New global opportunities for in vitro automation at SweTree technologies AB

Purpose and goal

The goal of this project has been to broaden the fields of application of SweTree´s automation technology for in vitro propagation to other species and propagation systems outside somatic embryogenesis in Norway Spruce. The modifications to the bioreactor, disperser and separator, and development of a planting concept have been components of the technology that has been successfully tested showing potential for broad applications. In the planting system, the a tool for proof-of-concept has been fabricated and tested.

Results and expected effects

A control system has been invented to control and regulate the rate of embryo separation after dispersion, and transfer to the deposition section regardless of the shape and size of the embryo. The system is based on object oriented image autocorrelation where the rate of transfer is based on the object count and speed. The object speed is determined based on pattern autocorrelation, therefore the same method can be applied to species other than Norway Spruce. The control system has been tested and the results show consistent operation with flow through regulation.

Approach and implementation

In order to apply the method broadly to species other than Norway Spruce, it was decided to make the approach independent of the embryo shape and morphology. The image correlation was therefore presented and a viable concept for a robust implementation. In order to capture and analyze the image in time for a feed-back control of the embryo flow through, a program in C was developed as a module interacting with LabView to speed up the autocorrelation calculations. The analysis shows that the flow through of the embryos can be controlled despite the embryo shape and size.