Manufactured seed cotyledon restraint

An improved manufactured seed comprising a unit of totipotent plant tissue having a shoot end, the improvement comprising a restraint enclosing at least the shoot end that resists penetration by the shoot end during germination, permits access of the plant tissue to gases and liquids, is contacted by the shoot end substantially at onset of germination, and is shed distally off the shoot end during germination.

A manufactured seed comprising:

• (a) totipotent plant tissue having a shoot end;
• and
• (b) a gas- and liquid-permeable restraint having an open end and a closed end, the closed end enclosing at least the shoot end of the totipotent plant tissue such that the shoot end is oriented toward the closed end, wherein, substantially at onset of germination, the shoot end contacts the restraint without penetrating the restraint and urges the restrain to be shed distally off the shoot end during germination.

A method for germinating a unit of totipotent plant tissue, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a manufactured seed comprising (i) a unit of totipotent plant tissue having a shoot end and (ii) a restraint, enclosing at least the shoot end, that resists penetration by the shoot end during germination, permits access of the totipotent plant tissue to gases and liquids, is contacted by the shoot end substantially at onset of germination, and is shed distally off the shoot end during germination;
• and
• (b) incubating the manufactured seed under conditions that cause the totipotent plant tissue to germinate and produce a germinant.

A method of making a manufactured seed, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing totipotent plant tissue having a shoot
• (b) enclosing at least the shoot end of the totipotent plant tissue with a restraint that (i) resists penetration by the shoot end during germination, (ii) permits access of the totipotent plant tissue to gases and liquids, (iii) is contacted by the shoot end substantially at onset of germination, and (iv) is shed distally off the shoot end during germination.

A method of making a manufactured seed comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing totipotent plant tissue having a shoot end;
• (b) enclosing at least the shoot end of the totipotent plant tissue with a restraint:
• (c) disposing the totipotent plant tissue proximate a hydrated gel, wherein the restraint prevents penetration of the gel by the shoot end of the totipotent plant tissue upon germination of the totipotent plant tissue and permits liquid transfer from the gel to the totipotent plant tissue.