Abstract: Disclosed are methods of preserving pollen such that the pollen has improved viability as compared to pollen that is left in ambient conditions. A method of the present invention includes separating dead pollen contents from live pollen grains. In some embodiments, pollen grains are stored with a substance that prevents dead pollen contents from interacting with live pollen grains. The substance may be a solid, liquid, gas, or combination thereof. In some embodiments, the substance may at least partially regulate pollen moisture content, such as maintaining pollen moisture content at 15-60%.

Abstract: A method of intentionally pollinating a Poaceae crop by monitoring one or more environmental parameters and intentionally pollinating said crop at a time based upon the monitored parameters. The correct selection of parameters has been shown to markedly increase seed set, yield, and/or other desirable characteristics, including but not limited to preferred content of oil, starch, protein, and/or other nutritional components. Parameters may include one or more of: temperature, relative humidity, and vapor pressure deficit.

Abstract: Described are methods of field conditioning and preserving dicotyledonous pollen and/or anthers. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include an air flow at a humidity ranging from 5% to about 100% and a temperature ranging from about ?10° C. to about 10° C. The field conditioning conditions and preservation conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%. The preservation conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 40% to about 58%.

Abstract: This invention describes a new method to generate rice seed. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or during several periods wherein female parent pollen and/or other proximal plant pollen is not being shed.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions comprising pollen grains such that the pollen has improved viability as compared to pollen that is left in ambient conditions. The compositions include the separation of dead pollen contents from live pollen grains. In some embodiments, pollen grains are stored with a substance that prevents dead pollen contents from interacting with live pollen grains. The substance may be a solid, liquid, gas, or combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of identifying a selected pollination window in a Poaceae crop by monitoring one or more environmental parameters and identifying a selected pollination window based upon the monitored parameters. The correct selection of parameters has been shown to markedly increase seed set, yield, and/or other desirable characteristics, including but not limited to preferred content of oil, starch, protein, and/or other nutritional components. Parameters may include one or more of: temperature, relative humidity, and vapor pressure deficit.

Abstract: This invention describes a new method to generate oilseed seed. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or during several periods wherein female parent pollen and/or other proximal plant pollen is not being shed.

Abstract: Described are methods of field conditioning and preserving pollen and/or anthers from the Poaceae family of plants. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include an air flow at a humidity ranging from 50% to about 100% and a temperature ranging from about ?10 to about 10° C. The field conditioning conditions and preservation conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases passing through pollen held on a permeable or impermeable surface. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%. The preservation conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 40% to about 58%.

Abstract: This invention describes a new method to generate cereal crop seed. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or during several periods wherein female parent pollen and/or other proximal plant pollen is not being shed.

Abstract: This invention describes a new method to generate wheat seed. The process involves the delivery of pollen of the male parent at will, as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or using real-time collection from male plants as they become available. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females during the period when viable pollen from the females and locally proximal unrelated plants is not being released. The delivered male pollen is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females. Such fortuitous timing may involve the intentional application of pollen to females a day or two prior to female parent pollen becoming viable, and/or during several periods wherein female parent pollen and/or other proximal plant pollen is not being shed.

Abstract: Described are methods of grain production with field conditioned pollen. A method of the present invention includes growing one or more designated female plants that include both female and male components, collecting fresh pollen from designated male plants from a different genetic background, and subjecting the fresh pollen to field conditions, which may regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a relative humidity ranging from about 50% to about 100%, a temperature ranging from about ?10-10° C., and an air pressure ranging from about 15 kPa to about 150 kPa. These conditions may result in pollen having a moisture content of about 40% to about 58%. The one or more designated female plants are intentionally cross-pollinated with the field conditioned pollen and then grown to maturity such that the grain may be harvested therefrom. Also provided is a method of preventing undesirable pollination in grain production.

Abstract: This invention describes a new method to increase grain yields in any crop plant by modifying pollination to effect an increase in grain yield, a change in grain content or characteristics, a decrease in contamination, or a combination of these attributes. The process involves the intentional delivery of pollen of the male plant at will to designated male-sterile female plants as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females. The delivered pollenM is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females and pollination from neighboring male-fertile plants. The intentional delivery of genetically different pollen will result in increased heterosis and accompanying grain yield increases resulting from increased grain size and the potential to influence grain content and constituents.

Abstract: Described are methods of preserving cereal crop pollen and/or anthers. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a an air flow at a humidity ranging from 0% to about 99% and a temperature ranging from about ?10-10° C. The field conditioning conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%.

Abstract: This invention describes a new, high-efficiency method of selecting and advancing pollen donator strains in a breeding or product advancement program, wherein the pollen donator strains are specifically selected to maximize product attributes. Embodiments of this invention relate to the use of a mix of pollen including a cross-pollination source and self-pollen, allowing for single-plant performance comparisons. The comparisons of products from the single plant or less experimental unit allow for the selection of those pollen donator strains that maximize desirable results.

Abstract: This invention describes a new, high-efficiency method of selecting and advancing pollen donator strains in a breeding or product advancement program, wherein the pollen donator strains are specifically selected to maximize product attributes. Embodiments of this invention relate to the use of a mix of pollen including a cross-pollination source and self-pollen, allowing for single-plant performance comparisons. The comparisons of products from the single plant or less experimental unit allow for the selection of those pollen donator strains that maximize desirable results.

Abstract: Described are methods of preserving cereal crop pollen and/or anthers. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and/or anthers and introducing the pollen and/or anthers to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a an air flow at a humidity ranging from 0% to about 99% and a temperature ranging from about ?10-10° C. The field conditioning conditions may further include a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 15% to about 35%.

Abstract: Described are methods of field conditioning cereal crop pollen. A method of the present invention includes collecting fresh pollen and introducing the pollen to field conditioning conditions which regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a relative humidity ranging from about 50% to about 100%, a temperature ranging from about ?10-10° C., and an air pressure ranging from about 15 kPa to about 150 kPa. The field conditioning conditions may further include a continuous, adjustable positive or negative air flow and/or and a flow of one or more continuously refreshed, selected gases. The field conditioning conditions may dehydrate the pollen to achieve a pollen moisture content of about 40% to about 58%, such as about 50% to about 57%.

Abstract: Provided are methods for both pollinating and simulating pollination of a crop plant having one or more stigmas that are receptive to pollen and that produces at least one seed, grain, or fruit of interest. Methods of the present invention include ingesting input data, such as reproductive maturity data, for a population of the crop plant, sufficient to determine one or more days on which the crop plant will be receptive to pollen. The input data is modeled to generate the amount of receptive stigmas in the population, the effect of intentionally applying pollen during each time step to transform the number of receptive stigmas to a modeled output of seed, grain, or fruit of interest, and generating one or more time steps during which intentional pollination is modeled to provide a greater harvest of the seed, grain, or fruit of interest than other of said time steps.

Abstract: This invention describes a new method to increase grain yields in any crop plant by modifying pollination to effect an increase in grain yield, a change in grain content or characteristics, a decrease in contamination, or a combination of these attributes. The process involves the intentional delivery of pollen of the male plant at will to designated male-sterile female plants as available either in a preserved pollen bank, or real-time collection from male plants as they become available, in a growth chamber for example. Desired pollen is delivered to fertile females. The delivered pollenM is in such amounts and fortuitously timed that it preferentially pollinates the females and pollination from neighboring male-fertile plants. The intentional delivery of genetically different pollen will result in increased heterosis and accompanying grain yield increases resulting from increased grain size and the potential to influence grain content and constituents.

Abstract: Described are methods of grain production with field conditioned pollen. A method of the present invention includes growing one or more designated female plants that include both female and male components, collecting fresh pollen from designated male plants from a different genetic background, and subjecting the fresh pollen to field conditions, which may regulate pollen moisture content. The field conditioning conditions may include a relative humidity ranging from about 50% to about 100%, a temperature ranging from about ?10-10° C., and an air pressure ranging from about 15 kPa to about 150 kPa. These conditions may result in pollen having a moisture content of about 40% to about 58%. The one or more designated female plants are intentionally cross-pollinated with the field conditioned pollen and then grown to maturity such that the grain may be harvested therefrom. Also provided is a method of preventing undesirable pollination in grain production.