Accelerated Ag Technologies, LLC

Sara Katherine Etter

Jason M Cope

Todd L Krone

George William Singletary

Federico Valverde

Disclosed are methods of preserving pollen such that the pollen has improved viability as compared to pollen that is left in ambient conditions. A method of the present invention includes separating dead pollen contents from live pollen grains. In some embodiments, pollen grains are stored with a substance that prevents dead pollen contents from interacting with live pollen grains. The substance may be a solid, liquid, gas, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the substance may at least partially regulate pollen moisture content, such as maintaining pollen moisture content at 15-60%.

Pollen preservation method

Described are methods of grain production with field conditioned pollen. A method of the present invention includes growing one or more designated female plants that include both female and male components, collecting fresh pollen from designated male plants from a different genetic background, and subjecting the fresh pollen to field conditions, which may regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a relative humidity ranging from about 50% to about 100%, a temperature ranging from about −10-10° C., and an air pressure ranging from about 15 kPa to about 150 kPa. These conditions may result in pollen having a moisture content of about 40% to about 58%. The one or more designated female plants are intentionally cross-pollinated with the field conditioned pollen and then grown to maturity such that the grain may be harvested therefrom. Also provided is a method of preventing undesirable pollination in grain production.

Grain production with field conditioned pollen

Described are methods of preserving cereal crop pollen and/or anthers. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a an air flow at a humidity ranging from 0% to about 99% and a temperature ranging from about −10-10° C. The field conditioning conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%.

Pollen preservation and storage method

Described are methods of field conditioning cereal crop pollen. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and introducing the pollen to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a relative humidity ranging from about 50% to about 100%, a temperature ranging from about &#x2212;10-10&#xb0; C., and an air pressure ranging from about 15 kPa to about 150 kPa. The field conditioning conditions may further include a continuous, adjustable positive or negative air flow and/or and a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 40% to about 58%, such as about 50% to about 57%.

Cereal crop pollen field conditioning method

Described are methods of preserving pollen, which may be subsequently stored. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and introducing the pollen to a controlled environment which regulates pollen moisture content. The controlled environment may have a temperature ranging from about &#x2212;10-10&#xb0; C.; an adjustable and programmable relative humidity; a continuous, adjustable positive or negative air flow; and a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases which displace oxygen. In another embodiment of the method, the controlled environment may have a relative humidity from about 50-100%; a temperature from about &#x2212;10-10&#xb0; C.; and air pressure from about 15-150 kPa. In all embodiments of the method, an optional field conditioning step may be performed. The field conditioning step may include subjecting the pollen to an environment controlled for relative humidity, temperature, and air pressure such that the initial pollen moisture content may be adjusted to a target moisture content.

Growing community of inventors

Bondurant, IA, United States of America

Sara Katherine Etter