Device and method for pollen collection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12426547-B2
Application number	US-202117306399-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2021
Priority date	May 4, 2020
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A pollen collection device for collecting pollen from crop plants grown in rows includes a housing assembly configured to be mounted on a base for being transported through a row of crop plants. The housing assembly receives at least a portion of the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants. An agitation assembly is attached to the housing assembly for agitating the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants to displace pollen from the plants. A pollen collection assembly is attached to the housing assembly for collecting the pollen displaced from the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pollen collection device for collecting pollen from crop plants grown in rows, the device comprising:
a housing assembly configured to be mounted on a base for being transported through a row of crop plants, the housing assembly including at least one duct defining a pathway for receiving at least a portion of the plants into the at least one duct and directing the at least a portion of the plants through the at least one duct as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants;
an agitation assembly attached to the housing assembly and positioned generally below the at least one duct, the agitation assembly configured to agitate the plants received into the at least one duct as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants to displace pollen from the plants; and
a pollen collection assembly attached to the housing assembly at an outlet of the at least one duct for collecting the pollen displaced from the plants as the housing assembly is transported through the row of crop plants, wherein the pollen collection assembly includes:
a diverter coupled to the pollen collection assembly for diverting the pollen displaced from the plants, the diverter including a housing and an insert received in the housing, and wherein the insert includes a helical vane;
a receiver coupled to the diverter for receiving the diverted pollen, wherein the insert is selectively positionable within the housing to adjust a distance between the helical vane and the receiver; and
an air handler configured to produce an airstream flowing through the diverter to the receiver for carrying the displaced pollen to the receiver, wherein the helical vane of the diverter is configured to impart rotation to the airstream to direct the pollen in the airstream radially outward within the diverter.

2. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the diverter is coupled to tubing of the pollen collection assembly for diverting the pollen displaced from the plants.

3. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the receiver includes a collection box for receiving the pollen from the diverter and a pollen receptacle removably attached to the collection box.

4. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the collection box is configured to maintain the collected pollen at a desired temperature and humidity for preserving pollen quality.

5. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the receiver includes a dead space for receiving the diverted pollen.

6. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the diverter is arranged generally parallel to the pathway defined by the at least one duct.

7. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the insert includes a plurality of helical vanes.

8. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a continuous system for removing anther or other debris from the pollen.

9. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising one or more measurement devices for measuring a characteristic of the collected pollen.

10. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the one or more measurement devices comprise a scale for measuring a weight of the collected pollen, a volume sensor for measuring a volume of the collected pollen, a moisture sensor for detecting a moisture content of the collected pollen, a viability sensor for detecting the ability of the collected pollen to effect fertilization and development, a location sensor for collecting location data to track a location of a plot from which the pollen was collected, and/or a timer for monitoring a time at which the pollen was collected.

11. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 9 , wherein the one or more measurement devices configure the pollen collection device for inbred selection and advancement in a breeding selection process.

12. The pollen collection device as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the pathway defined by the at least one duct extends generally horizontally through the at least one duct.

13. A method of collecting pollen from crop plants grown in rows, the method comprising:
transporting a pollen collection device along a row of crop plants, in a direction generally parallel to the row of crop plants;
receiving the crop plants in the row into a pathway defined by a housing assembly of the pollen collection device, the pathway extending in a direction generally parallel to the direction of transport of the pollen collection device;
displacing pollen from the crop plants in the row by contacting an agitator of the pollen collection device with the crop plants as the crop plants are received into the pathway defined by the housing assembly, as the pollen collection device is transported along the row of crop plants;
carrying the displaced pollen to a diverter of a pollen collection assembly of the pollen collection device, wherein the diverter includes a housing and an insert received in the housing;
selectively positioning the insert of the diverter within the housing of the diverter to adjust a distance between a helical vane of the insert and the receiver;
dispersing the pollen displaced from the plants with the diverter; and
collecting the dispersed pollen from the row of crop plants in a receiver of the pollen collection assembly as the pollen collection device is transported along the row of crop plants.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising producing an airstream flowing through the diverter to the receiver for carrying the displaced pollen to the receiver.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising imparting rotation to the airstream to direct the pollen in the airstream radially outward within the diverter.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13 , wherein the receiver includes a collection box for receiving the pollen from the diverter and a pollen receptacle removably attached to the collection box.

17. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising receiving the diverted pollen in a dead space in the receiver.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising measuring a characteristic of the collected pollen.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18 , wherein measuring the characteristic of the collected pollen includes one or more of measuring a weight of the collected pollen, measuring a volume of the collected pollen, and/or measuring a moisture content of the collected pollen.

Assignees

• Monsanto Technology Llc

Inventors

• Boyer Zachary
• Cristofoletti Jr Plinio Tadeu
• Kayser Justin Scott
• Morris Jeffrey Steven
• Rassoolkhani Payman
• Rosa Felipe Camargo

Classifications

• A01H1/027

  Apparatus for pollination · CPC title

• A01D46/00

  Picking of fruits, vegetables, hops, or the like; Devices for shaking trees or shrubs · CPC title

• B01D45/16

  generated by the winding course of the gas stream {, the centrifugal forces being generated solely or partly by mechanical means, e.g. fixed swirl vanes} · CPC title

• A01H1/02

  Methods or apparatus for hybridisation; Artificial pollination {; Fertility} · CPC title

• A01D93/00 Primary

  Harvesting apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title