Automated systems for removing tissue samples from seeds, and related methods

A seed sampling system, comprising:

• an automated seed loading assembly operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds, the seed loading assembly including multiple orientation units disposed along a first axis, each of the orientation units configured to orient one of the singulated seeds in a desired position;
• an automated seed sampling assembly having multiple samplers disposed along a second axis generally parallel to the first axis, each of the multiple samplers configured to remove a tissue sample from one of the oriented seeds;
• and
• an automated seed transport assembly operable to receive the oriented seeds from the orientation units of the seed loading assembly and transfer the oriented seeds from the orientation units to the samplers of the seed sampling assembly, the automated seed transport assembly configured to rotate about an axis generally parallel to the first axis and the second axis to transfer the oriented seeds from the orientation units to the samplers.

An automated method for removing tissue samples from seeds, the method comprising:

• receiving individual seeds in multiple orientation units of an automated seed loading assembly, the orientation units disposed along a first axis;
• orienting the individual seeds in the orientation units at about the same time;
• after the individual seeds are oriented, receiving each of the oriented seeds in an automated seed transport assembly and transferring each of the oriented seeds, by the seed transport assembly, from the orientation units to a corresponding one of multiple samplers of an automated seed sampling assembly disposed along a second axis generally parallel to the first axis, by rotating about an axis generally parallel to the first axis and the second axis;
• and
• removing tissue samples from the transferred seeds at the samplers.