Needleless inoculation

A method for inflicting a plurality of wounds to the tissues of plants, said method comprising:

• positioning at least one grit spray nozzle of an automated mobile plant wounding system at a selected height above a ground surface from which a plurality of plants are growing;
• transporting the mobile plant wounding system across the ground surface such that the plants pass beneath or adjacent and the at least one grit spray nozzle;
• and
• spraying the plants with a grit medium consisting essentially of particulate matter dispensed from the at least one grit spray nozzle as the plants pass beneath or adjacent the at least one grit spray nozzle to inflict a plurality of wounds to the tissue of a plurality of surfaces of the plants.

An automated mobile plant wounding system for inflicting a plurality of wounds to the tissues of plants, said system comprising:

• a chassis frame connectable to a mobile platform;
• a plurality of wheels rotatably connected to the chassis frame such that the mobile plant wounding system can be transported across a ground surface from which a plurality of plants are growing;
• and
• a grit blasting subsystem mounted to the chassis frame, the grit blasting subsystem including at least one grit spray nozzle that is positionable at a selected height above the ground surface and at a location such that plants pass beneath or adjacent the at least one grit spray nozzle when the mobile plant wounding system is transported across the ground surface, the grit blasting subsystem structured and operable to spray the plants, as the plants pass beneath or adjacent the at least one grit spray nozzle when the mobile plant wounding system is transported across the ground surface, with a grit medium consisting essentially of particulate matter dispensed from the at least one grit spray nozzle to inflict a plurality of wounds to the tissue of a plurality of surfaces of the plants.