Particles are sterilized by application of a sterilizing agent such as UV light while singulated by forming them into a stream in at least one duct carried on a body rotating around an axis where the duct is shaped so that the particles are accelerated to cause the particles separated into the duct to be aligned one after another in a row in the duct. The parameter of the particles are measured in the aligned stream one after the other and the particles are directed into one of a plurality of paths as determined by the measurement. In one arrangement the body comprises a disk member having a front face facing a supply conduit and the duct lies in a radial plane of the disk member. In one arrangement the measurement of the parameter is carried out by one or more measurement devices either carried on the disk or outside the edge of the disk.

Particles are sterilized by application of a sterilizing agent such as UV light while singulated by forming them into a stream in at least one duct carried on a body rotating around an axis where the duct is shaped so that the particles are accelerated to cause the particles separated into the duct to be aligned one after another in a row in the duct. The parameter of the particles are measured in the aligned stream one after the other and the particles are directed into one of a plurality of paths as determined by the measurement. In one arrangement the body comprises a disk member having a front face facing a supply conduit and the duct lies in a radial plane of the disk member. In one arrangement the measurement of the parameter is carried out by one or more measurement devices either carried on the disk or outside the edge of the disk.

A system for electronically pulsing agricultural product with seed. A seed transport mechanism is affixed to a seed planter row unit having a seed metering system, operating at a high speed configured to dispense seed. The seed transport mechanism is configured to provide a seed release speed at which the seed and agricultural product exit the seed transport mechanism, the seed release speed being varied in a manner proportional to the variation in the ground speed of the seed planter row unit to minimize seed tumbling to optimize accurate placement of seed and chemical granule agricultural product at varying ground speeds of the seed planter row unit. In the various embodiments, the agricultural product is directed away from moving parts after the seed leaves the seed metering system of the seed planter row unit.

The present disclosure relates to a method for efficiently enriching lutein in broccoli sprouts under ?-aminobutyric acid combined with sodium chloride stress. In the present disclosure, Qingfeng broccoli seeds with plump particles, uniform size and germination ability are selected as raw materials; after removing impurities and being disinfected by a NaClO solution, the seeds are sprayed with distilled water for one day, then sprayed with a mixed aqueous solution of NaCl and ?-aminobutyric acid, to obtain broccoli sprouts.

The present disclosure relates to a method for efficiently enriching lutein in broccoli sprouts under ?-aminobutyric acid combined with sodium chloride stress. In the present disclosure, Qingfeng broccoli seeds with plump particles, uniform size and germination ability are selected as raw materials; after removing impurities and being disinfected by a NaClO solution, the seeds are sprayed with distilled water for one day, then sprayed with a mixed aqueous solution of NaCl and ?-aminobutyric acid, to obtain broccoli sprouts.

Methods and apparatuses to activate, modify, and sanitize the surfaces of granular, powdered, or seed material placed in a continuous flow of a low-temperature, reduced-pressure gas plasma. Said plasma may be created with radio-frequency power, using capacitive-inductive, or a combination of both types of discharge. The plasma is generated at pressures in the 0.01 to 10 Torr range. RF frequency ranges from 0.2 to 220 MHz, and correspond to a plasma density between about n.sub.e10.sup.8n.sub.e10.sup.12 or 0.001 to 0.4 W/cm.sup.3. Inserts and electrodes may be temperature controlled to control process conditions. RF discharge may be pulsed or modulated by different frequency in order to stimulate energy exchange between gas plasma and process material. The apparatuses may be grounded, biased and mechanically activated (e.g., vibration, rotation, etc.).

Methods and apparatuses to activate, modify, and sanitize the surfaces of granular, powdered, or seed material placed in a continuous flow of a low-temperature, reduced-pressure gas plasma. Said plasma may be created with radio-frequency power, using capacitive-inductive, or a combination of both types of discharge. The plasma is generated at pressures in the 0.01 to 10 Torr range. RF frequency ranges from 0.2 to 220 MHz, and correspond to a plasma density between about n.sub.e10.sup.8n.sub.e10.sup.12 or 0.001 to 0.4 W/cm.sup.3. Inserts and electrodes may be temperature controlled to control process conditions. RF discharge may be pulsed or modulated by different frequency in order to stimulate energy exchange between gas plasma and process material. The apparatuses may be grounded, biased and mechanically activated (e.g., vibration, rotation, etc.).

The present invention, which addresses the problem of providing a composition that has an excellent effect of controlling plant disease, provides a plant disease control composition that includes the Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of ethaboxam, tolclofos-methyl, metalaxyl, fludioxonil, and a carboxamide compound represented by formula (1).

The present invention, which addresses the problem of providing a composition that has an excellent effect of controlling plant disease, provides a plant disease control composition that includes the Bacillus strain APM-1 (New strain of Bacillus, APM-1) which is deposited under ATCC Accession No. PTA-4838 and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of ethaboxam, tolclofos-methyl, metalaxyl, fludioxonil, and a carboxamide compound represented by formula (1).

Devices (10) and methods for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material. The devices contain at least one electron source (20) for generating an electron beam and a treatment zone (19) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam. The device (10) comprises a vibration surface (11) which vibrates to convey and individualize the material. The first vibration surface (11) has a plurality of grooves (12) into which the material is conveyed and individualized. The device (10) has a material channel (21) in which the material is pasteurized and/or sterilized by the electron beam in the region of the treatment zone (19). The device (10) has at least one auxiliary channel (22) through which a fluid flows between the electron source (20) and the material channel (21) and is separated from the material channel (21). A cartridge (24) for pasteurizing and/or sterilizing particulate material is also disclosed.