Treatment of Plants, Fruits and Vegetables to Increase Growth, Eliminate Insects and Increase Shelf-Life with Aloe Vera Gel

Abstract

The present invention includes compositions and methods for the treatment of plants against pathogens, elimination of insects and to increase the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables that includes coating the plant with undiluted aloe vera gel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating plants to increase their growth comprising:
 identifying a plant in need of treatment in need of enhanced growth when compared to non-treated plants; and   spraying the plant with aloe vera, wherein the plant grows at least 25 percent larger than an untreated plant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aloe vera is a liquid, a gel, is dry, is ground, is extracted from whole leaf aloe vera or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aloe vera gel is freeze-dried, heat dried, vacuum dried, air-dried, spray-dried and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding to the gel: a stabilizer, anti-oxidant, a water-repellent, a UV absorbing agent, an anti-microbial agent, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant is coated in situ. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the aloe vera gel comprises an aloin content at least 600, 800, 1,000 or 2000 ppm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of heating the aloe gel prior to application. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plant comprises a fruit or vegetable. 
     
     
         9 . A composition for increasing the shelf-life of fruits, vegetables or both comprising:
 an undiluted aloe vera gel that is adapted for delivery to one or more fruits or vegetables such that the aloe vera coats at least a portion of the fruit or vegetable and wherein the fruit or vegetable has an increased shelf-life.   
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the aloe vera gel is concentrated. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the aloe vera gel is liquid or gel. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 9 , further comprising adding to the gel: a stabilizer, anti-oxidant, a water-repellent, a UV absorbing agent, an anti-microbial agent, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 9 , wherein the aloe vera gel comprises an aloin content of less than 1 ppm and is non-toxic and biodegradable. 
     
     
         14 . A method for repelling insects, comprising the step of placing an effective amount of aloe vera gel that is aloin enhanced in an area where insects are not desired. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the aloe vera gel is dried, ground, whole or concentrated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the aloe vera gel is sprayed on a plant, is placed on the soil at or about the plant, is integrated into the soil of a plant, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         17 . A method for increasing the growth of a plant with a non-toxic, biodegradable composition comprising:
 treating the plant with an aloe vera that is aloin enhanced, wherein the plant grows at least 25% larger than a non-treated plant.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the aloe vera is a liquid, is a gel, is dry, is ground, is whole or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the aloe vera is freeze-dried, heat dried, vacuum dried, air-dried, spray-dried and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising adding to the aloe vera: a stabilizer, anti-oxidant, a water-repellent, a UV absorbing agent, an anti-microbial agent, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plant is coated in situ. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the aloe vera gel comprises an aloin content of less than 1 ppm. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of heating the aloe gel prior to application. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plant comprises a fruit or vegetable and wherein the fruit or vegetable has an increase in the size and number of fruit or vegetable size, fruit or vegetable number and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plant comprises a tree. 
     
     
         26 . A non-toxic, biodegradable soil treatment comprising:
 an effective amount of an undiluted aloe vera gel with aloin adapted for delivery to soil to create a treated soil, wherein the plant grown in the treated soil at least 25% larger than a non-treated plant.   
     
     
         27 . The soil treatment of  claim 26 , wherein the plant grown in the treated soil at least 25% larger than a non-treated plant.