A process and an apparatus continuously treat seeds with ultrasonic transmission. The process includes mixing seeds with a flowable medium to create a flowable slurry of seeds; continuously moving the flowable slurry of seeds for a length of a flow pipe through a helical path within the flow pipe; and as the flowable slurry flows through the helical path within the for the length of the flow pipe, subjecting the seeds to ultrasonic transmission created by ultrasonic transducers arranged along the length of the flow pipe. The seeds in the flowable slurry are subjected to the ultrasonic transmission having such waveforms and being transmitted in a manner so as not to damage the seeds and to produce ultrasonically-treated seeds that have regulated germination characteristics, such that plants resulting from the ultrasonically-treated seeds when the seeds are planted have affected growth characteristics. The apparatus effects this process.

A process and an apparatus continuously treat seeds with ultrasonic transmission. The process includes mixing seeds with a flowable medium to create a flowable slurry of seeds; continuously moving the flowable slurry of seeds for a length of a flow pipe through a helical path within the flow pipe; and as the flowable slurry flows through the helical path within the for the length of the flow pipe, subjecting the seeds to ultrasonic transmission created by ultrasonic transducers arranged along the length of the flow pipe. The seeds in the flowable slurry are subjected to the ultrasonic transmission having such waveforms and being transmitted in a manner so as not to damage the seeds and to produce ultrasonically-treated seeds that have regulated germination characteristics, such that plants resulting from the ultrasonically-treated seeds when the seeds are planted have affected growth characteristics. The apparatus effects this process.

The invention discloses a method of rapid generation-adding breeding of rice in the technical field of rice breeding, including soaking seeds of the rice, germination, seedlings cultivation, managing and regulating of the rice at the growth stage, and harvesting the rice. The managing and regulating the rice at the growth stage includes dynamic light quality and photoperiod control in vegetative growth period, heading period and pustulation period; growth period involves light environment regulation with the ratio of red light:blue light:white light of 0.8-1:0.8-1:1.0, photoperiod of 16-18 h; heading period involves light environment regulation with the ratio of red light:blue light:white light of 1-2:0.5-1:1, photoperiod of 12-13.5 h; and pustulation period includes light environment regulation with the ratio of red light:blue light:white light of 1-2:1:1, photoperiod of 16-18 h.

The invention discloses a method of rapid generation-adding breeding of rice in the technical field of rice breeding, including soaking seeds of the rice, germination, seedlings cultivation, managing and regulating of the rice at the growth stage, and harvesting the rice. The managing and regulating the rice at the growth stage includes dynamic light quality and photoperiod control in vegetative growth period, heading period and pustulation period; growth period involves light environment regulation with the ratio of red light:blue light:white light of 0.8-1:0.8-1:1.0, photoperiod of 16-18 h; heading period involves light environment regulation with the ratio of red light:blue light:white light of 1-2:0.5-1:1, photoperiod of 12-13.5 h; and pustulation period includes light environment regulation with the ratio of red light:blue light:white light of 1-2:1:1, photoperiod of 16-18 h.

Versions of the disclosure relate to multilayer structures for germinating seeds and growing plants in aeroponic or hydroponic farming. The multilayer structure can include a growth medium positioned in close proximity to a seeding tray. The seeding tray may be configured and dimensioned to at least partially retain a germinating seed. Optional grid tray may be positioned below the growth medium and configured and dimensioned to support the growth medium.

Versions of the disclosure relate to multilayer structures for germinating seeds and growing plants in aeroponic or hydroponic farming. The multilayer structure can include a growth medium positioned in close proximity to a seeding tray. The seeding tray may be configured and dimensioned to at least partially retain a germinating seed. Optional grid tray may be positioned below the growth medium and configured and dimensioned to support the growth medium.

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.

The present invention describes an automatic propagation material sampling system, a propagation material sampling automation process and propagation material sampling equipment. More specifically, the present invention comprises a machine for anti-contaminating captation of propagation material samples in a non-destructive way, that is, maintaining the ability of subsequent propagation of the sampled propagation material, transports and tracks the sample without its contamination with residues of other materials, as well as tracks samples with desirable characteristics. The present invention is located in the fields of agronomic engineering and automation engineering, focused on the area of sample testing automation.

The present invention describes an automatic propagation material sampling system, a propagation material sampling automation process and propagation material sampling equipment. More specifically, the present invention comprises a machine for anti-contaminating captation of propagation material samples in a non-destructive way, that is, maintaining the ability of subsequent propagation of the sampled propagation material, transports and tracks the sample without its contamination with residues of other materials, as well as tracks samples with desirable characteristics. The present invention is located in the fields of agronomic engineering and automation engineering, focused on the area of sample testing automation.

Described herein are methods of producing plant products and plant production facilities equipped to produce the same on a large-scale. The methods and facilities provide for sprouting directly on a solid growing surface with embedded temperature control, which maximizes independent control of each batch of sprouts or plant products. The embedded temperature control system generally comprises one or more heat transfer conduits for flowing a heat transfer fluid therethrough. A seed spreader device may be used to deposit a bed of plant seeds at a substantially uniform height across the growing surfaces. Advantageously, the simplified design is more cost-effective and can be easily understood, used, and repaired by the average farmer or livestock operator.