Apparatus for separating pre-shed pollen from plants

摘要

A method of quantitatively obtaining a measurement of pollen of a plant. A quantitative collection of a sample of pollen is counted. Total pollen of the plant can be calculated. One way of quantitative collection of pre-shed pollen involves blending a part of the plant with pollen in the presence of liquid (e.g. water) in a blender. The action of the blender tends to destroy the non-pollen parts of the plant and release the pollen into the liquid. Extraction of the pollen from the blender can be through a sidewall port that includes a filter or sieve having a mesh size that passes relevant pollen but blocks most non-pollen plant parts. The sample can be efficiently prepared for counting of pollen. One method of counting comprises imaging the sample with the pollen well distributed in the focal plane of the imager.

主权项

1. An apparatus for separating pre-shed pollen from its plant comprising:
a. a blender comprising a blender container having an internal volume defined by a bottom, a top, and a sidewall radially disposed around a longitudinal axis and extending between the bottom and the top; a motor in a base, and a blade positioned in the internal volume at or near the bottom of the blender container, and wherein the internal volume of the blender is configured to receive a mixture of liquid and the plant; b. a fluid pathway through the sidewall and intermediate of the top and bottom of the blender container, and in fluid communication with an outlet port, the fluid pathway having an internal end; c. a filter material positioned across the internal end of the fluid pathway, the filter material having a filtering characteristic designed to allow passage of the pollen of the plant; d. a valve mounted relative the fluid pathway and having a first position blocking fluid communication with the outlet port, and a second position permitting fluid communication with the outlet port; wherein the outlet port is configured to permit extraction of a filtered sample of the blended liquid and plant mixture when the valve is in the second position, and wherein, during operation of the blender and with the valve in the second position, the filter material is configured to filter the blended liquid and plant mixture and the outlet port is configured to receive and permit extraction of the filtered sample; and e. a sample collection device having a portion adapted for fluid communication with the outlet port to receive the filtered sample through the fluid pathway when the valve is in the second position, wherein the sample collection device comprises a fluid container that is releasable from the outlet port, wherein the fluid container is a syringe having a tip and a plunger, wherein the tip of the syringe is positioned in fluid communication with the outlet port, and wherein the plunger of the syringe is selectively movable to draw the sample into the syringe.