Needleless inoculation
First Claim
1. A method for inoculating plants, said method comprising:
- spraying a plurality of plants with an inoculum utilizing an automated inoculum spraying subsystem of a mobile inoculation system; and
spraying the plurality of plants with a grit medium, utilizing an automated grit blasting subsystem of the mobile inoculation system, to inflict a plurality of wounds to the tissue of the plants on a plurality of surfaces of the plants,the wounds allowing the inoculum to be absorbed into the plants to inoculate the plants.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure provides systems and methods for inoculating a plurality of plants. In various embodiments, an exemplary method includes spraying a plurality of plants with an inoculum utilizing an automated inoculum spraying subsystem of a mobile inoculation system. The method additionally includes spraying the plurality of plants with a grit medium utilizing an automated grit blasting subsystem of the mobile inoculation system. Spraying the plants with the grit medium inflicts a plurality of wounds to the tissue of the plants on a plurality of surfaces of the plants. The wounds inflicted by the grit medium allow the inoculum to be absorbed into the plants to inoculate the plants.
3 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for inoculating plants, said method comprising:
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spraying a plurality of plants with an inoculum utilizing an automated inoculum spraying subsystem of a mobile inoculation system; and spraying the plurality of plants with a grit medium, utilizing an automated grit blasting subsystem of the mobile inoculation system, to inflict a plurality of wounds to the tissue of the plants on a plurality of surfaces of the plants, the wounds allowing the inoculum to be absorbed into the plants to inoculate the plants. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for inoculating a plurality of plants, said method comprising:
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positioning at least one grit spray nozzle of an grit blasting subsystem of an automated mobile inoculation system at a selected height above a ground surface from which a plurality of plants are growing; positioning at least one inoculum spray nozzle of an inoculum spraying subsystem of the automated mobile inoculation system at a selected height above the ground surface from which the plants are growing; transporting the automated mobile inoculation system across the ground surface such that the plants pass beneath or adjacent to the at least one inoculum spray nozzle and the at least one grit spray nozzle; spraying the plants with a grit medium dispensed from the at least one grit spray nozzle to inflict a plurality of wounds to the tissue of the plants on a plurality of surfaces of the plants; and spraying the plants with an inoculum dispensed from the at least one inoculum spray nozzle, the wounds allowing the inoculum to be absorbed into the plants to inoculate the plants. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An automated mobile inoculation system for inoculating a plurality of plants, said system comprising:
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a chassis frame connectable a to vehicle; a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the chassis frame such that the mobile inoculation system can be transported across a ground surface from which a plurality of plants are growing; an inoculum spraying subsystem mounted to the chassis frame, the inoculum spraying system including at least one inoculum spray nozzle that is positionable at a selected height above the ground surface and at a location such that the plants pass beneath or adjacent to the at least one inoculum spray nozzle when the mobile inoculation system is transported across the ground surface, the inoculum spraying subsystem structured and operable to spray the plants, as the plants pass beneath or adjacent to the at least one inoculum spray nozzle when the mobile inoculation system is transported across the ground surface, with an inoculum dispensed from the at least one inoculum spray nozzle; and a grit blasting subsystem mounted to the chassis frame, the grit blasting subsystem including at least one grit spray nozzle that is positionable at a selected height above the ground surface and at a location such that the plants pass beneath or adjacent to the at least one grit spray nozzle when the mobile inoculation system is transported across the ground surface, the grit blasting subsystem structured and operable to spray the plants, as the plants pass beneath or adjacent to the at least one grit spray nozzle when the mobile inoculation system is transported across the ground surface, with a grit medium dispensed from the at least one grit spray nozzle to inflict a plurality of wounds to the tissue of the plants on a plurality of surfaces of the plants, the wounds allowing the inoculum to be absorbed into the plants to inoculate the plants. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification