METHODS AND APPARATUS RELATING TO MICROPROPAGATION

摘要

A method of cutting a plant comprising shoots and callus comprises the steps of generating an image signal by a video camera representing an image of the plant, and processing the image signal to locate voids between shoots of the plant and to define a cutting line extending from a selected void through the callus of the plant. The void is selected by evaluating for each void a weighted combination which varies linearly and positively with a measure of the area of the void or parts thereof; negatively with a measure of the horizontal distance of the void from a preferred location; and quadratically with a measure of the vertical distance of the bottom of the void from a preferred location and varies with respect to the size and placement of other voids. A pivot point is selected at the centroid of the void or of a lower part thereof. The cutting line passes through the pivot point and its slope is set by reference to a weighted combination of the effect of the shape and size of the void and the shape and size of the callus. The weighted combination also varies quadratically with respect to the slope of a tentative cutting line through the void and the slope of the callus.