Abstract: The invention tracks and automatically evaluates plant traits of “individuals of plant canopy” in a growth process of a germination period (from sowing until immediately prior to primary seedling culture), at a plant factory with artificial lighting. Specifically, a two-dimensional distribution of the plant traits is calculated by non-destructively and continuously measuring plant trait information in the growth process of the germination period, on the basis of image information 2a, environmental factor information 2b, genetic characteristic information 2c, and management information 2d.

Abstract: The invention tracks and automatically evaluates plant traits of “individuals of plant canopy” in a growth process of a germination period (from sowing until immediately prior to primary seedling culture), at a plant factory with artificial lighting. Specifically, a two-dimensional distribution of the plant traits is calculated by non-destructively and continuously measuring plant trait information in the growth process of the germination period, on the basis of image information 2a, environmental factor information 2b, genetic characteristic information 2c, and management information 2d.

Abstract: A method of producing a plantlet of a C4 plant, includes transplanting a tissue of the C4 plant into a culture medium free of sugar and containing a porous supporting material; and culturing the tissue while supplying carbon dioxide under irradiation of light to form a plantlet of the plant. The method has improved practical aspects such as cost and cultivation period.

Abstract: There are disclosed an apparatus for culturing plantlets by means of photoautotrophic growth, comprising principal constituents consisting essentially of a light transmittable and enclosed culture vessel 1, a carbon dioxide-rich air supply chamber 2 which is installed in contact with the bottom of the culture vessel, and a culture solution tank 3, wherein the supply chamber 2 is allowed to communicate with the culture vessel 1 through a plurality of vertical fine tubes, and the culture solution tank is connected to the culture vessel through tubing and is equipped with an air pump for supplying the culture vessel with the culture solution; and a process for culturing plantlets by means of photoautotrophic growth by the use of the above apparatus. The above apparatus and process can afford efficient and steady mass production of uniform nursery plants having an excellent degree of growth through a simple operation.