An innovative mechanized system for transferring tissue-cultured plantlets to propagation trays to revolutionize vegetable and floral crop production

Tissue culture is a well-established micropropagation method for many vegetable and floral crops. However, transferring plantlets from tissue culture vessels to the propagation trays is extremely time consuming and labor intensive. It is the major obstacle in crop production. The purpose of this projectis to design and produce a prototype which can efficiently transfer plantlets to propagation trays which can then be transplanted to the field.The apparatus produced here has potential of developing precision machinery on transplanting automation. The prototype we propose includes the frame, clamp/prong assembly, prong actuators and sensor, and straight line mechanism and sensor. Different prong types will be tested prior to the construction of the apparatus. Plantlets will be used to determine the performance of prongs and detailed data will be recorded and analyzed. Responses of plants to the different design of prongs such as survival, growth and development will be evaluated. Initially we propose to use this apparatus and techniques on plantlets of potatoes and raspberries because of their economic and cultural importance to Alaska. Alaska is the only state in the U.S. with agreements to produce lab-tested disease-free seed potatoes for export to China and Taiwan, the largest seed potato market in the world. Raspberry is an important part of native diets. The equipment and protocols developed in this project will streamline mass production of potato seed stocks and raspberry propagation materials in Alaska. This system can easily be adapted to other crops where micropropagation plays a significant role in the production.