Breeding plants

• US 20060150490A1
• Filed: 02/05/2004
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cropdesign N.V. (BASF SE)
• Original Assignee: Cropdesign N.V. (BASF SE)
• Inventors: Dillen, Willy, Lejeune, Pierre, Leyns, Frederik, Broekaert, Willem
• Granted Patent: US 7,845,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 47/58.10R
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 31/042 with containers travelling on a belt or the like, or conveyed by chains
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 9/143 Equipment for handling produce in greenhouses
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/25 Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures

Abstract

A process for breeding plants which comprises growing plants of a species in an array of containers charged with growing medium of uniform characteristics in an environment of controlled climatic conditions with controlled supply of nutrients and feed water and changing the positions of the containers within the environment as required to ensure at least substantially uniform exposure of all plants in the containers to conditions in the environment. A process for the breeding of open pollinating plants in a greenhouse environment is also provided.

Claims

1. ) A process for breeding plants wherein the influence of environment-associated phenotype is reduced compared to conventional breeding processes, which process comprises growing plants of a species in an array of containers charged with growing medium of uniform characteristics in an environment of controlled climatic conditions with controlled supply of nutrients and feed water and changing the positions of the containers within the environment as required to ensure at least substantially uniform exposure of all plants in the containers to conditions in the environment, and which process further comprises the step of selecting plants for further breeding or for commercial use by comparing the phenotypic characteristics of the plants.

2. ) A process according to claim 1, wherein the position of at least one container is changed at intervals of time from six hours to two weeks.

3. ) A process according to claim 1, wherein changes of positions of the containers are programmed.

4. ) A process according to claim 1, wherein the position of containers within the environment is changed automatically.

5. ) A process according to claim 1, comprising the further step of identifying phenotypic characteristics of the plants at intervals in the growing cycle.

6. ) A process according to claim 1, wherein the containers are supported in a horizontally disposed uniform array on transporter means comprising a plurality of co-extensive storage transporters.

7. ) A process according to claim 6, wherein motor means associated with the transporter means is caused to move the containers by a predetermined distance.

8. ) A process according to claim 7, wherein a storage transporter is moved by its motor means to move the row of containers supported on that storage transporter towards a first transfer station at which an endmost container of the row is transferred to transfer conveyor means, the transfer conveyor means is operated to move a container supported on it to a second transfer station and motor means of a second storage transporter is operated to collect the container.

9. ) A process according to claim 8, wherein the container is carried in a linear path from the first mentioned storage transporter to the second storage transporter.

10. ) A process according to claim 8, wherein the container is carried in a closed path from the first mentioned storage transporter to the second storage transporter.

11. ) A process according to claim 1, wherein each container contains a single plant.

13. ) A process according to claim 1, wherein said plants are open-pollinating plants or self-pollinating plants.

14. ) Process according to claim 1 for the breeding of open pollinating plants in a greenhouse, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a male sterile open pollinating plant;

b) contacting said male sterile plant with pollen; and

optionally

c) selecting plants having a desired phenotype.

15. ) Process according to claim 14, wherein said contacting comprises introduction of said male sterile plant into a pollination chamber and the growing of said male sterile plants in said pollination chamber for a period of about 2 days to about 3 weeks, preferably for a period of about 3 days to about 10 days.

16. ) Process according to claim 14, wherein said open pollinating plant is corn.

12. ) A process for improved growing of plants for phenotyping (selecting the most desired genotypes based on phenotype scoring), the method consisting of displacing the plants automatically during their growing cycle so as to avoid extended exposure to a particular micro-environment, thereby reducing the influence of micro-environment variations on the phenotype of the plants.