Broccoli type adapted for ease of harvest

Abstract

A broccoli plant characterized in having an exerted head having a crown higher than the leaf canopy and a harvestable head of at least about 200 grams when planted at a density of 40,000 plants per hectare, where the harvestable head comprises the top 25 centimeters of said stalk.

1 - 63 . (canceled) 
   
   
       64 . A broccoli plant comprising a harvestable head weight of at least about 200 grams when planted at a density of 40,000 plants per hectare, wherein said plant produces no leaves or petioles each having a surface area greater than about 30 square centimeters within 25 centimeters of the crown. 
   
   
       65 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said no leaves or petioles have a surface area greater than about 20 square centimeters. 
   
   
       66 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said no leaves or petioles have a surface area greater than about 10 square centimeters. 
   
   
       67 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant produces no leaves or petioles within 25 centimeters of the crown. 
   
   
       68 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant produces a harvestable head of at least about 120 grams when planted at a density of 80,000 plants per hectare. 
   
   
       69 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant is cytoplasmically male sterile. 
   
   
       70 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant produces a harvestable head of at least about 250 grams when planted at a density of 40,000 plants per hectare. 
   
   
       71 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant produces a harvestable head of at least about 350 grams when planted at a density of 40,000 plants per hectare. 
   
   
       72 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant produces a harvestable head of at least about 150 grams when planted at a density of 80,000 plants per hectare. 
   
   
       73 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant produces a harvestable head of at least about 200 grams when planted at a density of 80,000 plants per hectare. 
   
   
       74 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant produces a uniformly green head having substantially no yellowing about the margin of the crown. 
   
   
       75 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said broccoli plant is selected from the group consisting of: the inbred broccoli plant variety designated 932779 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41218), the inbred broccoli plant variety designated 970249 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41219), the inbred broccoli plant variety designated 970195 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41216), the hybrid broccoli plant variety designated SVR 4 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41214), the hybrid broccoli plant variety designated SVR 1 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41215), and the hybrid broccoli plant variety designated SVR 5 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41217). 
   
   
       76 . The broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said plant variety is an inbred or a hybrid. 
   
   
       77 . A plurality of broccoli plants according to  claim 64  grown in a field of broccoli. 
   
   
       78 . The plurality of broccoli plants according to  claim 77 , wherein substantially all of said plants mature at the same time. 
   
   
       79 . The plurality of broccoli plants according to  claim 77 , wherein said mature plants grow to substantially the same height. 
   
   
       80 . A part of a broccoli plant according to  claim 64 . 
   
   
       81 . The part of a broccoli plant according to  claim 80 , wherein said part is a seed. 
   
   
       82 . The part of a broccoli plant according to  claim 80 , wherein said part is pollen or an ovule. 
   
   
       83 . The part of a broccoli plant according to  claim 80 , wherein said part is a severed broccoli head obtained by cutting the leafless stem at a predetermined position below the head. 
   
   
       84 . A progeny of a broccoli plant according to  claim 64 , wherein said progeny comprise a harvestable head weight of at least about 200 grams when planted at a density of 40,000 plants per hectare, wherein said plant produces no leaves or petioles each having a surface area greater than about 30 square centimeters within 25 centimeters of the crown. 
   
   
       85 . A progeny of a broccoli according to  claim 64 , wherein said progeny is selected from the group consisting of the inbred broccoli plant variety designated 932779 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41218), the inbred broccoli plant variety designated 970249 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41219), the inbred broccoli plant variety designated 970195 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41216), the hybrid broccoli plant variety designated SVR 4 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41214), the hybrid broccoli plant variety designated SVR 1 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41215), and the hybrid broccoli plant variety designated SVR 5 (deposited as NCIMB No. 41217). 
   
   
       86 . A broccoli plant produced by growing a seed according  claim 81 . 
   
   
       87 . A method of producing a crop of broccoli heads comprising growing a plurality of broccoli plants according to  claim 77  and harvesting the heads of said broccoli plants by 100% mechanical means, wherein said mechanical means comprises means for severing heads. 
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein said severing means is guided through said plurality of broccoli plants at a constant height above the soil. 
   
   
       89 . The method according to  claim 87 , wherein said mechanical means is a harvest machine comprising a blade at a predetermined position above the soil and comprising means for collecting the severed broccoli heads. 
   
   
       90 . A method of producing a broccoli crop comprising growing a plurality of broccoli plants according to  claim 77  and harvesting the heads of said broccoli plants by 100% mechanical means. 
   
   
       91 . A uniform assembly of severed broccoli heads obtainable by the method according to  claim 87 , characterized in that the stalks are leafless and have a predetermined length. 
   
   
       92 . A broccoli tissue culture produced from cells of the broccoli plant according to  claim 64 . 
   
   
       93 . The tissue culture according to  claim 92 , comprising cells or protoplasts from a tissue selected from the group consisting of leaves, pollen, embryos, roots, root tips, anthers, flowers, fruit, and seeds. 
   
   
       94 . A broccoli plant regenerated from the tissue culture of  claim 92  comprising a harvestable head of at least about 200 grams when planted at a density of 40,000 plants per hectare, wherein said broccoli plant produces no leaves or petioles each having a surface area greater than about 30 square centimeters within 25 centimeters of the crown.