VASE-ADDED COMPOSITIONS FOR CONTROLLING PLANT AND FLOWER MOISTURE TRANSPIRATION RATES

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration and thereby extending the period of time in which cut flowers can be displayed before senescence produces a flower which has exceeded its aesthetic value. The compositions of the present invention comprise: a) from about 0.1 % by weight, of a source of energy: such as saccharides or polysaccharides; b) from about 5 ppm by weight, of one or more antimicrobials: preferably selected from isothiazolinones and/or quaternary ammonium compounds; c) from about 1 ppm by weight, of a buffer; and d) the balance carriers and adjunct ingredients.

Description: NASE-ADDED COMPOSITIONS FOR CONTROLLING PLANT AND FLOWER MOISTURE TRANSPIRATION RATES This Application claims pπoπty to Umted States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 60/176,090 filed January 14, 2000 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present mvention relates to compositions for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration rates and thereby providmg a means for extending the time m which plants and cut flowers can be utilized in aesthetic displays or floral arrangements BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Flowers have been inextricably linked to human culture since antiquity Flowers have come to represent various aspects of life and to represent various facets of the human condition As symbols of our society they speak directly Flowers are never out of place regardless of the circumstances, inter aha. births, funerals, weddings, memorials Humans have cultivated and propagated flowers solely for their aesthetic value since most flowers are inedible Incunabula describe various techniques for cutting and preserving flowers, inter aha. oriental flower varnishing, dipping blossoms into waxes or wax-like solutions Contemporary practices mclude fashioning artificial flowers and blossoms from synthetic material most notably polymers However, all of these methods for preserving flowers, or attempts at flower imitation, fails to reproduce or replace the freshness of newly cut flowers The prior art has attempted to provide methods of preserving cut flowers in a fresh state, but the means are inadequate to provide flowers in a nearly original state for an enhanced period of time, for example, two to five times the expected period of use There is, therefore, a long felt need to provide the consumer or the grower of flowers which are to be cut and displayed for aesthetic purposes, with a system with significantly extends the duration in which the cut flowers maintain their original appearance SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention meets the aforementioned needs in that it has been surprisingly discovered that cut flowers can be preserved in a nearly original state for an extended period of time, m fact, m some instances a period which eclipses their aesthetic utility It has been surprisingly discovered that by providmg the cut flowers or plants with a suitable source of energy and moisture while effectively abatmg the restriction to nutrient uptake caused by nucrobial growth and ion concentration gradients, flowers can be cut and displayed without the pejorative effects of natural demise (senescence), inter aha, wilting (epinasty) or loss of petals, browning or discoloration of flower parts The abatement of nutπent mateπals can be suitably established by controlling the type of nutπent and the type of antimicrobial employed Flowers are ubiquitous in that they can adapt to environmental or ecological stresses For example, durmg times of drought or other circumstances of water depπvation, flowers regulate their growth to attenuate the effects which this moisture deprivation stress might have on their viability This ability to self regulate their growth cycle ameliorates many of the pejorative consequences of water depπvation on flower survival Once flowers are cut durmg harvesting, the natural regulatory systems, inter aha, respiration, water regulation, are abated It has been surprisingly discovered that an artificial level of viability can be maintained by a system which controls the plant water intake/evaporation cycle Although insufficient to induce or sustain reproductive viability, 1 e the production of pollen, seeds, etc , this system, nevertheless, mamtams cut flowers in their natural condition for extended periods of time without the induction of discoloration, wilting, and petal loss The first aspect of the present invention relates to a composition for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration, said composition compnsmg a) from about 0 1 % by weight, of a source of energy, b) from about 5 ppm by weight, of one or more antimicrobials, c) from about 10 ppm by weight, of a buffer, and d) the balance carriers and adjunct ingredients A second aspect of the present invention relates to a composition for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration, said composition compnsmg a) from about 0 1% by weight, of a source of energy, b) from about 5 ppm by weight, of one or more antimicrobials, at least one of said antimicrobials is an isothiazolone, c) from about 10 ppm by weight, of a buffer, and d) the balance carriers and adjunct ingredients Another aspect of the present mvention relates to a composition for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration, said composition compnsmg a) from about 0 1 % by weight, of a source of energy, b) from about 5 ppm by weight, of one or more antimicrobials, at least one of said antimicrobials having the formula R 1 + R— N-R X R 4 wherein R 1 and R are each mdependently C 8 -C 2 n linear or branched alkyl, benzyl, and mixtures thereof, R 3 and R 4 are each mdependently -C 4 alkyl. and mixtures thereof. X is an anion of sufficient charge to provide electronic neutrality, c) from about 10 ppm by weight, of a buffer, and b) the balance carriers and adjunct mgredients A further aspect of the present invention relates to a composition for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration, said composition compnsmg a) from about 0 1% by weight, of a source of energy, b) from 1 ppm to 200 ppm by weight, of an antimicrobial system, said system compnsmg" I) from 1 % to 99% by weight, of said system, of one or more isothiazolone antimicrobials, π) from 1% to 99% by weight, of said system, of one or more antimicrobials havmg the formula R^ I + , Ri N— R 3 X R 4 wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently C 8 -C 2 o linear or branched alkyl. benzyl, and mixtures thereof. R 3 and R 4 are each mdependently C 1 -C 4 alkyl, and mixtures thereof. X is an anion of sufficient charge to provide electronic neutrality, c) from about 10 ppm by weight, of a buffer, and b) the balance carriers and adjunct ingredients The present invention also relates to methods for extending the vase-life of a cut flower or plant These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from a readmg of the following detailed descnption and the appended claims All percentages, ratios and proportions herein are by weight, unless otherwise specified All temperatures are in degrees Celsius (° C) unless otherwise specified All documents cited are in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to aqueous compositions or granular compositions which can be added to water or other suitable carrier into which cut flowers are placed, said compositions are effective for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration rates and thereby providing a means for extendmg the tune in which plants and cut flowers can be utilized m aesthetic displays or floral arrangements The present invention is achieved by controlling the intake of water and nutπents by a cut flower The compositions of the present mvention provide a source of energy and moisture to the cut flower while controlling the growth of microbes and. preferably, the calcium ion flux produced by the plant Without wishing to be limited by theory it has been found that control of the evaporation of water from cut flowers contributes to the enhanced duration m which flowers appear in their pre- harvested state It has also been surpπs gly discovered that certain anti-microbial compounds or anti-microbial systems will abate the growth of microbes which serve to dim ish the viability of cut flowers Without wishmg to be limited by theoπ . it has been surprisingly discovered that certain prior art antimicrobials, inter a a. 8-hydroxy quinohne citrate actually enhance the growth of microorganisms after an initial diminution of their level The pejorative consequences of microorganism growth in the display water (1 e vase water) is not solely related to the aesthetics of the solution into which the flowers are placed, for example, milky appearance, formation of sediments, but mstead the microorganisms occlude the xylem of the flower stem thereby attenuating the uptake of water and nutrients It has also been surprisingly discovered that once a suitable nutπent uptake has been established in the cut flower or plant, they begin to establish an equilibrium concentration of calcium ions between the plant cell and the interstitial water It is preferred that this equilibrium be regulated The proper equilibrium can be maintained by the presence of a water clarification agent Therefore, depending upon the composition of the source water used to make up the solution of the second component, the amount of calcium sequestration will vary as a preferred adjunct ingredient of the composition For the purposes of the present invention the term "aesthetic utility " is defined herein as '"the duration in which a flower retains its aesthetic appeal" The end of aesthetic appeal may differ between species of plant or flower, however, non- mitmg examples of a property which may contribute wholly or severally to a loss of aesthetic appeal include browning of petals, loss of petals, drooping or down turn of blossom, wilting, and shrinkage of plant mass together with collapse of plant tissue In some instances, one manifestation of senescence may abate the usefulness of the flower, for example, the "'browning " of petals may preclude the further use of a flower regardless of the lack of other conditions which tend to detract from the aesthetic quality of the cut flower The granular compositions of the present invention are added to water to make up a solution into which is placed the stem of a plant or flower The water to which the composition is added can be household water. 1 e tap water, preferably said water compnses less than 3 grains of calcium, more preferably said water is distilled water, most preferably distilled water which is treated to remove any exogenic microorganisms Or alternatively, the compositions of the present mvention can be provided as a pre-formed solution, or as a concentrate hich is further diluted prior to use by the formulator or consumer Source of Energ\ The compositions of the present invention comprise a source of energy or nutrients for sustaining the viability cut plants or flowers during the display period The compositions of the present invention, prior to said compositions being dissolved in water or other suitable carrier or mixtures of earners and water, to form a solution, comprise from about 75% by weight, of a source of energy Other embodiments of the present invention comprise from about 90% by weight, of a source of energy while yet another embodiment compnses from about 99% by weight, of a source of energy The compositions described herein may also comprise up to about 99 95% by weight, of an energy source Suitable sources of energy include sacchaπde. oligosacchaπde. polysacchaπde, etc . and mixtures thereof regardless of form, provided the source of energy has sufficient water solubility For the purposes of the present invention the term '"sugar' or "sugars" will stand equally well for sacchaπde, ohgosacchaπde, polysacchande. and ' reducing sugars, non- reducing sugars and the like" Non-limiting examples of sugars, which are a source of energy suitable for any number of embodiments of the present mvention, mclude aldopentoses such as nbose, arabmose, and xylose, aldohexoses such as allose. altrose, glucose, mannose, gulose, idose. galactose, and talose, ketohexoses such as fructose, monosacchande derivatives such as alkyl-α-. alkyl-β-, aryl-α-, aryl-β-glycosides such as methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside and phenyl-α-D- glucopyranoside, and sa cin, disacchandes such as lactose, maltose, cellobiose. gentiobiose, turanose, isomaltose, lammaπbose, me biose, sucrose, and trehalose, and tπsacchaπdes such as raffinose and gentianose Examples of easily available and inexpensive sourcse of energy include glucose and sucrose Glucose is utilized by many of the embodiments described herein as a non- limitmg example of a source of energy When complex sugars are taken mto the plant, they are split mto their constituent umts. for example, sucrose into glucose and fructose, which results in a concentration gradient which further enhances the uptake of moisture Antimicrobial When microbes are allowed to grow m the vase water into which cut plants or flowers are placed, the microbes will occlude the xylem of the plant stem and abate the uptake of moisture and nutrients into the flower or plant leaves and petals The present invention compnses one or more anti-microbial compounds which serve to abate the obstruction of flmd and source of energy uptake into the cut flower or plant The compositions of the present invention comprise an "effective amount" of an anti-microbial or anti-microbial system An anti-microbial system is defined herein as two or more anti-microbial compounds The term "effective amount" is defined herein as the amount of an anti-microbial or anti-microbial system sufficient to abate the growth of microbes which act to occlude the uptake of nutrients by the cut flower or plant Embodiments of the present invention include final aqueous solutions comprising from about 1 ppm (0 0001%) with upper limits of from 100 ppm (0 01%) to 200 ppm (0 02%) by weight Indeed, other embodiments compπse from about 5 ppm (0 0005%) to to ranges of about 50 ppm (0 005%) to about 100 ppm (0 01%) by weight, of an antimicrobial When expressed as non-aqueous, granular compositions, or compositions prior to dissolving into a liquid earner, comprise from about 0 1% on a dry weight basis of one or more amt-microbial compounds Another embodiment compπsms from about 1 % on a dry weight basis, of one or more antimicrobial compounds Embodiments of the present invention include granular compositions comprising from about 100 ppm (0 01%) with upper limits of from 10,000 ppm (1%) to 20,000 ppm (2%) by weight Indeed, other embodiments comprise from about 500 ppm (0 05%) to to ranges of about 5000 ppm (0 5%) to about 10,000 ppm (1%>) by weight, of an antimicrobial When expressed as non-aqueous, granular compositions, or compositions prior to dissolving mto a liquid earner, compnse from about 0 01% on a dry weight basis of one or more anti-microbial compounds Another embodiment compnsess from about 0 05% to about 0 1% on a dry weight basis, of one or more anti-microbial compounds The compositions of the present invention may also comprise antimicrobial systems which are a combmation of two or more antimicrobials Said systems will afford the formulator with the ability to target certain species of microorganisms which are charactenstic of a specific plant species As a non-limiting example, an final aqueous solution which comprises 1% by weight, of a source of energy and 250 ppm (0 025 %) of one of more anti-microbial compounds is formed from a dry (granular) composition compnsmg l) about 97 6% by weight, of a source of energy, and n) about 2 4% by weight, of an antimicrobial system One type of anti-microbial compounds are quaternary ammonium compounds having the formula R^ + R— N-R 3 X ' R 4 wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently C 8 -C 2 o linear or branched alkyl. benzyl, and mixtures thereof, preferably R 1 and R 2 are each C] 2 alkyl. or alternatively one of R 1 and R 2 is a mixture of n- alkyl units, inter aha, Cn, Ci4. and Ciβ, and on of R 1 and R " is benzyl. R and R are each mdependently C 1 -C 4 alkyl. and mixtures thereof, preferably R 3 and R are each methyl. X is an anion of sufficient charge to provide electronic neutrality, preferably halogen, more preferably chlorine Non-limiting examples of prefened antimicrobial is didodecyl dimethylarnmonium chloride and the admixture of C 12 , Cι 4 . and Cι 6 n-alkyl. benzyl dimethyl ammonium chlondes ex Lonza Another type of antimicrobial includes isothiazolones having the formula wherem R 1 and R 2 are each independently hydrogen, alkyl. alkenyl, halogen, cyano, and mixtures thereof or R 1 and R 2 can be taken together to form an aromatic or non-aromatic, heterocyc c or non-heterocyc c πng R 3 is hydrogen, alkyl, and mixtures thereof A prefened R 3 is methyl Non limiting examples of suitable isothiazolones include which can be combined, as m the case of Kathon ® CG/ICP II ex Rohm and Haas (added embodiment) which is a combination of 2-methyhsothιzaol-3-one and 2-methyl-5-chloroιsothιzol-3- one Another preferred anti-microbial. 1.2-benzιsothιazohn-3-one. is sold under the name Proxel ® GXL ex Zeneca Anti-microbial of this class can be used at a level of from about 0 1 ppm (0 00001%). m other embodiments from about 1 ppm (0 0001%) The upper range of antimicrobials can beup to about 20 ppm (0 002%). yet other embodiments may limit this upper range to about 10 ppm (0 001%) by weight, of the final aqueous solution which serves as the vase solution Buffers and Buffer Systems The compositions of the present invention when used, have an acidic pH What is meant herein by acidic pH is a pH which is lower than 1, or which has some amount of hydrogen ion present Particularly useful embodiments have a pH of between 2 and about 5 Some embodiments are more narrow in range, that is from about about 3 to about 4 or from about 2 to about 3 5 The final pH range will be predicated on several factors including the selection of buffers or buffer systems, the type of embodiment and the scope of the formulators composition The aqueous compositions of the present mvention compnse in one embodiment from about 0 0001% (1 ppm) by weight, of said buffer Other embodiments comprise from 0 001% (10 ppm) to about 0 1 % ( 1000 ppm) by weight, of said buffer A particular embodiment comprises from about 0 01% (100 ppm) to about 0 016% (160 ppm) by weight, of a buffer system For dry granular compositions which are to be dissolved in a suitable earner, on embodiment comprises from about 0 98% by weight, of a buffer Other embodiments comprise from 2% to about 10% by weight, of a buffer A particular embodiment comprises from 1 5 to 2% by weight, of said buffer Organic acid buffers and buffenng systems may be used by the formulator as well as buffers and buffering systems which derive from inorganic acids For example, citric acid may be used directly as a buffer, or in another embodiment, a citric acid/sodium citrate admixture may be used to create specific system Sodium hydrogen phosphate/disodium hydrogen phosphate buffer systems are also suitable for the present invention Non-limiting examples of sutiable acids include those selected from the group consistmg of citπc acid, itaconic acid, malonic acid, maleic acid, caffeic acid, succimc acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, and salts thereof Of course, the free acid and salts may be added as admixtures and admixtures of any acids and acid salts can be employed Adjunct ingredients The compositions of the present invention can optionally comprise one or more adjunct ingredients A preferred adjunct ingredient according to the present invention is a calcium chelant or calcium sequestrant Non-limiting examples of calcium sequestrants include sodium tπpolyphosphate, finely divided zeolite including zeolite A. zeolite X. and zeolite Y. ethylenediamine, and mixtures thereof A further example of a prefeπed adjunct ingredient is selected from the group consisting of surfactants, fragrance raw mateπals. pro-fragrances, pro- accords, dye. colorants, and mixtures thereof Suitable pro-fragrances and pro-accords are described in U S 5,919,752 Morelh et al . issued July 6, 1999. U S 5.756.827 Sivik. issued May 26. 1998. U S 5,744.435 Hartman et al . issued April 25. 1998. and U S 5.965.767 Sivik et al . issued October 12, 1999 all of which are incorporated herein by reference In one aspect of the present invention, the compositions are prepared as dry, powdered mixtures which are stored and shipped as such and dissolved in water immediately prior to use as cut flower preservative solutions When in the form of dry powders, the formulations of this invention are packaged in bulk for end use, as in containers havmg a tightly-fitting lid such as screw-capped or snap-capped bottles or, preferably are packaged in plastic or foil packets containing the required amount of material for a single use A dry composition comprising 99 5% by weight, glucose and the balance an antimicrobial, when 1 gm of said dry composition is dissolved in 1 liter of distilled water will provide approximately 0 1% by weight, of a source of energy and approximately 5 ppm of said antimicrobial The formulations of the compositions, depending upon the relative levels of components, are dissolved in water just pnor to use at a concentration rangmg from about to about 20 g/liter Other embodiments can range from 1 g/hter to about 15 g/liter Yet other embodiments range from about 5 g/liter or from about 7 g/liter to about 10 g/hter For a typical anangement of cut flowers, the volume of water m a vase is about one-half to one liter Therefore, a prefened package of the second component of the present invention is a foil or plastic packet containing about 2 5 grams to 3 grams of matenal An example of a granular composition which is diluted with water or a mixture of water and other earners compnses a) 1000 ppm (0 1%) a source of energy, b) 5 ppm (0 0005%) an antimicrobial, c) 1 ppm (0 0001 %) a buffer, and d) the balance a earner Prior to dissolving the compostion in solution, the granular product compnses a) 99 94% by weight, a source of energy, b) 0 05% by weight, an antimicrobial, and c) 0 01 % by weight, a buffer In another embodiment of the present mvention. the source of water can be critical For example, certain regions have native water, household or otherwise, which contains high levels of calcium Therefore the compositions may be delivered as a concentrate m de-iomzed. distilled water which when added to a native water supply provides a solution havmg a sufficiently low level of calcium to establish post-harvest plant viability Alternatively, the compositions can be delivered as a final solution m non-calcium containing water The following are non-liming examples of the compositions which comprise the present mvention TABLE I weight % 1. Sucrose. 2. Glucose. 3. Isomaltose. 4. Didodecyl dimethylammonium chloride. 5. Admixture of C12, C ]4 . and Cι 6 n-alkyl, benzyl dimethyl ammonium chlorides ex Lonza. 6. l,2-Benzisothiazolin-3-one sold under the name Proxel ® GXL ex Zeneca. 7. Sodium tripolyphosphate. 8. Distilled water. TABLE II weight % 1 Sucrose 2 Glucose 3 Isomaltose 4 Kathon ICP/CG II (Rohm & Haas) 5 Sodium tπpolyphosphate 6 Distilled water TABLE III weight % 1 Glucose 2 Kathon ® ICP/CG II (Rohm & Haas) 3 Bartac ® 2250 (Lonza) 4 Distilled, de-ionized water TABLE IV weight % 1 Glucose 2 Niolone ® M-50 (Rohm & Haas) 3 Bartac ® 2250 (Lonza) 4 Distilled, de-ionized water TABLE V weight % 1 Glucose 2 Kathon ® ICP/CG II (Rohm & Haas) 3 Bartac ® 2050 (Lonza) 4 Bartac ® LF-80 (Lonza) 5 Distilled, de-ionized water

Claims: What is claimed is 1 A composition for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration, said composition compnsmg a) from 0 5% by weight, of a source of energy, b) from 0 05 % by weight, of one or more antimicrobials, and c) the balance carriers and adjunct ingredients 2 An aqueous composition for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration, said composition compnsmg a) from 0 1 % by weight, of a source of energy, b) from 5 ppm by weight, of one or more antimicrobials, c) from 1 ppm by weight, of a buffer, and d) the balance earners and adjunct ingredients 3 A composition accordmg to either Claim 1 or 2 wherem said source of energy comprises a sacchaπde, o gosacchaπde, polysacchaπde. or mixtures thereof 4 A composition accordmg to any of Claims 1-3 wherem said source of energy is glucose 5 A composition according to any of Claims 1-4 wherem said antimicrobial is selected from the group consistmg of 2-methyl-4-ιsothιazolm-3-one, 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-ιsothιazohn-3- one, and mixtures thereof 6 A composition accordmg to any of Claims 1-5 wherein said antimicrobial has the formula R^ + R— N-R 3 X R 4 wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently C 8 -C 2 o linear or branched alkyl, benzyl, and mixtures thereof. R 3 and R 4 are each independently C]-C 4 alkyl, and mixtures thereof, X is an anion of sufficient charge to provide electronic neutrality A composition accordmg to any of Claims 1-6 havmg a pH of from 2 to 5 An aqueous composition for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration, said composition comprising a) from 0 1 % by weight, of a source of energy, b) from 1 ppm by weight, of an antimicrobial system, said system comprising l) from 1 % to 99%o by weight, of said system, of one or more isothiazolone antimicrobials, u) from 1 % to 99% by weight, of said system, of one or more antimicrobials havmg the formula R z 1 + Ri -N— R 3 X R 4 wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently C 8 -C 20 linear or branched alkyl, benzyl, and mixtures thereof. R J and R 4 are each independently -C 4 alkyl, and mixtures thereof. X is an anion of sufficient charge to provide electromc neutrality, c) from 10 ppm by weight, of a buffer, and d) the balance earners and adjunct mgredients wherem said pH of said solution is from 3 to 4 A granular composition for dilution by a earner, said composition for controlling plant and flower moisture transpiration, said composition compnsmg a) from 75% by weight, of a source of energy, b) from 0 01%) by weight, of an antimicrobial system, said system comprising I) from 1 % to 99%o by weight, of said system, of one or more isothiazolone antimicrobials, n) from 1 % to 99% by weight, of said system, of one or more antimicrobials havmg the formula R 2 R— N-R 3 X wherem R and R " are each independently C 8 -C 2 o lmear or branched alkyl. benzyl, and mixtures thereof, R 3 and R 4 are each independently C 1 -C4 alkyl, and mixtures thereof. X is an anion of sufficient charge to provide electronic neutrality, c) from 0 98% by weight, of a buffer, and d) the balance adjunct mgredients A method for enhancmg the longevity of cut flowers comprising the step of contacting the cut ends of said cut flowers with a vase additive solution, said solution comprising a) from 75 % by weight, of a source of energy, b) from 0 01% by weight, of an antimicrobial system, said system comprising I) from 1 % to 99% by weight, of said system, of one or more isothiazolone antimicrobials, i ) from 1 %> to 99% by weight, of said system, of one or more antimicrobials havmg the formula R 2 1 I + . R— N-R 3 X R 4 wherein R 1 and R 2 are each independently C 8 -C 0 lmear or branched alkyl benzyl, and mixtures thereof, R 3 and R 4 are each mdependently C]-C 4 alkyl, and mixtures thereof, X is an anion of sufficient charge to provide electronic neutrality, c) from 0 98%> by weight, of a buffer, and d) the balance adjunct ingredients

Inventors: HAMERSKY MARK WILLIAM, SMITH STEVEN DARYL, HAMERSKY, MARK, WILLIAM, SMITH, STEVEN, DARYL
Applicants: PROCTER & GAMBLE, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A01N3
IPC codes: A01N3, A01N25, A01N33, A01N43