# US 9,433,161 B2 · Large scale method for dispensing grains of pollen > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,161 B2 - Document ID: US9433161B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/672,120 - Filed: 2012-11-08 - Published: 2013-05-16 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-11 - Assignees: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. - Applicants: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. - Inventors: Jason M. Cope; Todd L. Krone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433161B2 ## CPC - A01H 1/027: {Apparatus for pollination} - A01H: NEW PLANTS OR {NON-TRANSGENIC} PROCESSES FOR OBTAINING THEM; PLANT REPRODUCTION BY TISSUE CULTURE TECHNIQUES ## Abstract A method is provided for bulk pollination of a plurality of plants. In various embodiments, the method includes collecting a plurality of known grains of pollen, loading the plurality of known grains of pollen into a bulk pollen distributing apparatus, sensing a target pollination location of each of the plurality of plants using an electronic sensor, and distributing the known grains of pollen to the plurality of plants with the bulk pollen distributing apparatus when the electronic sensor senses the target pollination location of each of the plants within a predefined proximity, thereby pollinating the plurality of plants. A plurality of plants may be prepared for controlled pollination by preventing pollination of the plurality of plants by an alternate pollen source. Known grains of pollen may be dispensed to create predetermined gamete crosses with known plants. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for pollination of one or more plants, comprising: collecting a plurality of known grains of pollen; loading the plurality of known grains of pollen into a bulk pollen distributing apparatus; preparing the one or more plants for controlled pollination by preventing pollination of the one or more plants by an alternate pollen source; sensing a target pollination location of each of the one or more plants using an electronic sensor; and distributing the known grains of pollen to the one or more plants with the bulk pollen distributing apparatus, thereby pollinating the one or more plants. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein distributing the known grains of pollen to the one or more plants occurs when the electronic sensor senses the target pollination location of the one or more plants within a predefined proximity. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more plants comprises one or more corn plants. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more plants comprises a plurality of plants, and wherein distributing the known grains of pollen with the bulk pollen distributing apparatus comprises distributing the known grains of pollen to the plurality of plants with a field sprayer. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more plants comprises one or more corn plants, and wherein preventing pollination of the one or more plants by an alternate pollen source comprises covering silks of the one or more corn plants. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more plants comprises one or more corn plants, and wherein preventing pollination of the one or more plants by an alternate pollen source comprises detasseling the one or more corn plants. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein preventing pollination of the one or more plants by an alternate pollen source comprises genetically sterilizing the one or more plants so that the one or more plants do not produce viable pollen. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more plants comprises one or more corn plants, and wherein preventing pollination of the one or more plants by an alternate pollen source comprises genetically predisposing the one or more corn plants to begin silk emergence at a first time and to begin shedding pollen at a second time, wherein the first time and the second time differ. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising planting the one or more plants in a crop production plot. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more plants comprises a first plurality of plants, and further comprising planting a second plurality of plants in a pollen production plot from which the known grains of pollen are collected. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the crop production plot is separate from the pollen production plot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the second plurality of plants are genetically configured to shed the known grains of pollen before at least one of silk emergence of the first plurality of plants or pollen shedding of the first plurality of plants. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more plants comprises one or more known plants, and wherein distributing the known grains of pollen comprises pollinating the one or more known plants to create a predetermined gamete cross. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more plants comprises a plurality of plants, and distributing the known grains of pollen with the pollen distributing apparatus comprises distributing the known grains of pollen through a manifold configured to direct the known grains of pollen to two or more rows of the plurality of plants. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising preserving the known grains of pollen prior to distributing the known grains of pollen. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein preserving the known grains of pollen comprises controlling a humidity level to which the known grains of pollen are exposed. ### Claim 17 A method for pollination of one or more corn plants, comprising: collecting a plurality of known grains of pollen; loading the plurality of known grains of pollen into a bulk pollen distributing apparatus; preparing the one or more corn plants for controlled pollination by covering silks of the one or more corn plants to prevent pollination of the one or more corn plants by an alternate pollen source; sensing a target pollination location of each of the one or more corn plants using an electronic sensor, and distributing the known grains of pollen to the one or more corn plants with the bulk pollen distributing apparatus, thereby pollinating the one or more corn plants. ### Claim 18 A system for pollinating one or more plants, comprising: a bulk pollen distributing apparatus configured to receive a plurality of known grains of pollen, wherein the bulk pollen distributing apparatus comprises an electronic sensor configured to sense a target pollination location of each of the one or more plants, wherein the bulk pollen distributing apparatus is configured to distribute the known grains of pollen to the one or more plants to pollinate the one or more plants; and means for preventing pollination of the one or more plants by an alternate pollen source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system of claim 18, wherein the one or more plants comprise one or more corn plants, and wherein the means for preventing pollination of the one or more plants by an alternate pollen source is selected from the group consisting of: one or more bags, wherein the one or more bags are configured to cover silks of the one or more corn plants; means for detasseling the one or more corn plants; means for genetically sterilizing the one or more corn plants so that the one or more corn plants do not produce viable pollen; and means for genetically predisposing the one or more corn plants to begin silk emergence at a first time and to begin shedding pollen at a second time, wherein the first time and the second time differ. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The system of claim 19, wherein the bulk pollen distributing apparatus comprises: a mobile carrier; at least one storage container configured to receive the known grains of pollen; and a plurality of pollen applicators attached to the mobile carrier and positioned in communication with the at least one storage container, wherein each pollen applicator of the plurality of pollen applicators comprises a respective electronic sensor and a spray nozzle, wherein each respective electronic sensor of the plurality of pollen applicators is configured to sense a target pollination location on a corn plant of the one or more corn plants, and wherein the plurality of pollen applicators are configured to receive the known grains of pollen from the at least one storage container and to apply the known grains of pollen to the one or more corn plants through the spray nozzles of the plurality of pollen applicators.