JP7149628B2 - Growth promotion method and growth promotion system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a growth promotion method and a growth promotion system.

Techniques for promoting the growth of plants using an alternating electric field are known. is improved compared to the control plot.

Moon J-D, H-S Chung. 2000. Acceleration of germination of tomato seed by applying AC electric and magnetic fields. J. Electrostatics 48: 103-114. Masaki Matsuo and Tomoko Sakata, Effect of electric field treatment on germination and initial growth of water-absorbing seeds, Bioenvironment Control 32, 107-111 (1994)

However, the technique described in Non-Patent Document 1 has a problem that it is difficult to promote growth with a simple configuration because the alternating electric field strength is extremely high, on the order of kV/cm.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technique for easily promoting the growth of an object with a simple configuration.

The growth promotion method according to the present invention for achieving the above objects includes:
A growth promotion method for promoting growth of an organism, comprising:
An electric field applying step of applying a high-frequency alternating electric field of more than 1 MHz to 1000 MHz or less, which is a frequency band in which the dielectric loss of water is small, to the organism placed in the growth environment;
The intensity of the high-frequency alternating electric field is 0.01 Vpp/cm or more and 100 Vpp/cm or less,
In the electric field applying step, the frequency of the high-frequency alternating electric field is increased and the strength of the high-frequency alternating electric field is controlled to be decreased,
The organism is characterized by being plant seeds or mushrooms .

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to promote the growth of an object easily with a simple structure.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or similar configurations are given the same reference numerals.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
It is a figure which shows the frequency characteristic of the dielectric loss of water. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the growth promotion apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of germination of arugula seeds. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the germination rate of arugula seeds changes due to the application of an alternating electric field. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of germination of arugula seeds. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how the stem length extending from arugula seeds is measured. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing measurement results of stem lengths extending from seeds of arugula. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the germination rate of arugula seeds by changing the application time and timing of the alternating electric field, and is the result when the alternating electric field is applied between 0 hours and 48 hours (48 hours). B This is the result when an alternating electric field is applied for 10 hours to 48 hours (38 hours). These are the results when an AC electric field is applied for 0 to 10 hours (10 hours). These are the results when an AC electric field was applied for 10 hours to 24 hours (14 hours). These are the results when an AC electric field is applied for 0 to 1 hour (1 hour). These are the results when an alternating electric field is applied from -12 hours to 0 hours (ie, 12 hours for dry seeds immediately before seed imbibition (before sowing)). FIG. 10 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of arugula seeds over time, showing the results in the case of an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 1 MHz. The results are for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 10 MHz. The results are for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the results of measuring the average germination time of arugula seeds at alternating electric field frequencies of 1 MHz, 10 MHz and 100 MHz under an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm. FIG. 10 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of arugula seeds over time, showing the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 1 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm was applied for 48 hours. This is the result when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 1 MHz and an alternating electric field intensity of 10 Vpp/cm was applied for 48 hours. This is the result when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 0.1 Vpp/cm was applied for 10 hours. This is the result when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 0.05 Vpp/cm was applied for 10 hours. This is the result when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 0.01 Vpp/cm was applied for 10 hours. FIG. 10 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of Japanese mustard spinach seeds over time, showing the results when an alternating electric field was applied to the Japanese mustard spinach seeds for 0 to 48 hours (48 hours). This is the result when an AC electric field was applied to Japanese mustard spinach seeds for 0 to 10 hours (10 hours). FIG. 10 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of pea seeds over time, showing the results when an alternating electric field was applied to the pea seeds from 0 hour to 48 hours (48 hours). This is the result when an AC electric field is applied to pea seeds for 0 to 10 hours (10 hours). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state when an alternating electric field is applied to a shiitake mushroom bed for 24 hours, then the application is stopped, and one day has passed since then. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which an alternating electric field was applied to a shiitake mushroom bed for 24 hours and then stopped, and nine days later. FIG. 10 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of arugula seeds over time, showing the results in the case of an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 200 MHz. The results are for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 500 MHz. The results are for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 700 MHz. FIG. 3 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of arugula seeds over time. The results are for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 13.56 MHz. FIG. 4 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of pea seeds over time. The results are for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 40.68 MHz. FIG. 10 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of rice paddy over time, and a diagram showing the state of control and the state of rice paddy to which an AC electric field is applied after a certain period of time has passed.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the configurations shown in the following embodiments are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these configurations.

A growth promotion device according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as a device that applies a high-frequency AC electric field to an object (living organism) to promote growth of the object. Here, "growth" refers to the growth and maturation of the organism itself and the proliferation of cells. The outline of the growth promoting device will be described below.

(Type of object)
In the present embodiment, the target of growth promotion is not limited, and various organisms (living bodies) can be targeted. For example, the present invention can be applied to animals (animal cells), plants (plant cells), microorganisms, etc., but is not particularly limited.

(state of object)
In the present embodiment, the state of the target object for growth promotion is not particularly limited. For example, the target object may be the living body itself, or may be cells or tissue fragments taken out of the living body. Also, the object is impregnated with a liquid and placed in a growth environment to which a high-frequency alternating electric field is applied. Here, "growth environment" refers to an external environment in which an object can grow. That is, in the present embodiment, the target object is impregnated with a liquid, and an environment in which conditions (temperature, pressure, air (dissolved gas), illuminance, presence/absence and amount of nutrients, etc.) for growth are prepared. By applying a high-frequency alternating electric field in the state of being placed in a state where the high-frequency alternating electric field is not applied, the growth is promoted as compared with the case where the high-frequency alternating electric field is not applied. Even if the object is not impregnated with the liquid, the object does not have to be impregnated with the liquid if the object contains the liquid and can grow without being impregnated with the liquid.

In this embodiment, a high-frequency AC electric field is applied to the object while it is held in a container. This facilitates object handling and environmental adjustment. The container holding the object is preferably made of a material that has a small effect on the electric field. According to this, since the high-frequency AC electric field is less likely to be affected by the container, the electric field can be uniformly applied to the object. Specifically, a resin container containing no metal or high dielectric material is exemplified. Also, the container can be configured separately from the electrodes for applying the high-frequency alternating electric field. According to this method, it is possible to perform the growth promotion treatment using a container that is generally available, since there is no need to make any special modifications to the container. However, apart from this, it is also possible to use a container to which electrodes are attached as the container for holding the object. The present invention is not limited to this, and the object of growth promotion can be a plant (including seeds) planted in the ground, a grafted tree, an animal housed in a breeding room or a laboratory, etc. is.

(Constitution)
The growth promoting device has an applying means capable of applying a high-frequency AC electric field to a desired region, and is configured to promote the growth of the target by arranging the target in the generated AC electric field (AC electric field). It has become. Specifically, the growth promoting device can be configured to have a voltage generating device (generator) for generating a high-frequency AC voltage, and an electrode connected to the voltage generating device. Here, as the electrodes, there are two flat electrodes facing each other with the object interposed therebetween, three or more flat plate electrodes facing each other, and electromagnetic waves directed toward space. A radiating electromagnetic wave radiation electrode (transmitting antenna) can be exemplified. Examples of the waveform of the AC electric field include sine waves, rectangular waves, triangular waves, and sawtooth waves, but are not limited to these. A sine wave can be used as an example.

The frequency of the AC electric field generated by the growth promoting device can be applied within a range in which the dielectric loss of water is equal to or less than a predetermined value. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, which shows the frequency characteristics of the dielectric loss ε of water, it is known that an AC electric field with a frequency of 0.5 MHz to 1000 MHz reduces the dielectric loss ε of water. can be used. As is well known, water behaves as a conductor in a DC electric field or a low-frequency AC electric field due to ionic conduction, so that an electric current flows through an object due to movement of ions. On the other hand, in an AC electric field with a frequency of 0.5 MHz to 1000 MHz, where the dielectric loss ε of water is small, almost no current is generated due to the movement of ions, so it is possible to apply the electric field directly to the object. .

The intensity (electric field intensity) of the AC electric field generated by the growth promoting device can be appropriately set according to the object and application conditions (frequency and timing). However, in the present embodiment, the intensity of the AC electric field is preferably within a range in which discharge does not occur. Ordinarily, when an electric discharge occurs, ozone is generated, which may hinder the growth of the target object. However, by using an AC electric field within a range where no electric discharge occurs, it is possible to create an environment suitable for the growth of the target object. be possible. In this embodiment, as described above, an AC electric field with a frequency within a range where the dielectric loss of water is small is used. Therefore, even if the intensity is reduced to the extent that discharge does not occur, it is possible to apply an AC electric field to the object, and a growth promotion effect can be expected. For example, the strength of the alternating electric field can be 100 Vpp/cm or less, or 50 Vpp/cm or less. In general, it is said that when a high voltage exceeding 1000 Vpp/cm is applied, discharge is more likely to occur. It is possible to provide a highly efficient growth promoting device. Alternatively, the voltage applied to the electrodes by the growth promoting device can have a peak value of less than ±100V. That is, in general, it is said that when a voltage exceeding ±1000 V is applied to an electrode, discharge from the electrode is likely to occur. can be provided. Also, the intensity of the AC electric field generated by the growth promoting device can be, for example, 0.03 Vpp/cm or more, preferably 0.05 Vpp/cm or more. Since the effect of promoting the growth of the object varies depending on the type of object and the frequency of the AC electric field, the strength at which the effect of promoting the growth of the object can be uniformly expected is not clear. , It has been confirmed that a growth-promoting effect is expressed (details will be described later).

The growth promoting device may further comprise shielding means for preventing leakage of the AC electric field to the outside. The shielding means can be realized, for example, as electrodes connected to the voltage generator and a metallic frame surrounding the area to which the high-frequency alternating electric field is applied. Since the growth promoting device applies a high-frequency alternating electric field to the object, the electrodes generate a high-frequency alternating electric field (radio waves). The use of the shielding means can prevent the high-frequency AC electric field from leaking to the outside, so that it is possible to provide a highly convenient apparatus. However, depending on experimental conditions, it is also possible to adopt a configuration without a shield.

Hereinafter, the growth promoting device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with more specific examples.

<Configuration of growth promotion device>
Hereinafter, a configuration example of a growth promotion system (growth promotion device) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. A growth promotion device 1 for promoting growth of an object includes a generator 10 . The generator 10 is an electronic device (voltage generator) that generates an alternating voltage signal, and can apply an alternating electric field (an alternating electric field) to a desired region via an arbitrary electrode. Although the type of generator 10 applicable to the present embodiment is not particularly limited, it is preferable to select and design a generator having an output (frequency, voltage, waveform) suitable for the target organism. As the generator 10, for example, it is possible to apply a function generator capable of generating a high-frequency voltage with an arbitrary waveform. In this embodiment, the generator 10 functions as applying means capable of applying an AC electric field between the electrode 20 (first electrode) and the electrode 30 (second electrode). That is, the generator 10 applies an AC electric field to the object (living organism) placed between the electrode 20 and the electrode 30 facing the electrode 20 . The growth promoting device 1 also includes a voltmeter 5 (oscilloscope). A voltmeter 5 can measure the voltage between the two electrodes 20 , 30 . Then, based on the measured voltage and the distance between the two electrodes 20 and 30, an alternating electric field (electric field) can be calculated. However, the growth promoting device 1 can also be configured without a voltmeter. That is, by previously confirming the set value of the generator 10 and the strength of the electric field applied between the electrodes, it is possible to apply an electric field of desired strength between the electrodes by adjusting the set value of the generator 10. be possible.

The types of the electrodes 20 and 30 are also not particularly limited, and for example, transparent electrodes (indium oxide (ITO)/glass electrodes) and metal electrodes such as stainless steel, copper, and aluminum can be used. Further, the electrodes 20 and 30 can be configured as plate electrodes, for example. By arranging two flat electrodes in parallel and facing each other, it is possible to generate a uniform electric field between the electrodes (so as not to generate unevenness). Such parallel plate electrodes include not only so-called plate-shaped electrodes, but also shapes that can be regarded as substantially flat plates. For example, a flat plate electrode with a mesh structure, an electrode whose ends are bent inward to prevent the electric field from diverging at the periphery, and an electrode that is gently curved as a whole to equalize the electric field between the electrodes. etc. can be exemplified. Further, the electrodes 20 and 30 can be configured separately from the container that stores the object, but they can also be configured integrally with the container.

In this embodiment, the generator 10 applies an alternating electric field with a petri dish 40 placed between two electrodes 20 , 30 . An object (seed 41) is placed in a petri dish 40, and about two-thirds of the seed 41 is immersed in a liquid 42 (a liquid containing water as its main component, such as distilled water). It's becoming A generator 10 is used to stimulate a seed 41 between two electrodes 20,30.

The frequency of the AC electric field applied between the electrodes can be appropriately adjusted according to the type of object. In one embodiment, the frequency of the alternating electric field is, for example, 0.5 MHz or higher, but may preferably range from 0.5 MHz to 1000 MHz. By selecting an appropriate frequency according to the type of object, the growth promotion efficiency of the object can be improved.

Also, the frequency (band) of the alternating electric field applied between the electrodes can be set based on the dielectric loss of water in one embodiment. That is, it is known that when an AC electric field is applied to water, dielectric loss occurs due to movement of ions in the water at low frequencies, and the dielectric loss decreases as the frequency increases. By using an alternating electric field in the region where the dielectric loss of water is small (an alternating electric field of approximately 0.5 MHz or more and 1000 MHz or less), the movement of ions in water is minimized. Electric field stimulation can be applied directly, rather than accompanying stimulation, and the growth of the object can be promoted.

Further, the strength of the AC electric field (electric field strength) applied between the electrodes is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set according to the type of object. In one embodiment, the strength of the alternating electric field can range from 0.01 Vpp/cm to 100 Vpp/cm. It may preferably range from 0.03 Vpp/cm to 100 Vpp/cm. More preferably, it may be in the range of 0.05 Vpp/cm to 50 Vpp/cm. By selecting such electric field strength depending on the object, the growth of the object can be promoted.

Also, the time (timing) for applying the AC electric field to the object is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately set according to the type of the object. In one embodiment, the time for applying the alternating electric field is the time when the object is impregnated with water (when the object is impregnated with water and placed in the growth environment, i.e., when the factors necessary for growth are ready). can be set as a reference.

Further, in one embodiment, the strength of the alternating electric field (electric field strength), the time for applying the alternating electric field, or the environment in which the object is placed at that time are appropriately set according to the type of the object, and the optimum value is , can be derived experimentally.

According to the present invention, the object placed between the two electrodes can be stimulated simply by applying an alternating electric field between the two electrodes using the generator, so that the object can grow with a simple configuration. can be promoted.

<Growth promotion method>
Next, a growth promotion method according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. The growth promotion method includes a step of preparing an object for growth promotion, impregnating it with a liquid (liquid containing water as a main component), and placing it in a growth environment. For example, an object (seed 41) is placed in a petri dish 40, a liquid is added, and this is placed in an environment in which temperature, humidity, illuminance, brightness, etc. are adjusted so as to provide suitable conditions for the growth of the object. do.

The growth promotion method includes applying a high frequency alternating electric field to the object. The AC electric field (frequency, waveform, intensity, time) applied in this step can be appropriately set according to the object. This step can be realized by sandwiching the petri dish 40 between the electrodes 20 and 30 and generating a high-frequency AC electric field between the electrodes 20 and 30 . This step is performed so that at least one of the electrodes 20 and 30 is out of contact with the seeds 41 and the liquid 42 . In the example shown in FIG. 2, both the electrodes 20 and 30 are out of contact with the seeds 41 and the liquid 42 in this step.

Through the above steps, the object can be stimulated and its growth can be promoted.

[Example 1]
In Example 1, growth promotion of arugula seeds placed on a petri dish will be described as an example of growth promotion of organisms.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
●Measurement of Germination Rate of Arugula Seeds FIG. 3A is a diagram showing growth of arugula seeds placed on a Petri dish. Fifty arugula seeds were placed on a 1% agar plate provided in a petri dish, and distilled water was added to 2/3 the height of the seeds. After that, the agar plate was covered with a lid, inserted between 10 cm x 10 cm parallel plate stainless steel electrodes with a width of 3 cm, and grown at 25°C in a dark place at 1.0 Vpp/cm from the top and bottom using the growth promotion device 1. A 100 MHz sinusoidal alternating electric field was applied for 48 hours. In the meantime, germination was waited while replenishing distilled water.

As a control, 50 arugula seeds were placed on a 1% agar plate, and distilled water was added to 2/3 of the height of the seeds. The agar plate was covered with a lid and left undisturbed at 25°C in the dark for 48 hours. In the meantime, germination was waited while replenishing distilled water.

8 hours, 24 hours, 32 hours, and 48 hours after the addition of distilled water to the seeds (starting the application of the alternating electric field), the number of germinations of arugula seeds was counted to calculate the germination rate. Seeds were considered to have germinated when the radicle elongated to 2 mm or more. The measurement of radicle length was obtained from the photographed images.

FIG. 3B is a graph plotting the germination rate of arugula seeds over time. Twenty-four hours after adding distilled water to the seeds, the germination rate of arugula seeds in the control group (Control) was 12.7 ± 4.8% (mean ± standard error, n = 3). In contrast, the germination rate of arugula seeds to which an alternating electric field was applied was 26.7±0.7%. That is, when an alternating electric field was applied, a germination rate 2.1 times higher than that of Control was measured.

In addition, 32 hours after the addition of distilled water to the seeds, the germination rate of the Control arugula seeds was 56.7 ± 1.3%, whereas the germination rate of the arugula seeds to which the alternating electric field was applied was was 75.3±6.4%. That is, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was measured to be 1.3 times higher than that of Control.

Both 24 hours and 32 hours after adding distilled water to the seeds, an increase in the germination rate with a statistically significant difference was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

●Measurement of Stem Length of Arugula Seeds Twenty arugula seeds were placed on a 1% agar plate, and distilled water was added to 2/3 of the height of the seeds. Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, a 2 cm high paper cylinder was wrapped around the agar plate and covered with a lid. It was inserted between 10 cm × 10 cm parallel plate stainless steel electrodes with a width of 3 cm, and a sinusoidal alternating electric field of 1.0 Vpp/cm and 100 MHz was applied from above and below using the growth promoting device 1 at 25°C in a dark place. Applied for 3 days. In the meantime, germination was waited while replenishing distilled water.

As a control, 20 arugula seeds were placed on a 1% agar plate, and distilled water was added to 2/3 of the height of the seeds. Similarly, a 2 cm high paper tube was wrapped around the agar plate and covered with a lid. It was allowed to stand for 3 days at 25° C. in the dark. In the meantime, germination was waited while replenishing distilled water.

After 3 days, as shown in FIG. 4B, 10 arugula with long stems were sampled and the stem length was measured. The measurement of stem length was obtained from the photographed images.

FIG. 4C is a diagram showing measurement results of stem length. The stem length of arugula to which an alternating electric field was applied was 12.4 ± 2.1 mm (mean ± standard error, n = 10), while the stem length of control arugula was 7.2 ± 1.1 mm. there were. That is, when an alternating electric field was applied, the stem length was measured to be about twice that of Control.

Stem length elongation with a statistically significant difference was measured, confirming the promotion of seed growth.

[Example 2]
In Example 2, the effect on the growth of arugula seeds was investigated when the application timing and the application time of the AC electric field were changed.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
Specifically, under the same environment as in Example 1, the experiment was conducted by setting the alternating electric field frequency to 100 MHz and the alternating electric field strength to be fixed values of 1.0 Vpp/cm, while changing the application time of the alternating electric field. Hereinafter, the application time of the AC electric field is expressed with reference to the start of the experiment (that is, the time when the seeds were given distilled water and placed in the growth environment).

FIG. 5A is the same as FIG. 3B, showing the results when an alternating electric field is applied from 0 hours to 48 hours (48 hours). In FIG. 5A, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 26.7% after 24 hours and 75.3% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 12.7% after 24 hours and 56.7% after 32 hours. When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 2.1 times that of the control after 24 hours, and 1.3 times that of the control after 32 hours.

FIG. 5B shows the results when the alternating electric field was applied for 10 hours to 48 hours (38 hours). That is, the AC field was not applied for 10 hours after the seeds were given distilled water and placed in the growth environment, and then the AC field was applied for 38 hours. In FIG. 5B, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 12.7% after 24 hours and 66% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 13.3% after 24 hours and 65.3% after 32 hours. No significant difference was observed between the application of an alternating electric field and the control.

FIG. 5C shows the results when an alternating electric field is applied from 0 hours to 10 hours (10 hours). That is, the alternating electric field was applied only for 10 hours after the distilled water was applied to the seeds, and then the application of the alternating electric field was stopped. In FIG. 5C, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 24.7% after 24 hours and 82.7% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 12% after 24 hours and 64% after 32 hours. When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 2.06 times that of the control after 24 hours, and 1.29 times that of the control after 32 hours. Under these conditions, an increase in germination rate with a statistically significant difference was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

FIG. 5D shows the results when an alternating electric field is applied for 10 hours to 24 hours (14 hours). That is, the alternating electric field was not applied for 10 hours after the distilled water was applied to the seeds, and after that, after applying the alternating electric field for 14 hours, the application of the alternating electric field was stopped. In FIG. 5D, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 13.3% after 24 hours and 64% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 13.3% after 24 hours and 65.3% after 32 hours. No significant difference was observed between the application of an alternating electric field and the control.

FIG. 5E shows the results when an alternating electric field is applied for 0 to 1 hour (1 hour). That is, the alternating electric field was applied only for one hour after the distilled water was applied to the seeds, and then the application of the alternating electric field was stopped. In FIG. 5E, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 10.7% after 24 hours and 63.3% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 13.3% after 24 hours and 67.3% after 32 hours. No significant difference was observed between the application of an alternating electric field and the control.

FIG. 5F shows the results when an alternating electric field is applied from −12 hours to 0 hours (ie, 12 hours for dry seeds just before seed imbibition (before sowing)). In FIG. 5F, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 10.7% after 24 hours and 70% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 13.3% after 24 hours and 67.3% after 32 hours. No significant difference was observed between the application of an alternating electric field and the control. That is, the application of an AC electric field to dry seeds before the seeds absorbed water did not promote their growth.

Furthermore, under the same environment as in Example 1, an experiment was conducted in which an alternating electric field was applied for a predetermined period of time with an alternating electric field frequency of 200 MHz and an alternating electric field intensity of 1.0 Vpp/cm fixed. As in the example of FIG. 5, the application time of the AC electric field is expressed with reference to the start of the experiment (that is, the time when the seeds were given distilled water and placed in the growth environment). As a result, when an alternating electric field was applied from 0 to 48 hours (48 hours), the germination rate was 1.7 times higher than that of the control after 24 hours, and 1.22 times higher than that of the control after 32 hours. became a rate.

Further, under the same environment, an experiment was conducted in which an alternating electric field was applied for a predetermined period of time with an alternating electric field frequency of 200 MHz and an alternating electric field intensity of 0.03 Vpp/cm fixed. As a result, when an alternating electric field was applied from 0 to 10 hours (10 hours), the germination rate was 1.2 times higher than that of the control after 24 hours.

Thus, by using a larger value of AC electric field frequency from 100 MHz to 200 MHz, the germination rate can be improved even when a smaller value of AC electric field strength is used from 1.0 Vpp/cm to 0.03 Vpp/cm. I have found that it can be promoted.

As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that there is a difference in the effect of promoting the growth of organisms depending on the timing of starting the application of the AC electric field and the duration of the application. In particular, in the present embodiment, the application of the AC electric field is started within a certain period of time after the seeds are given distilled water, and the period of time during which the AC electric field is applied is longer than a certain period. It was confirmed that the growth was promoted. However, it is expected that the timing and duration of application suitable for starting application will vary depending on the target organism and the frequency and intensity of the alternating electric field, and the optimal values can be derived experimentally.

[Example 3]
In Example 3, the effects on the growth of arugula seeds were investigated when the alternating electric field intensity and alternating electric field frequency to be applied were varied.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
●Growth promotion effect according to AC electric field frequency First, the AC electric field strength was kept constant, and the AC electric field frequency was varied. In the same manner as in Example 1, 50 arugula seeds were placed on a 1% agar plate, and distilled water was added to 2/3 of the height of the seeds. Cover the agar plate with a lid, insert it between 3 cm wide 10 cm × 10 cm parallel plate stainless steel electrodes, and in a dark place at 25 ° C., 1.0 Vpp / cm from the top and bottom using the growth promoting device 1, and A sinusoidal alternating electric field of 1 MHz, 10 MHz or 100 MHz was applied for 48 hours. In the meantime, germination was waited while replenishing distilled water.

As in Example 1, as a control, 50 arugula seeds were placed on a 1% agar plate, and distilled water was added to 2/3 of the height of the seeds. The agar plate was covered with a lid and left undisturbed at 25°C in the dark for 48 hours. In the meantime, germination was waited while replenishing distilled water.

8 hours, 24 hours, 32 hours and 48 hours after the addition of distilled water to the seeds, the number of germinations of arugula seeds was counted to calculate the germination rate.

FIG. 6 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of arugula seeds over time. FIG. 6A shows the results for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 1 MHz. FIG. 6B shows the results for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 10 MHz. FIG. 6C shows the results for an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm and an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz, which is the same as FIG. 3B.

In FIG. 6A, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 12.7% after 24 hours and 63.3% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 10.7% after 24 hours and 58.7% after 32 hours. Although the germination rate was higher in the seeds to which the alternating electric field was applied, the difference was not statistically significant.

In FIG. 6B, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 23.3% after 24 hours and 68% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 16% after 24 hours and 55.3% after 32 hours. Under these conditions, an increase in germination rate with a statistically significant difference was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

In FIG. 6C, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 26.7% after 24 hours and 75.3% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 12.7% after 24 hours and 56.7% after 32 hours. Under these conditions, an increase in germination rate with a statistically significant difference was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

As can be seen from FIGS. 6A to 6C, it was confirmed that the germination rate after 24 hours and 32 hours was changed depending on the frequency even when the intensity of the AC electric field was the same.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the results of measuring the average germination time at an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm as a fixed value and alternating electric field frequencies of 1 MHz, 10 MHz and 100 MHz. The average germination time was calculated from the formula described in Non-Patent Document 2. Control averaged about 37 hours. On the other hand, it took about 36.0 hours at 1 MHz, about 34.2 hours at 10 MHz, and about 32.8 hours at 100 MHz. As a result of the experiment, it was confirmed that the average germination time varies depending on the frequency of the alternating electric field even if the intensity of the alternating electric field is the same.

●Growth promotion effect according to AC electric field strength Next, under the same environment, the germination rate of arugula seeds was investigated by changing the AC electric field strength. FIG. 8 is a diagram plotting the germination rate of arugula seeds over time. FIG. 8A shows the result of applying an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 1 MHz and an intensity of 1.0 Vpp/cm for 48 hours, which is the same as FIG. 6A. FIG. 8B shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 1 MHz and an intensity of 10 Vpp/cm was applied for 48 hours. FIG. 8C shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an intensity of 0.1 Vpp/cm was applied for 10 hours. FIG. 8D shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an intensity of 0.05 Vpp/cm was applied for 10 hours. FIG. 8E shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an intensity of 0.01 Vpp/cm was applied for 10 hours.

In FIG. 8A, when an AC electric field was applied, the germination rate was 12.7% after 24 hours and 63.3% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 10.7% after 24 hours and 58.7% after 32 hours.

In FIG. 8B, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 16.7% after 24 hours and 69.3% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 13.3% after 24 hours and 60% after 32 hours. Under these conditions, an increase in germination rate with a statistically significant difference was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

In FIG. 8C, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 23.3% after 24 hours and 68.0% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 7.3% after 24 hours and 55.3% after 32 hours. Under these conditions, an increase in germination rate with a statistically significant difference was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

In FIG. 8D, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 22.7% after 24 hours and 73.3% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 10.0% after 24 hours and 68.0% after 32 hours. Under these conditions, an increase in germination rate with a statistically significant difference was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

In FIG. 8E, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 8.0% after 24 hours and 68.0% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 9.3% after 24 hours and 63.3% after 32 hours. The seeds to which the alternating electric field was applied had a higher germination rate after 32 hours, but the difference was not statistically significant.

As can be seen from FIGS. 8A to 8E, it was confirmed that the germination rate after 24 hours and 32 hours was changed depending on the strength of the AC electric field with the same frequency. However, the optimum AC electric field intensity for promoting growth is expected to change depending on other application conditions (frequency and timing) and target organisms, and the optimum value can be derived experimentally. Further, through this experiment, it was confirmed that even when an AC electric field with a low intensity of 0.05 Vpp/cm was applied, there was an effect of promoting seed growth. In this experiment, as described above, there was no significant difference between the germination rate of seeds to which an alternating electric field with an intensity of 0.01 Vpp/cm was applied and that of the control. However, since the growth promotion effect of the AC electric field is thought to depend on the application conditions (strength, frequency, and time) of the AC electric field, the application conditions of the AC electric field and the target organism species, etc., were adjusted to achieve 0.05 Vpp/ It is also possible to promote the growth of organisms using an alternating electric field of intensity less than cm (e.g., 0.04 Vpp/cm, 0.03 Vpp/cm, 0.02 Vpp/cm, 0.01 Vpp/cm). .

[Example 4]
In Example 4, the effect of application of an alternating electric field on the growth of Japanese mustard spinach seeds and pea seeds was investigated.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
Specifically, under the same environment as in Example 1, as a fixed value of an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp / cm, instead of arugula, the seeds of Japanese mustard spinach and the seeds of peas. An electric field was applied.

Measurement of germination rate of Japanese mustard spinach seeds Fig. 9A shows the results of applying an alternating electric field to Japanese mustard spinach seeds for 0 to 48 hours (48 hours). In FIG. 9A, when an AC electric field was applied, the germination rate was 25.3% after 24 hours and 76% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 11.3% after 24 hours and 66.7% after 32 hours. When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 2.2 times that of the control after 24 hours, and 1.14 times that of the control after 32 hours. A statistically significant increase in germination rate was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

FIG. 9B shows the results when an AC electric field was applied to Japanese mustard spinach seeds for 0 to 10 hours (10 hours). In FIG. 9B, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 17.3% after 24 hours and 66.7% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 8% after 24 hours and 48% after 32 hours. When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 2.17 times that of Control after 24 hours, and 1.39 times that of Control after 32 hours. A statistically significant increase in germination rate was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

Measurement of Germination Rate of Pea Seeds FIG. 10A shows the results when an alternating electric field was applied to pea seeds from 0 to 48 hours (48 hours). In FIG. 10A, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 16.7% after 24 hours and 87.8% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 12.2% after 24 hours and 53.3% after 32 hours. When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 1.36 times that of the control after 24 hours, and 1.65 times that of the control after 32 hours. A statistically significant increase in germination rate was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

FIG. 10B shows the results of applying an alternating electric field to pea seeds for 0 to 10 hours (10 hours). In FIG. 10B, when an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 6.7% after 24 hours and 77.8% after 32 hours. On the other hand, in the case of Control, the germination rate was 3.3% after 24 hours and 52.2% after 32 hours. When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was twice that of the control after 24 hours, and 1.49 times that of the control after 32 hours. A statistically significant increase in germination rate was measured, confirming that seed growth was promoted.

According to each of the above-described examples, it was confirmed that the application of an alternating electric field stimulates the seeds of various types of seeds, and the effect of promoting the growth of the seeds is obtained. A wide range of electric field strengths and frequencies are applicable to promote seed growth, and a particularly effective selection of electric field strengths and frequencies can improve seed germination rates. For example, an alternating electric field strength of less than 100 Vpp/cm (more preferably 0.03 to 100 Vpp/cm) and an alternating electric field frequency of 0.5 MHz to 1000 MHz (more preferably 0.5 MHz to 200 MHz). By setting the value, the effect of promoting the growth of the object (seed) impregnated with the liquid (water) can be obtained.

[Example 5]
In Example 5, the effect of application of an alternating electric field on the growth of microorganisms (shiitake mushrooms) was investigated.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
A 1.6 kg shiitake mushroom bed (diameter 12 cm, height 18 cm, shiitake cultivation kit, Mori Sangyo Co., Ltd., Gunma Prefecture) was cut into round slices with a saw and divided into 6 equal parts. After washing the shiitake mushroom bed with water, each was placed in a plastic bag and allowed to stand in a program incubator at 23°C for 12 hours and 10°C for 12 hours. Three sliced shiitake mushroom beds were held between stainless plate electrodes, and an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm was applied for 24 hours. After application of an AC electric field, germination of shiitake mushrooms was examined. The shiitake mushrooms were taken to have sprouted at a height of 5 mm or more.

●Shiitake Mushroom Germination Experimental Results FIG. 11A shows the state of the shiitake mushroom bed after the AC electric field was applied for 24 hours and then stopped for one day. In FIG. 11A, 9 shiitake mushrooms sprouted on average from the 3 fungal beds to which the alternating electric field was applied. On the other hand, no germination of shiitake mushrooms was observed from the Control fungal bed.

FIG. 11B shows the state of the shiitake mushroom bed after 24 hours of application of the AC electric field, and then 9 days after the application was stopped. The graph in FIG. 11B shows the weight of shiitake mushrooms per 100 g of the fungal bed as the mean±standard error of three pieces of data. In FIG. 11B, the weight of shiitake mushrooms grown from the fungus bed to which the alternating electric field was applied was 1.44 times the weight of the shiitake mushrooms grown from the control fungal bed.

From the above results, it was confirmed that the growth of shiitake mushrooms was promoted by applying an AC electric field.

[Example 6]
In Example 6, the effect of application of an alternating electric field on the germination of arugula seeds was investigated.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
Specifically, under the same environment as in Example 1, an alternating electric field was applied for 48 hours at a fixed alternating electric field frequency of 200 MHz, 500 MHz or 700 MHz and an alternating electric field intensity of 1.0 Vpp/cm. Hereinafter, the application time of the AC electric field is expressed with reference to the start of the experiment (that is, the time when the seeds were given distilled water and placed in the growth environment).

FIG. 12A shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 200 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm was applied for 0 to 48 hours (48 hours). When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 52.0±4.0% after 24 hours, which was 1.70 times higher than the control.

FIG. 12B shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 500 MHz and an alternating electric field intensity of 1.0 Vpp/cm was applied for 0 to 48 hours (48 hours). When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 39.3±2.9% after 24 hours, which was 1.90 times higher than the control.

FIG. 12C shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 700 MHz and an alternating electric field intensity of 1.0 Vpp/cm was applied for 0 to 48 hours (48 hours). When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 32.0±2.3% after 24 hours, which was 2.40 times higher than the control. Moreover, after 32 hours had passed, the germination rate was 79.3±2.4%, which was 1.12 times that of the control.

As can be seen from FIGS. 12A to 12C, even if the intensity of the alternating electric field is the same, the germination rate at 24 hours and 32 hours varies depending on the frequency, confirming that there is a germination promoting effect.

[Example 7]
In Example 7, the effect of application of an alternating electric field on the germination of arugula seeds was investigated.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
Specifically, under the same environment as in Example 1, an alternating electric field was applied for 48 hours at a fixed value of alternating electric field frequency of 13.56 MHz and alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm. The frequency of 13.56 MHz used in this embodiment is one of the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) frequency bands that can be used for purposes other than communication. Hereinafter, the application time of the AC electric field is expressed with reference to the start of the experiment (that is, the time when the seeds were given distilled water and placed in the growth environment).

FIG. 13 shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 13.56 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm was applied for 0 to 48 hours (48 hours). When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 28±4% after 24 hours, which was 3.0 times higher than the germination rate of Control, which was 9.3±1.8%. As can be seen from FIG. 13, even at the frequency of 13.56 MHz, the germination rate changed after 24 hours, and it was confirmed that there was a statistically significant germination promoting effect.

[Example 8]
In Example 8, the effect of application of an alternating electric field on pea seed germination was investigated.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
Specifically, under the same environment as in Example 1, an alternating electric field was applied to pea seeds at a fixed alternating electric field frequency of 40.68 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm. The frequency of 40.68 MHz used in this embodiment is one of the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) frequency bands that can be used for purposes other than communication. Hereinafter, the application time of the AC electric field is expressed with reference to the start of the experiment (that is, the time when the seeds were given distilled water and placed in the growth environment).

FIG. 14 shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 40.68 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm was applied for 0 to 48 hours (48 hours). When an alternating electric field was applied, the germination rate was 61.1±1.1% after 32 hours, which was 1.77 times higher than the control. As can be seen from FIG. 14, even at the frequency of 40.68 MHz, the germination rate changed after 32 hours, and it was confirmed that there was a statistically significant germination promoting effect.

[Example 9]
In Example 9, the effect of application of an AC electric field on the germination of rice rice was investigated.

<Experimental content and experimental results>
Specifically, under the same environment as in Example 1, as a fixed value of an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp / cm, rice rice ("Hitomebore" (Noguchi Nursery Institute, Saitama Prefecture)). An alternating electric field was applied to it. In the following, the application time of the AC electric field is expressed with reference to the start of the experiment (that is, the time when the rice paddy was given distilled water and placed in the growth environment).

The upper graph in FIG. 15 shows the results when an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp/cm was applied for 0 to 114 hours (114 hours). As a result, a statistically significant germination promoting effect was confirmed for Control at 66 hours, 72 hours, and 90 hours after the application of the alternating electric field. The most significant germination promoting effect was confirmed at 66 hours, and the germination rate was 52.7 ± 2.4 (%) (mean ± standard error, n = 3), which was higher than the germination rate of Control. The germination rate was 2.19 times higher.

In addition, the left photograph in the lower part of FIG. 15 is a photograph of control rice paddy rice after 66 hours, and the right photograph is an alternating electric field with an alternating electric field frequency of 100 MHz and an alternating electric field strength of 1.0 Vpp / cm. It is a photograph of rice paddy after 66 hours in the case. It can be confirmed that the growth of the rice-hulls to which the alternating electric field is applied is promoted from the state of the stem length elongation of the rice-hulls.

Even in the case of targeting organisms other than those shown in the above examples, it is possible to select the applied electric field intensity, frequency, and application time by referring to the above results.

In the above examples, the AC electric field was applied while the seeds and the fungus bed (fungi) were immersed in water, but it is not always necessary to use water. For example, liquids such as water containing nutrients may be used. In the above examples, an alternating electric field was applied to plant seeds and fungal beds, but the subject to which the alternating electric field is applied is not limited to these, and the present invention can also be applied to other objects. It is possible to In the above examples, water was used as a factor insufficient for growth. good too.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to apply an alternating electric field strength of an extremely low order (order of about 0.01 to 100 Vpp/cm) compared to the order of kV/cm. It is possible to promote the growth of objects in the composition.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and variations are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, to publicize the scope of the invention, the following claims are included.

This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-019916 submitted on February 6, 2019 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-106473 submitted on June 6, 2019, The entire contents of that description are incorporated herein.

Claims (8)

A growth promotion method for promoting growth of an organism, comprising:
An electric field applying step of applying a high-frequency alternating electric field of more than 1 MHz to 1000 MHz or less, which is a frequency band in which the dielectric loss of water is small, to the organism placed in the growth environment;
The intensity of the high-frequency alternating electric field is 0.01 Vpp/cm or more and 100 Vpp/cm or less,
In the electric field applying step, the frequency of the high-frequency alternating electric field is increased and the strength of the high-frequency alternating electric field is controlled to be decreased,
A method for promoting growth , wherein the organism is a seed of a plant or a mushroom . 2. The method of promoting growth according to claim 1, wherein the intensity of said high-frequency AC electric field is within a range in which discharge does not occur. 3. The growth promotion method according to claim 1, wherein the time for applying the high-frequency AC electric field to the organism is set based on the time when the organism is impregnated with water and placed in a growth environment. 4. The method of promoting growth according to claim 3, wherein the length of time for applying said high-frequency alternating electric field to said organism is 10 hours or longer from said time point. A growth promotion system for promoting the growth of organisms,
An electric field applying means for applying a high-frequency AC electric field of more than 1 MHz to 1000 MHz or less, which is a frequency band in which the dielectric loss of water is small, to the organism placed in the growth environment ;
The intensity of the high-frequency alternating electric field is 0.01 Vpp/cm or more and 100 Vpp/cm or less,
The electric field applying means increases the frequency of the high-frequency alternating electric field and controls the strength of the high-frequency alternating electric field to decrease,
A growth promoting system , wherein the organism is a plant seed or a mushroom . The electric field applying means is
a voltage generator that generates a high-frequency alternating voltage;
Parallel plate electrodes facing each other across the organism, connected to the voltage generator;
6. The growth promotion system of claim 5 , comprising: The electric field applying means is
a voltage generator that generates a high-frequency alternating voltage;
an electromagnetic radiation electrode for radiating electromagnetic waves toward space, connected to the voltage generator;
6. The growth promotion system of claim 5 , comprising: 8. The growth promotion system according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , further comprising shielding means for preventing leakage of said high-frequency alternating electric field to the outside.

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