Controlled Environment System and Method for Rapid Propagation of Seed Potato Stocks
First Claim
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1. A plant growing system for developing potato plants that produce minitubers comprising:
- at least one automatically controlled environment chamber means for holding and supporting growth of potato plants over an entire life cycle, the chamber means including temperature, humidity and light sensor means, a lighting means for establishing light and dark periods of exposure having a number of fluorescent lamps located above the potato plants and separated therefrom by a substantially transparent divider, an air temperature means including an air conditioner for creating a variable temperature uniformly throughout the chamber means, an atmospheric humidity means, a nutrient and water delivery means for fertilizing and irrigating the potato plants, and a computer means for automatically and continuously monitoring and controlling the lighting, air temperature, atmospheric humidity and nutrient and water delivery means;
whereby the system enables development of both tissue culture plantlets that produce mother plants, and stem cuttings from the mother plants into minitubers; and
the computer means periodically records environmental parameters in the chamber means.
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Abstract
A computer controlled environment system and method are used to provide the optimum environmental and nutritional conditions for the growth and development of seed potato cuttings for the initiation and development of tubers that can be used as the seed source for further multiplication under field conditions as seed potato stock. Use of a controlled environment system and method that provides optimum cultural conditions results in rapid growth and development of the potato cutting so as up to six crops of tubers can be harvested in a calendar year.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A plant growing system for developing potato plants that produce minitubers comprising:
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at least one automatically controlled environment chamber means for holding and supporting growth of potato plants over an entire life cycle, the chamber means including temperature, humidity and light sensor means, a lighting means for establishing light and dark periods of exposure having a number of fluorescent lamps located above the potato plants and separated therefrom by a substantially transparent divider, an air temperature means including an air conditioner for creating a variable temperature uniformly throughout the chamber means, an atmospheric humidity means, a nutrient and water delivery means for fertilizing and irrigating the potato plants, and a computer means for automatically and continuously monitoring and controlling the lighting, air temperature, atmospheric humidity and nutrient and water delivery means; whereby the system enables development of both tissue culture plantlets that produce mother plants, and stem cuttings from the mother plants into minitubers; and the computer means periodically records environmental parameters in the chamber means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8-20. -20. (canceled)
Specification