Method and computer program product for distinguishing and sorting seeds containing a genetic element of interest

• US 8,452,445 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc (Corteva, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Hi Bred International Inc (Corteva, Inc.)
• Inventors: Becker, Steven M., Corak, Steven J., Hunter, James L., Jaehnel, Gary L., Lu, Hugh, Stevenson, James W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): LOGAN, KYLE O
• Application Number:
  US12/500,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20100143906A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 700/223
• US Class Current: 700/223
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/02 Measures preceding sorting, e.g. arranging articles in a stream orientating sorting and transport of caps B67B3/06
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/34 Sorting according to other particular properties material testing per se G01N; quality control G07C3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3425 of granular material, e.g. ore particles, grain investigation moving fluids or granular solids using optical means G01N21/85
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 5/3427 by changing or intensifying the optical properties prior to scanning, e.g. by inducing fluorescence under UV or x-radiation, subjecting the material to a chemical reaction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/6428 Measuring fluorescence of fluorescent products of reactions or of fluorochrome labelled reactive substances, e.g. measuring quenching effects, using measuring "optrodes" in vivo A61B5/00; immunoassay G01N33/53
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/85 Investigating moving fluids or granular solids

Abstract

A method for distinguishing and sorting seeds containing a genetic element of interest from a bulk sample. In various embodiments, the present invention comprises associating a marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest of the bulk sample, exciting the seeds using an photonic emitting device, evaluating at least some of the seeds of the bulk sample for the presence or absence of the marker, and sorting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest based on the presence or absence of the marker. In various other embodiments, the method may comprise associating a red fluorescent protein marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest of the bulk sample, evaluating at least some of the seeds of the bulk sample for the presence of the red fluorescent protein marker using an evaluating device, and sorting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest based on the presence of the red fluorescent protein marker. In some embodiments, the red fluorescent protein marker is discernable when excited by a certain energy and the evaluating step comprises exciting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest with the certain energy and detecting an emission resulting at least in part from the exciting step.

Claims

1. A method for distinguishing seeds containing a genetic element of interest from a bulk sample, said method comprising:

associating a fluorescent protein marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest;

placing a portion of the seeds from the bulk sample within an open-faced enclosure configured for use as a portable table-top evaluating device;

exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with a light source;

manually inspecting the excited seeds; and

manually sorting the excited seeds based on the presence or absence of the protein marker,

wherein associating a fluorescent protein marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest comprises associating a red fluorescent protein marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest, and wherein manually inspecting the excited seeds comprises manually inspecting the excited seeds by viewing the excited seeds through red band pass filtered eyewear.

2. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 1, wherein manually inspecting the excited seeds comprises manually inspecting the excited seeds by viewing the excited seeds through a band pass filter of the enclosure.

3. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 1, wherein manually inspecting the excited seeds comprises manually inspecting the excited seeds by viewing the excited seeds through a magnifying lens.

4. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 1, wherein exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with a light source comprises exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with an LED light source.

5. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 4, wherein exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with an LED light source comprises exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with an LED array light source.

6. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 4, wherein exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with a LED light source comprises exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with a green LED light source.

7. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 4, wherein exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with an LED light source comprises exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with a green LED array light source.

8. A method for distinguishing seeds containing a genetic element of interest from a bulk sample, said method comprising:

associating a red fluorescent protein marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest;

loading a portion of the seeds from the bulk sample into a hopper and feeding the portion of seeds onto a tray defining a tray length;

automatically moving the portion of seeds along the tray length;

exciting at least some of the portion of seeds on the tray with an LED light source;

manually inspecting the excited seeds; and

manually sorting the seeds based on the presence or absence of the red fluorescent protein marker,

wherein manually inspecting the excited seeds comprises manually inspecting the excited seeds by viewing the excited seeds through red band pass filtered eyewear.

9. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 8, wherein manually inspecting the excited seeds comprises manually inspecting the excited seeds by viewing the excited seeds through a filter.

10. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 8, wherein manually inspecting the excited seeds comprises manually inspecting the excited seeds by viewing the excited seeds through a magnifying lens.

11. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 8, wherein exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with an LED light source comprises exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with an LED array.

12. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 8, wherein exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with an LED light source comprises exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with a green LED light source.

13. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 8, wherein exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with an LED light source comprises exciting at least some of the portion of seeds with a green LED array light source.

14. The method for distinguishing seeds of claim 8, wherein automatically moving the portion of seeds along the tray length comprises vibrating the tray with a vibration generating device.