APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING GRAINS OF POLLEN

摘要

An apparatus configured for dispensing grains of pollen may include a pollen storage container, a flow source configured to dispense the grains of pollen from the pollen storage container, and a control mechanism configured to selectively activate the flow source. The apparatus may or may not apply an electrical charge to the grains of pollen. Related methods may include steps of collecting pollen, inserting the pollen into a pollen storage container, connecting the pollen storage container to a dispensing device such as the above-described apparatus, and dispensing the pollen from the pollen storage container with the dispensing device. Known grains of pollen may be dispensed to create predetermined gamete crosses with known plants. Further, an outlet of a fan which dispenses the pollen from the pollen storage container or other parts of the dispensing device may be cleaned when swapping the pollen storage container to prevent cross-contamination.