Portable plant cultivation and observation device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a portable plant cultivation and observation device which comprises a group of cultivation vertical plates used for cultivating miniature plants and a support used for placing the cultivation vertical plates. The culture vertical plate is provided with a hollow internal space which is used for filling a micro plant culture medium; two opposite side surfaces of the culture vertical plate are transparent plate surfaces, the top is open, and the bottom is closed; the culture vertical plate is detachably arranged in the bracket through an assembly type structure. The device can effectively promote the vertical growth of the plant root system, so that the root system can be more clearly observed under a microscope. Meanwhile, the light receiving conditions of the plants are indirectly optimized through the design of the vertical plates of the device, it is ensured that the miniature plants can receive light uniformly in the illumination incubator, and the problem that illumination is not uniform in the traditional culture process is solved. In addition, the portability and operability of the device are remarkably improved, the device is suitable for various laboratory scenes, and the operation simplicity and observation efficiency in the whole process of seed germination, transplanting and growth can be greatly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the technical field of plant cultivation equipment, specifically relating to a portable plant cultivation and observation device. Background Technology

[0002] Miniature plants are plants that are small in size, typically within a few centimeters, and encompass a variety of plant types, including ferns, algae, cacti, and succulents. Among miniature plants, Arabidopsis thaliana (… Arabidopsis thaliana As an important model plant, it is widely used in plant biology research. Due to its small size, short lifespan, and simple genome, it is widely applied in research fields such as plant gene function studies, growth and development regulation, stress response mechanisms, protein network analysis, and transgenic technology. Its cultivation and observation are of great significance to researchers in these scientific research fields, including but not limited to those mentioned above.

[0003] Although many mature technologies and equipment are available for the cultivation of microplants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, some technical shortcomings and deficiencies remain in terms of convenience, accuracy, and ease of operation. For example, existing plant cultivation equipment is usually large in size, and space utilization is a critical issue, especially in microplant research. While growth chambers and cultivation racks can provide relatively ideal environmental control functions (such as temperature, humidity, and light), their bulky size makes them unsuitable for small laboratories or portable research settings. Traditional plant cultivation methods—soil culture—usually involve sowing Arabidopsis thaliana seeds in large containers (such as flowerpots) containing a mixture of nutrient soil, vermiculite, and sand, and cultivating them under suitable temperature, humidity, soil moisture, and light conditions. Although this method can simulate the natural growth environment of microplants well and is suitable for observing the overall growth of plants, these devices occupy a lot of space, and the management of the culture medium is relatively complex. In addition, soil culture devices are not easy to move, making it difficult for researchers to flexibly cultivate and observe microplants in different scenarios (such as field experiments or teaching).

[0004] Traditional microplant culture devices typically employ petri dishes or tissue culture flasks. However, due to the small size of microplants such as Arabidopsis thaliana in their early germination stages, traditional devices often require microscopes for precise observation of plant growth. This is primarily because the roots of microplants inoculated in petri dishes usually grow along the thickness of the dish, while achieving radial growth is technically challenging, and the design of petri dishes or tissue culture flasks is not conducive to direct observation under a microscope. In practice, when plant roots do not grow in an easily observable direction, researchers may need to remove the plant from the culture medium for observation, which not only increases operational complexity but may also adversely affect continuous plant growth. Furthermore, placing microplants inoculated in petri dishes or tissue culture flasks vertically in a light incubator using existing dish supports can easily lead to uneven light distribution due to light obstruction, further affecting plant growth. Therefore, traditional culture methods have many limitations in the cultivation and observation of microplants; they are not only cumbersome but also prone to interfering with the plant's growth environment (such as changes in temperature and humidity), thus negatively impacting experimental results. Furthermore, traditional observation methods typically rely on manual data collection and recording, which is labor-intensive and prone to errors. Although some advanced equipment is equipped with automated recording functions, it is expensive, and most still lack the ability to dynamically observe key parts of the plant, such as the root system and cell structure. In summary, traditional culture and observation methods have significant shortcomings in terms of efficiency, convenience, and accuracy. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Purpose of the utility model: The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a new type of miniature plant laboratory culture and observation device to address the shortcomings of the existing technology and solve the problems of convenience and observation in the traditional plant culture process.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by this utility model is as follows:

[0007] A portable plant cultivation and observation device includes a set of cultivation plates for cultivating micro-plants and a support for placing the cultivation plates; the cultivation plates have a hollow internal space for filling with micro-plant culture medium; the opposite sides of the cultivation plates are transparent, the top is open and the bottom is closed; the cultivation plates are detachably placed in the support by assembly.

[0008] Specifically, the cultivation stand has a square main panel with two transparent glass sides. The main panel maximizes space utilization, and one of the larger sides is a transparent plane, facilitating observation of the plant root system during experiments.

[0009] Furthermore, a cover is provided at the top opening of the culture stand, and the cover can be detachably closed onto the top opening of the culture stand.

[0010] Furthermore, the cover plate and the top opening of the culture plate are connected by a stepped fit.

[0011] Furthermore, a cover ring is installed at the center of the top of the cover; the cover ring is integrally formed with the cover or is connected by a separate assembly. The cover ring facilitates opening and closing, making it convenient for inoculating plant seeds; the cover can be put on after inoculation.

[0012] Furthermore, each of the top two ends of the main body plate is provided with a lifting lug, which is used to install the plate in conjunction with the bracket. The lifting lug facilitates the suspension and movement of the cultivation plate, enhancing its ease of operation, especially when frequent transplanting or adjustment of plant positions is required during experiments.

[0013] Furthermore, at least one side of the main body plate has a grid of horizontal and vertical lines engraved on its transparent surface, which facilitates precise positioning and measurement under a microscope.

[0014] Furthermore, a sealing film for filtering bacteria is provided at the top opening of the culture stand. This sealing film, located below the cover, prevents bacteria from entering and thus avoids interference with plant growth. The sealing film is made of materials with good sealing properties, a certain degree of air permeability, good processing performance, and safety and durability, including but not limited to silicone, rubber, polyurethane, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). The culture stand and support are made of materials with excellent optical properties, physicochemical properties, processing performance, and safety, including but not limited to glass, transparent polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic), polycarbonate (PC), and polystyrene (PS). The total thickness of the culture stand ranges from 4 to 10 mm (including the thickness of the side observation plate, which is generally 0.15 to 0.22 mm thick; specific embodiments can refer to the thickness settings of the slides and coverslips). The thickness of the support is 5 to 15 mm. This type of material not only has high transparency, which is beneficial for observing the growth of plant roots, but also has good chemical stability, making it suitable for use in laboratory environments.

[0015] Specifically, the bracket includes a channel-shaped main body frame with a top opening and a crossbeam. The crossbeam is horizontally supported between two opposite inner walls of the channel-shaped main body frame. The two ends of the crossbeam are fixed to the inner wall of the channel-shaped main body frame by means of insertion, tenon and mortise connection, threaded connection, rivet connection or press-fit connection.

[0016] Furthermore, a set of positioning grooves is reserved at the top of the trough-shaped main body frame; the culture stand is vertically inserted into the trough-shaped main body frame, and is limited by the lifting lugs at both ends of the top of the culture stand in cooperation with the positioning grooves, thereby realizing the assembly of the culture stand on the support. The support is designed with equidistant grooves, which enhances the stability of the culture stand during use. The groove size of the support matches the culture stand, so that the stand can be firmly fixed and avoids data deviation caused by shaking during the experiment.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0018] (1) This culture device not only supports the culture of conventional micro-plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, but can also be adapted to the experimental needs of other micro-plants by adjusting the size and shape of the culture stand. At the same time, the materials selected for the culture stand and support make the whole device lightweight, durable and cost-controllable, suitable for large-scale production and promotion.

[0019] (2) When the culture plate of this device is placed flat under the microscope to observe plants, a disposable, removable anti-slip rubber pad can be added to the contact surface between the culture plate and the microscope stage to ensure that the culture plate will not slide when observed under the microscope, thus maintaining stability and effectively improving the accuracy of operation under the microscope.

[0020] (3) This miniature plant laboratory culture device not only solves the problems of inconvenient operation and poor observation of traditional culture equipment, but also greatly improves the stability of the experiment and the convenience of operation, making it suitable for the diverse needs of researchers in different experimental scenarios.

[0021] (4) The portable micro plant culture and observation device addresses the issues of the convenience of observing the root system of micro plants when culturing them in laboratory culture media and the uniformity of light exposure in the light incubator. The device mainly uses a flat plate design to ensure that the roots of micro plants grow vertically and smoothly during the cultivation process, making it easier to observe them under a microscope. At the same time, it promotes uniform light exposure of micro plants when they are cultivated in the light incubator. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, and the advantages of the present invention in the above and / or other aspects will become clearer.

[0023] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional view of the entire device.

[0024] Figure 2 These are the front view and top view of the device.

[0025] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view of the culture plate in the device.

[0026] Figure 4 These are three views of the culture plate in the device.

[0027] Figure 5 This is a 3D view of the support structure in the device.

[0028] Figure 6 These are the front and top views of the support structure in the device.

[0029] The reference numerals in the attached figures represent:

[0030] 10-Cultivation stand; 101-Lifting lug; 102-Standard cover; 103-Cover ring; 104-Grid line; 105-Main board; 106-Sealing film;

[0031] 20-Bracket; 201-Crossbeam; 202-Positioning groove; 203-Channel-shaped main body outer frame. Detailed Implementation

[0032] The present invention can be better understood from the following embodiments.

[0033] The structures, proportions, and sizes shown in the accompanying drawings are merely for illustrative purposes and to aid those skilled in the art. They are not intended to limit the scope of this invention and therefore have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in proportions, or adjustments to size, provided they do not affect the effectiveness or purpose of this invention, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this invention. Furthermore, terms such as "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," and "middle" used in this specification are merely for clarity and not intended to limit the scope of this invention. Changes or adjustments to their relative relationships, without substantially altering the technical content, should also be considered within the scope of this invention.

[0034] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this portable plant cultivation and observation device includes a set of cultivation plates 10 for cultivating micro-plants and a support 20 for placing the cultivation plates 10. The cultivation plates 10 have a hollow internal space for filling with micro-plant culture medium. The two opposite sides of the cultivation plates 10 are transparent, with an open top and a closed bottom. The cultivation plates 10 are detachably placed in the support 20 by assembly. In this embodiment, a simple slot connection method is used for assembly. In other embodiments, the connection method can be mortise and tenon connection, threaded connection, riveting connection, or press-fit connection, etc.

[0035] Combination Figure 3 and Figure 4The cultivation plate 10 has a square main plate 105, but the cross-section can also be other three-dimensional shapes that meet the usage requirements. The transparent plates on both sides of the main plate 105 are made of glass. The total thickness of the main plate 105 is generally 4~10mm, and the thickness of the transparent plates on both sides is generally 0.15~0.22mm. For specific embodiments, the thickness of the slide and coverslip can be referenced to ensure clear imaging under the microscope. The main plate is conducive to maximizing space utilization, and one of the larger side surfaces is a transparent plane, which facilitates the observation of plant roots during experiments.

[0036] A cover 102 is also provided at the top opening of the culture plate 10, and the cover 102 can be detachably closed at the top opening of the culture plate 10.

[0037] The cover 102 is connected to the top opening of the culture plate 10 by a step-fitting method.

[0038] A cover ring 103 is also installed at the center of the top of the cover 102; the cover ring 103 is integrally formed with the cover 102 or is connected by a separate assembly. The cover ring facilitates opening and closing, making it convenient for inoculating plant seeds; the cover can be put on after inoculation. The cover ring 103 can be replaced with other shapes or other styles of opening designs.

[0039] The main body plate 105 has lifting lugs 101 at both ends of its top, which are used to install the support 20. The lifting lugs facilitate the hanging and moving of the cultivation plate, enhancing its ease of operation, especially when frequent transplanting or adjustment of plant positions is required in experiments.

[0040] At least one side of the transparent plate of the main body plate 105 is engraved with a grid of horizontal and vertical lines 104 to facilitate precise positioning and measurement under a microscope. The grid lines 104 are off-white or light gray, or other colors that are identifiable but do not affect plant observation; the grid thickness should generally not exceed 0.1 mm, and the grid side length can generally be designed to be 1~10 mm, which can be adjusted according to specific usage requirements.

[0041] A sealing film 106 for filtering bacteria is also provided at the top opening of the culture stand 10. The sealing film 106 is located below the cover 102 and can prevent bacteria from entering, thus avoiding interference with plant growth. The sealing film is made of materials with good sealing properties, a certain degree of air permeability, good processing performance, and safety and durability, including but not limited to silicone, rubber, polyurethane, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and nitrile rubber (NBR). The culture stand and support are made of materials with excellent optical properties, physicochemical properties, processing performance, and safety, including but not limited to glass, transparent polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA, acrylic), polycarbonate (PC), and polystyrene (PS). The total thickness of the culture stand ranges from 4 to 10 mm (including the thickness of the side observation plate, which is generally 0.15 to 0.22 mm thick; specific embodiments can refer to the thickness settings of the glass slide and coverslip). The thickness of the support is 5 to 15 mm. This type of material not only has high transparency, which is beneficial for observing the growth of plant roots, but also has good chemical stability, making it suitable for use in laboratory environments.

[0042] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6 In this utility model device, the support 20 includes a channel-shaped main frame 203 with a top opening and a crossbeam 201. The crossbeam 201 is horizontally supported between two opposite inner walls of the channel-shaped main frame 203. The two ends of the crossbeam 201 are fixed to the inner wall of the channel-shaped main frame 203 by means of insertion, tenon and mortise connection, threaded connection, riveting connection or press-fit connection. The cross-sectional shape of the crossbeam 201 is rectangular. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the crossbeam can be square, T-shaped, Γ-shaped, ⊥-shaped, I-shaped, L-shaped, etc.

[0043] The top of the trough-shaped main frame 203 is also reserved with a set of positioning slots 202. The culture plate 10 is vertically inserted into the trough-shaped main frame 203, and is limited by the cooperation of the lifting lugs 101 at both ends of the top of the culture plate 10 with the positioning slots 202, thereby realizing the assembly of the culture plate 10 on the support 20. The support is designed with equidistant grooves to enhance the stability of the culture plate during use. The groove size of the support matches the culture plate, so that the plate can be firmly fixed and avoids data deviation caused by shaking during the experiment. The number of positioning slots 202 is determined according to the use. The positioning slots are generally only slightly larger than the lifting lugs 101 of the culture plate 10 by 1-3mm to allow for manufacturing errors. The culture plate 10 installed on the support 20 should be relatively stable, and its movement in all directions except the upward direction should be restricted.

[0044] Compared with existing cultivation methods, this device has the following advantages:

[0045] The modular, detachable design enhances convenience: the device's support and culture plates are designed as modular, detachable structures, making installation and disassembly very convenient. This design not only facilitates daily cleaning, maintenance, and storage but also provides convenience for independent observation of individual culture plates. During experimental operations, users can quickly replace culture plates, simplifying experimental procedures and improving overall operational efficiency. Furthermore, the device has a compact structure, high space utilization, and its size is compatible with general light incubators or artificial climate incubators, making it widely applicable.

[0046] The thin-slide design of the culture plate simplifies the observation process: This device employs a thin-slide culture plate design, eliminating the need for temporary slides and significantly simplifying the microscopic observation process. Researchers can directly observe plant growth in real time through the culture plate without transferring or damaging the plants, ensuring data accuracy and experimental continuity, and improving the efficiency and effectiveness of experimental operations.

[0047] The cap and sealing design meet the needs of plant growth environment: one side of the culture plate has an open plane with a cap. This design is conducive to the inoculation of plant seeds during the experiment and the creation of a sterile or low-bacterial culture environment after inoculation. At the same time, it can ensure a certain level of air circulation during plant growth, effectively simulate the natural growth environment of plants, promote normal plant growth and development, and improve the repeatability and accuracy of the experiment.

[0048] The measuring grid facilitates precise microscopic manipulation: a measuring grid of fixed side lengths is evenly distributed on one side of the culture plate, providing a standard reference for observation and photography under the microscope. Researchers do not need to place additional rulers when taking microscopic images of plants, saving time and effort, and ensuring the accuracy of positioning during microscopic observation, making the experimental process more efficient.

[0049] The design of the culture stand and support promotes vertical root growth under gravity, allowing root development to be clearly and directly observed under a microscope. Furthermore, the overall structure of the apparatus is particularly well-suited for light-controlled incubators, especially the top-lit environment, ensuring uniform light exposure for plants and facilitating observation of plant growth under controlled light conditions. By optimizing the light and culture environment, the reliability and consistency of experimental data are ensured.

[0050] Overall, through its scientific structural design and material selection, this device significantly improves the efficiency and accuracy of the micro-plant cultivation and observation process, enhances the operator's experience, and effectively meets the needs of various micro-plant experiments.

[0051] In use, the detachable and thin design of the culture plate facilitates microscopic observation of plant growth without damaging the plants, eliminating the need for preparing temporary slides. The culture plate features a lid with a sealing ring, allowing for convenient seed inoculation; simply cover after inoculation without the need for additional sealing film. This effectively prevents bacterial entry without causing complete sealing and hindering plant growth. The culture plate is marked with a fixed-length grid for easy reference when observing and photographing plants under a microscope. The overall design of the culture plate and its placement on the support promote vertical root growth under gravity, facilitating observation of root development and ensuring uniform light exposure. This device is compact, portable, efficient, low-cost, and easy to observe.

[0052] This utility model provides a concept and method for a portable plant cultivation and observation device. Many methods and approaches exist for implementing this technical solution; the above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this utility model. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of this utility model, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this utility model. All components not explicitly stated in this embodiment can be implemented using existing technology.

Claims

1. A portable plant growing and viewing device, characterized by, The utility model provides a culture stand for cultivating micro plant, which comprises a culture stand (10) for cultivating micro plant and a bracket (20) for placing the culture stand (10); the culture stand (10) has a hollow inner space for filling micro plant culture medium; the culture stand (10) is open at the top and closed at the bottom, and the opposite sides are transparent; and the culture stand (10) is detachably placed in the bracket (20) by assembly.

2. The portable plant culturing and observing device of claim 1, wherein, The culture stand (10) has a square main plate (105), and the transparent side plates of the main plate (105) are made of glass.

3. The portable plant culturing and observing device of claim 1, wherein, The culture stand (10) is further provided with a plate cover (102) at the top opening, and the plate cover (102) is detachably covered on the top opening of the culture stand (10).

4. The portable plant culturing and observing device of claim 3, wherein, The plate cover (102) is connected with the top opening of the culture stand (10) by means of step cooperation.

5. The portable plant culturing and observing device of claim 3, wherein, The plate cover (102) is further provided with a cover ring (103) at the top center, and the cover ring (103) is integrally formed with the plate cover (102) or connected by separate assembly.

6. The portable plant culturing and observing device of claim 2, wherein, The main plate (105) is further provided with a lifting lug (101) at each end of the top, and the lifting lug (101) is connected with the bracket (20).

7. The portable plant culturing and observing device of claim 2, wherein, The main plate (105) is further provided with a grid line (104) composed of horizontal and vertical lines on at least one transparent side plate.

8. The portable plant culturing and observing device of claim 3, wherein, The culture stand (10) is further provided with a sealing film (106) for filtering bacteria at the top opening, and the sealing film (106) is located below the plate cover (102).

9. The portable plant culturing and viewing device of claim 1, wherein, The bracket (20) comprises a slot-shaped main outer frame (203) and a crossbeam (201), the crossbeam (201) is horizontally supported between the two opposite inner walls of the slot-shaped main outer frame (203), and the two ends of the crossbeam (201) are fixed in the inner wall of the slot-shaped main outer frame (203) by means of plug-in connection, mortise and tenon connection, screw connection, rivet connection or press-fit connection.

10. The portable plant culturing and viewing device of claim 9, wherein, The top of the slot-shaped main outer frame (203) is further provided with a set of positioning grooves (202), the culture stand (10) is vertically inserted into the slot-shaped main outer frame (203), and the culture stand (10) is limited by the cooperation between the lifting lug (101) at the two ends of the top of the culture stand (10) and the positioning groove (202), so as to realize the assembly of the culture stand (10) on the bracket (20).

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