Automated contamination-free seed sampler and methods of sampling, testing and bulking seeds
An automated seed sampler system for removing tissue from seeds includes an orientation system configured to orient seeds in a desired orientation, a sampling station configured to remove tissue from each of the oriented seeds, a sample collection subsystem configured to receive the tissue removed from each of the oriented seeds, and a seed collection subsystem configured to receive each of the seeds from which the tissue is removed. The sample collection subsystem and the seed collection subsystem are configured to facilitate a one-to-one correspondence between the seeds received at the seed collection subsystem and the tissue removed from the seeds and received at the sample collection subsystem.
1 . A method for removing tissue samples from seeds, the method comprising:
orienting a seed in a desired orientation at an orientation system of an automated seed sampler system;
removing tissue from the seed, while the seed is in the desired orientation, at a sampling station of the automated seed sampler system; and
correlating the tissue removed from the seed and the seed from which the tissue is removed so that a one-to-one correspondence exists between the tissue removed from the seed and the seed from which the tissue is removed.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising capturing at least one image of the seed by an imaging device of the automated seed sampler system.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein orienting the seed includes orienting the seed based on the captured at least one image of the seed.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the oriented seed, from the orientation system, into a seed transport of the automated seed sampler system; and
transporting the oriented seed from the orientation system to the sampling station in the seed transport.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein receiving the oriented seed in the seed transport includes loading the oriented seed in the seed transport in the desired orientation.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein removing the tissue from the seed at the sampling station includes removing the tissue from the seed at the sampling station while the seed is in the seed transport.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising collecting the tissue and collecting the seed from which the tissue is removed so that the one-to-one correspondence exists between the tissue and the seed.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein collecting the tissue includes receiving the tissue removed from the seed in one or more receptacles.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising contacting the tissue removed from the seed with extraction fluid.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein contacting the tissue with extraction fluid includes contacting the tissue with the extraction fluid in the one or more receptacles.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein collecting the tissue samples includes receiving the tissue samples in at least one sample tray and/or wherein collecting the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed includes receiving the seeds from which the tissue samples are removed in at least one seed tray.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising analyzing the tissue removed from the seed for one or more characteristics indicative of at least one genetic and/or chemical trait.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising selecting the seed based on the analysis; and cultivating a plant from the selected seed.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising isolating the seed from a plurality of seeds prior to orienting the seed.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein removing the tissue from the seed includes removing the tissue from the seed while maintaining germination viability of the seed.