Described are systems and methods for treating and/or helping prevent microbial infections on plants and trees by applying a treatment solution to cut areas of the plants or trees that have been exposed during a hedging or topping operation, or the like.

Disclosed is a self-guided blossom picker that uses a vision system to identify and locate blossoms or inflorescence growing on a plant. The device is intended to be used on a farm and towed by a tractor, for example, or it can be self-propelled. As the device is moved over the blossom the image data captured by the vision system is sent to a machine vision module, which interprets the data and identifies a location of blossom. A controller uses the location data to command a picker to the proper location. A cutter on the picker is actuated to remove the blossom.

An apparatus for the spraying of an area of interest (S) of a high-pressure working fluid (V) wherein the apparatus is susceptible to move relatively to the ground (S) along a direction of reciprocal advancement (d) and it comprises at least one tank (2) for the working fluid (V), at least one outlet nozzle (41) and a fluid connecting line (4) extending from the tank (2) towards the outlet nozzle (41). The apparatus further comprises supply means (5) of the working fluid (V) that include a high-pressure pump and at least one spraying device (10) placed along the fluid connecting line (4) the former (5) upstream with respect to the latter (10). Furthermore, the spraying device (10) comprises a support structure (11) that comprises a first plate (12), motor means (35) acting upon the first plate (12) to promote the eccentric rotation thereof around a first axis (Z) and at least one manifold (42) placed on the first plate (12) to move integrally therewith. In particular, the latter (42) comprises at least one outlet nozzle (41) oriented so as to spray a jet of working fluid (V) towards the ground (S). The first plate (12) is mounted movable with said support structure (11) so that upon the movement along the direction of reciprocal advancement (d) of the apparatus (1) and of the ground (S), the jet flowing from the outlet nozzle (41) hits the latter with helical path.

A fluid delivery assembly is operably coupled with a reciprocating saw having a saw blade to deliver a treatment fluid to a cut portion of vegetation as the vegetation is cut. A syringe contains the treatment fluid and a fluid delivery tube has a reservoir end in fluid communication with the syringe and a delivery end adjacent the cut portion of the vegetation. A carrier is contains a portion of the fluid delivery assembly and a harness attached to the carrier has at least one strap for an operator to carry the carrier during operation of the reciprocating saw. A stepper motor is operably coupled to a PCB for storing operating parameters and for executing the operating parameters to induce advancing movement of a plunger relative to the syringe. The operating parameters are provided to the PCB by an external computing device and the PCB and stepper motor receive electrical power through an electrical power and logic cable from a power supply of the reciprocating saw. The fluid delivery tube is provided with a check valve at the reservoir end and the delivery end to retain the treatment fluid within the fluid delivery tube.

A fluid delivery assembly is operably coupled with a reciprocating saw having a saw blade to deliver a treatment fluid to a cut portion of vegetation as the vegetation is cut. A syringe contains the treatment fluid and a fluid delivery tube has a reservoir end in fluid communication with the syringe and a delivery end adjacent the cut portion of the vegetation. A carrier is contains a portion of the fluid delivery assembly and a harness attached to the carrier has at least one strap for an operator to carry the carrier during operation of the reciprocating saw. A stepper motor is operably coupled to a PCB for storing operating parameters and for executing the operating parameters to induce advancing movement of a plunger relative to the syringe. The operating parameters are provided to the PCB by an external computing device and the PCB and stepper motor receive electrical power through an electrical power and logic cable from a power supply of the reciprocating saw. The fluid delivery tube is provided with a check valve at the reservoir end and the delivery end to retain the treatment fluid within the fluid delivery tube.