JP2002249401A - Quality improving agent for cut flowers and quality improving method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive cut flower quality improving agent and a method for improving the appearance of cut flowers, having a prolonged life effect, and having high safety and low cost. SOLUTION: Nigerooligosaccharide is contained as an active ingredient of a cut flower quality improving agent. The quality improving agent is diluted to prepare an aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide, and the cut solution is immersed in the aqueous solution, or the aqueous solution is sprayed on the cut flowers to bring the aqueous solution into contact with the cut flowers. As a result, the effect of increasing the number of cut flowers, the size and mass of the flowers, and the effect of extending the spikes, and the effect of extending the life of the cut flowers are provided. The quality improving agent and quality improving method for cut flowers are particularly preferably applied to cut flowers belonging to Scrophulariaceae or Gentianaceae.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cut flower quality improving agent and a quality improving method for increasing the number of cut flowers, increasing the size and mass of the flowers, elongating the spikes and extending the life of the cut flowers. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Since cut flowers require a considerable number of days from a farmer to a general consumer through a distributor,
In the meantime, it is kept and managed so as not to wither or brown. Further, even after being purchased by a general consumer, it is necessary to endure appreciation for a relatively long time without losing vitality.

Hitherto, it has been pointed out that factors that shorten the life of cut flowers are aging caused by ethylene gas generated from pistils and petals, clogging of conduits (poor water supply) due to propagation of rot fungi, and lack of nutrients. Various cut flower life-promoting agents have been developed.

For example, silver ions and silver complex ions have been used to cope with aging caused by ethylene gas. Among them, a life-prolonging agent containing silver thiosulfate complex (hereinafter, referred to as STS) as a main component is well known. (Kazuo Ichimura, "Keeping Freshness of Cut Flowers", 25-34, 2000, Tsukuba Shobo). It is said that this life-prolonging agent containing STS as a main component inhibits the biosynthesis of ethylene in plants to prevent aging, and is currently the mainstream of life-prolonging agents. In addition, in order to prevent the propagation of rot fungi, an antibacterial agent mainly composed of aluminum sulfate is known.

Further, in order to improve the appearance of cut flowers,
Quality improving agents mainly containing plant hormones such as gibberellins have also been used. Gibberellins have the effect of increasing petals and suppressing yellowing of leaves.

[0006]

However, since STS is a silver preparation, there are problems such as safety, disposal after use, and concerns about environmental pollution.

[0007] On the other hand, gibberellin is very expensive due to its nature as a plant hormone, and it has been difficult to use it frequently and in large quantities as a quality improving agent for cut flowers in terms of cost.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive cut flower quality improving agent and a quality improving method which improve the appearance of cut flowers, have a life-prolonging effect, are safe, and are inexpensive. .

[0009]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventors have intensively studied to develop an excellent method for improving the quality of cut flowers, and as a result, treated cut flowers with an aqueous solution containing one of the oligosaccharides, nigerooligosaccharide. As a result, they found that the quality of cut flowers was improved and that they had a life-prolonging effect, and completed the present invention.

That is, the quality improving agent for cut flowers of the present invention is characterized by containing a nigerooligosaccharide as an active ingredient.

The quality improving agent for cut flowers of the present invention contains 0.01 to 50% by mass of nigerooligosaccharide,
It is preferable to use it by diluting it between 1 and 50 times at the time of use. Further, it is preferably applied to cut flowers belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae or Gentianaceae. Furthermore, at least one selected from an increase in the number of flowers of cut flowers, an increase in the size and mass of the flowers, and an effect of elongation of the spikes.
It is preferably used to impart various effects. Furthermore, it is preferable that it is used for providing a life extension effect of cut flowers.

On the other hand, the method for improving the quality of cut flowers of the present invention is as follows:
The cut flowers are contacted with an aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide.

In the method for improving the quality of cut flowers according to the present invention, the aqueous solution contains nigerooligosaccharide in an amount of 0.01 to 50.
It is preferred that the content is contained by mass%. In addition, it is preferable that the cut solution is brought into contact with the cut flower by immersing the cut end of the cut flower in the aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide or spraying the cut solution on the cut flower. Furthermore, it is preferable that the cut flowers belong to the family Scrophulariaceae or Gentianaceae. Further, it is preferable that the method is carried out to impart at least one effect selected from an increase in the number of cut flowers, an increase in the size and mass of the flower, and an effect of elongation of the spike. Furthermore, it is preferable that the method be performed in order to provide a life extension effect of cut flowers.

According to the agent and method for improving the quality of cut flowers of the present invention, it is possible to increase the number of cut flowers, the size and mass of the flowers, and the effect of elongating the spikes. The effect of extending the life of cut flowers can also be provided. Nigerooligosaccharides are edible saccharides and have high safety, and their costs are lower than gibberellins and the like.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In the present invention, the effects of improving the quality of cut flowers include the effects of increasing the number of cut flowers, increasing the size and mass of cut flowers, and improving the appearance of cut flowers. It means the effect including the life extension effect to improve the life.

The nigerooligosaccharide which is an active ingredient of the agent for improving the quality of cut flowers of the present invention has at least one α-1,3 glucosidic bond in the molecule, such as nigerose, nigerosylglucose, or nigerosylmaltose. Oligosaccharides having a degree of polymerization of glucose of 2 or more (in addition to oligosaccharides consisting of only α-1,3 glucoside bonds, α-1,3 glucoside bonds and other bonds (for example, α-1,1, α-1,
2, α-1,4, α-1,6 glucosidic bond), preferably an oligosaccharide having a glucose polymerization degree of 2 to 10, more preferably a polymerization degree of 2 to 7. It is. The nigerooligosaccharides used in the present invention may contain mixed oligosaccharides having different degrees of polymerization, and if necessary, separate oligosaccharides having a desired degree of single polymerization (chromatographic fractionation, yeast separation, etc.). (Fermentation treatment, enzyme treatment, etc.). Further, a nigerooligosaccharide alcohol obtained by reducing the above nigerooligosaccharide by an ordinary method may be used.

The nigerooligosaccharide can be produced by any suitable method. For example, it can be prepared by the following known method.

A method for producing a nigerooligosaccharide by hydrolyzing a polysaccharide produced by a microorganism, such as nigeran or ercinan, using an enzyme or an acid, etc. as a substrate (M. S.
taceyand JM Webber: Methods In Carbohydrate Ch
emistry., 1, 339-341, Academic Press (1962)).

A method for preparing nigerose by using a known α-glucosidase glycosyl transfer / condensation reaction (Kenichi Kanaya et al., Journal of the Japanese Society of Agricultural Chemistry, 53, 385-390 (1979), H. Fuji
moto et al., Agric. Biol. Chem., 52, 1345-1351 (19
88) etc.).

A method for producing nigerose by allowing a cyclodextrin-forming enzyme to act on a starch hydrolyzate (JP-A-3-22958).

A substrate containing an α-1,4 glucoside-linked polysaccharide or oligosaccharide may be added with α-
Glycosyltransferases that produce 1,3 glucoside bonds (specifically, fungi belonging to the genus Acremonium, such as Acremonium sp. S
A method for producing a nigerooligosaccharide by reacting one or two or more of 4G13 (FERM BP-4373) with a conventional method and culturing the same according to a conventional method (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No.
No. 59559).

In the present invention, it is preferable to use a nigerooligosaccharide prepared by the above method which is considered to be the most economical among the known methods for producing a nigerooligosaccharide.

The form of the quality improving agent of the present invention is not particularly limited. For example, it may be in the form of a powder or a solution, but preferably contains 0.01 to 50% by mass of the above nigerooligosaccharide, and More preferably, it is contained in an amount of from 3.0 to 3.0% by mass. When the quality improving agent of the present invention is used, the concentration of the nigerooligosaccharide is 0.01 to 50% by mass, preferably 1.0 to 3.0% by mass. It is preferable to use it after dilution. When the concentration of the nigerooligosaccharide in the aqueous solution at the time of use is less than 0.01% by mass, a sufficient effect of improving the quality of cut flowers cannot be obtained. This is not preferred.

The quality-improving agent of the present invention may further include a known cut flower quality-improving agent (including a life-prolonging agent) in addition to the nigerooligosaccharide.
May be added as necessary. Examples of such components include fungicides such as sodium hypochlorite and aluminum sulfate, amino acids such as ethionine or norleucine, nutrients such as phosphoric acid, and plant hormones such as gibberellin. Particularly, it is preferable to add ethionine or norleucine.

[0025] Nigerooligosaccharides may be added to a conventional cut flower quality improving agent (including a life-extending agent).
As a method of addition, a nigerooligosaccharide aqueous solution may be added, or a nigerooligosaccharide powder may be directly added to a conventional cut flower quality improving agent and dissolved. In addition, it is preferable that the addition amount of the nigerooligosaccharide is within the aforementioned range.

On the other hand, the quality improving method of the present invention is carried out by bringing an aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide (hereinafter referred to as an aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide) into contact with cut flowers. Specific examples include a method of immersing the cut end of the cut flower in an aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide, and a method of spraying the cut aqueous solution on the cut flower.

The concentration of the above aqueous solution containing nigerooligosaccharide is as follows:
For the reasons described above, 0.01 to 50% by mass is preferable,
1.0-3.0 mass% is more preferable.

The quality improving agent and the quality improving method of the present invention include:
Regardless of the type of cut flowers, it can be applied to improve the quality and prolong the life, but among them, snapdragon (Antirrhinum ma
jusL.) and Eustoma grandiflorum (Eustoma grandiflorum (Ra
f.) Shinn.) is effective for cut flowers of Scrophulariaceae and Gentianaceae. Although the above cut flowers are highly sensitive to ethylene, by using the quality improving agent of the present invention, S
The quality of cut flowers can be improved and the life can be prolonged without using an ethylene inhibitor such as TS.

[0029]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples.

Example 1 With respect to the various cut flowers shown in Table 2, those having the same growth state and freshness state were used, and the stems were cut at right angles with scissors in water and subjected to a test.

Under conditions of 23 ° C., 12 hours photoperiod, light intensity of 10,000 Lx, and relative humidity of 70%, ten cut flowers are inserted into each aqueous solution having the composition shown in Table 1, and the cut flowers are withered. Was observed.

Table 2 shows the results. The score in the table is defined as ± when the cut flowers immersed in pure water completely wilted, and +5 days when the cut flowers immersed in pure water wilted within 5 days after flowering continued What was done was represented by ++.

[0033]

[Table 1]

[0034]

[Table 2]

From Table 2, it can be seen that the cut flowers immersed in the aqueous solution containing nigerooligosaccharides are less likely to wither than those immersed in pure water. This life-prolonging effect was particularly pronounced in snapdragons and eustoma. In addition, in the other cut flowers, the cut flowers immersed in the aqueous solution containing nigerooligosaccharides have the same score as the cut flowers immersed in the aqueous solution containing glucose. It was tolerable.

Example 2 As for cut snapflowers of snapdragons, those having the same growth state and freshness state were used, and the stems were cut at a right angle with scissors in water and subjected to a test.

Each of these cut flowers was inserted into an aqueous solution having the composition shown in Table 3 at a temperature of 23 ° C., a photoperiod of 12 hours, a light intensity of 10,000 Lx and a relative humidity of 70%. The length was measured.

As a result, Table 4 shows the average value of the number of flowering of ten snapdragons counted at each time point, and Table 5 shows the average value of the length of spikes of ten snapdragons. .

[0039]

[Table 3]

[0040]

[Table 4]

[0041]

[Table 5]

From Table 4, it can be seen that the number of cut flowers of snapdragons immersed in the aqueous solution containing nigello-oligosaccharides has increased. Also, from Table 5, it can be seen that the spikes of the cut snapflower of Snapdragon similarly immersed in the aqueous solution containing a nigello-oligosaccharide are elongated.

Example 3 A cut eustoma flower having the same growth state and freshness state was used, and the stem was cut at a right angle with scissors in water and subjected to a test.

Each of these cut flowers was inserted into an aqueous solution having the composition shown in Table 6 at a temperature of 23 ° C., a photoperiod of 12 hours, a light intensity of 10,000 Lx and a relative humidity of 70%. cm), mass (g) and the number of flowers when kept under the above conditions for 12 days.

As a result, Table 7 shows the average size and mass of the 10 cut eustoma flowers at each time point (the values in parentheses indicate the average mass of the petals), and Table 8 shows the above conditions. 10 when held for 12 days
Shows the average number of cut eustoma flowers in a book.

[0046]

[Table 6]

[0047]

[Table 7]

[0048]

[Table 8]

From Table 7, it can be seen that the size of the cut eustoma flowers immersed in the aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide increases.
It can be seen that the mass has also increased. In addition, from Table 8, it is apparent from the number of wilts of the cut flowers on the 12th day from the start of the experiment that the cut flowers of the eustoma are immersed in the aqueous solution containing nigello-oligosaccharide to improve the shelf life of the cut flowers.

[0050]

As described above, according to the present invention, by including a nigerooligosaccharide as an active ingredient,
In addition to the effects of increasing the number of cut flowers, increasing the size and mass, and improving the appearance of spikes, the effect of extending the life of cut flowers can be imparted, and the quality of cut flowers is high, safe and inexpensive. An agent and a method for improving the quality of cut flowers can be provided.

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A cut flower quality improving agent comprising a nigerooligosaccharide as an active ingredient. 2. Nigelooligosaccharide is contained in an amount of 0.01 to 50% by mass.
The cut flower quality improving agent according to claim 1, which is contained and diluted between 1 and 50 times when used. 3. The quality improving agent for cut flowers according to claim 1, which is applied to cut flowers belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae or Gentianaceae. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one effect selected from the group consisting of an increase in the number of cut flowers, an increase in size and mass of the flowers, and an effect of elongation of the spikes is imparted.
The quality improving agent for cut flowers according to any one of the above. 5. The quality improving agent for cut flowers according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is used for imparting a life extension effect to cut flowers. 6. A method for improving the quality of cut flowers, comprising contacting the cut flowers with an aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide. 7. The aqueous solution contains 0.01 mg of a nigerooligosaccharide.
The method for improving the quality of cut flowers according to claim 6, wherein the content of the cut flowers is about 50% by mass. 8. The quality of the cut flowers according to claim 6, wherein the cut flowers are immersed in the aqueous solution containing a nigerooligosaccharide or the aqueous solution is sprayed on the cut flowers to bring the aqueous solution into contact with the cut flowers. Improvement method. 9. The method for improving the quality of cut flowers according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the cut flowers belong to the family Scrophulariaceae or Gentianaceae. 10. A method for imparting at least one effect selected from an increase in the number of flowers of cut flowers, an increase in size and mass of flowers, and an effect of elongation of spikes.
9. The method for improving the quality of cut flowers according to any one of 9. 11. The method for improving the quality of cut flowers according to any one of claims 6 to 9, which is a method for imparting a life extension effect of cut flowers.