US 2015/0177129 A1 · SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR ANALYSIS OF A GUAYULE PLANT IN SITU

Abstract

A system and method for in-field near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis of rubber and resin concentrations a guayule plant is provided. The system includes a wagon or other vehicle with the NIRS device mounted on the wagon. A computer or processor electrically coupled to the NIRS device is also housed within an area or extension of the wagon. During measurement of a guayule plant in the field, a guayule plant covering is placed over the guayule plant and a light shield coupled to the NIRS device is inserted into an opening on the guayule plant covering. The NIRS device is configured to perform a reading of the guayule plant within the plant covering and communicate results of the reading to the computer. A calibration equation is then preferably applied to the guayule plant readings to produce the rubber and resin concentrations of the guayule plant.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A system for in-field near infrared analysis of a guayule plant in situ, comprising:

a wagon comprising a body frame and one or more wheels;
a power source coupled to the wagon;
a near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) device positioned on the wagon and comprising a detector, the NIRS device electrically coupled to the power source, and configured to operably couple to a processor;
a light shield coupled to the NIRS device proximate the detector;
and
a guayule plant covering sized to fit over the guayule plant, the guayule plant covering comprising a hole extending through a sidewall and configured to inhibit substantially all light from entering the guayule plant covering when the guayule plant covering is placed over a guayule plant and the light shield is adjacent the hole.

3 more elements

A method of selecting preferred guayule plants for breeding, comprising

placing a guayule plant covering over a guayule plant in situ, the guayule plant covering comprising a hole extending through a sidewall;
aligning a detector of a NIRS device positioned on a wagon with a hole extending through the guayule plant covering;
activating the NIRS device to determine a spectra reading of the guayule plant in situ;
communicating the spectra reading of the guayule plant to a processor operably coupled to the NIRS device;
applying the spectra reading of the guayule plant to a calibration equation with the processor to determine a breeding attribute, the breeding attribute comprising at least one of a rubber concentration and a resin concentration of the guayule plant;
determining whether the breeding attribute is preferred for breeding;
and
selecting the guayule plant for breeding if the breeding attribute is preferred.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and apparatus for analysis of a guayule plant in situ

Life of this patent

System and apparatus for analysis of a guayule plant in situ

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21