A method is provided of producing a Lactuca plant seed including using a Megachile bee as pollination means, and providing the a Megachile bee a minor nectar plant to have preference in flower visiting, in addition to a pollen parent Lactuca plant and a seed parent Lactuca plant and to perform a crossing of a Lactuca plant using a plant species having the preference in flower visiting equivalent to or lower than that of the Lactuca plant. According to one embodiment, it is possible to produce a Lactuca hybrid plant seed more efficiently and economically than before while using a Megachile bee as pollination means.

A mobile sensory platform includes a propulsion system configured to move the platform within a growing area, a vertically-extending support, and sensors in or on the support. Different sensors are positioned at different heights along the support. The sensors are configured to capture data associated with plants in the growing area. The platform also includes a communication interface configured to support two-way wireless communication, a power supply, and a control system configured to control movement of the platform and operation of the sensors. The sensors include microclimate sensors configured to sense microclimates around individual ones of the plants and stereo imaging sensors configured to capture images of the plants. The sensors are configured to non-invasively capture multi-dimensional data points for the individual ones of the plants. At least some of the multi-dimensional data points are associated with a 3D structure of a canopy of the individual ones of the plants.

A mobile sensory platform includes a propulsion system configured to move the platform within a growing area, a vertically-extending support, and sensors in or on the support. Different sensors are positioned at different heights along the support. The sensors are configured to capture data associated with plants in the growing area. The platform also includes a communication interface configured to support two-way wireless communication, a power supply, and a control system configured to control movement of the platform and operation of the sensors. The sensors include microclimate sensors configured to sense microclimates around individual ones of the plants and stereo imaging sensors configured to capture images of the plants. The sensors are configured to non-invasively capture multi-dimensional data points for the individual ones of the plants. At least some of the multi-dimensional data points are associated with a 3D structure of a canopy of the individual ones of the plants.

A method of managing treatment of crop is disclosed. The method comprises: monitoring a first parameter describing a daily shrinkage of a plant part of the crop, and a second parameter describing daily growth rate of a plant part of the crop. The method further comprises calculating a plant status function based on a value of the first parameter and a value of the second parameter, and operating a crop treatment system responsively to the plant status function.

A method of managing treatment of crop is disclosed. The method comprises: monitoring a first parameter describing a daily shrinkage of a plant part of the crop, and a second parameter describing daily growth rate of a plant part of the crop. The method further comprises calculating a plant status function based on a value of the first parameter and a value of the second parameter, and operating a crop treatment system responsively to the plant status function.

A light emitting plant can include a long duration emissive material.

A light emitting plant can include a long duration emissive material.

A gardening apparatus includes one or more of a base, a fluid reservoir, and a plant tray or support disposed on the reservoir. The support is adapted for receiving one or more modular plant inserts, and can define a flow structure for channeling fluid to each insert. A pump supplies fluid from the reservoir to the plant tray or support, with a light assembly adapted to generate a spectrum of light for growth of plants from the inserts. A processor is configured for controlling fluid flow from the pump, the light spectrum generated by the lighting elements, or both. For example, the processor can use a dynamic recipe, algorithm or control schedule to modulate the fluid flow or spectrum based the plant type, growth stage, height, plant health data, digital phenotyping data, or ambient conditions, or a combination thereof.

In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract, while in the field, one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing, while in the field, the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.

In embodiments, acquiring sensor data associated with a plant growing in a field, and analyzing the sensor data to extract, while in the field, one or more phenotypic traits associated with the plant from the sensor data. Indexing, while in the field, the one or more phenotypic traits to one or both of an identifier of the plant or a virtual representation of a part of the plant, and determining one or more plant insights based on the one or more phenotypic traits, wherein the one or more plant insights includes information about one or more of a health, a yield, a planting, a growth, a harvest, a management, a performance, and a state of the plant. One or more of the health, yield, planting, growth, harvest, management, performance, and the state of the plant are included in a plant insights report that is generated.