AU2004201547A1 - Tray container for use with cuttings - Google Patents

Description

14-04-' 04 16:55 FROM-DCC +61392542770 T-863 P05/37 U-899 ReBlatr 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Transplant Systems Limited Actual Inventor Alan Rogers Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE, Patent Attorneys, 1 Nicholson Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000.

Invention Title: Tray container for use with cuttings Details of Associated Provisional Application No: 2003903182 Date: 23 June 2003 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 099 dot. L4Ae4 COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:56 FRsOM-DCC +632470T83 P63 -9 +61392542770 T-863 P06/37 U-899 TRAY CONTAINER FOR USE WITH CUThINGS Field Of the neto The invention relates to container for use with cuttings of plants, such as pine.

Background oft.ento Radiata pixies have been grown for many years from seed collected from existing plantations. Higher value seed was obtained by selected superior frees (thoss frees having desirable properties) and obtaining seed from them, to form a new plantation from the superior stock.

An obvious problem with the seed production practice was the lack of control over the second parent (the pollen parent). A technique used to reduce this problem included planting the seed stock plantations a long distance away from the commercial production plantations. Another technique involved shielding the mother cones and the application of preferred pollen to those cones.

There are now a number of well established breeding lines having a range of desirable properties. However, there are typically delays of 2 to 5 years between planting the seed and providing the frees for the first commercial distuibution. There was a significant problem in commercialising new plant varieties due to the delay in producing commercial quantities of the new variety of the pine. Wit the now techniques for breeding and manipulation, it is possible to quickly produce new breeding lines and high speed propagation and deployment methods are required to shorten the delay in the production of commercial quantities oh new variety.

Fortunately, it was found that pines could be propagated by cuttings. This has allowed the use of clonal forestry methods for the rapid production of commercial quantities of new species.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 18:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-' 04 16:56 FROM-DCC 632279-63 P /7 U-9 +61392542770 T-863 P07/37 U-899 The most commonly used cutting system is the bare-root metho d. Large areas of plants (the mother plants) are maintained in the field in permanent hedges. E-ach can supply between 20 to 50 field sized cuttings a year and normally last for about five years before needing to be replaced. The cuttings are planted out into growing beds and grow into seedlings which are subsequently lifted which bare roots the plant and the root system is pruned back to 3 or 4 main roots haing a desired root structure before planting out in a plantation.

There are a number of significant disadvantages with this method including the need for large amounts of land for growing the hedges and the cuttings lifted therefrom. The lifting and planting of the cuttings are normally done during winter and at the same time by all of the plantation managers and as such there is typically casual staff shortages. In addition, the weather and overall work conditions can be unpleasant as the lifting and planting is done working on hands and knees.

A variation of this technique is to take a second set of cuttings later in the year. The second set is generally too small for field planting but has been used in Chile, by setting the cuttings in containers. The cuttings are grown in unheated greenhouse conditions, and subsequently outside without cover: This can provide an extra 20 cuttings per hedge plant per year.

Another variation Is to regularly collect cuttings over winter from the hedge plants and set the cuttings in containers on outdoor racks; for rooting and growing. Only a few cuttings are taken at each picking.

Intensive hedge propagation is a method used for quickly propagating selected types of hedge plants. Seeds are sown into containers and grown in a greenhouse. A single cutting is taken from the tip and is planted into another container. The mother plant responds to the topping by producing 2 or 3 new tips, echb over which can be harvested and rooted.

The next cycle of tipping can produce between 5 to 10 cuttings. It is possible to produce about 80 plants per year from a single seed. The propagated plants may then be planted COMS 1D No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:56 FROM-DCC +61392542770 T-863 P08/37 U-899 NOMI~pt~.n~u~*whp~jqnW Cuw~wn49M -3out into hedge rows to become the source of field cuttings as per the bare-root method. A variation of this used in Chile involves topping te tooted cuttings to produce 100 to 136 hedge plants per year from a single seed.

The use of containers and 'containerised' plants in plant growing methods has been found to provide a number of advantages. Containerised plants grow at a faster rate than those in the field as the growing environment is under better control than a bare-root nursery. Even when the plants are grown outside, containerisatlon can provide greater control over growing conditions as it allows the plants to be moved as required. Furthermore, containerised plants can be suitable for plug planting, where the plant is transplanted into the ground whilst still in a plug of the growth medium from the container. A commonly held rule of thumb is a plug planted containedsed plant will perform similarly to baxe-root plant of twice its root diameter and as such can be planted out sooner than the bare root plant. The bare-root method requires the plants to be lifted from a growing bed, growth medium removed and the roots pruned back to 3 or 4 main roots. This shocks the plant and sets-back the growing cycle.

Containerisation can also provide better working conditions for the workers, particularly when combined with an appropiate overall plant management system. The containers can be positioned at waist height on tables, reducing.the need for the workers to bend over and reducing the need to work with permanent hedge rows, lifting, grading and packing plants and the problems it can cause.

However, there are problems with using containerised propagation methods with cuttings such as Pinus radiata, because the cuttings produce strong, aggressive root shoots. The roots of seed grown plants will typically grow out downward with one or more substantially downwardly growing roots, such as a taproot. Smaller roots typically grow outward from the sides of the main downwardly growing root(s). However cuttings, such as those of Pinus radiata, tend to have a shoot root which grows laterally outward from the side of cutting with limited downward growth. The shoot roots need to be turned downward and this can occur when the roots contact the side of the container. However, COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-' 04 16:56 FROI-XC +632470T26 /7T-9 +61392542770 T-863 P09/37 U-899 -4the roots tend to grow in a spia, downward along the container wall and this will result in the plant having poor root development.

This limits the use of containerised techniques with cuttings of Pinus radiata and other plants with similarly strong, aggressive root shoots particularly for timber plantations because of the need for a good-root structure to encourage improved field anchorage and rapid uptake of surrounding nutrients following planting. It is accepted that the root growth of container-grown plants after being transplanted primarily involves extensions of existing roots rather than the development of new roots. Consequently, the number and position of the root tips of the containerised plant will have a siguificant influence on the growth and development of the transplanted plant Containers have been developed to try to control spiral root formation with seed grown plants. The containers may omit a bottom and incorporate one or more vertical slits therein to facilitate air pruning of the roots in a desired orientation. Examples of such containers and methods of use can be found in US 4,753,037. It provides a container having a plurality of substantially horizontal intenal ledges having holes at lower points therein. The roots of a seed grown plant will grow outward and downward until they contact the base of the container and be directed out via a hole. Upon extending through a hole, the root tip is air-prunedI, whereby the portion of the root cistending out of the bole js killed by desiccation.

Other simailar containers are described in US 4,389,814; US 5,678,356; US 5,557,889 and US 6,385,903. These described variations in trays of containers (also known as plug trays) for growing plants from seed. Useful features include having the same centre-to-centre spacing between a adjacent containers in the tray to facilitate machine planting and handling, having tapered sides, aeration holes, vertical air-pruning slots in the side of the containers and a hole at the bottom of the container.

However, such containers are intended for use with seed grown plants and are generally not appropriate or suitable for use with cuttings with strong or aggressive shoot roots, such COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received b y IP Australia: Time (Itm) 16:58 Date 2004-04-14

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14-04-' 04 16:57 FROtl-DCC +632470T83 P0S -9 +61392542770 T-863 P10/37 U-899 as Pinus radiats cuttings, particularly when the containerised plants are intended to be planited out into the field in plugs.

SuMMar of the invention In a first embodiment of the invention there is provided a tray having a top surface, the tray including a plurality of growing compartments capable of containing growing medium and plants therein, each compartment having a top opening located in the top surface of the tray and a smaller bottom opening, with the distance between the openings defining the depth of the compartment, each compartment having an internal wall, wherein at least a section of the wall is tapered towards the bottom opening, the internal wall including a plurality of root guides, each guide comprising a downwardly orientated ridge and a lateral wall segment that extends along at least a portion of the ridge at or near the apex. of the ridge, the internal wall of each compartment also including a plunlity of dwnwwrdly orientated elongate slots, the slots being located between the apexes of fidges.

The root guides should be capable of guiding root tip growth of cuttings so to reduce root spiralling such that the roots grow towards the slots or downward towards to the bottom opening of the compartments.

The invention also relates to the compartments used in the tray and the use of the tray or the compartments in controlled propagation systems, particularly with plant cuttings. The invention also relaxes to a method of producing plants having a root-form suitable for planting directly into plantation from compartments by planting cuttings into compartments as described above.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'024 16:57 FROtl-DC E1924707-6G1/3 -9 +61392542770 T-863 PII/37 U-899 Brief Desrintion of tIneto For clarity, "downwardly orientated" is any direction from the top opening of a compartment towards the bottom opening of the compartment, If the surface of the tray defines horizontal plane, then downwardly orientated includes in a direction from the top opening towards the bottom opening along an axis perpendicular to the horizontal plane. It also includes axes at other angles but still having a significant vertical component, is degrees from the perpendicular axis extending below the horizontal plane, preferable more preferably ;j=15. It also includes and is preferably limited to the direction most directly downward along the surface of the internal wall (depthwise). This can be the route that provides the shortest distance down the internal wall between any point from the top opening to the bottom opening. This is thte most preferred orientation of the ridges, and in partic~ular the apex of the ridges, wall segments and the elongate slots in the compartment The design of these compartments should reduce root spiralling and provide a plant with a healthy combination of laterally extending roots (air pruned) and downwardly extending roots. It should avoid the earlier need to use bare root production methods with Pinus radiate seedlings and cuttings in order to provide a desired root structure.

The internal wall of the compartment must have a shape which will permit the plant and any plug of growth medium to be pulled out of the compartment. Accordingly, the inner surface of the wall includes a taper, in at least in a section of the wall, from the larger top opening to the bottom opening. The taper can facilitate t upward removal of the plant and plug of grow medium from the compartment through the wider top opening. The taper does not need extend along the depth of the compartment. Preferably the inner surface of the compartment may taper from at or near the top opening down to the lower opening.

Thus the inner surface of the wall may include an upper substantally non-tapered section (a collar) extending from the top opening to an intermediate depth near the top opening and a tapered section extending from the intermediate depth to the bottom opeming. The upper section may itself be wholly non-tapered with a constant horizontal cross section or substantially non-tapered. For example, a substantially non-tapered. the upper section may have a slight taper towards the intermediate depth, such as less than i1 off the vertical.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:57 FROtI-DOCC~632470T83 P23 -9 #61392542770 T-863 P12/37 U-899 -7- The taper, if any, in the upper (non tapered) section is less pronounced than the taper in the other (tapered) section. In such an arrangement the ridges preferably start at or near tbe stairt of t; tapered section (ic at or near the intermediate depth) and extend the depth of the compartment to the bottom opening.

Preferably, each compartment has an upper, substantialy Donx-tapered collar portion, which comprises from 15 to 300/ of the total depth of the compartment; more preferably 20 to and more preferably about 22%. When the compartment has a total depth of 110 mm, it is preferred for the collar portion to comprise the uppermost 25 rum of the compartment The internal wall may alternatively provide a sige -tapered section having the same angle of taper for the depth of' the compartment. In that arrangement the ridges may start at or near the top opening or may start at an intermediate depth and extend to the bottom opening.

The inner surface of the compartment also includes wall segments at or near the apex of the ridges. The wall segments preferably extend 1 to 3 mim out from the surface. The wall segments preferably extend along the apex of the ridges down the inner surface. The segments may extend the depth of the compartment, beyond the ridges along the wall up to or near the top opening. It can be advantageous not to extend the ridges all the way to the top opening as it may cause difficulties in nesting or stacking trays of the inrvention together.

The plurality of downwardly extending ridges and segments thereon in the compartment provide a plurality of 'channels' in the compartment wall. Those roots growing outward will either grow directly into the channel or would be guided by the surface of a ridge deep into a channel. It is thought that once the growing root shoot is located between the ridges, the slope of the adjacent ridges should reduce the likelihood that the root will grow in a spiral around the side of the compartment. Those root shoots that persist in growing towards the top Or apex of the ridges will contact the downwardly extending wall segments located at or near the apex of the ridges. These wall segments will act as a futher barrier COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:58 FHOII-DCC*6324?GT83 P /7 U-9 -61392542770 T-863 P13/37 U-899 to spiral root growth. The channels should redirect the root growth downward or back into the same channel.

As it is preferable to also include lateral orientated roots then the compartment should include downwardly orientated elongate slots in some of the channels. The ridges guide the root shoots towards a slot or slots located within channels, where the root is air pruned.

After the plant is transplanted growth will occur from the air pruned ends of the roots.

It is preferred to include a mixture; of channels with and without the elongate slots as this will provide a mixture of outwardly growing and downwardly growing roots. This arrangement tends to produce plants with healthy root structures, even from cuttings. A preferred means of doing this is to locate the slots in alternate channels. The root shoots in a channel without a slot will be directed to grow downward to eventually be pruned at the bottom opening, and those root shoots in the adjacent channel will be guided into the slots to provide air pruned roots that will grow outward.

Alternaively, slots may be located within each channel, but at different depths of the compartment in order to provide a mixture of laterally and downwardly orientated roots.

The slots are preferably located in a portion of wall located between ridges. Alternatively, the slots may be located at or near a lower portion of the ridge, such as in a trough formed between two adjacent ridges.

Preferably, the wall immediately around to the slots should be tapered from the inside of the compartment to outside, in order to guide roots growing around the wall into the slot.

Preferably the slots are also tapered so the slot narrows as it extends towards the bottom opening. Preferably thc upper edge of the slot is also tapered to provide a downward facing cutting edge capable of severing plant roots when a plant is removed from the compartment. Both of these features can facilitate the removal of a plant from a COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-' 04 26:58 FROM-XCC +61392542770 T-863 P14/37 U-899 -9compartment by rcig the likelihood air Pruned roots extending out of the slot will jam in the slot as the plant is removed.

Preferably each compartment has four slots, each slot been regularly spaced about the wall and only located between ridges.

Prefeirably each compartment has four regularly spaced corner root guides, located at or near opposed comners of the compartment Each guid comprises a downwardly orientated ridge having at or near its apex a downwardly orientated wall segment which laterally projects towards a central vertical axis of the compartment.

Preferably the compartment additionally has four wall root guides, each guide including a downwardly orientated ridge in a non-corner part of the wall, the ridge having at or -near the apex, a laterally projecting downwardly orientated wall segment, the wall ridges being regularly spaced about the wall. Preferably, the wall root guides located on opposite sides of the compartment are offset with each wall guide located between two adjacent canmer guides and located closer to one of the pair than the other.

TIM arrangement can provide several advantages. It provides a larger wall section between a corner root guide and one of the adjacent wall root guides into wbich an elongate slot can be located, allowing a wider slot to be used. It also offsets the slots, which is advantageous when a plurality of the same compartments are regularly located about the fray, in an arry of colvumns and rows, with each compartment in the same orientation as the compartments located adjacent to it. This is because the slots of each compartment are off-set from the slots of the compartments located in the adjacent columns and rows. This reduces the likelihood roots extnding out of a slot of one compartment will get entangled with roots extending out of the slot of an adjacent compartment. This improves the ease by which plants can be removed from compartments and also facilitates the closer packing of compartments. Such an arrangement can also allow for machine 3 0 processing of the trays, the compartments therein, and ft plants, as it permits a regular spacing of compartments in trays.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IF' Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:58 FROM-DCC ,61392542770 T-863 P15/37 U-899 It is preferred for the frays to have a shape which facilitates nursery machine handling.

Preferably the tray has a pair of opposed sides and a pair of opposed ends, the length of the opposed sides and opposed ends of the tray are all substantially the same. Preferably, the compartments are all of substantially the same shape and same orientation in the tray and are regularly located within the tray in an array of rows and columns.

Preferably the rows of compartments within the tray are substantially parallel to the opposed ends and substantially perpendicular to the opposed sides. Preferably the columns of compartments within the tray are substantially parallel to the opposed sides and substantially perpendicular to the opposed ends.

Preferably each compartment has a central vertical axis and the axes are regularly located about the tray so the centre-to-centre distance between growing compartments in adjacent rows and adjacent columns is substantially the same. Preferably the oentre-to-centre distance is of from 40 to 55 mm, more preferably of from 45 to 50 mm, most preferably approximately 48 mm.

The preferred density of compartments is important as it should provide a commercially acceptable tray. If the number of plant cuttings per tray is too high this can reduce the amount, size and quality of foliage. If the number of plant cuttings per tray is too low the individual plant cuttings should be larger and better developed but the tray may cost too much to manufacture and may not be commercially acceptable.

Preferably the tray has from 300 to 450 compartments per square metre, and more preferably 330 or 432 plants per m 2 Preferably each compartment has a volume of from 100 cm 3 to 150 cm 3 more preferably of from 110 cm to 140 cm 3 most preferably approximate 125 cm 3 COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time (Hm) 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:58 FROM-DCC +61392542770 T-863 P16/37 U-899 11 Preferably the depth of each compartment is from 95 to 125 mm, more preferably from 105 to 115 mm and most preferably approximately 110 mm.

The top opening is preferably from 37 to 50 mm across, more preferably from 40 to mm, most preferably around 42 to 43 mm. The bottom opening is from 20 to 30 mm across, more preferably from 23 to 27 mm, and most preferably 25 mm across.

A preferred density of compartments per tray can be achieved by having a 7 x 7 array or 8 x 8 array of compartments having the above dimensions and spacing in a square tray having a width of from 370 mm to 400 mm, preferably from 380 mm to 390 mm, most preferably approximately 385 mm.

Depemang on the medium used in the compartments it may be necessary to include a restraint across the bottom opening, but for others the tapered shape should prevent the medium falling out of the bottom. However, in order to be useful with range of mediums, it is preferred that each compartment in the tray include a growing medium restraint at bottom opening. Preferably the restraint bridges across the bottom opening. Preferably the upwardly facing surfaces of the restraint are inclined so as to direct the root tip of any downwardly growing roots to either side of the restraint. It is also preferred to taper any wall segment into its ridge, if the walU segment would otherwise have been close to the bridging restraint in order to avoid roots from getting caught between the segment and the restraint and interfering with the removal of the plant from the compartment. It may also serve to improve the strength of the connection between the restraint and the wall.

Preferably the tay also includes a plurality of aeration aperttues in the top surface of the tray. When the compartments are set out in the tray in a regular array, it is preferred to locate an aeration aperture in the top surface of the tray, in the region between four adjacent compartments.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:59 FROM-DCC 61392542770 T-863 P17/37 U-899 tVuMiF.D a l 1flQ CaiF ntauWM-«I4MM -12- Brief Description of the DMwin Non-limiting preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure I is a plan view of a tray of the present invention. The tay includes 64 growing compartments.

Figure 2 is a side view of the outer surface of the tray of figure 1 in the direction of the arrow A.

Figure 3 is a side view of the outer surface of the tray of figure 1 in the direction of the arrow B.

Figure 4 is an enlarged section view of a compartment of figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view from above of a cross section through line 5-5 of a compartment of figure 4.

Figure 6 is a perspective view from below of the tray of figure 1.

Figure 7 is a perspective view from above of the tray of figure 1.

Figure 8 is a perspective view fion above of an alternative tray of the invention; Figure 9 is a perspective view from below of an alternative tray of the invention.

Figure 10 is a perspective view from below of another alternative tray of the invention.

Figure 11 is a perspective view from below of a further alternative tray of the invention.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:59 FROIM-DCC 61392542770 T-863 P18/37 U-899 -13- Detailed Desrition of the Invntion A tray of the invention is shown in figures 1 to 7. The tray (10) is substantially square, The fray is intended for use with pine cuttings. All sides have an approximate length of 385 mm. The tray includes an 8 by 8 array of substantially identical compariments therein Each compartment has substantially the same shape as the other compartments, substantially the same alignment and is regularly spaced about t1he tray in rows and columns. This combination of features can facilitate machine handling of the trays.

The tray includes apertures (12) between compartments for use in aerating the plants.

The compartments are integral with the tray, the overall tray preferably being formed by injection moulding.

The compartments have a top opening (22) located in the top surface of the tray The compartments have a smaller bottom opening (26) and a wal (28) between the top and bottom openings, having an inner surface (30) and an outer surface (32).

For use, with radiata pine, each compartment has a volume of approximately 125 c/c, a depth of 110 mm, the top opening is approximately 42.5 mm wide when measured across the sides, the bottom opening is 25 mm wide across the sides. The tray provides 432 compartments per m 2 at a central axis (34) and a centre-to-centre distance (34) (34) between adjacent compartments (row or column) of 48 mm.

The compartments have an uppermost section (36) and a tapered section The uppermost section can be described as a non-tapered section although in fact it has a slight taper (less than 1 off the vertical) towards the bottom opening. For use with radiata pine, the overall compartment has depth as measured along a vertical axis of 110 ram, with the non-tapered section (36) being 25 mm in depth and the tapered section (38) being 85 mm in depth. Wall segments (44) laterally project approximately 1-2 mm from the wall and extend directly downward, depthwise (from the top opening to the bottom COMS ID No; SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 16:59 FROM-DCC +61392542770 T-863 P19/37 U-899 14opening) along the wall. In the non-tapered section the portion of the wall segments therein (40) laterally projects from the wall surface. The wall segments continue depthwise in the tapered section as segments (42) and but project from the apex of depthwise orientated ridges (48) located in the wall. Near the bottom end of the compartment, the wall segment (44) tapers into the wall near the bottom opening at where it nears a growth material restraint (50) which bridges across the bottom opening.

The upper surface of the restraint (52) is inclined to direct any roots to either side of the restraint Various designs can be used for the growth material restraint. Figure 8 and 9 show alternative bridging restraints (54) and (56).

Continuing with Figures I to 7, the wall segments (42) are located at the apex of corner ridges (46) and together provide four corner root guides. The wall segments (44) are located at the apex of wall ridges (48) which together provide four wall root guides regularly spaced about the wall.

The wall root guides are located closer to one of the adjacent comer guides than the other.

This provides eight depthwlse extending chanels, four narrow channels (60, 61, 62 and 63) and four wider channels (64, 65, 66 and 67). The narow channels are defined by the sides of two adjacent ridges (69, 71), the wall segments thereon and wall there between (if any). Towards the top opening there is a flat wall surface (70) between the adjacent wall and corner ridges. As the wall tapers in towards the bottom opening the distance between the ridges decreases until the ridges come into contact with each other near the bottom opening.

The wider channels are defined by the region from the one side of a wall segment, the same side of the ridge to which the segment is attached a flat wall surface the side of another ridge adjacent to the same wall surface and the side of the wall segment on the ridge.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 17:00 FHOM-DCC +632478T23 P83 -9 +61392542770 T-863 P20/37 U-899 The wider channels include tapered elongate slots (80) for air pruning lateral roots in the wall (74) between toe two ridges. The slot is tapered towards the bottom opening, narrowing as the width of the wall between adjacent ridges decreases. The edges (82, 83) of the slot are tapered outwards to facilitate root growth out of the slot for a& pruning. The top edge (84) is also tapered to provide a knife edge.

As can be seen from figuare 1, the slots of adjacent compartments are offset from each other. This reduces the likelihood of having the roots of adjacent plants grow into each other and entangle, thereby making it difficult to remove the plants from the tray. For those few roots that might entangle, the knife edge at the top of the slots should sever those roots when t plant is removed.

This arrangement of offset slots also allowed a higher density of compartments in the tray, without excessive entanglement of roots.

The tray of figures8 is very similar to the tray of figure 7, but the wall segments (86) at the corners of the compartment start at a position set back from the top opening in the nontapered portion of the compartment This arrangement has been found to permit the trays of the invention to be stacked or nested within other trays of the invention without the wall segments of a tray contacting and binding on the outer surface of the compartments of fray nested within. The wall segments (87) start from the top opening as they do not interfere with the nesting of wrays.

The slots in the trays may alternatively be rectangular, such as the slots (90) shown in Figures 9 to 11. However, like the first described trays, the edges of these slots are tapered outwardly and the top edge should be blade like.

The relative dimensions of the compartments and tray may be altered, to suit particular types of cuffings, or to improve plant sizes. The tray of figure I11 has the side lengths as the earlier tray, but has less compartments, 49 instead of 64, As a consequence the size, volume and centre-to-cenwe distance between compartments has been increased. The COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Timne 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 17:00 FROII-DCC +632470T83 P13 -9 +61392542770 T-863 P21/37 U-899 PnmwfrUD"d~~a~.SUO~e.4udLdP -16 plants in such a fray would have more space to grow and thus the plants can have improved growth and development. Such trays may be used with more valuable cuttings or less hardy plants where increased value of older or larger plants makes the growth of such plants economic despite the overall reduced yield per square metre.

It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art numerous variations and/or modifications May be Made to the invention as shown the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments arm, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.

For example the trays may be rectangular in shape as this may be useful with some nursery machines., The shape of the compartments may vary from that specifically described. For example the compartments may be substantially circular, rectangular, octagon or irregular in shape. The tray may include a mixture of two or more diffrent shaped compartments.

Throughout this- specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be imdewtoo to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The referece to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an aclcnowledgmuent or any form or suggestion that that prior ar forms part of the common general kniowledge In Australia and New Zealand.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14

Claims (31)

14-04-'04 17:00 FROI'-DCC +61392542770 T-863 P22/37 U-899 -17- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A compartment for use with plant cutting, the compartment having a top opening and a smaller bottom opening, with the distance between the openings defining the depth of the compartment, each compartment having an internal wall, wherein at least a section of the wall is tapered towards the bottom opeing, the internal wall including a plurality of root guides, each guide comprising a downwardly orientated ridge and a lateral wall segment that extends along at least a portion of the ridge at or near the apex of the ridge, the internal wall of each compartment also including a plurality of downwardly orientated elongate slots, the slots being located between the apexes of ridges. 2. The compartment of claim 1 wherein the plurality of downwardly extending ridges and wall segments thereon located about the internal wall provide a plurality of downwardly extending channels for guiding root growth downward and for reducing or prevedtg root spiralling around the internal wall of the compartment. 3. The compartment according to claim 2 wherin the downwardly orientated elongate slots are located in at least some of the channels. 4. The compartment according to claim 3 wherein some of the channels omit any downwardly orientated elongate slots. The compartment according to any one of claims I to 4 wherein the slots are located in a portion of internal wall located between ridges. 6. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the internal wall immediately around the slots is tapered to guide roots growing around the wall into the slot COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-' 04 17:00 FROC-XC +1952 -83P33 -9 +61392542770 T-863 P23/37 U-899 7. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the slots are tapered so the slot narows as it extends towards the bottom opening. B. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein an upper edge of each slot is tapered to provide a downward facing cutting edge capable of severing plant roots extending through the slot when -a plant is removed from the compartment. 9. The compartment of any one of claims I to 8 comprising regularly spaced corner root guides, located at or near opposed corners of the compartment, wherein each guide comprises a downwardly orientated ridge having at or near its apex a downwardly orientate wall segment. The compartment of claim 9 wherein the wall segment of the corner root guides laterally projects from the apex of the ridges and towards a central vertical axs of the compartment 11. The compartment of any one of claims% 1 to 10 which comprises wall root guides, each guide including a downwardly orientated ridgc in a non-corner part of the wall, toe ridge having at or near the apex, a downwardly orientated wall segment. 12. The compartment of claim 11I wherein the non-corner ridges are regularly spaced about the wall. 13. The compartment of claim I1I or 12 wherein the wall segments laterally project from the apex of the non-coiner ridges. 14. The compartmen of any one of claim 11I to 13 wherein the wall root guides on opposite sides of the compartment are offtet.

15. The compartment of any one of claims I to 8 which comprises corner root guides of claimn 9 or 10 and wall root guides of any one of claims I11 to 14, COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-' 04 17:01 FROtI-DCC +632470T83 P43 -9 +61392542770 T-863 P24/37 U-899 -19-

16. The compartment of claim 15 which comprises four elongate slots of any one of claims 3 to 8.

17. The compartment of claim 15 or 16 comprises four corner root guides, four wall root guides and four elongate slots, with each wall guide located between two adjacent corner guides and located closer to oue of the corner guides than the other corner guide, and each slot is located between the wall gudes and the other comet guide, the guides and slots being regularly located about the compartment.

18. The -compartmuent according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein all of the ridges, wall segments and slots extend directly downward along the internal wall.

19. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein each compartment has a substantially non-tapered internal wall section extending from the top opening to an intermediate depth near the top opening, and a tapered wall section extending from the intermediate depth to the bottom opcwng. The compartment according to any one of claims I to 19 wherein the ridges start at or near the start of the tapered section of the internal wall and extend down the wall to or near the bottom opening.

21. The compartment according to claim 20 wherein the wall segmients extend beyond the ridges and laterally project from substantially non-tapered section of the internal wall.

22. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein all wall segments extend along the apex of each of the ridges.

23. The compartment according to any one of claims I to 22 wherein the wall segments extend from 1 to 3 mm from the surface of the ridges. COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 17:01 FROM-DCC 61392542770 T-863 P25/37 U-899 aN c. ,aIa--ta*Cvh.Miausiass2a Cm..-si.diA.ta

24. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein at least somc of the wall segments do not extend to the top or bottom openings. The compartment according to any one of claims I to 24 wherein the compartment has a volume from 100 cm 3 to 150cm 3

26. The compartment according to claim 25 wherein the volume is from I 10 m 3 to 140 cm 3

27. The compartment according to claim 26 wherein the volume is about 125 cm'.

28. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the compartment ba a depth of from 95 to 125 mm.

29. The compartment according to claim 28 wherein the depth is from 105 to 115 mm. The compartment according to claim 29 wherein the depth is about 110 mm.

31. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein the top opening is of fiom 37 to 48 mm across when measured across the sides.

32. The compartment according to any one of claims 1 to 31 wherein the bottom opening is of from 20 to 30 mm across when measured across the sides.

33. A tray including a plurality of growing compartments according to any one of claims 1 to 32, the top opening of each compartment located in the top surface of the tray.

34. The tray of claim 33 wherein compartments are regularly spaced about the tray in rows and columns. COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04.14 14-04-'84 17:01 FROM-DCC +61392542770 T-863 P26/37 U-899 PaVsu r lln. ufl a~ uoWw b~-nwo .ph440e4 -21- The tray of claim 34 wherein each compartment has a central vertical axis and the axes are regularly located about the tray so the centre-to-ccntre distance between growing compartments in adjacent rows and adjacent columns is substantially the same.

36. The tray of claim 35 wherein the centre-to-centre distance is from 40 to 55 mm.

37. The tray of claim 36 wherein the centre-to-centre distance is from 45 to 50 mm.

38. The tray of claim 37 wherein the centre-to-centre distance is approximately 48 mm.

39. The tray of any one of claims 33 to 38 comprising from 300 to 450 compartments per square metre. The tray of claim 39 comprising 330 or 432 compartments per m 2

41. The tray of any one of claims 33 to 40 comprisig a 7 x 7 array or 8 x 8 aray of compartments.

42. The tray of any one of claims 33 to 41, wherein the tray is square.

43. The tray of claim 42 wherein the length of the tray is from 370 mm to 400 mm.

44. Use of the tray of any one of claims 33 to 43 in controlled propagation systems.

45. Use of the compartment of any one of claims 1 to 32 in controlled propagation systems.

46. The use according to claim 44 or 45 to grow plant cuttings.

47. The use of claim 46 to grow Pinus radiata. cuttings. COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14 14-04-'04 17:01 FROM-DCC +61392542770 T-863 P27/37 U-899 PiinJRLwc 4q&b-wd$OS WPWq 4 ~x IO'2M MbiuI4dDAd -22-

48. A method of growing plants from cuttings, the plants having a root-form suitable for plug planing, by growing the plants in compartments according to any one of claims 1 to 33 or in compartments in a tray according to any one of claims 34 to 43.

49. A method of growing plantation imber which includes the step of plug planting seedlings grown in compartments according to any one of claims 1 to 33 or in compartments in a tray according to any one of claims 34 to 43. DATED this 14 day of April, 2004 Transplat Systems Limited by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant COMS ID No: SMBI-00706682 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:58 Date 2004-04-14