultrasound-induced water uptake represents a unique event dissociable from normal water uptake. These results demonstrate that ultrasound-stimulated seeds probably have faster rates of water uptake which is achieved very rapidly compared to the rates of water uptake of just soaked seeds. Thus, the sonication process fundamentally enhances the rate of uptake of substances into the seeds, speeding both seed germination and the growth of mature plants and crops. This process may therefore be used to reduce the time-to-harvest for many crops by first ultrasonically treating the seeds, including ultrasonically treating dry seeds.
While a wet ultrasonic treatment process appears to be more readily able to induce faster germination in seeds, the deficiencies of filtration followed by drying can make such system uneconomical.
This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/230,031, filed May 26, 2015, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US16/34397 | 5/26/2016 | WO | 00 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62230031 | May 2015 | US |
