DD262787A1 - METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STERILE CUTTING OF PLANT MATERIAL FOR IN VITRO REPRODUCTION - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for the sterile cutting of living plants by means of high-energy radiation, in particular for cutting in vitro breeding material for the purpose of vegetative propagation and conservation in the context of hybrid breeding. For this purpose, the material to be dismantled is first fixed on a guide unit which can be moved by means of suitable drive elements. The section of the plant intended for the separation cut is brought into the region of the beam of a low-power laser emitting in the visible spectral range. The adaptation of the marking to the geometry of the plant is achieved by periodically deflecting the beam of this marking laser by means of an oscillating mirror of controllable amplitude according to the required cutting length so that the area to be separated is over-cut. The arrangement is such that in this optical axis of the marking of the laser beam of the power laser is coupled, which is deflected in the same way by the oscillating mirror and makes the cut of the plant at the intended location.

Description

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Field of application of the invention

The invention relates to a method and a device for the sterile cutting of living plants by means of high-energy radiation, in particular for cutting in vitro breeding material for the purpose of vegetative propagation and conservation in the context of hybrid breeding.

Characteristic of the known technical solutions

For the disassembly of living plants, especially for the division of germinal material, only mechanical methods have hitherto been used. Usually, in the in vitro propagation, the plants are dissected under sterile conditions by means of a scalpel and tweezers (ATANASSOV, JA, KIKINDONOV, T .: Akad., Sel'schoz, nauk, v. Bolgarii 4 [1971], No. 1, p. 75-83, MARGARA, J .; GAUTHERET, R .: CR Acad.Sei., Paris 285D [1977], pp. 1014-1044, HUSSEY, G., HEPHER, A .: Ann. Bot.42 [1978], 477-479, MIEDEMA, P. GROOT, PJ; ZUIDGEEST, JHM: Euphytica 29 [1980], 425-432, DE GREFF, W .: Vrije University of Brussels, Belgium; 44th Winter Congress 1981, p.67, SAUNDERS, JW: Crop. Sei. 22 [1982], 1102-1105, MIEDEMA, P .: Euphytica 31 [1982], 771-772).

These are methods that require a lot of manual work. In addition, there is a risk of carryover of unrecognized bacteria and viruses in the in vitro propagation on an industrial scale when using conventional cutting techniques. These can significantly reduce the effectiveness of the overall process. Sterilization of the working instruments after each splitting or cutting operation is practically impracticable. In addition, this method is not automatable.

There are a variety of arrangements for cutting by means of high-energy radiation, preferably by means of laser beams known. These arrangements mainly relate to separation processes in material processing of the metalworking industry. Arrangements and devices, in particular in the field of medical technology, are known for cutting biological substances (J.F. Ready, Industrial Applications of Lasers, Academic Press New York, 1978).

In particular, the focused laser beam is used for cutting and coagulating in surgery (special electrosurgery). Energy-rich radiation is thereby transported by optical waveguides or multiple joint mirrors to the tissue to be separated (DE: 2733359, 2809007, 2910761,2821376, US: 4266547, IP: 60-859, 57-68943). These intended for the field of surgery instruments, devices and arrangements are tuned with regard to handling and operation and the structural design specifically to the application of non-stationary use. When used for vegetative propagation of seedlings such arrangements, instruments and devices are unsuitable for damage due to high-energy radiation, especially because of the not adapted to this task solution in terms of productivity, accuracy and protection of the operator.

Another known publication describes a method for comminuting agricultural products, in particular for cutting stalks (DD 220538). In this case, the separation process is also triggered by using laser beams, but in this case the conditions of accuracy are insufficient. An arrangement for cutting in vitro plants for the purpose of in vitro cloning for breeding by means of high-energy radiation is not known.

Object of the invention

The aim of the invention is a method and a device for cutting in vitro Pf lances under sterile conditions with high accuracy and productivity and reduced infection or failure rate.

Essence of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a method and apparatus for accurately cutting live plants under sterile conditions, which has an increased productivity with reduced infection or failure rate over known solutions.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the process of cutting the plants by means of a laser beam. For this purpose, first the material to be separated is fixed on a movable by means of suitable drive elements guide unit.

This guidance can be positioned by automatic control or manual control by an operator so that the portion of the plant intended for the separation cut is brought into the region of the beam of a low-power laser emitting in the visible spectral range.

After this is done, a powerful laser is activated, whose beam has the same optical axis as the low-power laser and takes over the division at the intended location. After the cut, the plants or the separated parts of plants are removed from the processing zone.

The adaptation of the marking to the geometry of the plant is achieved by periodically deflecting the beam of this marking laser by an oscillating mirror of adjustable amplitude according to the required cutting length, so that the area to be separated is overlapped. In this case, the arrangement is designed so that in this optical axis of the marking of the laser beam of the power laser is coupled, which is deflected in the same way by the oscillating mirror and makes the cut of the plant at the intended location.

Furthermore, the arrangement has a suitable unit for switching on and off of the laser beam of the power laser, which prevents the uncontrolled impact of this radiation on unplanted seedlings.

In addition, a feed device for a process of separating biological substance favoring gaseous medium, a lighting device of the processing zone, a processing table with suction and protection against reflective radiation components of the device.

This device can be multiplied by the use of another movable mirror system using each of a power and a marking laser.

embodiment

The invention will be explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment. The accompanying drawing shows a possible embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention. The plants to be separated are fixed in an inert gas stream on a receiving device 12 provided with breaks for the material to be separated. The position of the cut to be carried out is marked by a laser 1 emitting in the visible spectral range. This mark has the shape of a short stroke, which is achieved by the spherical oscillating mirror 7. The amplitude is constant and can be adjusted depending on the cut length to be separated. The location of the plants to be separated can now be brought into line with the brand.

After completion of the adjustment process, for example, by a pedal switch the mirror 5 a ... η is engaged and the beam generated by the power laser 3 passes using the same optical axis on the marked spot and divides the plants in a prescribed manner.

The inventive design of this arrangement allows a substantial difference between the wavelengths of the emitted radiation of the laser 1 and 3. For the protection of the operator, an aperture 8 impermeable to the wavelength of the power laser 3 is used.

The execution of the cut takes place in a sterile environment, for which a germ-free gas stream 10, preferably nitrogen, provides assurance. The supplied gas is removed via a suction device 11. The cutting zone is additionally illuminated by a lighting device 9. Taking advantage of the mobility of the mirror 5, a multiple use of the arrangement according to the invention is possible, with only one laser 1 and 3 needed and each cutting station for the power laser 3 an optionally engageable mirror 5a ... η is assigned.

Claims (3)

1. A method and apparatus for the sterile cutting of plant material for vegetative propagation in vitro by means of laser beams, characterized in that by means of a laser emitting in the visible range, the future cutting position using a arranged in a Strahlumlenkeinrichtung, periodically oscillating in a plane , Focusing mirror is marked that the plant material to be divided by means of an electronically controlled table, which can perform preferably two linear movements and a rotary motion is brought into the required position and that in accordance with the required cutting position, the coupling of the radiation of a power laser by means of an engageable mirror and using the already mentioned beam deflecting device for cutting the plant material, wherein the plant material is in a sterile stream of inert gas, which is sucked through a trigger. 2. A method and apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the radiation of the laser emitting in the visible region is divided by a suitable assembly for marking the interfaces on a plurality of cutting stations, wherein the radiation of the power laser by means of either separately at each cutting station operable devices for cutting the plant material is deflected. 3. The method and apparatus according to claim 1 and / or 2, characterized in that the generated laser power, in particular that of the power laser, is collected in the time domain without the need of the cutting stations in a heat sink.