DD259991A1 - ARRANGEMENT FOR MICRO-REPRODUCTION OF PLANTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for the micropropagation of plants, wherein an aseptic space and culture vessels are provided. According to the invention, this arrangement consists of a memory for receiving the culture vessels with a sterilization system, a dosing unit in connection with a conveyor unit, containers for receiving sterile nutrient components and for receiving the solidification component of the culture, food and mixing heads, a thermal unit to ensure the desired temperature and a closure unit for the sterile closing of the culture vessels. The arrangement works effectively under industrial conditions. Fig. 1. {Micropropagation of plants, culture vessel, aseptic space, sterilization unit, storage, dosing unit, delivery unit, container, nutrient component, feed head, mixing head, thermo unit}

Description

For this 2 pages drawings

Field of application of the invention

The application relates to an arrangement for micropropagation of plants, wherein an aseptic space and sterilized Kuiturgefäße are provided.

Characteristic of the known state of the art

It is well known that "biotechnology" is becoming more and more widely used in general and applied biology from year to year, and particularly important in biotechnology are those methods for growing cells and living tissues which can be used to test plant systems.

The common feature of growing tissues and cells is that the operations are to be performed in sterile conditions in vessels by the in vitro method. The biological basis of such methods are known. In various fields of agriculture the importance of breeding methods in vitro was recognized, which were used in many cultures. It can be stated that these methods have spread rapidly throughout the world. Although a high level of development has been achieved in the study of the specific problems of the biology of micropropagation, the technical and technological methods show no significant changes in recent times compared to the leading biological knowledge. In the practical use of methods of micropropagation

Serious difficulties arise from the fact that in biotechnological methods, a really high number of objects to be treated, with a much higher effectiveness is achievable, as in the previously known methods of Fit technique. The most important advantage of the micropropagation of plants is that a very high number of plant parts (up to 10 ⁶ ) can be produced, the plants having to be genetically similar and free of the infections. The traditional method of micropropagation of plants involves the following process steps:

- compilation of culture,

- sterilization,

- Transplant into vessels by hand in an aseptic room, reseal the vessel,

- Incubation.

In the process steps mentioned in general the same means are used as in microbiology, z. B.

Glass vessels prepared to contain a culture, the culture consisting of at least one nutrient component and a solidification component. The culture is also introduced manually, and thereafter the vessel is closed by a plug made of cotton wool. The cuff plug ensures the conditions of respiration in the vessel and closes the spores from the path to the vessel. Thereafter, the cotton plug is wrapped with an aluminum foil.

Transplantation is generally done in a vaccine box with sterile air present. The sterile vaccine products are delivered to the breeding site and then introduced into an incubator.

That is, the sterile and non-sterile process steps are performed sequentially, wherein the composition of the culture, introduction thereof into the vessel, and vessel closure are performed under non-sterile conditions, and then sterilization is to be performed. For transplantation sterile conditions are necessary, whereas the introduction of the culture into the incubator does not require a sterile atmosphere.

The above procedure η can be used in the examinations and can be used in the laboratory tests, but it is unacceptable in large-scale manufacture, as it is not effective enough. Therefore, various attempts have been made to improve the effectiveness of micropropagation.

An important step was, for example, in the production of concentrated nutrients. Further progress was achieved by separately producing the solidification components while adding them to the solution containing the other components for the culture. In this case, only the solidification component is to be heated.

The vessels made of glass have been increasingly replaced by vessels made of translucent plastic. Instead of the cotton plug, it has been proposed to use plugs made of a foam plastic, plastic cover or PVC film.

The common disadvantage of the known methods and arrangements for guiding the micropropagation of plants is therefore that the individual steps are to be carried out carefully by persons with a high level of training. This means high labor costs for a large-scale production.

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide an arrangement for the micropropagation of plants, which operates cost-effectively and reliably.

Explanation of the essence of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide an arrangement for micropropagation of plants, with an aseptic space and sterilized culture vessels are provided, which can be effectively produced under industrial conditions in meeting the biological requirements.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that in the aseptic space a memory for culture vessels, a dosing unit for separating the culture vessels from the memory, a sterilization system for keeping in aseptic conditions of the interior of the memory, a conveyor unit, which is arranged below or in the vicinity of the dosing for conveying the culture vessels from the dosing unit, a first container for receiving a sterile nutrient component, a second container for accommodating a solidification component of the culture, at least one feed head connected to the first and second containers, a mixing head to which at least one supply head is connected and provided with an outlet opening, a thermo unit for ensuring the desired temperature of the first and second containers, and a closure unit for sterilizing the culture vessels are provided, and that the closure unit from an e and a second closure device, wherein the first closure device arranged above the conveyor unit holding member for receiving a closure film, a cylindrical conveying element for conveying the closure film, a filament in the vicinity of the cylindrical conveying element for cutting the closure film arranged, and advantageously a heat treatment unit for adhering the closure film and the second closure device with a storage unit for receiving closure caps, a dosing unit for removing the cap from the storage unit, further a sterilization system for holding the cap under aseptic conditions and if necessary formed with a closure cylinder for fixing the cap on the culture vessels is.

The invention is based on the recognition that a change in the order of some operations of the traditional process of micropropagation per se is enough to secure the conditions for an effective arrangement. The mentioned alteration of the order of the method steps means that the culture is placed after the compilation in sterile conditions. The culture is then dosed under sterile conditions, followed by transplantation and occlusion of the vessel. For incubation, the sterile conditions are not necessarily necessary. By using the cited knowledge to solve the problem, an arrangement has been created, which for the micropropagation of plants, d. H. for the production of plants by biotechnological methods, serving and containing an aseptic space and sterilized culture vessels.

Conveniently, the sterilization systems are formed with ultraviolet lamps.

According to another feature of the invention it is provided that the thermal unit is arranged surrounding the feed heads and the mixing head and the conveyor unit is formed with a claw surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, flexible tubing is provided for coupling the mixing head to the feedheads.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a chute for conveying the culture vessels is arranged below the metering unit.

There is also the possibility that a multi-digit directional element is provided at the end of the conveyor unit, which is coupled with a supplementary conveyor element. It is recommended that the supplementary conveyor element is formed with a claw surface.

The arrangement according to the invention is simple in construction and ensures favorable conditions for carrying out the operations necessary for micropropagation.

embodiment

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment, reference being made to the accompanying drawings. In the drawing show:

FIG. 1: the side view of the arrangement according to the invention, and FIG. 2: the plan view according to FIG. 1.

The proposed arrangement according to the invention can be used in laboratories or companies, which are provided with a closed outer surface. These outer surfaces can also be formed by a cabin, a tunnel or a chamber.

The proposed arrangement uses sterilized culture vessels, which consist of transparent or translucent plastic materials. As materials, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, etc. can be used.

These vessels are generally formed with a square or circular cross-section, which can be placed in each other. The culture vessels are arranged in a memory 1 wound into one another or in a roll.

The output of the memory 1 is connected to a metering unit 2, which serves for separating the culture vessels held by a sterilization system 3 in aseptic conditions. The sterilizing equipment 3 is, for example, an ultraviolet lamp.

At the output of the memory 1, a chute 4 is advantageously provided, whereby the dosing unit 2 is connected to a conveyor unit 5. The conveyor unit 5 can be provided with a multi-digit directional element 10, which is coupled to the end of the conveyor unit 5 with an output of a supplementary conveyor element 11. Both the supplementary conveying element 11 and the conveying unit 5 may be designed as a belt conveyor with a claw surface, the surface serving to hold the culture vessels arranged thereon.

Above the surface of the conveyor unit 5, the output of a mixing head 8 is arranged. This mixing head 8 mixes the sterilized components of a culture with the solidification components. These components are in a first and a second container 61; 62 included. The forwarding of the components is controlled by at least one feed head 71; 72 made in accordance with FIG. 2. Both the first and second containers 61; 62 are in corresponding thermo units 91; 92, whereby the desired temperature of the container 61; 62 and, if necessary, the feed heads 71; 72 and the mixing head 8 can be ensured.

The culture vessels filled with a culture of desired composition are subsequently forwarded to the closure unit for the sterile closure of the culture vessels. Sterile sealing can be accomplished in several ways.

However, it is proposed to consider in particular two possibilities which can be used either simultaneously or alternatively. The first possibility consists in the use of a sealing foil, which is arranged on a Haiteelement 12, for example, wound up in a roll, passed through a cylindrical conveying element 13 and by a filament 14, which is arranged in the vicinity of the cylindrical conveying element 13, on the desired dimension is cut. In the second option, hard sealing lids are used, which are provided with blank parts and which are optionally used together with the closure film for closing the culture vessels. The closure lids are arranged in a storage unit 15, which is provided with a sterilization system 17 for ensuring the aseptic conditions for the culture vessels. A closure cylinder 18 is provided for fixing the closure lid to the culture vessels.

The sealing film cut by the filament 14 is fitted to the upper edges of the culture vessel and then aseptically joined to the edges by a heat treatment unit 19. The heat treatment is generally carried out by blowing in hot air.

The proposed arrangement has the following procedure:

Before the start of working hours sterility in the interior of the arrangement is to create. For this purpose, in addition to known means the sterilization systems 3; 17 are used. Thereafter, the culture vessels are arranged in a sterile state in the memory 1. Hereinafter, introduction of the nutrient component as well as the solidification component of the culture to the first and second tanks 61; 62 made, wherein the components can be warmed up. By the feed heads 71; 72, the containers 61; 62 connected to the mixing head 8.

For this purpose, a flexible tube can be used. The containers 61; 62 should after such preparation in the thermal units 91; 92 may be arranged, which are provided to ensure the necessary temperature. At the same time, the film, z. As a PVC film, to be arranged on the support member 12 and / or the closure lid in the storage unit 15 introduce. The free end of the film is to be placed on the surface of the cylindrical conveying element 13 in the vicinity of the heating filament 14.

Thereafter, all subunits of the arrangement can be supplied to a control unit. After starting work, the dosing unit 2 pushes the culture vessels to a position that can be reached through the outlet opening of the mixing head 8. At this point, the culture vessels reach, for example, through the chute 4 and the conveyor unit 5, wherein the necessary amount of the culture

forming components is introduced in a mixture. The conveying unit 5 forwards the culture vessels to the multi-directional element 10, wherein the transplantation is carried out. The supplementary conveying element 11 takes over

then the culture vessels for forwarding.

If the transplantation can be carried out during a brief stoppage of the conveying unit 5, both the multi-digit directional element 10 and the supplementary conveying element can be dispensed with.

After transplantation, the culture vessels are passed to the sterile closure unit, which works with a PVC film and / or hard caps. The latter are taken from the storage unit 15 by a metering unit 16 and printed after adaptation by the closure cylinder 18 to the edges of the culture vessel. The PVC film will open

corresponding manner by blowing hot air used for sterile and hermetic sealing of the culture vessels.

The culture vessels contained in the interior of the proposed arrangement under sterile conditions can subsequently be removed from the arrangement and fed to further units. The further steps are facilitated if the closure lid covers only a part of the input opening of the culture vessels and the remaining parts are covered with sealing foil, since the latter is relatively easy to remove.

The arrangement of the invention creates favorable conditions for the micropropagation of plants in the

biotechnological work, which can be carried out under industrial conditions.

Claims (7)

claims: 1. An arrangement for micropropagation of plants, wherein an aseptic space and sterilized culture vessels are provided, characterized in that in the aseptic space a memory (1) for culture vessels, a dosing unit (2) for separating the culture vessels from the memory (1), a sterilization system (3) for keeping in aseptic conditions of the interior of the storage (1), a conveyor unit (5), which is arranged below or in the vicinity of the dosing unit (2) for forwarding the culture vessels from the dosing unit (2), a first container ( 61) for receiving a sterile nutrient component, a second container (62) for receiving a solidification component of the culture, at least one feed head (71; 72) connected to the first and second containers (61; 62), a mixing head (8). to which at least one feed head (71; 72) is connected and provided with an exit opening, a thermal unit (91; 92) for ensuring the desired T emperature of the first and second containers (61; 62) and a closure unit for the sterile closing of the culture vessels are provided and in that the closure unit consists of a first and / or a second closure device, wherein the first closure device above the conveyor unit (5) arranged holding element (12) for receiving a closure film, a cylindrical Conveying element (13) for conveying the closure film, a filament (14) arranged in the vicinity of the cylindrical conveying element (13) for cutting the closure film, and advantageously a heat treatment unit (19) for adhering the closure film, and the second closure device with a storage unit ( 15) for receiving closure caps, a dosing unit (16) for removing the closure lid from the storage unit (15), further a sterilization system (17) for holding the closure lid under aseptic conditions and, if necessary, with a closure cylinder (18) for fixing the closure cover l is formed on the culture vessels. 2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the sterilizing equipment (3; 17) are formed with ultraviolet lamps. 3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thermal unit (91; 92) is arranged around the feed heads (71; 72) and the mixing head (8), and the conveyor unit (5) is formed with a claw surface. 4. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a flexible tube for coupling the mixing head (8) with the feed heads (71, 72) is provided. 5. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that below the metering unit (2) a chute (4) is provided for conveying the culture vessels. 6. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at the end of the conveying unit (13) a multi-digit directional element (10) is provided, which is coupled to a supplementary conveying element (11). 7. Arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that complementary conveying elements (11) is formed with a claw surface.