Abstract: The growing room includes a closed loop track suspended above the floor and extending throughout the room. A plurality of racks are movably supported on the track by a motorized mover system. The racks include a frame for supporting a plurality of growing sheets for supporting and growing the plants. The growing sheets are made of a translucent material and include a plurality of growing cells formed by affixing a plurality of lengths of membrane material to the sheet at predetermined locations. The growing cells are gas permeable, liquid impermeable, and translucent.

Abstract: An integument and related process for the micropropagation of tissue and for the culturing of other organic matter is made of a translucent and semipermeable membrane.

Abstract: An automated system for growing plant material includes an first length of membrane material having a plurality of open growing chambers and a second length of membrane material having a plurality of growing chambers filled with the plant material. A media preparation unit mixes measured amounts of individual stock solutions for dispensing media into the open growing chambers by a fill unit. A fill check scanner unit determines that a sufficient amount of media has been dispensed within each growing chamber. A sterilization unit sterilizes the media filled open growing chambers which then pass to a cooling and storage unit for cooling and storing the media-filled open growing chambers until ready for planting with plant material. The second length of plant-filled growing chambers are housed in a plant culture room where the plant material is permitted to grow. A growth detection scanner determines the extent of growth of the plant material.

Abstract: An automated system for growing plant material includes an first length of membrane material having a plurality of open growing chambers and a second length of membrane material having a plurality of growing chambers filled with the plant material. A media preparation unit mixes stock solutions for dispensing into the growing chambers by a fill unit. A scanner unit determines that a sufficient amount of media has been dispensed within each chamber. A sterilization unit sterilizes the chambers which then pass to a cooling and storage unit until ready for planting with plant material. The second length of plant-filled growing chambers are housed in a plant culture room where the plant material is permitted to grow. A scanner determines the extent of growth of the plant material. Upon the material reaching a predetermined growth, the growing chambers pass to a surface sterilization unit. A cutting unit opens the chambers and the plant material is removed.

Abstract: An integument and related process for the micropropagation of tissue is made of a semipermeable, translucent membrane. The integument includes a cellule for completely enclosing and sealing the tissue and growth medium from the ambient environment. Light is transmitted through the translucent membrane to the tissue. The semipermeable membrane allows the mutual penetration by diffusion and osmosis of oxygen and carbon dioxide to permit the tissue to breathe with the ambient environment. The membrane is impermeable to biological contaminants. The integument and related method provides enhanced growth of the tissue and a reduction in contamination.