The present application is directed to an autonomous system for managing crops, the system being configured to record and utilises data indicative of both above and below ground conditions at the same location to provide an output that incorporates data derived from soil conditions and land use activity. The system combines data reflective of each of above and below ground parameters as measured concurrently from in-soil sensors, imaging devices and activity trackers, and analyses the data to provide data outputs based on accurate and consistent soil and crop management measurement parameters.

A diagnostic assistance system for assisting a person in performing diagnosis of an object includes target data storage means for storing target data indicating a state of the object, diagnostic task means for providing each of a first user and a second user with the target data to enable each of the first user and the second user to perform a diagnostic task of the object, diagnostic result means for receiving a result of diagnosis of the object by each of the first user and the second user, and sharing means for enabling the first user and the second user to share result of diagnosis by each of the first user and the second user. The diagnostic task includes a first sub-task of investigating the target data to output a first diagnostic result and a second sub-task of using the first diagnostic result to output a second diagnostic result.

An environmental sensing device is rugged and shaped to have features that do not extend significantly from the body of the environmental sensing device thereby allowing the environmental sensing device to be buried with crops, then remain buried in the ground with the crops while they grow, then remain with the crops and be harvested with the crops as they are harvested using mechanical/automated harvesting devices, then remain with the crops and be loaded into transportation vehicles with the crops, then remain with the crops as they are transported, remain with the crops as the crops loaded into storage units, and finally remain with the crops as the crops are stored.

A method for estimating the hairy root biomass concentration X.sub.(t) of a multi-phasic culture of hairy roots in a culture medium, the culture medium including at least one source of carbon being at least one sugar, and at least one source of nitrogen. The biomass yield surprisingly correlates linearly with the consumed concentration of nitrogen and/or sugars over the entire time course of the multi-phasic culture of hairy roots. The method for estimating the hairy root biomass concentration X.sub.(t) according to the invention is also a useful tool to estimate the amount of one or more molecule(s) of interest synthesized by the hairy roots.

A method for estimating the hairy root biomass concentration X.sub.(t) of a multi-phasic culture of hairy roots in a culture medium, the culture medium including at least one source of carbon being at least one sugar, and at least one source of nitrogen. The biomass yield surprisingly correlates linearly with the consumed concentration of nitrogen and/or sugars over the entire time course of the multi-phasic culture of hairy roots. The method for estimating the hairy root biomass concentration X.sub.(t) according to the invention is also a useful tool to estimate the amount of one or more molecule(s) of interest synthesized by the hairy roots.

Described are methods of field conditioning and preserving dicotyledonous pollen and/or anthers. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include an air flow at a humidity ranging from 5% to about 100% and a temperature ranging from about 10 C. to about 10 C. The field conditioning conditions and preservation conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%. The preservation conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 40% to about 58%.

Described are methods of field conditioning and preserving dicotyledonous pollen and/or anthers. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include an air flow at a humidity ranging from 5% to about 100% and a temperature ranging from about 10 C. to about 10 C. The field conditioning conditions and preservation conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%. The preservation conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 40% to about 58%.

Disclosed are compositions comprising pollen grains such that the pollen has improved viability as compared to pollen that is left in ambient conditions. The compositions include the separation of dead pollen contents from live pollen grains. In some embodiments, pollen grains are stored with a substance that prevents dead pollen contents from interacting with live pollen grains. The substance may be a solid, liquid, gas, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the substance may at least partially regulate pollen moisture content, such as maintaining pollen moisture content at 15-60%

Disclosed are compositions comprising pollen grains such that the pollen has improved viability as compared to pollen that is left in ambient conditions. The compositions include the separation of dead pollen contents from live pollen grains. In some embodiments, pollen grains are stored with a substance that prevents dead pollen contents from interacting with live pollen grains. The substance may be a solid, liquid, gas, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the substance may at least partially regulate pollen moisture content, such as maintaining pollen moisture content at 15-60%

Methods and apparatus for electrical impedance spectroscopy for non-destructive, real-time, tracking of relative water content and stress responses in plants.