Automated systems for removing tissue samples from seeds, and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10705102-B2
Application number	US-201514685047-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2015
Priority date	Jul 20, 2010
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seed sampling system, comprising:
an automated seed loading assembly operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds;
samplers configured to receive the singulated seeds and remove tissue samples from the seeds; and
an automated seed transport assembly having multiple retention members configured to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the samplers, the seed transport assembly operable to position one of the retention members adjacent the seed loading assembly for engaging a singulated seed while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to at least one of the samplers for presenting another singulated seed to the at least one of the samplers;
wherein the at least one of the samplers is configured to engage the presented seed, prior to removing a tissue sample from said seed, and orient said seed in a desired position while said seed is held by the another one of the retention members.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the samplers is further configured to remove the tissue sample from the presented seed while maintaining germination viability of said seed.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the samplers includes a channel defined by two ramp surfaces configured to direct the presented seed into the desired position in said sampler.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one of the samplers includes a cutting device configured to remove the tissue sample from the presented seed.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said another of the retention members is adjustable to allow the at least one of the samplers to orient the presented seed while the seed is held by said another of the retention members.

6. A seed sampling system, comprising:
an automated seed loading assembly operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds, the seed loading assembly including multiple orientation units disposed along a first axis, each of the orientation units configured to orient one of the singulated seeds in a desired position;
an automated seed sampling assembly having multiple samplers disposed along a second axis generally parallel to the first axis, each of the multiple samplers configured to remove a tissue sample from one of the oriented seeds; and
an automated seed transport assembly operable to receive the oriented seeds from the orientation units of the seed loading assembly and transfer the oriented seeds from the orientation units to the samplers of the seed sampling assembly, the automated seed transport assembly configured to rotate about an axis generally parallel to the first axis and the second axis to transfer the oriented seeds from the orientation units to the samplers.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein each of the multiple orientation units includes an actuator configured to orient one of the singulated seeds and a support configured to receive the oriented seed from the actuator in preparation for transfer to the samplers of the seed sampling assembly.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the support is operable to sense if the seed is in a desired orientation.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein each of the multiple orientation units includes a guide surface; and
wherein, for each of the multiple orientation units, the actuator is configured to move the one of the singulated seeds along the guide surface to thereby orient the one of the singulated seeds.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the seeds are wheat seeds.

11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the automated seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members, each of the retention members configured to receive one of the oriented seeds from one of the orientation units of the seed loading assembly and transfer the received oriented seed to a corresponding one of the samplers of the seed sampling assembly.

12. The system of claim 6 , wherein the seed loading assembly further includes sensors configured to sense the singulated seeds in the orientation units.

13. An automated method for removing tissue samples from seeds, the method comprising:
receiving individual seeds in multiple orientation units of an automated seed loading assembly, the orientation units disposed along a first axis;
orienting the individual seeds in the orientation units at about the same time;
after the individual seeds are oriented, receiving each of the oriented seeds in an automated seed transport assembly and transferring each of the oriented seeds, by the seed transport assembly, from the orientation units to a corresponding one of multiple samplers of an automated seed sampling assembly disposed along a second axis generally parallel to the first axis, by rotating about an axis generally parallel to the first axis and the second axis; and
removing tissue samples from the transferred seeds at the samplers.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising receiving the tissue samples removed from the seeds in a sample tray, and receiving the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed in a seed tray.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
analyzing the tissue samples for one or more characteristics selected from the group consisting of a genetic marker, a single nucleotide polymorphism, a simple sequence repeat, a restriction fragment length polymorphism, a haplotype, a tag SNP, an alleles of a genetic marker, a gene, a DNA-derived sequence, an RNA-derived sequence, a promoter, a 5′ untranslated region of a gene, a 3′ untranslated region of a gene, microRNA, siRNA, a QTL, a satellite marker, a transgene, mRNA, ds mRNA, a transcriptional profile, and a methylation pattern; and/or
analyzing the tissue samples and either selecting or not selecting the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed based on the presence of one or more characteristics in the tissue sample that are genetically linked with a QTL selected from the group consisting of herbicide tolerance, disease resistance, insect or pest resistance, altered fatty acid, protein or carbohydrate metabolism, increased grain yield, increased oil, increased nutritional content, increased growth rates, enhanced stress tolerance, preferred maturity, enhanced organoleptic properties, altered morphological characteristics, other agronomic traits, traits for industrial uses, traits for improved consumer appeal, and a combination of traits as a multiple trait index; and/or
analyzing the tissue samples and either selecting or not selecting the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed based on the presence of one or more characteristics in the tissue sample that are genetically linked with a haplotype associated with a QTL selected from the group consisting of herbicide tolerance, disease resistance, insect or pest resistance, altered fatty acid, protein or carbohydrate metabolism, increased grain yield, increased oil, increased nutritional content, increased growth rates, enhanced stress tolerance, preferred maturity, enhanced organoleptic properties, altered morphological characteristics, other agronomic traits, traits for industrial uses, traits for improved consumer appeal, and a combination of traits as a multiple trait index.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein transferring each of the oriented seeds from the orientation units to a corresponding one of multiple samplers of an automated seed sampling assembly includes transferring each of the oriented seeds with one of multiple retention members of the automated seed transport assembly; and
further comprising actuating the retention members toward the samplers of the automated seed sampling assembly to pre

Assignees

• Monsanto Technology Llc

Inventors

• Deppermann Kevin L
• Petersen Michael W
• Ondes Allen N
• Finley David W
• Fischer William M
• Jensen John M
• Butruille David
• Dotson Stanton
• Eathington Sam
• Forbes Heather M
• Schnicker Bruce
• Tamulonis John

Classifications

• G01N1/20 Primary

  for flowing or falling materials ({G01N1/2035} G01N1/12, G01N1/14 take precedence) · CPC title

• A01C1/025

  Testing seeds for determining their viability or germination capacity · CPC title

• G01N2001/002

  Devices for supplying or distributing samples to an analysing apparatus · CPC title

• G01N33/0098

  Plants or trees (wood G01N33/46) · CPC title

• A01C1/00

  Apparatus, or methods of use thereof, for testing or treating seed, roots, or the like, prior to sowing or planting · CPC title