Pollination device

Abstract

To provide a pollination device for easily and highly successfully artificially pollinating a plant having a pith at the stigma of a pistil, such as an Orchidaceae plant. [Solution] A pollination device 1 for a plant having a beak 30 on the stigma of a pistil 28, comprising a drive unit 3 that generates air sparseness and density to displace the position of the beak 30 that separates the stamens 27 and the pistil 28, and a pollination working unit 2 consisting of a cylindrical body connected to the drive unit 3, which stores at least the stamens 27, pistil 28 and beak 30 within the cylindrical body and propagates sparse and dense air while diffusing pollen 33 from the stamens 27 to pollinate the pistil 28.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pollination device for artificially pollinating plants having a rostellum on the stigma of the pistil. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, orchid plants such as vanilla have evolved to prevent self-pollination in order to maintain genetic diversity, and so have a structure with a spicule on the stigma of the pistil. Because of this structure, when artificially pollinating, it is necessary to remove or lift the spicule for each flower to make it easier to expose the stigma of the pistil, which is very time-consuming. Specifically, artificial pollination is carried out by lifting the spicule with a long, thin rod such as a toothpick or cotton swab, and then pressing the pollen from the stamen against the stigma of the pistil.

[0003] As a technique for efficiently performing artificial pollination, for example, the technique shown in Patent Document 1 is disclosed. The technique shown in Patent Document 1 includes a pollen storage tank that stores a mixture of liquid (water) and pollen, a suction tube that sucks in the mixture, a cluster generation unit that applies vibration to the sucked pollen mixed liquid to generate clusters of the pollen mixed liquid, electrodes that apply a voltage to the pollen mixed liquid, a nozzle that sprays clusters of the pollen mixed liquid to the outside to pollinate the pistil, and a control unit that controls the voltage applied to the electrodes, and the control unit controls the voltage appropriately according to the flowering state of the flower to be pollinated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2023-81536 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology described in Patent Document 1 had the problem that artificial pollination was difficult for plants that have pits on the stigma of the pistil because the pits blocked the sprayed pollen mixture and the pollen contained therein from scattering.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a pollination device that can effectively perform artificial pollination by displacing the position of the pitules by utilizing the air density variation, even in plants that have pitules on the stigma of the pistil, and diffusing pollen. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The pollination device of the present invention is a pollination device for plants having beaklets on the stigma of the pistil, and is equipped with a drive unit that generates air sparseness and density to displace the position of the beaklets that separate the stamens and pistil, and a pollination working unit consisting of a tubular body connected to the drive unit, which contains at least the stamens, pistil and beaklets within the tube of the tubular body and propagates the sparse and dense air while diffusing pollen from the stamens to pollinate the pistil.

[0008] In this way, the pollination device of the present invention is a pollination device for plants having a beak on the stigma of the pistil, in which the drive unit generates air sparseness and density that displaces the position of the beak that separates the stamens and pistil, and the pollination work unit consists of a tubular body connected to the drive unit, and with at least the stamens, pistil and beak contained within the tube of the tubular body, the air sparseness and density is propagated while diffusing pollen from the stamens to pollinate the pistil, so that when the beak is displaced away from the pistil, pollen can be spread in the space where it is separated to pollinate, thereby achieving the effect of being able to perform artificial pollination work very efficiently even with plants having beaks. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a vanilla flower. [Diagram 2]1 is a diagram showing the structure of a pollination device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state of the tip of a cylindrical body of a pollination working unit in the pollination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the state inside the pollination working section of the pollination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the movement distance of a piston in the pollination device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] (First embodiment of the present invention) The pollination device according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 5. The pollination device according to the present embodiment efficiently performs artificial pollination on plants having a beak. The beak is called a Rostellum, a beak-like projection, or the like, and is a membrane-like structure that plays a role in preventing self-pollination in the structure of the flower of an Orchidaceae plant (particularly the Vanilla genus). As described above, in the past, when artificial pollination was performed, the membrane-like beak was lifted and then the pollen was pressed against it. In this embodiment, the position of the beak is displaced by utilizing the density of air, and the pollen is dispersed in the space generated between the beak and the pistil, thereby efficiently performing the artificial pollination work. In the following embodiment, the subject of artificial pollination will be described as a vanilla flower.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a vanilla flower used in this embodiment. FIG. 1(A) is an overall view of a vanilla flower, and FIG. 1(B) is a view showing the internal structure of the labellum. A vanilla flower 20 has six petals, including an upper sepal 21 located on the upper side, a right sepal 22 located on the right side, a left sepal 23 located on the left side, a right lower sepal 24 located on the lower right, a left lower sepal 25 located on the lower left, and a labellum 26 (lip) located in the center. The labellum 26 has a special color and shape different from the other petals in order to attract insects that serve as pollinators.

[0012] Inside the labellum 26, a column 29, which is an organ containing the stamens 27 and the pistil 28, is formed, and in this column 29, a beaklet 30 is formed to prevent the stamens 27 and the pistil 28 from coming into direct physical contact with each other. As described above, in conventional manual artificial pollination, it is necessary to first lift the beaklet 30 with a toothpick or cotton swab, and then press the pollen of the stamens 27 against the pistil 28. This is a very delicate task that is difficult for the elderly, and since it must be done for each flower, it is an enormous amount of work.

[0013] It should be noted that the schematic diagram and name of the vanilla flower 20 shown in FIG. 1 are defined in this embodiment and may differ from common names.

[0014] 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the pollination device according to this embodiment. The pollination device 1 comprises a cylindrical pollination working unit 2 that houses at least the column 29 at its tip (and may also house the lip 26), a drive unit 3 that is connected to the pollination working unit 2 and generates air sparseness and density and transmits this air sparseness and density state to the inside of the cylinder of the pollination working unit 2, a control unit 4 that controls the operation of the drive unit 3, a gripping unit 5 that allows a user to grip the pollination device 1, and a pollination switch 6 that starts the pollination operation, located near the gripping unit 5.

[0015] With the pollination switch 6 of the pollination device 1 in the OFF state, the user holds the grip part 5 and brings the tip of the tubular body of the pollination working unit 2 close to the vanilla flower 20 to be pollinated. Furthermore, the user operates the pollination device 1 until at least the style 29 of the vanilla flower 20 is stored in the tip of the tubular body of the pollination working unit 2. Figure 3 shows the state of the tip of the tubular body of the pollination working unit 2 at this time. As shown in Figure 3, due to the structure of the vanilla flower 20, it is desirable for the style 29 to be stored inside the tube of the pollination working unit 2 together with the labellum 26, but it is sufficient as long as at least the style 29 is stored. In this state, the user turns on the pollination switch 6.

[0016] When the pollination switch 6 is turned ON, the control unit 4 receives the signal and controls the drive unit 3 to operate. The drive unit 3 has a solenoid 34 and a piston 31 that is connected to the solenoid 34 and reciprocates in response to the driving operation of the solenoid 34, and this piston 31 is covered by a cylindrical drive unit exterior 32. The entire outer periphery of the piston 31 in the direction perpendicular to the vibration direction is formed so that it can vibrate in close contact with the entire inner periphery of the drive unit exterior 32. The control unit 4 vibrates the piston 31 by controlling the energization / de-energization of the solenoid, generating air density within the drive unit exterior 32. The generated air density state is transmitted to the inside of the tube of the pollination work unit 2 connected to the drive unit exterior 32.

[0017] In the pollination working section 2 to which the air density is transmitted, the beak 30 is displaced and pollen is dispersed according to the air density. Figure 4 is a schematic diagram that visualizes the state inside the pollination working section of the pollination device according to this embodiment. Note that Figure 4 is merely an image, and in reality, the state that is created does not completely match the state shown in Figure 4.

[0018] 4(A) shows the state immediately before the pollination switch 6 is turned ON, with the pollen 33 attached to the tip of the stamen 27 being isolated from the stigma of the pistil 28 by the beakule 30. In other words, the pollen 33 does not pollinate the pistil 28. When the pollination switch 6 is turned ON in this state, the drive unit 3 described above creates a dense and sparse air state, which is transmitted to the pollination working unit 2.

[0019] In Fig. 4(B), for example, when the air becomes sparse, pollen 33 separates from stamen 27. At the same time, the beaklet 30 is pulled and lifted away from pistil 28 by the vibration of the air. In other words, pollen 33 becomes suspended in the space inside the tube of pollination working unit 2, and a space is created between beaklet 30 and pistil 28.

[0020] Then, at the next moment, as shown in Figure 4(C), when the air becomes dense, the pollen 33 suspended in the space spreads to cover the entire style 29, and some of it enters the space created between the beakule 30 and the pistil 28, pollinating the pistil 28. While the pollination switch 6 is ON, the states of Figures 4(B) and 4(C) as described above are repeatedly switched, ensuring reliable pollination.

[0021] As mentioned above, the diagram shown in Figure 4 is merely an image, and in reality, the piston 31 vibrates several times to about 1,000 times per second (the number of vibrations will be described in detail later), so the air density changes continuously at high speed, and the beak 30 is displaced and pollen 33 is dispersed at various times other than those shown in Figures 4(B) and 4(C).

[0022] Next, the period (frequency) of the air density state will be described in detail. As described above, the air density state is generated by one reciprocating vibration of the piston 31 in the drive unit 3. In other words, one reciprocating motion of the piston 31 is one period of the air density state. In an experiment actually conducted by the inventor, it was revealed that artificial pollination of the vanilla flower 20 is possible if the vibration frequency of the piston 31 is between 1 Hz and 1 kHz. Among them, the success rate of artificial pollination increased especially when the frequency was between 16 Hz and 250 Hz.

[0023] In other words, there is a second frequency band including a second frequency suitable for displacing the position of the beak 30, and a first frequency band including a first frequency suitable for the pollen 33 to spread within the tube of the pollination working unit 2 in a state that makes it easy for the pollen 33 to pollinate the pistil 28, and these frequency bands are considered to be included between 16 Hz and 250 Hz.

[0024] Therefore, in the pollination device according to the present embodiment, the control unit 4 controls the frequency at which the piston 31 is driven to vary between 16 Hz and 250 Hz. Specifically, for example, the frequency is increased by 10 Hz every 10 ms starting from 16 Hz, and when it reaches 250 Hz, it is controlled to return to 16 Hz again. By periodically repeating this process, it is possible to generate a state of air density containing components of 16 Hz to 250 Hz. In other words, by generating a state of air density in a frequency band that contains a frequency suitable for displacing the position of the beak 30 and a frequency suitable for effectively diffusing the pollen 33, it is possible to displace the beak 30 to efficiently generate a space between the beak 30 and the pistil 28, and then to diffuse the pollen 33 into that space, thereby enabling efficient and reliable pollination.

[0025] The above-mentioned first frequency band is included in the low frequency range (relatively low frequency range between 16 Hz and 250 Hz) between 16 Hz and 250 Hz, since the purpose is to efficiently diffuse the pollen 33. In other words, if the air becomes dense or thin in a high frequency range (relatively high frequency range between 16 Hz and 250 Hz) where the piston 31 is close to 250 Hz, the movement of the pollen 33 cannot keep up with the change, making it difficult to effectively diffuse the pollen 33.

[0026] On the other hand, the second frequency band is included in the high frequency range including the resonance frequency capable of causing resonance and resonation, since the purpose is to displace the beak 30. That is, in order to displace the beak 30, it is possible to cause a resonance phenomenon, especially at the part where the initial displacement starts from the stationary state, to start the displacement of the beak 30 by high frequency vibration without applying more pressure or force than necessary to the vanilla flower 20 (particularly the tissues such as the column 29 stored in the pollination working unit 2). After a certain degree of displacement is started by this resonance, it is possible to largely displace the beak 30 by vibration due to air density including various frequency bands, air pressure and / or wind force. While the beak 30 is largely displaced, pollen 33 is dispersed around the pistil 28, making it possible to reliably pollinate the beak.

[0027] The resonant frequency may be found based on the natural frequency of the beak 30 using the following method. The beak 30 exists in such a way that one end is fixed to the pistil 28, and there are cases where this fixed part is connected linearly and fixed, and cases where it is connected at a point and fixed. The following formula (1) is a formula for finding the natural frequency of the beak 30 when it is connected linearly and fixed, and formula (2) is a formula for finding the natural frequency of the beak 30 when it is connected at a point and fixed.

[0028]

number

[0029]

number

[0030] In equations (1) and (2), L is the length of the object (the total length of the beak 30, which is the length from the base to the tip of the beak 30), W is the width of the object (the left and right width when the beak 30 is viewed from the front (stamen 27 side)), h is the thickness of the object (the thickness of the beak 30), E is the Young's modulus (elastic modulus) of the object, ρ is the density of the beak 30, ν is the Poisson's ratio of the object, and m and n are mode numbers (number of terms: integers).

[0031] As shown in the above formula (1) or formula (2), the natural frequency of the beak body 30 may be calculated according to the characteristics of the joint portion of the beak body 30, and the resonant frequency, i.e., the second frequency or a second frequency band including the second frequency, may be set from the calculated natural frequency.

[0032] In addition, in the pollination device 1 according to this embodiment, the moving distance when the piston 31 reciprocates, that is, the distance over which the piston 31 operates, is preferably equal to or greater than the maximum distance between the stigma of the pistil 28 and the tip of the stamen 27. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the moving distance of the piston in the pollination device according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, if the maximum distance between the stigma of the pistil 28 and the tip of the stamen (the site where pollen 33 is produced) is L2, and the length of the drive unit exterior 32 along which the piston 31 reciprocates is L1, it is preferable to set L1 so that L1>L2. For example, since L2 is often equal to or less than 5 mm, it is preferable to set L1 to 10 mm or more.

[0033] Thus, the pollination device 1 of this embodiment is a pollination device 1 for a plant having a beak 30 on the stigma of the pistil 28, and is equipped with a drive unit 3 that generates air density changes to displace the position of the beak 30 that separates the stamens 27 and the pistil 28, and a pollination working unit 2 consisting of a cylindrical body connected to the drive unit 3, which stores at least the stamens 27, the pistil 28 and the beak 30 inside the cylindrical body and propagates air density changes to diffuse the pollen 33 of the stamens 27 and pollinate the pistil 28.Therefore, when the beak 30 is displaced away from the pistil 28, the pollen 33 can be diffused into the space where it is separated, thereby pollinating the pistil 28, and artificial pollination can be performed very efficiently even with plants that have the beak 30.

[0034] In addition, as required, the drive unit 3 varies the period of air density to generate air density at a plurality of frequencies, thereby enabling efficient diffusion of pollen 33 and displacement of the beak 30, thereby improving the work efficiency of artificial pollination.

[0035] Furthermore, if necessary, the multiple frequencies include a first frequency range that attracts and diffuses pollen 33 and a second frequency range that displaces the beak 30, so that the beak 30 can be displaced to ensure space for the pollen 33 to enter, while efficiently diffusing the pollen 33, simplifying the artificial pollination process and increasing the success rate.

[0036] Furthermore, if necessary, a plurality of frequencies are included in a frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz, with a first frequency region being included in the low frequency band of the frequency range and a second frequency region being included in the high frequency band of the frequency range, thereby ensuring suction and diffusion of pollen 33 from the stamens 27 in the low frequency band, while ensuring vibration and displacement of the beak 30 in the high frequency band.

[0037] Furthermore, if necessary, the second frequency range includes a resonant frequency that resonates with the beak 30, so that the beak 30 can be moved by vibration due to the resonance phenomenon, particularly in the initial stage when the displacement of the beak 30 in a stationary state begins, and the beak 30 can be displaced efficiently without damaging the flower tissue, etc.

[0038] Furthermore, if necessary, the second frequency range including the resonant frequency is set according to the characteristics of the joint portion of the beak body 30, so that air density can be generated at an optimal frequency according to the characteristics of the beak body 30, thereby improving the success rate of artificial pollination.

[0039] Furthermore, if necessary, the drive unit 3 has a piston 31, and the distance that the piston 31 reciprocates is at least the maximum distance between the stigma of the pistil 28 and the tip of the stamen 27. Therefore, the amount of displacement of the bilge 30 increases due to the vibration and fluctuation of the air caused by the piston 31, and the range over which the pollen 33 is diffused is widened, thereby improving the success rate of pollination. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 Pollination device 20 Vanilla Flower 21 Upper petal 22 Right petal 23 Left petal 24 Lower right petal 25 Lower left petal 26 Lip petal 27 Stamens 28 Pistil 29 Pillar 30 Beak body 31 Piston 32 Drive unit exterior 33 Pollen

Claims

1. A pollination apparatus of a plant having a rostellum on the stigma of the pistil, A driving unit that generates air density variations to displace the position of the beak that separates the stamen and the pistil; A pollination unit that comprises a cylindrical body connected to the drive unit, and that stores at least the stamens, pistils, and beaks in the cylindrical body, and spreads the air of the sparse and dense state to spread the pollen of the stamens and pollinate the pistil. A pollination device comprising:

2. 2. The pollination device of claim 1, A pollination device, characterized in that the drive unit varies the period of the air density variation to generate the air density variations at a plurality of frequencies.

3. 3. The pollination device according to claim 2, A pollination device, wherein the plurality of frequencies includes a first frequency range that attracts and scatters the pollen and a second frequency range that displaces the beak.

4. 4. The pollination device according to claim 3, the plurality of frequencies are in a frequency range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz; A pollination device, characterized in that a first frequency range is included in a low frequency band of said frequency range, and a second frequency range is included in a high frequency band of said frequency range.

5. 4. The pollination device according to claim 3, A pollination device, characterized in that the second frequency range includes a resonant frequency that resonates with the beak.

6. 6. The pollination device according to claim 5, A pollination device, characterized in that the second frequency range including the resonant frequency is set according to characteristics of the joint portion of the beak.

7. 3. The pollination device according to claim 1 or 2, The drive portion has a piston, A pollination device characterized in that the distance over which the piston reciprocates is at least equal to or greater than the maximum distance between the stigma of the pistil and the tip of the stamen.

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