A plant propagation system is provided that includes a holder for holding at least two plants in relative spaced apart relation to enable a predetermined operation (such as, for example, a cutting operation) to be performed on each of the plants within the holder during a single pass.

A plant propagation system is described that can be utilized for micropropagation through early stages of plant development. A system can include multiple plant support matrices, containers for the matrices, and optionally a tool for separating sections of a plant support matrix from the remainder of the matrix. During use developing plant tissue can be transferred between matrices and growth media can be varied with little or no damage to developing plant tissue and lower chances for contamination of the developing plant tissues.

The present invention provides methods and devices for the rapid isolation of monocot plant embryos suitable for transformation or tissue culture. The invention includes mechanical devices for substantially isolating plant embryos for use as transformable explants. Media suitable for isolating plant embryos and methods for their preparation are also provided.

The invention provides methods for identifying regenerated transformed plants and differentiated transformed plant parts, obtained without subjecting plant cells to selective conditions prior to regenerating the cells to obtain differentiated tissues. In particular embodiments, the plant cells are corn plant cells. Methods for growing and handling plants, including identifying plants that demonstrate specific traits of interest are also provided.

A method for culturing ginseng cell with high content of ginsenoside, including inducing ginseng cell line: after disinfected and sliced, ultrasonically treating old mountain ginseng, and culturing the old mountain ginseng in a culture medium; screening the ginseng cell line: choosing a variety of culture mediums and using hormones for cell separation and culture, selecting cell lines with better growth morphology and faster growth, and performing solid subculture and liquid suspension culture; optimizing conversion conditions: using acids to treat the chosen cell lines, and controlling the transformation temperature and transformation time, detecting ginsenosides Rg3 and Rh2 in the dried products, determining an optimal transformation condition according to the highest total amount; large-scale industrial production: according to the optimal transformation condition, performing the liquid suspension culture of the selected cell lines and scaling up the scale of culture to obtain large-scale industrial production of ginseng cell products.

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for the printing and maturation of living tissue in an Earth-referenced reduced gravity environment such as that found on a spacecraft or on other celestial bodies. The printing may be three-dimensional structures. The printed structures may be manufactured from low viscosity biomaterials.

Methods and devices for in vitro shoot growth, cutting shoots, root growth and formation of a stably growing and robust complete plants utilizing liquid culture medium and subsequently transfer to ex vitro conditions by a robotic device or other automated means are disclosed. It may comprise a temporary-immersion bioreactor system, in vitro fixtures for shoots, a holder for shoot fixtures, a cutting device and a rooting tube.

A method and a device for propagating plants, by way of which the risk of contamination can be minimized and the costs of the production of plants can be reduced. This is achieved in that the plants to be propagated are automatically grasped by a first gripper and separated, the individual plants, hanging on the first gripper, are systematically cut into multiple clones and the individual clones are automatically transported away by a second gripper for further processing.

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for the printing and maturation of living tissue in an Earth-referenced reduced gravity environment such as that found on a spacecraft or on other celestial bodies. The printing may be three-dimensional structures. The printed structures may be manufactured from low viscosity biomaterials.

Devices for directionally placing a plant propagule (2) inside a tubular hollow member (3), including a platform element (20) arranged such that a foldable member (1) can be placed thereon; an actuating dispensing arrangement {90a, 90b, 100) for placing a foldable member (1) on the platform element (20); an arrangement (40)/(40a) for placing a plant propagule (2) on a foldable member (1) placed on the platform element (20); optionally, including a way (150) for identifying an imaginary line (9) on the foldable member (1) stretching through the root forming end (7) to the shoot forming end (8) of the propagule (2) being directionally placed during operation; an actuating folding arrangement {30, 80)/(120/80) for folding the foldable member (1) along said imaginary line (9) to form a folded foldable member (la); an actuating dispensing arrangement (180) for providing a tubular hollow member (3) having a first open end (4); and an actuating placing arrangement {30, 80)/(120/80) for placing said folded foldable member (la) into the tubular hollow member (3) through the first open end (4). Related methods for handling plant propagules, in particular somatic plant embryos.