This invention describes a new method to generate cereal crop seed. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or during several periods wherein female parent pollen and/or other proximal plant pollen is not being shed.

Pollination assemblies for use in transferring pollen between plants are described herein. In one example embodiment, a pollination assembly includes a collection unit configured to dislodge pollen from pollen-bearing plants, where the collection unit includes a first air system configured to direct the dislodged pollen from the pollen-bearing plants to an outlet of the collection unit. The pollination assembly also includes at least one applicator unit configured to direct the dislodged pollen received from the pollen-bearing plants at pollen-receiving plants, and a distribution unit disposed adjacent the collection unit. The distribution unit includes a second air system configured to direct the dislodged pollen from the outlet of the collection unit to the at least one applicator unit.

The invention relates to a pollen distribution device for crop plants in an agricultural field, the device comprising a carrier structure configured to be moved along rows of crop plants of the agricultural field in a moving direction, a blowing device attached to the carrier structure, wherein the blowing device comprises at least one nozzle arrangement configured to blow air against pollen bearing plants of the agricultural field. According to the invention it is proposed that the nozzle arrangement comprises a vaporizing device for adding humidity to the air leaving the nozzle arrangement, in particular wherein the vaporizing device is configured to increase the relative humidity of the air leaving the nozzle arrangement between 60% and 80% to ensure high relative humidity suitable for pollen viability preservation by atomizing the water particles.

An apparatus for indoor pollination, an indoor pollination system and a method for indoor pollination. The apparatus for indoor pollination includes a first ultraviolet (UV) light source configured to emit pollination enhancing light, an arthropod trap, and a second UV light source housed in the arthropod trap and configured to emit arthropod attracting light. A microprocessor is configured to switch on or off the first and second UV light sources depending on pollination requirements.

This invention describes a new method to generate oilseed seed. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or during several periods wherein female parent pollen and/or other proximal plant pollen is not being shed.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for mechanized pollination. Grow towers vertically disposed on a grow line are moved into a pollination chamber and mechanized pollination is performed utilizing pneumatic, acoustic, or mechanical methods to pollinate plants growing in the grow towers. In one embodiment, a plurality of rotatable brush towers are disposed on opposite sides of the grow line and bristles from the brush towers are rotated over the plants to facilitate pollination as the grow towers traverse along the grow line. In another embodiment, a plurality of conduits internal to the grow towers are coupled to one or more nozzles on a face of the grow towers. Pollen is delivered through the nozzles toward the plants utilizing pressurized gas.

A pollen collection device for collecting pollen from crop plants grown in rows includes a housing assembly configured to be mounted on a base for being transported through a row of crop plants. The housing assembly receives at least a portion of the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants. A pollen collection assembly is attached to the housing assembly for collecting the pollen displaced from the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants. A measurement device is positioned on the pollen collection device for measuring a characteristic of the collected pollen.

The invention provides novel compositions and methods for storage and delivery of pollen to a female reproductive part of a recipient plant. The pollen storage composition provided includes at least one perlite particle and pollen. The methods provided include storing the pollen storage composition and applying the pollen storage composition to at least a first female reproductive part of a recipient plant, thereby pollinating the female reproductive part with the pollen from the donor plant.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for mechanized pollination. Grow towers vertically disposed on a grow line are moved into a pollination chamber and mechanized pollination is performed utilizing pneumatic, acoustic, or mechanical methods to pollinate plants growing in the grow towers. In one embodiment, a plurality of rotatable brush towers are disposed on opposite sides of the grow line and bristles from the brush towers are rotated over the plants to facilitate pollination as the grow towers traverse along the grow line. In another embodiment, a plurality of conduits internal to the grow towers are coupled to one or more nozzles on a face of the grow towers. Pollen is delivered through the nozzles toward the plants utilizing pressurized gas.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for mechanized pollination. Grow towers vertically disposed on a grow line are moved into a pollination chamber and mechanized pollination is performed utilizing pneumatic, acoustic, or mechanical methods to pollinate plants growing in the grow towers. In one embodiment, a plurality of rotatable brush towers are disposed on opposite sides of the grow line and bristles from the brush towers are rotated over the plants to facilitate pollination as the grow towers traverse along the grow line. In another embodiment, a plurality of conduits internal to the grow towers are coupled to one or more nozzles on a face of the grow towers. Pollen is delivered through the nozzles toward the plants utilizing pressurized gas.