Method for protecting plants from stress and senescence

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10238113-B2
Application number	US-201514656693-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2008
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

The present invention relates to regulation of ureide levels for optimal plant survival during nutrient remobilization such as occurs during normal growth, dark stress and senescence. Plants can be genetically engineered or selected using a suitable gene marker to have enhanced ureide accumulation. The present invention further provides methods of protecting plants, or extending the shelf life of fresh plant produce by application of exogenous ureides.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of extending the post-harvest shelf life of a fresh mature plant produce, the method comprising:
(a) harvesting the fresh mature produce, wherein the fresh mature produce is selected from the group consisting of: vegetable, fruit, cut branches, and flower; and
(b) applying to the fresh mature produce ready for harvest, either before or after harvest, a composition comprising at least one ureide selected from the group consisting of: allantoin and allantoate, in an amount effective in extending the post-harvest shelf life of the harvested fresh mature produce and protecting the harvested fresh mature produce from post-harvest premature senescence, senescence, or both.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises 0.001-10 mM of the at least one ureide.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises 0.01-10 mM of the at least one ureide.

4. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the composition comprises 0.1-0.5 mM of the at least one ureide.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying step comprises spraying the fresh mature produce with the composition.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying step comprises at least partially immersing the fresh mature produce in the composition.

7. A method of extending the post-harvest shelf life of a fresh plant produce, the method comprising:
(a) harvesting the fresh produce, wherein the fresh produce is selected from the group consisting of: vegetable, fruit, cut branches, and flower; and
(b) applying to the fresh produce, either at or after harvest, a composition comprising at least one ureide selected from the group consisting of: allantoin and allantoate, in an amount effective in extending the post-harvest shelf life of the harvested fresh produce and protecting the harvested fresh produce from post-harvest premature senescence, senescence, or both.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises 0.001-10 mM of the at least one ureide.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composition comprises 0.01-10 mM of the at least one ureide.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the composition comprises 0.1-0.5 mM of the at least one ureide.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the applying step comprises spraying the fresh produce with the composition.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the applying step comprises at least partially immersing the fresh produce in the composition.

Assignees

• Ben Gurion Univ Of The Negev Research And Development Authority
• Yeda Res & Dev
• Yeda Res And Development Co Ltd At The Weizmann Institute Of Science

Inventors

• Fluhr Robert
• Sagi Moshe

Classifications

• C12N15/8243

  involving biosynthetic or metabolic pathways, i.e. metabolic engineering, e.g. nicotine, caffeine · CPC title

• C12N15/8271

  for stress resistance, e.g. heavy metal resistance · CPC title

• A01N47/28 Primary

  Ureas or thioureas containing the groups >N—CO—N< or >N—CS—N< (isoureas, isothioureas A01N47/42) · CPC title

• C12N15/8269

  Photosynthesis · CPC title

• A01N3/00 Primary

  Preservation of plants or parts thereof, e.g. inhibiting evaporation, improvement of the appearance of leaves {or protection against physical influences such as UV radiation using chemical compositions} (preservation or chemical ripening of fruit or vegetables A23B7/00); Grafting wax · CPC title