Pioneer Hi-bred International, Inc.

Stephen D Strachan

Travis A Hanselman

Adda C Sayers

Dean M Tranel

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.

Apparatus for separating pre-shed pollen from plants

An apparatus and method of quantitatively obtaining a measurement of pollen of a plant. One method of counting comprises imaging the sample with the pollen well-distributed in the focal plane of the imager. Image evaluation software can identify and count objects in the image that are consistent with pollen. Total pollen count for the plant can be derived from the count of pollen of the sample, proportionality of the sample volume to the starting volume, and proportionality of area of sample imaged to total area of sample. Pollen quantification can be used for research or commercial production decisions relative to the plant or its seed.

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Oxford, PA, United States of America

Stephen D Strachan