Method of Improving the Growth and Production Output of Plants of the Family Solanaceae
A method and system of improving the growth of plants belonging to the family Solanaceae by providing a plant nutrient solution about the plant roots and a gas mixture circulating about the plant shoot; by selecting the gas mixture and plant nutrient solution temperature independently of the other; and providing a plant nutrient solution to gas mixture temperature differential of approximately at least approximately 10° F. during different phases of plant development. The method and system improves plant development to improve a desired plant organ for industrial, scientific, and medical purposes. A method of improving the growth and development of Solanaceae plants by providing a shoot-to-root temperature differential to treat or prevent infection by a plant pathogen and/or infestation by pests.
1 . A method of improving the growth of plants belonging to the family Solanaceae comprising:
providing a plant growing system configured for growing a Solanaceae plant having roots and a shoot, the plant growing system including a plant nutrient solution about the plant roots and a gas mixture circulating about the plant shoot;
selecting the gas mixture temperature;
selecting the plant nutrient solution temperature independently of the gas mixture temperature; and
providing a plant nutrient solution to gas mixture temperature differential of at least approximately 10° F. during different phases of plant development.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the phases of plant development comprise seedling growth, vegetative growth, and flora growth.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the method improves plant stem and/or leaf development.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the method improves plant root development.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the method improves plant reproductive organ development.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the growth of the plant is improved based at least in part on the plant variety, at least in part on the plant nutrient solution N-P-K concentration level, and at least in part on the plant growth phase.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the gas mixture comprises air, and the method further comprises the step of increasing the carbon-dioxide level of the air based at least in part upon the selected plant nutrient temperature and at least in part on the selected air temperature.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein any change to the selected gas mixture temperature or the selected plant nutrient solution temperature is made in less than approximately 20° F. increments during any one twenty-four hour period.
9 . A method of preventing or treating infection or infestation by a pathogen or pest of plants belonging to the family Solanaceae comprising:
providing a plant growing system configured for growing a Solanaceae plant having roots and a shoot, the plant growing system including a plant nutrient solution about the plant roots and a gas mixture circulating about the plant shoot; and
selecting either a gas mixture temperature or a nutrient solution temperature independently of the other;
wherein the selected temperature is lethal to a pathogen and/or pest belonging to the group consisting of insects, fungi, molds, mildews, bacterium, and combinations thereof at the selected gas mixture temperature or nutrient solution temperature.
10 . The method of claim 9 ; wherein the selected gas mixture temperature is at least 10° F. above the nutrient solution temperature, and is a temperature which does not cause the plant of a selected variety to be irremediably harmed.
11 . The method of claim 9 ; wherein the selected nutrient solution temperature is at least 10° F. above the gas mixture temperature, and is a temperature which does not cause the plant of a selected variety to be irremediably harmed.
12 . A plant growing system configured to grow a Solanaceae plant having roots and a shoot, the plant growing system comprising:
a plant nutrient solution located about the roots of the plant; and
a gas mixture circulating about the shoot of the plant,
wherein the gas mixture has a temperature that is selected independently of or based at least in part on a temperature of the plant nutrient solution, and
wherein during different phases of plant development, a plant nutrient solution to gas mixture temperature differential is provided such that the temperature differential is greater than approximately 10° F. during at least part of one of the different phases of plant development.
13 . The plant growing system of claim 12 , wherein the plant growing system is insulated, air-tight, and water-tight to the extent required as to maintain the temperature differential between the plant root and the plant shoot.
14 . The plant growing system of claim 12 , further comprising material placed between the plant shoot and the plant root to maintain the temperature differential between the plant root and the plant shoot.
15 . The plant growing system of claim 12 , further comprising material suspended over or about the plant shoot to provide a temperature differential between the plant root and the plant shoot.
16 . The plant growing system of claim 12 , further comprising an irrigation system to deliver the plant nutrient solution to the roots of the plant.
17 . The plant growing system of claim 12 , wherein the system is self-contained except for electrical input, water input, water output, and ventilation.
18 . The plant growing system of claim 12 , wherein the system is self-contained except for solar input, water input, water output, and ventilation.
19 . The plant growing system of claim 12 , wherein the system is portable.
20 . The plant growing system of claim 12 , wherein the system is configured to grow a plant in zero gravity.