Plant cultivation apparatus for producing the plant having high content of ginsenosides

A plant cultivation apparatus including: a guide rail disposed above a cultivation bed and extending along the length direction of the cultivation bed; a movable unit configured to move along the guide rail; an arm unit having a first end that is coupled to the movable unit, and a second end that is telescopically extendable from the movable unit toward the cultivation bed; and a UV radiation unit coupled to the second end of the arm unit and configured to irradiate the cultivation bed with a set amount of UV light.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C 119(a) to Korean Application No. 10-2013-0015847, filed on Feb. 14, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus for cultivating plants such as ginseng, and more particularly, to a ginseng cultivation apparatus for producing ginseng having a high content of ginsenosides.

2. Discussion of the Background

Raw ginseng, red ginseng, black ginseng, and various processed ginseng products contain ginseng saponins called ginsenosides, which are secondary metabolites that show pharmacological effects, including anticancer, anti-inflammation, anti-hypertension, anti-atherosclerosis, nerve system regulation, and immune regulation effects. The content and ratio of these ginseng saponins are important factors that determine the quality of ginseng or processed ginseng products.

Ginseng saponins have chemical structures different from those of saponins found in other plants. In order to distinguish ginseng saponins from saponins found in other plants, ginseng saponins are called “ginsenosides” in the sense of the glycosides being isolated from ginseng.

Ginsenosides are known to have various effects, including anti-diabetic activity, anticancer activity, antioxidative activity, effects on prevention of atherosclerosis and hypertension, liver function stimulation, hangover removal, anti-fatigue, anti-stress, anti-aging, brain activity stimulation, anti-inflammatory activity, treatment of allergic diseases, and stimulation of protein synthesis.

Plant-extracted functional substances, such as vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols, and anthocyanins, which show pharmacological effects, including in vivo antioxidative activity, immunity boosting, anticancer activity, and prevention of heart diseases, are mostly classified as secondary metabolites. Similarly, ginsenosides obtained from ginseng are also classified as secondary metabolites. The kind and content of secondary metabolites vary depending on the kind of plant, and the structure of secondary metabolites changes depending on the intensity of biological/non-biological stress, even when the secondary metabolites originate from the same plant species.

It was reported that red ginseng or black ginseng, which are prepared by steaming fresh ginseng, have an increased content of ginsenosides, as compared to fresh ginseng, and contain components that are present in trace amounts in fresh ginseng or absent in fresh ginseng.

Some conventional methods of preparing red ginseng or black ginseng from fresh ginseng attempted to increase the content of crude saponins or specific ginsenoside components by changing conditions, including steaming temperature and time, the number of treatments, etc. In addition, some conventional methods attempted to increase the content of ginsenosides by performing treatments, such as lactic acid bacteria inoculation, irradiation, or far-infrared ray irradiation, during processing of ginseng.

As described above, conventional studies on the functional substances of ginseng have been focused on increasing the content of ginsenosides by various treatments during processing, rather than producing high-quality raw ginseng by treatment during cultivation. In other words, conventional studies on increasing the content of ginsenosides are not significantly deviating from methods of treating the harvested root zone by various processes during processing.

Such conventional methods are not effective in increasing the content of all functional substances, and instead, are effective only in increasing the content of some specific ginsenosides. In addition, such conventional processes have the negative effect of reducing the content of functional substances other than the specific ginsenosides.

In some conventional technologies, studies focused on increasing the content of ginsenosides by irradiation with visible light from LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) have been conducted, but results that demonstrate the effect of this irradiation have not yet been reported. The commercial application of the irradiation method is limited, due safety problems.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus that efficiently increases the content of ginsenosides in ginseng cultivation.

Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a plant cultivation apparatus that increases the content of specific plant components using UV light, during cultivation of plants such as ginseng.

In one embodiment, a plant cultivation apparatus for producing ginseng having a high content of ginsenoids includes: a guide rail disposed above a ginseng cultivation bed along the length direction of the ginseng cultivation bed; a movable unit coupled to the guide rail and configured to move on the guide rail; an arm unit, one end of which is coupled to the movable unit, and the other end of which is telescopically extendable from the movable unit toward a ginseng cultivation space above the ginseng cultivation bed; and a UV radiation unit coupled to the other end of the arm unit and configured to irradiate UV light in the wide direction of the ginseng cultivation bed for a specific period during cultivation or harvesting of ginseng.

The UV radiation unit may include: an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) module configured to irradiate UV light; a substrate mounted with the UV-LED module; a heat-sink plate coupled to the substrate and configured to dissipate heat generated in the UV-LED module; and a reflecting plate coupled to the substrate or the heat-sink plate and configured to define the range of radiation of UV light from the UV-LED module.

The UV-LED module may be detachably coupled to the substrate.

The plant cultivation apparatus may further include a sensor configured to measure a distance between the UV radiation unit and the ginseng cultivation bed.

The plant cultivation apparatus may further include a control unit configured to control the length of the arm unit on the basis of distance information included in an output signal from the sensor.

The control unit may be configured to control the moving speed of the movable unit to a predetermined speed.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a plant cultivation apparatus includes: a shelf on which harvested ginseng is to be placed; a frame configured to support the shelf; and an UV radiation unit supported by the frame above the shelf and configured to irradiate UV light toward the shelf, wherein the UV radiation unit is configured to irradiate UV light at least once onto the whole plant or root zone of the harvested ginseng for a certain period of time during storage or before processing of the harvested ginseng.

The UV radiation unit may include: an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED) module configured to irradiate UV light; and a substrate mounted with the UV-LED module and supported by the frame above the shelf.

The plant cultivation apparatus may further include an LED illumination unit disposed integrally with the UV-LED module and configured to illuminate the shelf.

In still another embodiment, a plant cultivation apparatus includes: a guide rail disposed above a plant cultivation bed for cultivating a plant, along the length direction of the plant cultivation bed; a movable unit coupled to the guide rail and configured to move on the guide rail; an arm unit, one end of which is coupled to the movable unit, and the other end of which is telescopically extendable from the movable unit toward a plant cultivation space above the plant cultivation bed; and a UV radiation unit coupled to the other end of the arm unit and configured to irradiate UV light toward the plant cultivation bed for a specific period during cultivation or harvesting of the plant.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The terms or words used in the specification and claims should not be limited to be construed as usual or dictionary definition but should be rather construed to be consistent with the technical spirits of the present invention based on the principle that the inventors may properly define the terms used in the specification to describe their invention in the best manner.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a ginseng cultivation apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 1, the ginseng cultivation apparatus includes a guide rail11, a movable unit12, an arm unit13, and a UV radiation unit14. The ginseng cultivation apparatus is configured to radiate UV light at least once onto ginseng cultivated in a ginseng cultivation space21of a ginseng cultivation bed20.

The guide rail11is a monorail supported by a support structure11A and is disposed above the ginseng cultivation space21. The guide rail11may extend along the length direction of the ginseng cultivation space21, which is longer than the width direction. However, when it is difficult to distinguish the length direction from the width direction, any one direction may be determined to be the length direction, and the guide rail11may be disposed along the determined length direction. Although one guide rail11is shown, according to some embodiments, multiple guide rails11may be provided.

In some exemplary embodiments, the guide rail11may also be disposed along the width direction of the ginseng cultivation bed20. However, when the guide rail11is disposed along the width direction, the apparatus may be more complex than when the guide rail11is disposed along the length direction.

When a barrier is formed on a field for ginseng cultivation, the above-mentioned ginseng cultivation bed20may be either a support plate supporting the ridge or an element that corresponds to a support plate. Also, the ginseng cultivation space21may designate a ridge on which ginseng is planted.

In the case of hydroponic cultivation, the ginseng cultivation bed20may include: an internal space that stores a nutrient solution and through which the nutrient solution moves; and an upper plate (not shown) on which ginseng is planted/supported. In addition, in the case of hydroponic cultivation, the ginseng cultivation space21may correspond to the upper plate of the ginseng cultivation unit.

The guide rail11is shown to have a linear configuration for convenience of illustration and explanation, but the present invention it is not limited to this configuration, and the guide rail11may be provided in a linear configuration, a curved configuration or a combination thereof, above the ginseng cultivation space21. The guide rail11is shown to be supported by the support structure11A, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the guide rail11may also be supported directly by a frame in ginseng production systems, including a general plant factory and a robot-based plant factory.

The movable unit12designates either a device that is coupled to the guide rail11and configured to move on the guide rail11, or an element that operates in an equivalent manner (seeFIGS. 4 and 5). In other words, the movable unit12includes a movable element that enables the UV radiation unit14to move forward and backward along the guide rail11.

The arm unit13designates a device that connects the movable unit12to the UV radiation unit14, or an element that operates in an equivalent manner (seeFIGS. 4 and 5). In this embodiment, the arm unit13is configured such that its length is telescopically adjustable. When this arm unit13is used, the distance between the plant (ginseng) in the ginseng cultivation space21and the UV radiation unit14can be freely adjusted to a desired distance. The arm unit13is shown to extend downward toward the ground surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the arm unit13may be configured so as to extend in various directions (e.g., lateral directions) in some embodiments of the ginseng cultivation apparatus.

The UV radiation unit14serves to radiate UV light onto the ginseng planted in the ginseng cultivation space21. The UV radiation unit14may comprise at least one LED that emits at least one of UV-A light (about 320-400 nm), UV-B light (about 280-320 nm), and UV-C light (about 100-280 nm). The UV radiation unit14will be described in more detail later.

FIG. 2is a partially enlarged perspective view of the ginseng cultivation apparatus ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a perspective view from the bottom of the ginseng cultivation apparatus ofFIG. 2.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the ginseng cultivation apparatus comprises the guide rail11, the movable unit12, the arm unit13, and the UV radiation unit14. Herein, the UV radiation unit14comprises a UV-LED (Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diode) module141, a substrate142on which the UV-LED module141is mounted, a heat-sink plate143coupled to the substrate142and serving to dissipate heat generated in the UV-LED module141, and a reflecting plate144coupled to the substrate142or the heat-sink plate143and serving to define the range of UV radiation from the UV-LED module141.

The UV-LED module141may comprise a first LED1411that emits UV-A light, a second LED1412that emits UV-B light or UV-C light, and a third LED1413that emits visible light. The first and second LEDs1411and1412may be driven simultaneously with the third LED1413, or these LEDs can be selectively/independently driven.

The UV-LED module141may be provided in the form of a metal can or injection-molded lead frame package that can be mounted on the surface of the substrate142. Alternatively, the UV-LED module141may be mounted by through-hole mounting or provided in the form of a bare chip or a flip chip. In addition, the UV-LED module141may also be attached to a sub-mount substrate that is used to improve heat dissipation characteristics or electrical characteristics. In some embodiments, the UV-LED module141may also be disposed on the substrate142using a variety of conventional detachable sockets.

The substrate142designates a printed circuit board on which the UV-LED module141is mounted and wires, electrical elements, integrated circuits and the like, which are used for operation of the UV-LED module141, are mounted. The substrate142may comprise a member or element that enables the UV-LED module141to be mounted integrally or detachably on the substrate142.

The substrate142is formed of any one of a thermoelectric element, a plastic PCB (Printed Circuit Board), a ceramic substrate, and a metal substrate. In this embodiment, the thermoelectric element is made of a thermoelectric material and can operate as a cooling substrate that performs a cooling operation when supplied with a DC voltage. When the thermoelectric element is used, one side of the thermoelectric element can be cooled to, for example, −75° C., thus improving the heat dissipation characteristics of the UV-LED module141.

The substrate142may comprise one or more of an anti-electrostatic circuit and an output control circuit (corresponding to driving unit) on at least one side thereof. Also, the substrate142may comprise an encapsulation material applied to the substrate142, in order to protect at least one of the anti-electrostatic circuit and the output control circuit.

The heat-sink plate143serves to dissipate heat generated in the UV-LED module141or the substrate142. The heat-sink plate143is coupled to the arm unit13to support the substrate142and the UV-LED module141. The heat-sink plate143may comprise an element (e.g., central opening) for coupling to the arm unit13. The heat-sink plate143may have a plurality of wing members attached to one side thereof and arranged in the width direction at approximately constant intervals. The heat-sink plate143may be formed of a material (e.g., metal material) having excellent thermal dissipation performance. The heat-sink plate143may be provided only at a position adjacent to the UV-LED module141, and the length and width thereof are not limited to the shown configuration and can be adjusted according to actual conditions.

The reflecting plate144serves to control the direction of UV light radiated from the UV-LED module141, to prevent a worker from being exposed to an excessive amount of UV light. The reflecting plate144may minimize the dispersion of emitted UV light, to increase energy efficiency. The reflecting plate144is disposed at the edges of the lower side of the heat-sink plate143. In some embodiments, the reflecting plate144may be inclined at an angle with respect to the direction of gravity. The reflecting plate144may be made of a sheet-like or film member comprising a UV reflecting material. The material may be highly heat-resistant material and may be highly resistant to discoloration.

The reflecting plate144may comprise a cover (not shown) for protecting the UV-LED module141and/or the substrate142. In this case, the cover may be disposed opposite the heat-sink plate143, with the reflecting plate144interposed therebetween. The cover may be made of quartz or reinforced glass. The quartz may have a UV transmittance of about 98%, or higher, for deep ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 300 nm or less, and thus, is useful for protecting the UV-LED module141from an external shock. The reinforced glass may have a UV transmittance of about 90%, or higher, at a wavelength of 300 nm to 400 nm, and thus, is useful for protecting the UV-LED module141from an external shock.

As shown inFIG. 3, the ginseng cultivation apparatus further comprises a sensor15. The sensor15serves to measure the distance between the UV radiation unit14or the UV-LED module141and the plant(s) of the ginseng cultivation space21. The sensor15may be mounted on the substrate142. In this case, the production costs can be reduced, as compared to when a separate sensor is used. The sensor15may be an ultrasonic proximity sensor, a distance measurement sensor, or the like.

FIG. 4is a schematic cross-sectional view in a first direction (width direction) of the ginseng cultivation apparatus ofFIG. 2.FIG. 5is a schematic cross-sectional view in a second direction (length direction) perpendicular to the first direction of the ginseng cultivation apparatus ofFIG. 2.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, in the ginseng cultivation apparatus, the amount of UV light that is radiated from the UV-LED module141onto the plant (ginseng) of the ginseng cultivation space can be controlled by adjusting the speed of the movable unit12and/or adjusting the length of the arm unit13.

The movable unit12may comprise any driving device capable of moving the movable unit12along, and coupling the movable unit12to, the guide rail11. In some embodiments, the movable unit12may comprise a slide coupled to the guide rail11, and a driving device connected to the slide by a rope or a chain, for example, to reciprocally move the slide. Herein, the driving device may be a motor or equivalent device.

The arm unit13comprises a first arm unit13aand a second arm unit13b, in order to adjust the length thereof. The first arm unit13ais telescopically inserted into the second arm unit13bin the length direction. Herein, one end of the first arm unit13ais coupled to the movable unit12, and one end of the second arm unit13bis coupled to the heat-sink plate143.

FIG. 6is a block diagram of a ginseng cultivation apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 6, the ginseng cultivation apparatus comprises a guide rail11, a movable unit12, an arm unit13, a UV radiation unit14, a sensor15, and a control unit16.

In this embodiment, the guide rail11, the movable unit12, the arm unit13, the UV radiation unit14and the sensor15can be substantially equal to the corresponding elements described above with reference toFIGS. 1 to 5, and thus, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The control unit16is configured to control the length of the arm unit13on the basis of distance information contained in an output signal from the sensor15. When the length of the arm unit13is controlled, the distance between the ginseng cultivation space21and the UV radiation unit14can be set to a desired distance, whereby the amount of UV radiation onto the ginseng cultivation space can be controlled.

Also, the control unit16is configured to control the moving speed of the movable unit12. When the moving speed of the movable unit12is controlled, the amount of UV light that is radiated from the UV radiation unit14onto the ginseng cultivation space21can be controlled.

In addition, the control unit16may be connected to a user interface (UI)17that may include physical button(s) or a software-based control program. In this case, the control unit16may be configured to control the length of the arm unit13and/or the speed of the moving unit12, on the basis of information inputted through the user interface17.

According to this embodiment, UV irradiation in ginseng cultivation may be used to artificially apply non-biological stress, and the content of ginsenosides in ginseng can be increased, due to a biological response to the stress that is artificially applied upon UV irradiation. Similarly, it was reported that the contents of functional substances in various garden products, including strawberries, tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, and the like, were increased by UV irradiation.

An experiment on whether the content of ginsenosides in ginseng is increased by UV irradiation was performed, and the results of the experiment are shown in Table 1 below.

In Table 1, Co indicates the content (average value) of ginsenosides in portions (leaf, stem and root) of a ginseng group of a comparative embodiment, and T1 to T8 indicate the content (average value) of ginsenosides in each portion of 8 exemplary ginseng groups obtained after radiating several μWcm2to several mWcm2of UV light, for 5 minutes every day for 1 week, before harvesting, while maintaining the distance between the UV radiation unit and the ginsengs planted in the ginseng cultivation space21at 100-200 mm. The comparative ginseng group and the exemplary ginseng groups are 6-year-old ginseng plants cultivated in the same field.

As can be seen in Table 1 above, the content of ginsenosides in all the ginseng groups irradiated with UV light using the ginseng cultivation apparatus before harvesting the ginseng plants is higher than that in the ginseng cultivated by the conventional method.

In this embodiment, ginseng is irradiated with UV light for 5 minutes every day during 1 week before harvesting, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, ginseng may also be irradiated with UV light for 5 minutes every other day during 2 weeks before harvesting.

FIGS. 7 and 8illustrate a ginseng cultivation environment to which the ginseng cultivation apparatus according to the present invention can be applied. Referring toFIG. 7, the ginseng cultivation apparatus according to the present invention can be provided above the ginseng cultivation space21that employs a traditional cultivation method. The traditional cultivation method refers to a ginseng cultivation system constructed by making ridges at a ginseng cultivation site, planting ginseng seedlings into the ridges, and disposing a sunlight-blocking sheet above the planted ginseng seedlings.

Referring toFIG. 8, the ginseng cultivation can be provided above the ginseng cultivation space21that employs a conventional hydroponic cultivation method. The hydroponic cultivation method refers to hydroponically cultivating ginseng by supplying a nutrient solution to a ginseng cultivation bed.

The system for hydroponically cultivating ginseng preferably comprises a vinyl house, a green house, or a plant factory; in which ginseng can be cultivated in all the seasons and the cultivation environment can be automatically controlled. In other words, the system for hydroponically cultivating ginseng may comprise temperature/humidity control units, a ventilation unit, cooling/heating units, a light-shielding unit, a complex environment control unit, a unit for automatically supplying a nutrient solution, water supply/drain units, a nutrient solution recycling unit, and the like.

FIG. 9shows a ginseng cultivation apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 9, the ginseng cultivation apparatus comprises a frame31, a shelf32, and a UV radiation unit33. The ginseng cultivation apparatus is placed in any space in a warehouse or plant factory in which harvested ginseng is stored before processing. The ginseng cultivation apparatus is configured to radiate UV light at least once onto the whole plant of harvested ginseng, or the root zone of harvested ginseng, on the shelf before processing the ginseng.

The frame31may be placed in any place in a warehouse or plant factory in which harvested ginseng is stored before processing. The frame31may have a multi-stage structure.

The shelf32is fixed to the frame31at any level so that harvested ginseng can be placed on the upper side thereof. The shelf32is supported by the frame31.

The UV radiation unit33is supported by the frame31so that it can irradiate UV light onto harvested ginseng on the shelf32. For example, the UV radiation unit33is configured to irradiate several μWcm2to several mWcm2of UV light at least once onto harvested ginseng on the shelf32.

The UV radiation unit33may comprise a UV-LED module331for irradiating UV light, a substrate on which the UV-LED module331is detachably fixed, and a power supply unit or driving unit for supplying power to the substrate or the UV-LED module331or controlling the operation of the UV-LED module331.

The UV-LED module331and the substrate can be substantially equal to the corresponding elements of the UV radiation unit14described above with reference toFIGS. 3 to 5, and thus the detailed description thereof is omitted. In addition, the power supply unit or driving unit for supplying power to the UV-LED module331or controlling the operation of the UV-LED module331is well known in the LED field, and thus, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The ginseng cultivation apparatus is configured to increase the content of ginsenosides in ginseng, by radiating UV light one or more times onto harvested ginseng (having or not having leaves), during storage, and before processing or shipping. For effective UV irradiation, the ginseng cultivation apparatus preferably comprises a UV-LED module (see reference numeral141inFIG. 2), like a conventional structure having a visible LED, so that the same amount of UV light is irradiated onto ginseng individuals.

When the ginseng cultivation apparatus is used, the content of ginsenosides in ginseng can be increased, as compared to that in conventional ginseng by irradiating ginseng with UV light, before processing ginseng. In other words, based on the fact that ginseng is a living organism before ingestion or processing, the ginseng cultivation apparatus is based on the defense mechanism of organisms against stress, and can increase the content of various ginsenosides in ginseng, as compared to that in conventional ginseng (raw ginseng), by irradiating ginseng with a suitable level of UV light before processing the ginseng.

While it has been described in the above embodiments that the content of ginsenosides in ginseng is increased by irradiating ginseng with UV light before ginseng processing, the ginseng cultivation apparatus is not limited to this configuration and may be used to increase the content of specific components in various plants (eatable plants) or to change the structure of components, like the case of ginseng. In this case, the ginseng cultivation apparatus can be referred to as a plant cultivation apparatus for cultivating any plant.

As described above, the ginseng cultivation apparatus according to the present invention is a result of research focused on increasing the content of ginsenosides in ginseng, by treating ginseng before processing of ginseng, that is, during cultivation or post-harvest storage of ginseng, and has the effect of increasing the content of ginsenosides in ginseng by radiating a specific amount of UV light at least once onto ginseng.

In addition, the plant cultivation device according to the embodiment of the present invention has the effect of appropriately modifying the component of a plant by irradiating UV light during cultivation of the plant, like the case of ginseng.