JP2015524250A - Ultrasonic enhanced seed germination system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention consists of sonication and embedding processes for feeding seeds with moisture and / or other beneficial substances. The seed to be treated is immersed in water or other liquid. The seed is exposed to acoustic energy at a frequency of 15 kHz to 30 kHz for about 1 to 20 minutes. In a preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic energy utilizes an alternating ultrasonic transmission in which the first part of the transmission is a sawtooth waveform lasting 50 milliseconds followed by a rectangular waveform lasting 50 milliseconds, It is also possible to use variations of Alternatively, sinusoidal ultrasonic transmission may be used to generate cavitation forces by adiabatic collapse of microbubbles in the liquid medium, particularly those that collapse on the seed surface. Ultrasonic cavitation forces provide micropunctures in the seed that can accelerate the absorption of moisture and other liquid nutrients. Thereafter, the ultrasonically treated seed may be stored dry or used immediately after sonication. Sonication tends to increase seed germination and the growth rate of plants derived from the seed while maintaining plant characteristics. Plants with accelerated growth are more suitable for environments where rotation is not sufficient and rotation is prevented and certain plants are prevented from growing.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO TEMPORARY APPLICATION This application is a breach of Bruce K., filed on June 4, 2012. Redding, Jr. U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 689,298, and the applicant claims priority with this date as the priority date.

  The present invention relates generally to sonication and deposition processes for ingesting moisture or other substances with solutes into seeds, and more particularly to the enhancement of growth characteristics of seeds or plants derived from seeds. The present invention relates to a method of treating seeds with sound waves for the purpose of giving the seeds a memory of enhanced intake or otherwise adding value to the seeds during commercial treatment.

Prior Art Background on Germination Science Seed dormancy is a unique form of growth inhibition used by most plants to temporarily disperse germination and optimize offspring survival. During seed dormancy, water content and respiration are dramatically reduced. The first step in breaking seed dormancy is the intake (deposition) of the water necessary to flow the starch storage material required for respiration and germination. Deposition is a two-step process. Namely, stage I) physical intake of water by hydration of seed coat and germ, and stage II) germination that is determined by the growth and elongation of hypocotyls, resulting in the emergence of buds and radicles is there. The two stages are temporarily separated, and seeds that have completed stage I are called “primed seeds”, ie primed for germination, which is stage II. Stage I deposition is also used in commercial processing of seeds, ie, a malt production process that ferments corn wet mill fractionation and distilled liquor.

  Priming seeds by enhancing moisture absorption is advantageous for enhancing plant vitality, such as appearance, growth and yield characteristics. Seed priming also synchronizes seed germination so that the farm ripens at the same time so that the farm is uniform and yield is maximized during the harvest season. In addition to moisture, seed priming can allow seeds to carry nutrients, microorganisms, or pest control agents that promote the establishment of seedlings. By adding molecules to the seed during Stage I deposition, the molecules or organisms can accumulate in the primed seed and can therefore be present at planting time. Compared to adding similar molecules throughout the farm, “polymer loading” is much more efficient in seeds. One example is the addition of fertilizers that stimulate root growth and promote the appearance of seedlings. It is more effective for seedlings to carry fertilizer on seeds before planting, and it is cost-effective for farmers. Other useful molecules carried by the seed include gibberellin / gibberellic acid that promotes germination, hormones such as cytokinin that elongate cells, and inhibitors of abscisic acid that promote the release of seed dormancy. Triazoles (plant growth regulators that mitigate the effects of sunlight and high temperatures), fungicides that suppress the growth of fungi on seeds and seedlings in cold and wet soil, or pests such as root-cutting insects that eat seedlings It would be possible to customize seed varieties to specific growth sites by adding pesticides to combat. In addition to macromolecules, beneficial microorganisms such as Azospirillum or Rhizobium can be carried during seed priming as crop inoculums.

  Commercial fractionation of corn begins with wet grinding. Corn is a complex mixture of starch, protein, oil, moisture, fiber, minerals, vitamins and pigments. Wet grinding is a process that separates the components of corn into homogeneous individual components. In Iowa, about 20% of the 1 billion bushels of corn that are harvested each year are wet ground. The wet grinding industry and the accompanying manufacturing industry are representative examples of the vast industrial effort. The wet milling process is continually improved by new technologies and new by-products such as ethanol, corn syrup, protein peptides and vitamins C, E can be separated on an industrial scale. In the first step of wet grinding, i.e. soaking, changes due to technological innovation have not yet taken place. Immersion requires soaking clean, dry corn (water content above 16%) in lukewarm water until it swells to 45% hydration. This process is carried out at a temperature of 120-130 ° F. for 30-50 hours. During the soaking process, a large amount of water travels countercurrently to the corn in a huge barrel. In addition, during this time, beneficial microorganisms such as lactic acid bacteria and Pseudomonas aeruginosa growing in immersion water facilitate proteolytic cleavage of the corn protein. However, since a large amount of immersion water and a long time are required for hydration, the digestion efficiency of bacteria is limited. Digestion by-products are removed from the immersion water mainly by evaporation.

  The malt production process is the first step of fermenting the grains to produce distilled liquor. The quality of the malt (and the fermentation obtained from the malt) depends on whether the grain germinates simultaneously and efficiently. Starch stored in seeds is converted to sugar during the early stages of germination. At the time of emergence, germination is suspended and the converted sugar is used during fermentation for ethanol production. Historically, the malting process has been a labor intensive operation. The cereal is spread to a “malt floor” that absorbs water from overhead sprinklers and stirs manually every day for 1-2 weeks to release trapped heat and gas. At the emergence of shoots, starch is converted to sugar, and the germinated grains are kiln dried and crushed to form malt. Brew breweries and spirits breweries still use a variation of this traditional malting technology to produce high quality malt. Some distilleries produce the highest quality malt used for fermentation, such as when distilling single malt scotch whiskeys, with uniform germination by adding gibberlic acid (GA). Yes. GA is a plant hormone that regulates germination. Producing malt of such quality takes time and money.

Standard plant germination Moisture is a major factor in promoting seed germination. The seed can be moisturized to prepare for germination. Care must be taken not to immerse the seeds completely in the water. As moisture penetrates the seed, the seed expands as shown in FIG. When the seed coat becomes soft, the seeds are crushed and seedlings appear. Seeds usually store a certain amount of nutrients inside. When water-treated, this nutrient is supplied to seedlings while promoting germination. FIG. 2 shows plant growth from germination to full growth.

  We can see that there are a variety of trees around us. Trees play an important role in maintaining ecosystems, constantly refreshing the environment and preventing pollution. Whether you are looking at small or large trees, plants or shrubs, you should be curious about their growth and life cycle. The life cycle of any plant is divided into multiple stages, and seed germination is the fundamental stage at which plants begin to grow. It may seem that seeds have no life, but that is not true. Seeds consist of dormant, embryonic plants. As soon as suitable environmental conditions are obtained, the seeds begin to germinate. This process takes place through various steps of seed germination. In order to grow inactive seeds in the soil to plants, warming, oxygen and moisture are required.

Seed structure The seed coat is the outer covering of the seed that protects the germ from any damage and infestation of parasites and prevents the germ from drying out. The seed coat can be thick and hard, or it can be thin and soft. Endosperm provides nutrients temporarily, but wraps around the embryo in the form of cotyledon, the cotyledon. Plants are classified into monocotyledonous plants and dicotyledonous plants according to the number of clickiledons.

Requirements for seed germination Every seed needs the right amount of oxygen, moisture and the right temperature to germinate. Depending on the seed, an appropriate amount of light is also required. Some seeds germinate well in the presence of sufficient light, while other seeds require a dark environment to initiate germination. Water is necessary for active metabolism. Underground temperature is just as important for proper germination. The optimum underground temperature of seeds varies depending on each seed.

Factors There are several factors that can affect the germination process. Excessive water can interfere with the plant's intake of sufficient oxygen. Seeding deep into the soil can use up the energy stored before reaching the surface of the soil. The dry state may prevent seeds from obtaining sufficient moisture and hinder germination. For some seeds, the seed coat is so hard that oxygen and moisture cannot pass through the seed coat. Extremely low or high underground temperatures can affect or inhibit the germination process.

Steps with germination Seeds absorb moisture and the seed coat is broken. It is the first manifestation of germination. Enzyme activation occurs, respiration increases, and plant cells are replicated. A series of chemical changes are initiated that lead to the growth of plant germ.
2. Chemical energy stored in the form of starch is converted to sugar and used during the germination process. Soon the germ grows and the seed coat tears open.
3. Growing plants appear. The tip of the root appears first, making it easier for the seed to settle in place. This also allows the germ to absorb minerals and moisture from the soil.
4). Some seeds require special treatment of temperature, light or moisture to initiate germination.
5. Each step of seed germination may be different for dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants.

Germination of dicotyledonous plants During the germination process of dicotyledonous plants, when the seeds are buried in the soil, primary roots appear through the seed coat. The hypocotyl emerges from the seed coat through the soil. As it grows, the hypocotyl becomes a hairpin-like shape known as the hypocotyl arch. The epicotyl structure, shoots, are protected from any mechanical damage by two clickidones. When the hypocotyl arch emerges from the soil, it grows straight when triggered by light. The two clickedones are spaced apart to expose the epicotyl that contains the two primary lobes and the apical meristem. In most dicotyledonous plants, Cochiredon supplies green nutrients to the growing plant and turns green to produce more nutrients through a photosynthesis process.

Germination of monocotyledonous plants Germination of seeds of gramineous plants such as oats or corn, primary roots emerge from seeds and fruits and grow downward. Thereafter, the primary leaves of the primary plant grow. The primary leaves are protected by a cylindrical hollow structure known as the cotyledon sheath. When seedlings grow above the soil surface, the coleoptiles stop growing and the primary leaves penetrate the coleoptiles.

  Of course, not all the seeds in the soil are lucky enough to germinate. Most seeds are dry and easy to die and cannot grow until they become plants. Some seed gains a sufficient amount of moisture, oxygen and warming and seed germination begins.

Climate change and shortening of plant growth time Climate change affects the time available for growing crops on a global scale, and overall conditions for growth may become even more severe and growth periods may be even shorter Clearly, it is necessary to shorten and enhance seed growth and final plant production to harvest in a short time.

  Thus, there is a need for (1) methods to enhance seeds' ability to absorb moisture and other substances, and (2) methods to reduce the time required for plant growth.

The present invention relates to a novel sonication aimed at the treatment of seeds aimed at promoting both the germination rate of seeds and the growth rate of plants that emerged as a result of sonication. Describe the deposition process. Furthermore, the present invention allows the speed at which the seed absorbs moisture and nutrients by providing micropores in the seed shell using unique ultrasound. By generating micropores in the seed shell structure, the germination rate of the treated seed can be further increased. In testing, germination time savings are 55% compared to seeds grown by conventional methods.

  The present invention also further enhances stable memory for subsequent ingestion of substances, particularly substances useful for enhancing the growth characteristics of seeds, with the provision of such growth characteristics from the seeds. For the plant to be obtained, the seeds are also advantageous for ingesting moisture for the purpose of treatment. The growth characteristics are ultrasonic waves transmitted using sinusoidal ultrasonic transmission, or alternating from one ultrasonic waveform to another, and in an ideal embodiment from a sawtooth waveform to a rectangular waveform. Is enhanced by using either ultrasound transmitted with ultrasound transmission.

  As a further illustration of the application of the present invention, the method, as seen in FIG. 1, uses an ultrasonic based treatment system to soften the shell layer of the seed shell and make the seed shell itself susceptible to cracking. Thus, it is expected to be applicable to remove or penetrate the seed shell layer. This has the effect of promoting seed germination, ie, the ability of seeds to germinate. As demonstrated herein, the sonication and deposition process of the present invention dramatically reduces the time required for germination by accelerating the uptake of an aqueous solution of the seed itself.

  The biochemistry of this process begins with moisture being deposited through the seed coat and into the seed. Corn seed is used as an example. Moisture reacts with somatic embryos to release gibberellic acid (GA), a chemical known as a plant hormone. GA is transmitted throughout the seed and reaches the glue layer that wraps the endosperm. In the paste layer 1, GA acts to activate a specific gene in the nuclear DNA. The gene is transcribed, resulting in messenger RNA. This messenger RNA interacts with the ribosome to initiate the protein synthesis or translation process. As a result, a protein called amylase is produced. Amylase is transmitted from the paste cells to the endosperm. Amylase is an enzyme that acts as a catalyst to hydrolyze starch into sugars.

  FIG. 2 shows a typical growth range from germinated seeds to mature plants. The present invention aims to reduce the time required for plant maturation by adding ultrasonic transmission to the seed, and thus also the time required for harvesting a particular crop.

  The sonication and deposition process of the present invention, in particular, sonicates important agricultural seeds such as corn, barley and soybeans, wheat, tomatoes, and other such seeds in a liquid medium, preferably in water. It is intended for crops obtained by this. Again, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is applicable to other types of seeds without departing from its intended scope. Sonication is performed by applying sound waves at an ultrasonic frequency of about 15 kHz to 1750 kHz, preferably about 20 kHz to 175 kHz, optimally around 23 kHz. Although it is possible to apply relatively high ultrasonic frequencies in the megahertz range, seeds can be damaged. The intensity or power to increase the germination rate can vary from seed to seed. In the following experiment, just 0.5 watts of energy was used, but 0,125 mW / sq. cm to 10 Watts / sq. There could be a range of up to cm.

  Ultrasonic energy is applied to the liquid and seed mixture by an acoustic transducer immersed in the liquid medium. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory with respect to the mechanism of the subject matter of the present invention, it is currently believed that acoustic energy is transported through the liquid in the direction of propagation by the rocking of the liquid molecules. Thereby, adiabatic compression and adiabatic decompression occur alternately, and the density and temperature increase or decrease correspondingly. If the periodic decrease in pressure in the liquid becomes large enough during the decompression phase, it may exceed the cohesive strength of the liquid, at which time small cavities are formed by the cavitation process. These small cavities then collapse rapidly, producing extremely high amplitude shock waves with local temperatures reaching several hundred degrees Celsius or higher. Cavity collapse is also known to cause a discharge immediately after collapse, causing what is known as sonoluminescence.

  What is important for the process is to rotate the seed in a liquid carrier or slurry so that the ultrasound reaches the entire surface of the seed during sonication.

  3 and 4 illustrate the cavitation process. The action of cavitation is greatly enhanced by introducing various gases into the liquid. In the early 1930s, Frenzel and Schultes realized that exposure and fogging occurred when a photographic plate was submerged in water exposed to high frequency sound. This observation was first recorded for the emission of light by sound waves or sonoluminescence. The physical process of this phenomenon is not well understood.

In the context of the present invention, degassed distilled water requires an energy density of a level of about 1-10 watts / cm ² before cavitation occurs. Saturating water with one or more inert gases, such as helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon or radon, with noble gases has seen cavitation effects at much lower energy density levels. At energy density levels of ² Watts / cm ² , the cavitation effect is greatly enhanced. This action is considered to be caused by the generation of microbubbles, and these microbubbles easily form a small cavity when acoustic energy is applied. Furthermore, the cavity in the presence of saturated gas is considered to generate a shock wave having a larger amplitude than that obtained using deaerated water when the cavity collapses. In particular, it is believed that when tap water is saturated with argon gas, helium gas, or argon gas and helium gas, the intake is more dramatic overall, and such effects are reproduced in each experiment. It was possible. Other experiments where the saturating gas was nitrogen also showed enhanced effects, but not as potent as using argon. However, several experiments performed with tap water and boiled double distilled water also produced satisfactory results.

  Since cavitation occurs as a result of mechanical stress, sonication can cause cracks in the pericarp of seed coats, or can spread cracks, similar to seed coat treatments. This seed coat treatment is a well-known process, which allows certain seeds, especially seeds with a thick seed coat, to germinate. Seed coat treatment is thought to accelerate the deposition of moisture through the pericarp. It is unlikely that seed coat treatment alone can explain the novel effects disclosed herein. This is because scanning electron micrographs do not suggest an increase in the number of cracks in the treated seeds, but do show a change in the texture of the skin. It has been discovered that the sonication process accelerates moisture deposition. Cavitation also occurs due to physiological or biochemical changes in the seed that prime the germination process. Thus, when the seed is exposed to planting conditions, the time for the seed to start germination, that is, the time measured until the radicle emerges by pushing through the pericarp is shortened. One mechanism that has been proposed to cause physiological or biochemical changes is the generation of free radicals by cavitation.

  Reference is made to US Pat. Nos. 5,950,362, 6,195,936, 6,250,011, and 6,452,609. They discuss the use of gas in combination with cavitation forces to cause increased germination of certain planting seeds. In these references, a seed coat treatment effect is produced on the seed shell depending on the cavitation force. However, both of these documents are due to the fact that conventional ultrasound generated by sinusoidal sonication can cause the surface to become extremely hot and thus cause seed shell melting as seen in FIG. Not paying attention. In FIG. 14, the wheat seed is subjected to sine ultrasonic treatment for 5 minutes. Such processing can apply the cavitation force described in FIGS. 3 and 4. This creates a very hot cavitation force on the seed surface, causing melting of the seed shell, so that an increase or speeding up of germination does not occur at all or only at most. None of the above references mentions that the seeds need to be rotated in the ultrasonic transmission field so that the entire shell is exposed to sonication. Without such complete sonication, seed sonication has been found to be incomplete and therefore does not germinate properly. In addition, the present invention discloses the use of either sinusoidal or alternating ultrasonic waveforms to treat seed for the purpose of increasing the germination period. The prior art does not take into account the use of alternating ultrasound waveforms to treat seeds. Using alternating ultrasound waveforms may minimize cavitation, but the physical power of sonication actually speeds germination of the treated seed. Similarly, in the prior art, sinusoidal irradiation of rotating target seeds can still be used to minimize cavitation or seed shell burnout and still allow germination of treated seeds. It is not disclosed to speed up.

  The present invention aims to provide seeds with a memory that the sonication and deposition process has enhanced the intake of substances with beneficial growth characteristics.

  The present invention aims to reduce the time required for seed germination by sonication and deposition processes, thus providing the seed with further means to promote the maturation of plants derived from the seed.

  These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, the associated drawings and the appended claims.

  The present invention consists of a sonication and deposition process for feeding seeds with moisture and / or other beneficial substances. The seed to be treated is immersed in water or other liquid. The seed is exposed to acoustic energy at a frequency of 15 kHz to 30 kHz for about 1 to 15 minutes. The present invention uses both cavitation ultrasound and alternating waveform ultrasound to treat various seeds to increase seed germination rates and thus reduce the time required for plants to grow to maturity. It is a discovery that it is possible to do.

Cavitation Ultrasound Sinusoidal ultrasonic energy generates cavitation forces by adiabatic collapse of microbubbles in a liquid medium, particularly bubbles that collapse on the seed surface. The ultrasonic cavitation force further enhances the stable memory for the seed to absorb moisture and / or other substances beneficial to the seed and / or plant. The ultrasonically treated seed can be dried, stored, and then absorbed with substances that enhance the growth characteristics of the seed or plant derived from the seed. After germination, the plant maintains enhanced growth characteristics.

Alternate ultrasonic transmission In a preferred embodiment, the first part of the transmission is a sawtooth waveform lasting 50 milliseconds followed by an alternating ultrasonic wave of rectangular waveforms lasting 50 milliseconds, Variations can also be used. Alternate ultrasonic transmission generates seed germination more efficiently than using sinusoidal cavitation ultrasonic energy by the action of adding ultrasonic energy and speeding seed germination. FIG. 5 shows an example of an alternating ultrasonic waveform method that avoids cavitation by exciting the starting waveform after many milliseconds and converting it to a completely new waveform.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of germinated seeds. FIG. 2 illustrates the seed germination process until the plant grows. FIG. 3 shows the process created by sinusoidal ultrasound that causes cavitation. FIG. 4 further illustrates the process produced by sinusoidal ultrasound causing cavitation. FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention using alternating waveform ultrasound to reduce the time required for seed germination and to accelerate the growth of the plant or crop obtained from the seed. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the batch process of the present invention using an experimental system to irradiate the seeds with ultrasound in order to accelerate seed germination using ultrasound. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a continuous process of the present invention using an ultrasonic flow cell in which a slurry is placed in a patch of an ultrasonic horn in the housing to accelerate seed germination using ultrasonic waves. The seeds are directly transported. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the continuous process of the present invention using an ultrasonic flow tube, in which the ultrasonic wave is applied to the seeds in order to accelerate the germination of the seeds using ultrasonic waves. An acoustic transducer array is used. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a continuous process of the present invention using an ultrasonic flow tube, in which a filtration system is used to treat seed that traverses the flow tube using ultrasound. The seed is filtered from the water or solution, and the wet seed is then delivered to a conveyor heater to remove any remaining moisture from the seed just before the treated seed is packaged. FIG. 10 shows a design diagram of an ultrasonic transducer system capable of generating alternating ultrasonic waveform transmission. FIG. 11 shows a transducer array composed of a number of transducer elements. FIG. 12 is a scanning electron micrograph obtained by collecting and observing untreated wheat seeds, that is, untouched wheat seeds. FIG. 13 is a scanning electron micrograph obtained by collecting and observing ultrasonically treated wheat seeds performed in accordance with Experiment 1. FIG. 14 is a scanning electron micrograph of collected and observed sonicated wheat seeds in which the seeds are exposed to conventional sinusoidal ultrasound and the outer layer of the seed shell is melted. FIG. 15 is a photograph comparing tomatoes cultivated regularly (growing until maturity in 80 days) and sonicated tomato seeds growing until maturity in 35 days. FIG. 16 is a photograph comparing regularly cultivated tomatoes (grown to maturity at 80 days) with sonicated tomato seeds (grown to maturity at 35 days), which Is also seen from the top and side. FIG. 17 is a photograph comparing regularly grown tomatoes (grown to maturity in 80 days) with sonicated tomato seeds (grown to maturity in 35 days), which Also shown is an incision to show the pulp. FIG. 18 is a close-up photograph comparing tomatoes that were cultivated regularly (growing until maturity in 80 days) and tomato seeds that were sonicated (growing to maturity in 35 days), Both are shown incised to show the pulp. FIG. 19 summarizes, for selected crops, the improvement in germination and the improvement seen throughout the cultivation of test crops that have accelerated the harvest season using the present invention.

Mechanisms of the Invention There are two different approaches for generating ultrasonic transmission. That is, (1) conventional sinusoidal ultrasound that heats the object through the cavitation process, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, and (2) little or no cavitation heat energy, as seen in FIG. It is an alternating ultrasonic waveform system that does not convey at all.

  FIG. 3 shows a typical sinusoidal ultrasonic transmission in which an implosion shock wave is applied to the object to form a very strong instantaneous hot spot on the surface of the object. FIG. 4 shows a typical sinusoidal transmission that frequently forms bubbles in the liquid that implode when cavitation occurs and again generate very hot heat. In seed processing, the use of typical sinusoidal ultrasonic transmission can cause seed shell damage as illustrated in FIG. FIG. 14 demonstrates the damage that the wheat seed suffered after being exposed for 5 minutes. FIG. 14 shows that the seed has literally melted the good part of the seed shell surface. Seeds with such a cavitation action do not germinate at all.

  If the seed was rotated during ultrasonic transmission, typical sinusoidal ultrasonic transmission could have been successfully used. And the impact of sinusoidal damage on the treated seed would have been minimized.

  FIG. 12 is a photomicrograph of an untreated wheat seed that has not been modified. Note that the seed shell remains intact and relatively smooth. Further, in FIG. 14, the same sample is melted and melted after 5 minutes of typical sinusoidal transmission to become a non-functional seed material.

In FIG. 13, by using the alternating waveform method (FIG. 5), micropores clearly visible in the photograph are generated in the seed shell. Applicants have found that these micro-perforations allow seeds to absorb moisture and nutrients at a much faster rate than untouched seeds, thus speeding seed germination, which makes the plant completely It is theoretically assumed that the time required for growth will be shortened. Applicants further theoretically assume that the alternating waveform ultrasound transmission shown in FIG. 5 performs the following two main functions when delivered to the target seed: That is,
1) The sawtooth waveform is considered to exert a horizontal physical force on the seed shell surface. This horizontal physical force creates stress in the seed and widens the hole.
2) When the hole is widened, the rectangular corrugation exerts a crushing force against the widened hole. Inevitably the square wave pushes nutrients into the open holes. These nutrients can be moisture carriers or fertilizer compounds in a moisture carrier or slurry.

Alternating waveforms use a variable ultrasonic duty cycle with respect to time elements, which are used at any timing of individual waveform effects. An example is as follows.

Description of Experimental System FIG. 6 shows the experimental system used in the experiments listed below. In FIG. 6, the ultrasonic horn 35 is placed in a beaker 30 containing a solution consisting of seeds and water 40. The distal end portion 34 of the ultrasonic transducer horn 35 is disposed in the slurry 40 so that the distal end portion 34 is completely immersed in the liquid. A magnetic stirrer 32 is disposed at the bottom of the beaker 30, and the magnetic stirrer 32 is rotated by electromagnetic force emitted from the magnetic stirrer 31. A beaker and a device are disposed on the magnetic stirrer 31. The The output is sent from the ultrasonic generator 37 through the cable 36 to the ultrasonic horn 35. The controller 33 of the ultrasonic generator was set as follows so that a certain range of ultrasonic waves was sent to the seed 40 in the slurry.
Ultrasonic frequency 20kHz
Strength at horn output 0.5 W / sq. cm
Waveform dynamics 50 ms sawtooth / 50 ms rectangular waveform

After sonication, the seeds are dried and then placed in a filter pad soaked in water, or in some cases hydrous soil, to germinate. The effect of treatment on germination at various temperatures was analyzed by changing the temperature during germination. Measurements observed in various experiments include the time when primary roots appear, the time when secondary roots appear, the time required for the emergence of coleoptiles, the length and weight of roots, the area of roots, and the estimation of roots This includes volume, coleoptile sheath length and weight, and water intake. The seeds tested were first generation (F ₁ ) hybrid seed corn.

Continuous Device Ultrasonic Flow Cell Device FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a process that can also be used in a commercial scale process. In FIG. 7, seeds are sprayed on the liquid medium 40. The ultrasonic horn transducer 64 fits into the housing 60 such that the ultrasonic tip 63 is placed directly into the fluid flow of the seed slurry 40. The seed slurry 40 enters the housing through a funnel 61 that narrows the flow around the tip 63. The ultrasonic wave 62 from the tip is directed toward the seed slurry 40 when passing in front of the tip. Finally, the ultrasonically treated seed slurry 40 is sent out from the outlet 65 around the tip 63. In this way, by directing the flow of the seed slurry 40 in a direction across the ultrasonic radiation tip 63 of the ultrasonic horn 64, the continuous flow of the seed slurry 40 can be subjected to ultrasonic treatment.

The tip 63 must be immersed in the liquid medium. The transducer is connected to an ultrasonic vibration generator. In the preferred embodiment of this flow cell system, the acoustic transducer horn 64 is manufactured by Sonics and Materials, Inc. Piezoelectric ceramic transducer VCX600 type commercially available from Another transducer may be used instead. Magnetostrictive transducers can deliver higher levels of acoustic energy to the liquid medium and may be preferred when higher acoustic densities are desired, for example, when large amounts of seed are sonicated. . The vibration generator 9E is a 33120Q type commercially available from Hewlett Packard, and is suitable for a transducer horn. The vibration generator 9E has an oscillation frequency in the range of 15 kHz to 30 kHz and can supply 0 to 500 watts to the acoustic transducer horn. In the experiments described herein, the power density was between 1 cm ² 30 per watt 1 cm ² 80 per watts. However, higher power density can be achieved within the housing 60 if the acoustic transducer 64 is rated efficiency. This device will typically produce a sinusoidal waveform that can provide cavitation effects, as seen in FIGS. Cavitation is believed to create or open pores in the seed, allowing moisture to penetrate the treated seed.

  In general, seed is added to a weight of 30% in water to produce a seed slurry. This seed slurry is then added to the flow cell. The aqueous solution can be tap water or water enriched with a nutrient solution as an activator of the sonicated seed. Nitrogen-based solutions or solutions based on fertilizers are conceivable as liquid media. When flowing into the flow cell, the seeds in the slurry may be rotated during ultrasonic transmission using a stirrer. The seed mixture 40 can be processed only once by the ultrasonic processor. Alternatively, the processing by the processor may be repeated a plurality of times by repeating it twice or more. Once processed, the seed slurry is conveyed to a filter / dryer to remove the liquid and produce a dry seed product.

Continuous ultrasonic flow tube-Fig. 8
In order to provide a continuous sonication system, an apparatus including an ultrasonic flow tube 71 as shown in FIG. 8 may be used. In this system, seed slurry 40 is passed through a tube in which transducers are arranged. The seeds are treated as ultrasound emitted from the transducer over the entire length of the flow tube passes through the entire length of the flow tube. The seed is continuously passed through the flow pipe.

  In the flow pipe 71 of FIG. 8, the ultrasonic transducers 70 are arranged. A series of baffles 75 are arranged in the flow pipe 71, and turbulence is inserted into the flow pipe 70. The seed slurry 40 enters the flow pipe at one end, and is subjected to ultrasonic treatment 72 when the seed 40 crosses the baffle 75 while tumbling, and finally exits. The tumbling action due to the turbulence rotates the seed 73 in the slurry under the ultrasonic signal 72. The treated seed 74 exits the distribution pipe at the outflow position. In a continuous approach, the seed 40 is transferred to the inlet and outlet during sonication 72 while moving and tumbling 73 through the distribution pipe 71 as the seed 40 traverses the distribution pipe 71. Intended to be delivered. This system is also referred to as an ultrasonic flow cell.

  In FIG. 9, untouched, untreated seed 40 is shown delivered into the ultrasonic flow cell 71 via a hopper. Untreated seeds 40 that are not touched are mixed with water or nutrient solution 41 in the hopper tank 42. Upon exiting the flow cell 71, the treated seed slurry 74 is delivered to the filter 80, where the water or slurry is filtered, leaving behind the sonicated wet seed 74. From there, the wet seeds 74 were delivered to a conveyor heater 81, which was sonicated as the final dry product to remove and package the remaining moisture on the treated seeds 74. Seed 76 is produced.

Transducer Design FIGS. 10 and 11 show the design of a transducer device (70 in FIG. 8) suitable for use with an ultrasonic flow pipe installed along the length of the flow pipe (71 in FIG. 8). Show.

  In FIG. 10, an array of transducer disks 93 is connected to a stainless steel faceplate 95 using a conductive epoxy resin 94. The transducer disk 93 can be 1-4 transducer elements aligned in an array of transducers 96 as seen in FIG. The reflection block 91 concentrates the ultrasonic energy forward to produce an alternating ultrasonic action that alternates from one waveform to another. The transducer of FIG. 10 is comprised of a transducer assembly 93 with a back piece or block 91 made of nylon or plastic part. A wire 92 is passed down the block 91, through a metal face plate 95, typically a stainless steel disk, and further up the top of the piezoelectric or magnetostrictive transducer disk of the array 93. In the view of FIG. 10, two such disks are shown attached to the faceplate 6G using conductive epoxy resin 94. FIG. Foam rubber flakes or gasket pieces are placed on the inner edges of the block 91 and the entire assembly is sealed to its final form, as shown as a complete assembly, using epoxy resin.

  FIG. 11 shows that a transducer disk array 06 composed of four transducer disks 93-1, 2, 3, and 4 is again attached to the face plate 95 using conductive epoxy resin. Has been.

  The transducer array shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 will produce alternating ultrasonic transmission as shown in FIG. A preferred waveform combination is sawtooth ultrasonic transmission followed by rectangular waveform ultrasonic transmission. The time of each waveform can be varied arbitrarily to produce either waveform action. The alternating ultrasound signal is intended to promote moisture intake while minimizing cavitation effects on the seed epidermis and avoiding damage to the seed shell.

Experiments A series of experiments were performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the method of the present invention. The experiment was performed using the experimental apparatus shown in FIG. Four different crop seeds were tested: wheat, carrot, corn and tomato. Each crop was sonicated with the same sonication settings using an apparatus as shown in FIG. Each experiment used an alternating ultrasound system, as illustrated in FIG.

The ultrasonic settings for each experiment were as follows.

The seed slurry was composed of 30% seeds and 70% tap water, and the seeds were grown at ambient temperature. Just before the experiment, the seeds were added to the water in a beaker and sonicated with various irradiation times.
Irradiation time Unit: Minute 0
5
10
15
20
Samples were processed for each irradiation time and filtered using a Buchner funnel, followed by air drying overnight. Each seed was then placed in a separate aquarium filled with potting soil at a depth recommended for that seed. For example, wheat recommended a depth of 1.5 inches in the soil, while carrots were 7.5 inches deep. The aquarium was then placed on a window sill so that sunlight could reach the aquarium, but the aquarium was not exposed to external elements during the culture period.

Seeds in the aquarium were observed every morning until they sprouted and began to emerge from the soil. The time required for germination was compared to a control group that was not sonicated. The results are as shown in the following table of experimental results.

  FIG. 12 is a scanning electron micrograph obtained by collecting and observing untreated wheat seeds, that is, untouched wheat seeds.

FIG. 13 is a scanning electron micrograph obtained by collecting and observing ultrasonically treated wheat seeds performed in accordance with Experiment 1. By observing the sonicated seeds in detail, it was found that several holes were generated theoretically in the outer shell layer of the seeds by ultrasonic irradiation. This hole enhances the absorption of moisture into the seed and increases moisture absorption resulting in a more rapid germination profile.

Summary of experiments The summary of experiments is listed below. In each case of sonication, the germination rate of the sonicated seed was increased. The control sample seeds germinated in 7-14 days, whereas the sonicated seeds germinated in 4-6 days. The shortening of the germination period in terms of the number of days required for germination was in the range of -41% for sonicated wheat seeds and in the range of -56% for carrots.

  After germination, the sonicated seeds and control sample seeds are then transferred from the cultured Petri aquarium to an external laboratory farm where they are put into conventional soil at the standard depth recommended for the plant. Seeds were planted and grown to mature plants.

  Overall, the control sample plants matured at 75-89 days, which approximated the growth period of the plants listed in the table.

  Sonicated plants took 35-42 days to mature, but for tomatoes, compared to unsonicated control samples in terms of size, quality, and fruit size and crop characteristics. It was not inferior.

  Sonication shortened the harvest period by 33-52 days.

Cultivation test results for tomato seeds that were sonicated, grown to full maturity, and harvested. FIG. 15 is a control sample that was not treated with sonication after sowing and grown to full maturity. It is the photograph which contrasted the fruit obtained from the tomato seed of and the fruit of the seed processed with the ultrasonic wave for 20 minutes.

  FIG. 16 is a photograph comparing regularly cultivated tomatoes (grown to maturity at 80 days) with sonicated tomato seeds (grown to maturity at 35 days), which Is also seen from the top and side.

  FIG. 17 is a photograph comparing regularly grown tomatoes (grown to maturity in 80 days) with sonicated tomato seeds (grown to maturity in 35 days), which Also shown is an incision to show the pulp.

  FIG. 18 is a close-up photograph comparing tomatoes that were cultivated regularly (growing until maturity in 80 days) and tomato seeds that were sonicated (growing to maturity in 35 days), Both are shown incised to show the pulp.

FIG. 19 summarizes, for selected crops, the germination improvement and the improvement seen throughout the cultivation of the test crops that used the present invention to speed up the harvesting season.

  Although the above experiment was performed using the apparatus described in FIG. 6, the inventor used the transducer configuration described in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 in a continuous manner as illustrated in FIG. When applied to a simple sonication system, the same sonication action as sinusoidal ultrasonic transmission will be obtained without generating cavitation.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, cavitation generates not only mechanical force but also thermal energy. Depending on the type of seed, cavitation can burn the seed and cause damage as seen in FIG. An alternating ultrasound waveform system such as that shown in FIG. 5 has been shown to cause less damage to the seed than cavitation ultrasound, but can still promote the intake of moisture and nutrients into the seed. I opened a running water channel. Referring to FIG. 13, the alternating ultrasonic waveform system formed very shallow perforations in the seed shell without burning the shell in the wheat seed.

  Most of the seeds treated with sinusoidal ultrasound showed structural damage after just 5 minutes of irradiation, as seen in FIG. Seeds treated with alternating ultrasonic energy, followed by a 50 millisecond sawtooth waveform followed by a 50 millisecond sawtooth waveform, as seen in FIG. It was shown that it was transmitting through a wider area. In FIG. 14, the seed treated with normal sinusoidal ultrasound showed melting of the shell layer covering the seed shell (FIG. 1).

  Thus, the preferred embodiment is one that uses alternating sonication, but as long as the seed is rotated during ultrasonic transmission, conventional sinusoidal ultrasound is still suitable for certain seeds. There may be.

Summary The above experiment showed that ultrasound-induced water intake is a unique event that can be considered separately from standard water intake. Due to the difference in the intake rate of the ultrasonically treated seed and the control sample soaked seed, the ultrasonically treated seeds show a much faster germination rate than the unsonicated seeds. Proved.

  These results demonstrate that seeds that are probably faster in water intake are obtained very quickly compared to the water intake rate of seeds that are stimulated by ultrasound and simply immersed. ing. Thus, the sonication process basically further increases the rate at which the seed is ingested while speeding both seed germination and mature plant and crop growth. Therefore, this process may be used to reduce the time it takes to harvest many crops by first treating the seed with ultrasound.

  Furthermore, these results demonstrate that sonication is changing seeds without adversely affecting the proportion of seeds that germinate. Sonication increases seed hydration at an accelerated rate. The action of ultrasound is not to feed moisture into the seed, but rather to change the seed so that the seed takes up moisture even in the absence of ultrasound. This enhanced deposition effect is stable. The deposition effect is maintained when the seeds are dried and stored after sonication. Ultrasound does not adversely affect germination. Since the sonication step and the deposition step can be separated without reducing the enhanced deposition effect, there is a significant practical advantage. The seed can be subjected to ultrasonic cavitation treatment at an initial time point, and after a predetermined period of time, the seed will have an enhanced ability to absorb substances. Thereby, a seed can be processed with an ultrasonic wave and a seed can be stored until cultivation or a processing process is started. After this, it is possible to determine which substance is to be absorbed by the seed by specially adapting to the cultivation conditions, growth conditions or processing conditions at that time. This allows for more efficient and timely seed preparation. Furthermore, the absorption step does not require high performance equipment or technical expertise and can be performed on the farm.

  FIG. 8 shows a preferred embodiment in which an ultrasonic flow pipe having means for causing seed tumbling during ultrasonic treatment is incorporated, and by incorporating the flow pipe, the same as the experimental apparatus shown in FIG. The large-scale seed sonication of FIG. 9 can be continuously performed to produce sonicated seeds based on a continuous treatment having the results of

Summary One skilled in the art will understand that seeds can be absorbed by seeds in the same way by actually performing basic techniques to enhance the deposition of substances such as water. As mentioned above, these substances can include water, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, growth hormones and the like. However, the applicable range of the present invention is not limited to these substances. The enhanced deposition method can be used with substances that enhance any growth characteristics of the seed and the plants derived from the seed or otherwise add value to the seed during commercial treatment. For example, the method of the present invention could be used to cause seeds to absorb substances that inhibit germination for a period of time. By delaying germination in this way, growers find it beneficial in commercial agriculture by allowing seed planting before optimal cultivation or germination conditions are reached. This frees the grower from the burden of cultivating all crops at once when the soil and weather conditions are suitable for cultivation. Thus, a substance intended to be used with the present invention need not necessarily be a substance that allows the plant to grow faster, stronger or pest resistant in any way.

  Crops that emerge from seeds that have been sonicated in the manner described above tend to have a much longer plant and harvest much less time to harvest than untreated crops.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that changes and modifications can be made to the invention to the full extent intended by the invention as defined by the appended claims. It should also be understood that the invention is not limited to only this embodiment.

Claims (27)

A sonication and deposition process for ingesting the substance into the seed,
a) immersing the seed in water or in a solution consisting of water and other nutrients;
b) introducing acoustic energy into the water at a frequency and energy density sufficient to create cavitation in the liquid;
c) ultrasonically treating the seed for a time sufficient to cause a change in the seed such that the sonicated seed increases the rate of uptake of the substance into the seed; and
In a sonication and deposition process comprising:
The substance is capable of enhancing the growth characteristics of the seed and any plant obtained from the seed or any crop obtained thereafter; and
Sonication and deposition process, characterized in that the process can be in the form of a batch seed treatment system or a continuous seed treatment system using an ultrasonic flow cell or continuous ultrasonic flow tube.   The invention according to claim 1, wherein the seed may be any plant such as an ornamental plant, a plant for human or animal consumption, or a plant for producing plant-derived fuel. Invention to do.   2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the acoustic energy has a frequency of about 15 kHz to about 100 kHz. 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the acoustic energy is an energy density of about 0.125 watts / cm < ² > to about 10 watts / cm < ² >.   The invention according to claim 1, wherein the acoustic energy is a sine wave, and cavitation energy may or may not be generated for the treated seed.   7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the acoustic energy is irradiated for a time exceeding 1 minute. A sonication and deposition process for ingesting the substance into the seed,
a) immersing the seed in water or in a solution consisting of water and other nutrients;
b) acoustic energy having alternating ultrasonic waveforms alternating from one waveform to another at regular time periods at a frequency and energy density sufficient to minimize cavitation in the liquid; The steps to introduce into,
c) ultrasonically treating the seed for a time sufficient to cause a change in the seed such that the sonicated seed increases the rate of uptake of the substance into the seed; and
In a sonication and deposition process comprising:
The substance is capable of enhancing the growth characteristics of the seed and any plant obtained from the seed or any crop obtained thereafter; and
Sonication and deposition process, characterized in that the process can be in the form of a batch seed treatment system or a continuous seed treatment system using an ultrasonic flow cell or continuous ultrasonic flow tube.   The invention according to claim 7, wherein the seed can be any plant such as an ornamental plant, a plant for consumption by humans or animals, or a plant for producing fuel derived from plants. Invention to do.   8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the acoustic energy has a frequency of about 15 kHz to about 100 kHz. 8. The invention of claim 7, wherein the acoustic energy is an energy density of about 0.125 Watt / cm < ² > to about 10 Watt / cm < ² >.   The invention according to claim 7, wherein the acoustic energy is not only a sine wave, but for the purpose of minimizing damage to the treated seed or reducing cavitation energy and It is an alternating ultrasonic waveform that alternates periodically with a rectangular waveform, or any other alternating waveform that alternates between a combination of sine, sawtooth, triangular, or rectangular waveforms Invention.   8. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the acoustic energy is irradiated for a time exceeding 1 minute.   An sonication and deposition process for accelerating germination of the plant that can be used for crops or fuels, wherein the seeds are immersed in a container and irradiated with ultrasonic waves in a batch process; Treated with ultrasound in sonication and deposition processes that either cause cavitation or attract and promote moisture or nutrients to the sonicated seed using alternating ultrasound transmission A batch seed treatment system in which the resulting harvest time of plants emerging from the treated seeds is shorter than normal untreated seeds and the process uses an ultrasonic flow cell or a continuous ultrasonic flow tube Or a sonication and deposition process, characterized in that it can be in the form of a continuous seed treatment system.   An sonication and deposition process for accelerating germination of the plant that can be used for crops or fuels, wherein the seed is immersed in a container and irradiated with ultrasound in a continuous process that includes an ultrasonic flow cell. The sonication and deposition process, wherein the ultrasound causes cavitation or uses alternating ultrasonic transmission to attract and promote moisture or nutrients to the sonicated seed In which the resulting harvest time of plants emerging from the ultrasonically treated seeds is shortened compared to normal untreated seeds, and the process comprises an ultrasonic flow cell or continuous ultrasonic flow Sonication and deposition characterized in that it can be in the form of a batch seed treatment system using tubes or a continuous seed treatment system Process.   An sonication and deposition process for accelerating germination of the plant that can be used for fuel or fuel additives, or other crops, wherein the seeds are immersed in an ultrasonic flow cell or ultrasonic In either a batch process or a continuous process that includes a baffle tube in which the transducers are lined up, the ultrasonic wave is irradiated, and the ultrasonic wave causes cavitation, or using alternating ultrasonic transmission, said ultrasonic treatment In sonication and deposition processes with either attracting or promoting moisture or nutrients to the treated seeds, the resulting harvest time of the plants emerging from the ultrasonically treated seeds is normal Shorter than untreated seeds, and the process uses an ultrasonic flow cell or a continuous ultrasonic flow tube. Sonication and deposition process, characterized in that that may be a batch seed treatment system or form a continuous seed treatment systems are. In the fuel-use plant according to claim 15, in order to include sulfite water in the corn kernel,
a) immersing the corn kernel in a liquid solution composed of sulfurous acid, water and oil-soluble gas, the liquid solution being able to soften the corn kernel;
b) introducing acoustic energy into the liquid solution at a frequency and energy density sufficient to generate cavitation in the liquid solution;
c) the corn kernel for a period of time sufficient to cause a change in the corn kernel such that the corn kernel acquires memory that the rate at which the corn kernel is ingested is increased. Sonicating, and
d) setting a predetermined period;
e) after the predetermined period, the corn kernels have the substance absorbed therein.   The invention according to claim 16, wherein the liquid solution further comprises gibberellic acid.   17. A seed treated with the process of claim 16 and having a memory of an increased rate of ingesting a substance.   The invention according to claim 16, wherein the substance is a substance that suppresses germination of the seed.   The method according to claim 16, wherein the ultrasonic wave is irradiated continuously.   The method of claim 16, wherein the ultrasound is pulsed.   In an apparatus or assembly for performing ultrasonic treatment on seeds, the apparatus includes circuit means including waveform generation means for generating an ultrasonic signal, and the ultrasonic signal has a frequency of 20 kHz to 100 kHz. Preferably, it is formed from a sawtooth wave in the range and a rectangular wave with a frequency in the range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz superimposed on the sawtooth wave, but one ultrasonic waveform format followed by another different An apparatus or assembly formed from any combination of waveforms using a waveform format.   In an apparatus or assembly for performing ultrasonic treatment on seeds, the apparatus includes circuit means including waveform generation means for generating an ultrasonic signal, and the ultrasonic signal has a frequency of 20 kHz to 100 kHz. Is preferably an ultrasonic signal formed from a sawtooth wave in the range and a rectangular wave with a frequency in the range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz superimposed on the sawtooth wave, but after one ultrasonic waveform format. An ultrasonic signal subsequently formed from any combination of waveforms using another different waveform format, and the seed is conveyed to the device by a flow cell around the transducer element of the device Device or assembly In an apparatus or assembly for performing ultrasonic treatment on seeds, the apparatus includes circuit means including waveform generation means for generating an ultrasonic signal, and the ultrasonic signal has a frequency of 20 kHz to 100 kHz. Preferably, it is formed from a sawtooth wave in the range and a rectangular wave with a frequency in the range of 20 kHz to 100 kHz superimposed on the sawtooth wave, but one ultrasonic waveform format followed by another different Formed from any combination of waveforms using a waveform format, and the seeds are carried to the device by a baffle tube in which a number of transducers are arranged, the number of transducers moving the seed through the entire length of the baffle tube A device or assembly that acts upon the seed when
Transducer   In a transducer assembly using a transducer disk or array of elements, the transducer disk or element is attached by a conductive epoxy or other means suitable for a metal plate or disk, the transducer being attached to the transducer. At the top, it is wired parallel to the metal plate or disk, and is cathodic or grounded, the entire plate is bounded by a hollow annular foam rubber such as neoprene, and then the transducer Sealed in an insulating block composed of a plastic material such as urethane that will be isolated and protected from moisture or contact with any external environment, and the sealed transducer disk or The element is powered by an oscillating circuit to generate ultrasonic radiation to the plate, thereby delivering ultrasonic transmission from the assembly over the entire surface area greater than the individual surface area of the transducer disk in frequency response. A transducer assembly characterized by:   Newnham et al., US Pat. No. 4,999,819, Newnham et al., US Pat. No. 5,276,657, and Newnham et al., US Pat. No. 5,729,077. An ultrasonic transducer assembly suitable for use in ultrasonic seed treatment applications using a single-cymbal ultrasonic transducer design according to US Pat.   In an ultrasonic transducer assembly suitable for use in ultrasonic seed treatment applications using a stacked cymbal ultrasonic transducer design according to the mold disclosed in US Patent No. 5,729,077 of Newnham et al. An ultrasonic transducer assembly, wherein the transducers are stacked together for the purpose of increasing the output efficiency of the entire transducer system while increasing the intensity of ultrasonic transmission.

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