Apparatus, method and system for creating, handling, collecting and indexing seed and seed portions from plant seed

An apparatus for creating, handling and collecting seed portions comprising:

• a carrier having one or more carrying positions adapted to position and orient a seed;
• a manifold having a plurality of conduits, the conduits in communication with the carrying positions;
• and
• the conduits adapted to communicate a portion of the seed away from the carrying position in the carrier for collection.

An apparatus adapted to handle seed and portions removed from the seed for collection in an efficient and high throughput manner after ablating the seed in a seed ablation device, the apparatus comprising:

• a seed manifold with conduits for communicating seed and seed portions into separate collectors;
• and
• the seed manifold comprising:
• a. a first surface adapted to dock a carrier thereon, the carrier adapted to position and orient seed within apertures in the carrier in communication with the plurality of conduits in the seed manifold;
• and
• b. a second surface adapted to dock the collector thereto, the collector having compartments in communication with the plurality of conduits in the seed manifold.

A method for creating, handling and collecting seed portions comprising:

• taking a carrier having one or more carrying positions;
• positioning and orienting a seed relative to the carrying position in the carrier;
• ablating the seed with a seed ablation device;
• and
• communicating seed sample and sampled seed through manifolds into collectors.

A method for creating, handling and collecting seed portions comprising:

• coating a crown portion of a seed with a magnetically responsive material;
• taking a carrier having one or more carrying positions;
• positioning and orienting the crown portion of the seed relative to the carrying position in the carrier with a magnet;
• ablating the seed with the seed ablation device to create a seed portion;
• communicating the seed portions through a plurality of conduits in a manifold into a plurality of compartments in a compartment layer;
• and
• retaining the other seed portions at the carrying positions in the carrier for collection in a collector.

A method for handling seed and seed portions removed from the seed in an efficient and high throughput manner, the method comprising:

• providing a seed manifold having a plurality of conduits there-through, a partition member dividing a portion of each conduit into first and second partitions, and a slot for accommodating a plate;
• docking a seed carrier on top of the seed manifold, the carrier having seed pre-positioned and pre-oriented within apertures in the seed carrier;
• ablating the seed with a seed ablation device to create the seed portion;
• passing energy exiting the seed through the first partition out the bottom of the seed manifold;
• and
• capturing the seed portion in the second partition to prevent inadvertent exposure to direct or reflected energy from the seed ablation device.