A method and a device for propagating plants, by which the propagation rate or growth rate of the plants can be increased. This is achieved in that at least one plant is recorded at least in regions by an image recognition device and plant-specific features of the at least one plant are recognized by a control unit on the basis of the items of information obtained by the image recognition device. In dependence on the recognized features, at least one component of the plant is then automatically severed from the plant by a cutting means for propagation. A type and/or physical properties of the cutting means to increase a propagation rate of the plants are selected in accordance with the recognized plant-specific features of the plant.

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.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for transforming soybean, corn, cotton, or canola explants using spectinomycin as a selective agent for transformation of the explants. The method may further comprise treatment of the explants with cytokinin during the transformation and regeneration process.

The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.

The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.

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.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for transforming soybean, corn, cotton, or canola explants using spectinomycin as a selective agent for transformation of the explants. The method may further comprise treatment of the explants with cytokinin during the transformation and regeneration process.

The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from cotton seeds. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, transformation, and selection or identification of transformed plants are disclosed, as are transformable meristem tissues and plants produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.

An automated method for sampling seeds generally includes removing material from a seed at an automated sampling station and then, after removing the material from the seed, detecting, by at least one sensor, movement of the seed out of the automated sampling station. The automated method may also include, after removing the material from the seed, transferring the seed from the automated sampling station to a seed container and transferring the material removed from the seed from the automated sampling station to a sample container.

An automated system for sampling seeds generally includes an automated sampling station having a sampler configured to remove material from a seed while protecting germination viability of the seed, a seed conveyor configured to receive the seed from out of the sampling station after the material is removed from the seed, and a sample conveyor configured to receive the material removed from the seed. The sample conveyor is configured to locate the material removed from the seed in a sample container, and the seed conveyor is configured to locate the seed from which the material is removed in a seed container so as to facilitate a one-to-one correspondence between the seed and the material removed from the seed.