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US 5,334,229 AGranted
Alginate gel bead
AssigneeKirin Beer Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYuji Sakamoto
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Abstract
Methods and materials are provided for the improved production of gel beads useful for encapsulating plant reproductive units.
Claims17
A method for producing a gel bead for encapsulating a plant propagule, which bead possesses the capability of self-breaking, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a gel bead comprising complexed alginate;
- (b) removing excess complexing agent from said gel bead;
- (c) treating said gel bead with a solution containing at least one monovalent cation salt selected from the group consisting of sodium salts, potassium salts, and ammonium salts;
- and
- (d) removing excess monovalent cation salt from said gel bead thereby causing said bead to break open after sowing.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.