The systems and methods described herein relate to fully or partially autonomous or remotely operated aerial pollination vehicles that use computer vision and artificial intelligence to automatically detect plants, orient the vehicle to a pollen dispensing position above each plant, and pollinate the individual plants.

This invention describes a new method of grain production in corn wherein a designated female corn plant is pollinated with designated male corn plant pollen from an unrelated genetic background. In the method, a designated female plant having both female and male components is grown. Intentional pollination may occur on one more days, is intentional, and occurs at a time when male components are not male sterile and are not shedding pollen. Accordingly, the process involves the intentional delivery of unrelated designated male plant pollen at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. The delivered designated male plant pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially cross-pollinates the designated female plant.

This invention describes a new method to increase grain yields in any crop plant by modifying pollination to effect an increase in grain yield, a change in grain content or characteristics, a decrease in contamination, or a combination of these attributes. The process involves the intentional delivery of pollen of the male plant at will via automatic or semi-automatic means, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females. The delivered pollen.sup.M is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females and avoids self-pollination or pollination from neighboring plants. The intentional delivery of genetically different pollen will result in increased heterosis and accompanying grain yield increases resulting from increased grain size and the potential to influence grain content and constituents. The invention also permits real-time agronomic decision making in order to maximize grain yield by overcoming biotic and abiotic challenges in the growing season which may or may not have been anticipated.

A pollination machine (10) with improved cross-pollination abilities may feature a plurality of pollen recirculation chambers with an air circulation manifold (130A, 131A, 133A, etc.) connecting them in a manner that air in one chamber (30A), together with associated pollen, is removed from the one chamber and redirected to a second (30B), and so on until air is returned to the first (30A). The chambers' initial roller entrances (118) will serve to trip blossoms and release both pistol and pollen but a current in the air circulation manifold contains and will deposit foreign pollen grains on the plants' stigmas before they are inundated by the blossoms' own pollen. The air current also collects the plants' pollen and carries it to other chambers so that other plants will be cross-pollinated.

A hand-held pneumatic pollinator for hybrid rice seed production and a method thereof are provided. The pollinator includes a hand-held power chassis, a lifting assembly, a pneumatic pollination assembly, and a control assembly. A position of each of air blowing pipes relative to an ear of the male parent is adjusted by the control assembly and the lifting assembly. The pneumatic pollination assembly is provided with a plurality of air blowing pipes, of which the number is less than rows of the male parent of a hybrid rice seed production with a relatively large row ratio. Each air blowing pipe is located between corresponding two rows of the male parent during pollination. The directional, uniform and constant airflow at an air blowing port blows a pollen off a stamen to transport the pollen to the female parent compartment.

A pneumatic pollination device and a method for hybrid rice seed production with a large row ratio are provided. The pneumatic pollination device includes a pneumatic pollination component, a controller, a lifting adjustment component and a four-wheel power chassis. The pneumatic pollination component is mounted at the front part of the four-wheel power chassis through the lifting adjusting component, and the controller is mounted at the upper part of the four-wheel power chassis. The airflow of each pollination pipe respectively acts on the spike part of the male parent row of corresponding hybrid rice, so that the male pollen is separated from stamens and floats to the female compartment. The airflow velocities of the pollination pipes of respective male parent rows are different to ensure that the pollen is conveyed to the main female parent action region.

A plant pollination control bag (10) defines, in an expanded condition, a space (12) in which a plant part is receivable. The bag (10) defines an opening (14) through which the plant part passes into the space (12). In the expanded condition, the bag (10) has an end face (16) which is substantially square or rectangular in shape.

A smart pollination system includes a smart pollination apparatus (100) that is machine learned and uses artificial intelligence engine for pollination. The smart pollination apparatus (100) is communicatively coupled to a global communications system (GCS). The GCS and the smart pollination apparatus (100) manage the pollination trends with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

This invention describes a new method to increase grain yields in any crop plant by modifying pollination to effect an increase in grain yield, a change in grain content or characteristics, a decrease in contamination, or a combination of these attributes. The process involves the intentional delivery of pollen of the male plant at will to designated male-sterile female plants as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females. The delivered pollen.sup.M is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females and pollination from neighboring male-fertile plants. The intentional delivery of genetically different pollen will result in increased heterosis and accompanying grain yield increases resulting from increased grain size and the potential to influence grain content and constituents. The invention also permits real-time agronomic decision making in order to maximize grain yield by overcoming biotic and abiotic challenges in the growing season which may or may not have been anticipated.

This invention describes a new method to generate wheat 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.