Abstract: A method for synthesizing a protein of interest within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves treating the plant to increase secondary leaf biomass production, followed by introducing one or more than one nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein of interest operatively linked with a regulatory region that is active in the plant, into the plant. The plant is then maintained under conditions that permit the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein of interest to be expressed in the plant or the portion of the plant. Optionally, the plant or portion of the plant may be harvested and the protein of interest extracted.

Abstract: A plant tray for receiving and retaining one or more plant pots includes a plant-receiving tray for use in a high-throughput plant infiltration process used to produce recombinant proteins. The plant tray described has a base retaining tray with an upper surface defining cavities for receiving the plant pots, and a top plate displaceably mounted on the base retaining tray and having apertures, the apertures defining a channel with the corresponding cavities of the bottom tray when aligned. The top plate is displaceable between a locked operative position wherein the apertures and the corresponding cavities are partially misaligned, thereby locking the plant pots in between the top plate and the base retaining tray.

Abstract: It is provided a plant infiltration device for infiltrating plants with an inoculum and method of using same, the device comprising a frame having one or more tray racks adapted for receiving at least one tray of plants to be infiltrated; an automated manipulation mechanism mounted to the frame and operable to displace the plant trays within the device; a plurality of inoculum reservoirs mounted to the frame and containing one or more inoculum fluids; an infiltration tank mounted to the frame and within which the plant trays are received when disposed in the infiltration position; and a vacuum generating device in communication with the infiltration tank to apply a negative pressure within the infiltration tank, thereby opening pores of the plant leaves immersed in the inoculum within the infiltration tank and causing the inoculum fluid to infiltrate into the plant leaves.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a protein of interest within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves treating the plant to increase secondary leaf biomass production, followed by introducing one or more than one nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein of interest operatively linked with a regulatory region that is active in the plant, into the plant. The plant is then maintained under conditions that permit the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein of interest to be expressed in the plant or the portion of the plant. Optionally, the plant or portion of the plant may be harvested and the protein of interest extracted.

Abstract: It is provided a plant infiltration device for infiltrating plants with an inoculum and method of using same, the device comprising a frame having one or more tray racks adapted for receiving at least one tray of plants to be infiltrated; an automated manipulation mechanism mounted to the frame and operable to displace the plant trays within the device; a plurality of inoculum reservoirs mounted to the frame and containing one or more inoculum fluids; an infiltration tank mounted to the frame and within which the plant trays are received when disposed in the infiltration position; and a vacuum generating device in communication with the infiltration tank to apply a negative pressure within the infiltration tank, thereby opening pores of the plant leaves immersed in the inoculum within the infiltration tank and causing the inoculum fluid to infiltrate into the plant leaves.

Abstract: A plant tray for receiving and retaining one or more plant pots includes a plant-receiving tray for use in a high-throughput plant infiltration process used to produce recombinant proteins. The plant tray described has a base retaining tray with an upper surface defining cavities for receiving the plant pots, and a top plate displaceably mounted on the base retaining tray and having apertures, the apertures defining a channel with the corresponding cavities of the bottom tray when aligned. The top plate is displaceable between a locked operative position wherein the apertures and the corresponding cavities are partially misaligned, thereby locking the plant pots in between the top plate and the base retaining tray.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing a protein of interest within a plant or a portion of a plant is provided. The method involves introducing one or more than one nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein of interest operatively linked with a regulatory region obtained from a photosynthetic gene that is active in the plant, in a transient manner. The plant is then maintained under conditions that permit the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein of interest to be expressed in the plant or the portion of the plant. The plant may be pruned prior to the introducing one or more than one nucleic acid sequence.