Plant treatment assembly and associated method

A method for elimination of plant pathogens and/or insects on living plants, the method comprising:

• a) arranging a plurality of plants inside a process chamber that comprises a process chamber inlet and a process chamber outlet;
• b) reducing the gas pressure inside the process chamber to a treatment pressure by operating a pump connected to the process chamber outlet;
• c) elevating the gas temperature inside the process chamber to a target temperature by providing a controlled flow of water steam to the process chamber inlet;
• d) after step c), removing the plants from the process chamber;
• e) recirculating gas from the process chamber through the process chamber outlet, through the pump, into a pre-chamber, and into the process chamber, wherein a choking arrangement is arranged between the pre-chamber and the process chamber,
• wherein the process chamber inlet is arranged at an inlet portion and the process chamber outlet is arranged at an oppositely arranged outlet portion of the process chamber,
• wherein the process chamber comprises flexible side walls extending at least partly between the inlet portion and the outlet portion,
• and wherein step b) further includes moving the flexible side walls against the plurality of plants as a result of the pressure difference over the flexible walls, and
• wherein the choking arrangement is an adjustable choking arrangement, and
• wherein the method comprises controlling the flow of gas and/or the pressure in the process chamber by controlling the choking arrangement.