WO2021184064A1

WO2021184064A1 - Barrier for plant embryo

Info

Publication number: WO2021184064A1
Application number: PCT/AU2021/050231
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolaas VAN ROOIJEN
Original assignee: Goldfields Collections Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-03-16
Filing date: 2021-03-16
Publication date: 2021-09-23

Abstract

A barrier for a plant embryo/tissue culture, wherein the barrier is in the form of a body adapted to be partially inserted into a growing medium to surround a root of the plant embryo/tissue culture as the root grows. The body may be adapted to be partially inserted into the growing medium with a lower end of the barrier located below a surface of the growing medium and an upper end protruding above the surface of the growing medium, within a growing container. The barrier is arranged to surround the root of the container for guiding growth of the root.

Description

BARRIER FOR PLANT EMBRYO

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a barrier for a plant embryo, or tissue culture and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a barrier for guiding the root of a plant embryo during root growth in a growing medium such as, for example, agar prior to being transplanted into soil. Background of the Invention

It is known to provide very large numbers of plants for certain types of jobs such as, for example, planting alongside long stretches of roads and freeways, large forestry plantations as well as large fruit and commodity plantations such as berries, bananas pineapples, sugar cane, coffee, cannabis, but not exclusively. For such jobs, the plants may be provided in a number of ways such as by way of cuttings, by seeds, by tissue culture, or by division/splitting. However, the applicant has identified that the use of cuttings is not possible for many plants and may be expensive; the use of seeds may provide too great variation in plant type/appearance; division/splitting may require a significant amount of labour, and tissue culture may be prohibitively expensive. However, the applicant has identified that while tissue culture may be an expensive method for growing young embryonic plants, it is beneficial in that it guarantees the most uniformity in the plants grown which is advantageous in large jobs where uniformity of appearance is desired, such as in planting alongside long stretches of freeway roads and in forestry and crops such as berries, bananas pineapples, sugar cane, coffee, cannabis, but not exclusively. Also, the applicant has identified that the growing of plants by using tissue culture enables the plants to be grown in a sterile environment such that the plants can be taken between countries without quarantine being required, whereas growing plants in soil may be prohibited or result in quarantine for an extended period.

The ability to transport plants between countries when sterile enables the plants to be originated in a different country from the end market, for example in a laboratory where labour is cheaper. However the applicant has identified that there exists a problem in that the sterile plants need to be transplanted in the destination country, that with existing methods this transplanting needs to be done manually, and that this is expensive in view of the manual labour required in the destination country which is typically a country of high labour cost. The applicant has also identified that there exists a problem in that sterile plants have a tendency to have sub-optimal root growth, sometimes referred to as "J-hook" root growth, in which the root grows along the surface of the growing medium to an edge of the cell containing the growing medium resulting in possible long-term undesirable characteristics and/or weakness in the resulting plant.

Examples of the invention seek to provide an improved apparatus for growing plant embryos/tissue culture which overcomes or at least alleviates disadvantages associated with existing apparatus.

Summary of the Invention

Throughout the specification, where the word “plant” is used it will be understood to include within its meaning, but not be limited to, “plantlet”.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier for a plant embryo/tissue culture, wherein the barrier is in the form of a body adapted to be partially inserted into a growing medium to surround a root of the plant embryo/tissue culture as the root grows.

Preferably, the body is in the form of a cylindrical body. The cylindrical body may be tubular and of any geometric shape.

In a preferred form, the body is adapted to be partially inserted into the growing medium with a lower end of the barrier located below a surface of the growing medium and an upper end protruding above the surface of the growing medium, within a growing container, the barrier being arranged to surround the root for guiding growth of the root.

In one form, the cylindrical body has a constant cross-section along its length. In an alternative form, the cylindrical body has a varying cross-section along its length. In one example, the cylindrical body may have tapered sides. In one form, a wall of the tubular body, of any geometric cross-sectional shape, is continuous.

In an alternative form, a wall of the tubular body of any geometric shape has a slit. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a barrier for a plant embryo/tissue culture, wherein the barrier is in the form of a body which is partially inserted into a growing medium to surround a root of the plant embryo/tissue culture as the plant grows. Preferably, the body is in the form of a cylindrical body. More preferably, the cylindrical body is tubular of any geometric shape.

Preferably, the body has a lower end located below a surface of the growing medium and an upper end protruding above the surface of the growing medium, within a growing container, wherein the barrier is arranged to surround the root of the container for guiding growth of the root.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container for growing plant embryos, the container including: an insert positioned in the container for growing the plant embryos/tissue cultures, the insert having a plurality of receptacles, wherein each of the receptacles supports a separate plant embryo/tissue culture with a portion of gel for feeding the plant embryo/tissue culture, wherein each receptacle has a barrier for guiding root growth of the respective plant embryo/tissue culture, the barrier being in the form of a body partially inserted in the portion of gel and surrounding the root so as to guide the root as it grows; and a lid which is selectively fitted to the container to enclose an inner volume of the container. Preferably, each barrier is in the form of a cylindrical body.

The cross-section of the tubular body may be of any geometric shape.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention is described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a plant embryo/tissue culture growing in agar in a cell where the root is prone to sub-optimal root growth; and

Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a plant embryo/tissue culture growing in agar in a cell with a barrier in accordance with an example of the present invention to encourage improved root growth.

Detailed Description

The full patent specification of the Applicant's own International PCT Application Number PCT/AU2014/000253 is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. The barrier described in the present application may be used in the receptacles of the tray as described in PCT/AU2014/000253.

More specifically, with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the present application, there is shown a barrier 10 (see Figure 2) for a plant embryo 12, wherein the barrier 10 is in the form of a body 14 adapted to be partially inserted into a growing medium 16 to surround a root 18 of the plant embryo/ tissue culture 12 as the root 18 grows.

As can be seen in Figure 1, there is shown the typical root growth of a plant embryo 12 when planted in a growing medium 16 of agar within a cell 20. As can be seen, the root 18 tends to grow along the surface of the agar 16 until it reaches the sidewall 22 of the cell 20, at which point the root 18 turns downwardly into the agar 16 and grows toward a base 24 of the cell 20. However, the applicant has identified that this bent shape of root, having two substantially right-angle bends, may be detrimental to the long-term health and/or useability of the plant. This form of bent root may be termed a "J-hook" root.

Advantageously, the barrier 10 (see Figure 2) proposed by the applicant prevents excessive horizontal growth of the root 18 and directs the root 18 to grow into the agar 16.

The body 14 as shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a cylindrical body such that the root is directed to grow substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body. The cylindrical body may be tubular with a round (possibly circular) cross-section. As can be seen in Figure 2, the body 14 is adapted to be partially inserted into the growing medium 16 with a lower end 26 of the barrier 10 located below a surface 28 of the growing medium 16 and an upper end 30 protruding above the surface 28 of the growing medium 16, within a growing container (shown in the form of the cell 20), the barrier 10 being arranged to surround the root 18 for guiding growth of the root.

In the depicted example, the cylindrical body 14 has a constant cross-section along its length. In an alternative form (not shown), the cylindrical body 14 may have a varying cross-section along its length. In particular, the cylindrical body 14 could possibly have tapered sides.

The tubular body 14 has a wall 32 which, in the example depicted, is continuous, formed possibly by an extrusion process. In an alternative form (not shown), the wall 32 of the tubular body 14 may have a slit along its length to allow limited expansion or contraction.

The barrier 10 may be used as part of a system, used with the container and insert disclosed in the applicant's own International PCT application No. PCT/AU2014/000253. In that system, there is provided the container including an insert positioned in the container for growing the plant embryos/tissue cultures 12, the insert having a plurality of receptacles in the form of separate cells 20. Each of the cells 20 supports a separate plant embryo 12 with a portion of agar 16 for feeding the plant embryo 12. Each cell 20 has a barrier 10 for guiding root growth of the respective plant embryo/tissue culture 12, the barrier 10 being in the form of a body 14 partially inserted in the portion of agar 16 and surrounding the root 18 so as to guide the root 18 as it grows. There is also provided a lid which is selectively fitted to the container to enclose an inner volume of the container. Each of the cells 20 of the insert may be a cell as depicted in Figure 2 of the present application.

Advantageously, the container fitted with the insert allows plants to be efficiently transported between countries. More specifically, plants may be supplied by way of a method including the steps of: (a) growing the plants in a first country in a sterile environment, the plants being planted in agar for feeding the plants; (b) storing the plants in the sterile environment in a sealed container, the plants being arranged in a predetermined ordered arrangement in the container; (c) transporting the container to a second country in the sealed container; (d) opening the container in the second country; and (e) removing the plants from the container using a machine which automatically locates and removes each of the plants on the basis of the predetermined ordered arrangement. Advantageously, the barrier 10 encourages optimal "straight-tapping" root growth so as to provide long-term health of the plants.

The barrier 10 may be formed from biodegradable material and, in particular, biodegradable plastic. Alternatively, the barrier 10 could be formed from a paper or cardboard material, or other organic material or other compostable material. In another alternative, the barrier 10 (or "straw") may be formed from an organic material such as, for example, rice straw or other cereal straws. In particular, the barrier 10 may be formed from a combination of plant-based renewable resources combined in the correct quantities to deliver a biodegradable, compostable and home compostable natural polymer that can be manufactured in a similar way to plastic. This may allow the provision of a barrier 10 that looks and feels like plastic with the ability to decompose in household compost.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not by way of limitation. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments.

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates. Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A barrier for a plant embryo, wherein the barrier is in the form of a body adapted to be partially inserted into a growing medium to surround a root of the plant embryo as the root grows.

2. A barrier for a plant embryo as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is in the form of a cylindrical body.

3. A barrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body is tubular.

4. A barrier for a plant embryo/tissue culture as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the body is adapted to be partially inserted into the growing medium with a lower end of the barrier located below a surface of the growing medium and an upper end protruding above the surface of the growing medium, within a growing container, wherein the barrier is arranged to surround the root for guiding growth of the root.

5. A barrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body has a constant cross- section along its length.

6. A barrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cylindrical body has a varying cross- section along its length.

7. A barrier as claimed in claim 6, wherein the cylindrical body has tapered sides.

8. A barrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein a wall of the tubular body is continuous.

9. A barrier as claimed in claim 2, wherein a wall of the tubular body has a slit.

10. A barrier for a plant embryo, wherein the barrier is in the form of a body which is partially inserted into a growing medium to surround a root of the plant embryo as the plant grows.

11. A barrier for a plant embryo/tissue culture as claimed in claim 10, wherein the body is in the form of a cylindrical body.

12. A barrier as claimed in claim 11, wherein the cylindrical body is tubular.

13. A barrier for a plant embryo/tissue culture as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the body has a lower end located below a surface of the growing medium and an upper end protruding above the surface of the growing medium, within a growing container, wherein the barrier is arranged to surround the root for guiding growth of the root.

14. A container for growing plant embryos/tissue culture, the container including: an insert positioned in the container for growing the plant embryos/tissue culture, the insert having a plurality of receptacles, wherein each of the receptacles supports a separate plant embryo/tissue culture with a portion of gel for feeding the plant embryo, wherein each receptacle has a barrier for guiding root growth of the respective plant embryo/tissue culture, the barrier being in the form of a body partially inserted in the portion of gel and surrounding the root so as to guide the root as it grows; and a lid which is selectively fitted to the container to enclose an inner volume of the container.

15. A container for growing plant embryo/tissue culture as claimed in claim 14, wherein each barrier is in the form of a cylindrical body.