Supports for Centrifuging Plants and Methods of Supporting Plants During Centrifugation

Abstract

A plant support for centrifuging plants comprises at least first and second portions that are configurable in a closed configuration that defines an internal cavity adapted to radially support plants in a manner at least partially preventing the plants from deforming or changing orientation during centrifugation. The first and second portions are also configurable in an open configuration that allows the plants to be inserted between the at least first and second portions into what becomes the internal cavity from the side rather than axially. Another plant support comprises a plurality of plant support rods that are removably attached to a platform that holds the plant support rods perpendicular to the platform and parallel to each other during centrifugation. A method involves supporting a plant radially relative to the g-loading during centrifugation such that a treatment agent remains in contact with only a portion of the plant.

1 . A plant support for centrifuging plants, the plant support being configured and adapted to be at least partially positioned within a cup having an open top, the plant support having a primary axis configured to be aligned perpendicular to the top of the cup when the plant support is at least partially positioned within the cup, the plant support comprising at least first and second portions, the at least first and second portions being configurable in a closed configuration relative to each other when at least partially positioned within the cup in a manner defining an internal cavity, the internal cavity having a shape configured and adapted to radially support plants that are at least partially positioned therein relative to the primary axis in a manner at least partially preventing the plants from deforming or changing orientation during centrifugation, the at least first and second portions being configurable in an open configuration relative to each other when the plant support is external to the cup in a manner such that plants can be inserted between the at least first and second portions into what becomes the internal cavity from a direction radial to the primary axis. 
     
     
         2 . A plant support in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the plant support comprises a base wall that bounds the bottom of the internal cavity when the at least first and second portions are configured in the closed configuration and that comprises drainage openings. 
     
     
         3 . A plant support in accordance with  claim 2  wherein the plant support is configured and adapted such that the base wall of the plant support maintains an offset from a bottom wall of the cup when the plant support is at least partially positioned within the cup in a manner creating a space between the base wall of the plant support and the bottom wall of the cup, and the plant support further comprises a drainage tube that allows fluid to be vacuumed out of the space between the base wall of the plant support and the bottom wall of the cup and through the open top of the cup when the plant support is at least partially positioned within the cup. 
     
     
         4 . A plant support in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the at least first and second portions of the plant support are hinged to each other about an axis parallel to the primary axis. 
     
     
         5 . A plant support in accordance with  claim 1  wherein the at least first and second portions of the plant support each comprise an outer wall and resiliently deflectable plant engagement members, and the plant engagement members are able to resiliently deflect radially outward relative to the primary axis and toward the respective outer wall. 
     
     
         6 . A plant support for centrifuging plants, the plant support having a platform and a plurality of elongate plant support rods, the platform being configured and adapted to support the plurality of elongate plant support rods in a vertical orientation relative to the platform, the elongate plant support rods being selectively removable from the platform by vertically lifting the plant support rods relative to the platform, the plant support further comprising a plurality of seed support protrusions that are each fixed to a respective one of the plant support rods and that each protrude radially outward from a side of the respective one of the plant support rods, the seed support protrusions remaining fixed to the plant support rods when the plant support rods are removed from the platform. 
     
     
         7 . A plant support in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the plant support rods have a polygonal transverse cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . A plant support in accordance with  claim 5  wherein each of the seed support protrusions is rotationally fixed to its respective one of the plant support rods. 
     
     
         9 . A plant support in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the platform comprises a base wall and the seed support protrusions are above and spaced from the base wall of the platform when the plant support rods are supported by the platform. 
     
     
         10 . A plant support in accordance with  claim 5  wherein the plant support comprises a lifting member that is secured to the platform and that extends above the plant support rods, and is configured and adapted to serve as a handle for lifting and lowering the platform and plant support rods collectively from above the plant support rods. 
     
     
         11 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of infusing plant tissue with a liquid treatment agent, the method comprising:
 centrifuging a plant in a receptacle of a swing-bucket centrifuge, the plant being secured within the receptacle of the swing-bucket centrifuge such that the plant is held in a particular orientation relative to g-loading acting on the plant as a result of the centrifuging, the receptacle comprising an amount of the liquid treatment agent that is sufficient to submerge a portion of the plant therein while leaving a remaining portion of the plant unsubmerged during the centrifuging.   
     
     
         18 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the plant is secured to a rod within the receptacle that maintains an orientation parallel to the g-loading during the centrifuging. 
     
     
         19 . A method in accordance with  claim 18  further comprising removing the rod with the plant secured thereto from the receptacle following the centrifuging. 
     
     
         20 . A method in accordance with  claim 17  wherein the plant is held within an internal cavity of a plant support apparatus that is positioned within the receptacle during the centrifuging, and further comprising removing the plant support apparatus with the plant therein from the receptacle following the centrifuging. 
     
     
         21 . A method in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the plant support apparatus comprises at least first and second portions that are configurable in a closed configuration and an open configuration relative to each other, the plant support apparatus being secured in the closed configuration during the centrifuging, and further comprising:
 adjusting the at least first and second portions of the plant support apparatus from the closed configuration to the open configuration after removing the plant support apparatus from the receptacle following the centrifuging; and thereafter 
 removing the plant from the plant support apparatus while the at least first and second portions of the plant support apparatus are in the open configuration 
 
     
     
         22 . A method in accordance with  claim 21  wherein the at least first and second portions of the plant support apparatus are hingedly attached to each other and the adjusting of the at least first and second portions of the plant support apparatus from the closed configuration to the open configuration comprises hingedly swinging the at least first and second portions of the plant support apparatus relative to each other.