Device and method for screening a plant population for wind damage resistance traits

A device for applying a wind force to a plurality of plants in an agricultural environment comprising:

• a vehicle for moving the device relative to the plurality of plants;
• a generating device carried by the vehicle for generating a moving fluid stream providing the wind force;
• a directing device in fluid communication with said generating device for directing the moving fluid stream towards a portion of at least one of the plurality of plants;
• a controller in communication with said generating device and said directing device for controlling at least one parameter of the moving fluid stream such that the at least one of the plurality of plants may be evaluated with respect to a wind-resistant physical characteristic.

A method for applying a wind force to a plurality of plants in an agricultural environment, the method comprising:

• generating a moving fluid stream providing the wind force;
• directing the moving fluid stream towards a portion of at least one of the plurality of plants;
• controlling at least one parameter of the moving fluid stream;
• and
• evaluating at least one of the plurality of plants with respect to a wind-resistant physical characteristic.