Abstract: This invention relates to a method for increasing stearate as a component of total triglycerides found in soybean seed. The method generally comprises growing a soybean plant having integrated into its genome a DNA construct comprising, in the 5? to 3? direction of transcription, a promoter functional in a soybean plant seed cell, a DNA sequence encoding an acyl-ACP thioesterase protein having substantial activity on C18:0 acyl-ACP substrates, and a transcription termination region functional in a plant cell. The present invention also provides a soybean seed with about 33 weight percent or greater stearate as a component of total fatty acids found in seed triglycerides.

Abstract: The invention provides seed and plants of the pepper hybrid 9942815 and parents thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of such plants, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing a plant provided with itself or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

Abstract: The invention provides seed and plants of the cucumber line designated APD147-4004Mo. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of cucumber line APD147-4004Mo, and to methods for producing a cucumber plant produced by crossing a plant of cucumber line APD147-4004Mo with itself or with another cucumber plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of cucumber line APD147-4004Mo, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

Abstract: A harvesting device for mechanical harvesting of vegetables and the like. A pair of circular supports rotates on an axle disposed and are disposed in a housing. The circular supports are positioned on opposite sides of a picking path defined by a void in the housing and through which the vegetables pass as the harvester moves. Each circular support having at least one picking element extended into the picking path.

Abstract: The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated Crescendo. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line Crescendo, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line Crescendo with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line Crescendo, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.

Abstract: The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated 08240773. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line 08240773, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line 08240773 with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line 08240773, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.

Abstract: A harvester having a frame, with multiple components operably connected to the frame. The components that are operably connected to the frame are a cutting mechanism, a lifting mechanism, a plurality of conveyor mechanisms, at least one roller, and a stripper mechanism. Thus, the crops are lifted from the ground, placed on the harvester, and the crops are stretched and detangled in order to separate a desired portion of the crops from an undesired portion of the crops.

Abstract: The harvester frame is supported by laterally adjustable wheels. A hitch draft tube connects the frame to a tractor. A transverse horizontal shaft is journaled on a frame mast. A header frame rear is attached to the horizontal shaft. Ground engaging wheels support the header front. Two spaced apart helix assemblies on the header frame are rotated to remote fruit from plants. The helix forward ends work at ground level. Helix rear ends are elevated. A header lift bar is journaled on the horizontal shaft. A header lift cylinder pivots a free end of the lift bar into engagement with the header frame and lifts header wheels from the ground. Conveyors convey crop material from the helix assemblies to a fruit cleaning assembly with a forward end attached to the frame mast. Separated and cleaned fruit is received from the cleaning assembly and discharged from the harvester.

Abstract: Apparatus for harvesting broccoli or other standing vegetable plants comprising a mobile frame (11) adapted to be advanced along a row of plants to be harvested, a harvesting head (15) for gripping the stems of respective plants in turn as the mobile frame is advanced along the row and for conveying the gripped stems of plants rearwardly relative to the direction of movement of the mobile frame, a stem severing mechanism (19) for severing the stems of plants from plant rootstock and a plant trimming mechanism (20) adjacent the trailing end of the conveying means for trimming the plants.

Abstract: The invention provides seed and plants of the tomato variety designated Picus. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato variety Picus and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing a plant of tomato variety Picus with itself or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing, and also relates to parts of a plant of tomato variety Picus including the fruit and gametes of such plants. The invention also relates to tomato variety FDS 14-2081, and to seeds and plants produced by crossing a plant of tomato variety FDS 14-2081 with itself or another tomato plant. The present invention is also directed to tomato variety FDS 14-2090, and to seeds and plants produced by crossing a plant of tomato variety FDS 14-2090 with itself or another tomato plant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and distinct inbred tomato lines and hybrids. This invention also relates to plants and seeds of such inbred tomato lines and hybrids, and to parts thereof. The invention also relates to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such inbred tomato lines and hybrids with themselves or other tomato plants.

Abstract: An improved machine and method for harvesting and processing an upstanding crop, such as celery, in situ, the machine comprising a self driven vehicle supporting a plurality of harvesting and processing units.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new and distinct inbred tomato lines and hybrids. This invention also relates to plants and seeds of such inbred tomato lines and hybrids, and to parts thereof. The invention also relates to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such inbred tomato lines and hybrids with themselves or other tomato plants.

Abstract: A crop pick-up head for use with a harvesting machine to collect and separate a crop from a continuous paper tray on which the crop has been placed. The pick-up head has a support frame attached to the front of the harvesting machine, a fork to lift the paper tray, a guide plate positioned above the fork for the paper tray to slide between, a forward brush that pushes the crop off of the paper tray and onto the guide plate, a pulling mechanism to pull the paper tray and a conveying mechanism that receives the crop and conveys it to a bin. The pulling mechanism can comprise a roller, brush and mechanism to direct the paper tray between the roller and brush. The conveying mechanism can comprise a tube configured to receive the crop and a source of pressurized air to convey the crop to the bin.

Abstract: A harvesting machine for vegetables includes a bearing structure mounted on rollers and a mowing assembly disposed in the front part of the bearing structure, aligned in a substantially horizontal direction, orthogonal to the advancement direction of the machine. The machine also includes a conveying surface consisting of a number of combs disposed parallel to each other, able to pick up the material cut downstream the mowing assembly and to convey it to an unloading area disposed on the bearing structure. The conveying surface includes at least a belt loop-wound around rotation device. Each of the combs is made of a number of mainly longitudinally developed flexible laminar bodies, transversally disposed with respect to the belt, the laminar bodies having an edge on their length fastened to the belt and the opposite edge provided with a plurality of harvesting teeth.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for picking and coring produce heads. A righting mechanism receives and orients planted produce heads, and when a planted head is in a position to be severed, a lift arm and clamp wheel are controlled to position a clamp proximal to the planted head, wherein the planted head is clamped and a severing mechanism severs the planted head from the soil bed. The lift arm and clamp wheel operate to automatically reposition the clamped and severed head proximal to a coring mechanism, and the coring mechanism automatically removes the core of the clamped and severed head.

Abstract: The invention concerns a machine for harvesting and boxing leaf vegetables cultivated in greenhouses, which comprises a main frame holding a front cutting bar, means for transferring the product longitudinally from the cutting bar towards the rear in boxes to be filled, and a platform supporting workers and a number of benches of boxes. At the rear of the machine at least one transporter (23) is provided positioned transversally to the forward direction, designed to receive the product from the longitudinal transfer means and to deposit it in the boxes.

Abstract: An arrangement for reducing soybean losses in soybean headers, includes a plurality of retainers which may be engaged to a tray edge and each retainer comprises a plate having a substantially planar central portion ending at a lower end which is curved downwardly forming a rounded flange from which a portion providing two grooves is projected, and arranged at a slightly offset angle with respect to the central portion and the upper end of which is folded upwardly at an angle of approximately 45° from the central portion.

Abstract: A mobile harvesting apparatus and method, which permits the automated harvesting of produce, preferably lettuce. The apparatus consists in its most basic form of a vehicle having a bandsaw positioned at a front portion thereof, the blade of which is positioned to slice the lettuce head at the desired location. The apparatus further includes a conveyor, that transports the harvested produce from the cutting site and onto the apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus additionally features a washing conveyor, washing station, inspection station, and elevator conveyor, to assist in the further processing of harvested produce.

Abstract: A new and more efficient tomato harvesting machine is capable of simultaneously severing up to three (3) rows of tomato vines or other similar crops. The harvesting machine comprises pick up means adjacent to the forward end of the machine for picking up and severing vinous crops from the field, where the crops remain attached to the vines, as the vines are severed. The pick up means carry the crops and vines rearwardly and upwardly. The harvesting machine further comprises separating means for separating crops from the vines. The present invention comprises improvements to the pickup means and the separating means. These improvements allow a harvester to gather vines and crops from up to three adjacent rows simultaneously, and to process the increased volume of vines and crops without overloading the processing equipment.

Abstract: A deck slotted into a left and a right deck halves in spaced apart positions so as to provide a slot therebetween. On each of the deck halves a pair of drums are mounted for rotation. Around each of the pairs of drums a rubber belt is engaged so that the rubber belts are in spaced apart adjacency. A motor is linked with at least one of the drums for rotating at least one of the rubber belts. A pair of rigid wires extends divergently forward from a forward end of the deck. A chamber is positioned rearwardly of the deck in a position for accepting aquatic growth moving between the rubber belts and in the slot in rearward motion. A hose is engaged rearwardly on the chamber for drawing the growth by suction into the hose.

Abstract: An orientation system for vegetables includes a plurality of rotating rollers that both pull the vegetable into an inverted position, with leafy top down, and advance the vegetable along the length of the rollers to deliver the vegetables to a cutting system. The orientation system may be included in a vegetable harvester and topper or may be used separate from the harvester vehicle. The orientation system preferably has a plurality of orientation roller pairs, made up of first and second counter-rotating orientation rollers. These rollers may include strips of elastomeric fingers or other protrusions that engage the leafy top and pull it downward. Preferably, one of the rollers may also have a vegetable advancing spiral that moves the vegetables in “auger-style” by pushing the vegetables along in front of the rotating spiral.

Abstract: A mobile harvesting method, which permits the automated harvesting of produce, preferably lettuce. The apparatus consists in its most basic form of a vehicle having a bandsaw positioned at a front portion thereof, the blade of which is positioned to slice the lettuce head at the desired location. The apparatus further includes a conveyor that transports the harvested produce from the cutting site and onto the apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus additionally features a washing conveyor, washing station, inspection station, and elevator conveyor, to assist in the further processing of harvested produce.

Abstract: An improved self-propelled harvester. The self-propelled harvester passes through a field to be harvested, while laborers place produce on a conveyor belt thereon. The produce is passed through a washing station, where it is preferably exposed to sideward and downward spray. Thereafter, the produce is transported upward along an elevator belt assembly, toward a trailer. The elevator belt assembly preferably has a plurality of flights located on rods positioned between side belts. The rods are spaced sufficiently so that leaves, debris and excess water can readily pass therethrough.

Abstract: The invention comprises a beet harvesting device. The device has a first plurality of pairs of laterally positioned harvesting discs, and a second pair of laterally positioned harvesting discs, with the second pair being spaced longitudinally from the first plurality of pairs of discs and laterally between the paths of the first plurality of pairs of harvesting discs so that beets may be harvested in a path between the first plurality of pairs of discs, to thereby provide a novel apparatus for more readily harvesting beets in paths narrower than customarily harvested with a first plurality of pairs of laterally positioned harvesting discs.

Abstract: The invention is a harvester particularly suited for harvesting baby greens. The harvester generally comprises a chassis with wheels that travel in the furrows between raised beds, a sorting belt assembly, and an articulated connection to a cutting assembly on a floating header. The floating header rides on the top surface of a raised bed and is articulated so that the floating header can move independently of the chassis to follow the contours of the top of the raised bed so that the cutting assembly can cut at a uniform height. The sorting belt assembly includes a series of belts for collecting and sorting the cut baby greens at the easiest and most effective time to do so, immediately after the baby greens are cut and before the baby greens are clumped in storage bins or in other storage container. The invention further includes a method of using the harvester of the invention in which the forward momentum of harvester and the density of the crop are used to assist the cut product onto the collection belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cultivating leafy vegetables such as spinach, lettuce and the like, according to which a net (3) with meshes which are smaller in size than the overall volume of the leafy body of the fully grown vegetables is spread over the surface of the cultivation bed. The cultivation method according to the present invention offers the considerable advantage that the vegetables, once the roots have been cut, may be retrieved, amassed or in any case simply harvested by raising the net from the ground, without any risk that the quality or integral nature of the vegetables may be adversely affected in any way.

Abstract: Systems and methods for harvesting fresh produce using a produce harvesting apparatus wherein the method includes trimming the fresh produce and placing the trimmed produce into a container. The container is placed onto a transport device located on the produce harvesting apparatus. The container is then transported on the transport device to a wash station and it is washed at the wash station. The container may be shaken during transport after the wash station.

Abstract: The invention comprises a beet harvesting device. The device has a first plurality of pairs of laterally positioned harvesting discs, and a second pair of laterally positioned harvesting discs, with the second pair being spaced longitudinally from the first plurality of pairs of discs and laterally between the paths of the first plurality of pairs of harvesting discs so that beets may be harvested in a path between the first plurality of pairs of discs, to thereby provide a novel apparatus for more readily harvesting beets in paths narrower than customarily harvested with a first plurality of pairs of laterally positioned harvesting discs.

Abstract: An orientation system for vegetables includes a plurality of rotating rollers that both pull the vegetable into an inverted position, with leafy top down, and advance the vegetable along the length of the rollers to deliver the vegetables to a cutting system. The orientation system may be included in a vegetable harvester and topper or may be used separate from the harvester vehicle. The orientation system preferably has a plurality of orientation roller pairs, made up of first and second counter-rotating orientation rollers. These rollers may include strips of elastomeric fingers or other protrusions that engage the leafy top and pull it downward. Preferably, one of the rollers may also have a vegetable advancing spiral that moves the vegetables in “auger-style” by pushing the vegetables along in front of the rotating spiral.

Abstract: A produce harvesting apparatus of the invention includes a conveyor system having conveyor belt driven over rollers by a drive element. The belt includes cushioned produce holders suitable for maintaining produce products in a desired orientation on the belt during operation. The apparatus includes a coring station suitable for coring harvested lettuce. The apparatus includes a loading station wherein the cored lettuce is loaded onto the cushioned produce holders and carried to an application station where shelf life extending materials are applied to the cut portions of the lettuce. The processed lettuce then proceeds to an unloading station where it is removed from the conveyor belt. Other inventive aspects include the conveyor belt having cushioned produce holders and the coring station as well as methods of implementing the disclosed devices.

Abstract: Arraying the trees of an olive orchard in an espaliered disposition produces enhanced olive yield with efficient harvest. Olive trees are espaliered with confinement of the structurally supporting and nutrient supplying trunks and branches to a foot wide structural support plane centered on the espalier. Tree center to center spacing along the espalier is in the order of 9 feet with the espaliered rows having a 12 feet center to center spacing. The production planes are arrayed on either side of the espalier support plane for a distance of 2½ feet making the entire espalier including the central support plane and the two production planes a six foot wide array. The preferred height of the espaliered array is 12 feet with 12 foot spacing between rows. The two production planes are maintained with first year sprouts, second year fruit bearing branches, third year sprout bearing branches and trimmed clear of the fourth year branches.

Abstract: A new and more efficient tomato harvesting machine is capable of simultaneously severing up to three (3) rows of tomato vines or other similar crops. The harvesting machine comprises pick up means adjacent to the forward end of the machine for picking up and severing vinous crops from the field, where the crops remain attached to the vines, as the vines are severed. The pick up means carry the crops and vines rearwardly and upwardly. The harvesting machine further comprises separating means for separating crops from the vines. The present invention comprises improvements to the pickup means and the separating means. These improvements allow a harvester to gather vines and crops from up to three adjacent rows simultaneously, and to process the increased volume of vines and crops without overloading the processing equipment.

Abstract: A mobile harvesting apparatus and method, which permits the automated harvesting of produce, preferably lettuce. The apparatus consists in its most basic form of a vehicle having a bandsaw positioned at a front portion thereof, the blade of which is positioned to slice the lettuce head at the desired location. The apparatus further includes a conveyor, that transports the harvested produce from the cutting site and onto the apparatus. Preferably, the apparatus additionally features a washing conveyor, washing station, inspection station, and elevator conveyor, to assist in the further processing of harvested produce.

Abstract: An improved method of harvesting lettuce provide a frame having ground engaging members (eg. wheels, skids, tracks) that enable the frame to move along the rows of lettuce to be harvested. Powered paddles separate each head of lettuce from its stem and root system, thrusting it through the air to a conveyor. A timing arrangement coordinates the paddle actuation with the speed at which each head of lettuce is encountered. As the head is thrust upward, a spray mist emerges from the tip of one paddle and engulfs the cavity that remains after separation from the stem and root. The spray mist can be a liquid and air mixture that contains a desired chemical to prevent discoloration in the area of the “wound” resulting from being torn from the stem and root system.

Abstract: A leaf stripper includes several nozzles mounted at the end of branch pipes that are radially integral with a rotary compressed gas dispenser. The nozzles move along concentric circles with different radii behind a vegetation deflector. The deflector includes gas jet circulating and controlling structures such as circular slots with radii corresponding to that of the circumferences described by the nozzles.

Abstract: Systems and methods for harvesting fresh produce using a produce harvesting apparatus wherein the method includes trimming the fresh produce and placing the trimmed produce into a container. The container is placed onto a transport device located on the produce harvesting apparatus. The container is then transported on the transport device to a wash station and it is washed at the wash station. The container may be shaken during transport after the wash station.

Abstract: A device for digging and harvesting seed pods from plant roots, in particular, a device for digging and harvesting peanuts, where after the peanut plants are removed from the ground, the peanuts are removed from the peanut plant root system. The device comprises a harvesting head which includes three essential components for performing the requisite function, namely a shaft, a pair of circular hubs and at least one set of tines. A self-cleaning member is also provided.

Abstract: A mechanical harvester for harvesting, topping and sacking bulb crops, such as onions. The harvester extracts the onions from the ground and transports them rearward to a cutting assembly by conveyor systems that drop out small onions, dirt, rocks and debris. The cutting assembly comprises a set of elongated cutting blades positioned to cooperatively accept and sever the leaves and roots from the bulb. The offal drops away from the harvester to the ground by manner of gravity. After cutting, the onions are transported through an inspection assembly for inspection, sorting, grading and further distribution. The onions are then transported rearward to a sacking assembly for placing the onions into sacks, to a chute device returning the onions to the ground or to a conveyor system transferring the onions to an adjacent vehicle. Platforms on the sides and ends of the harvester facilitate the above operations.

Abstract: Methods for processing freshly harvested leafy produce, fruits and vegetables comprising cutting such produce, fruits and vegetables from their growth sites, removing the cores of the produce as necessary, positioning the produce, fruits and vegetables to allow their natural juices to exude from the cutting and coring sites for a time sufficient to permit substantially all the free-flowing natural juices at or near such sites to exude, and then washing the coring site to remove the exuded natural juices.

Abstract: The invention is a harvester particularly suited for harvesting baby greens. The harvester generally comprises a chassis with wheels that travel in the furrows between raised beds, a sorting belt assembly, and an articulated connection to a cutting assembly on a floating header. The floating header rides on the top surface of a raised bed and is articulated so that the floating header can move independently of the chassis to follow the contours of the top of the raised bed so that the cutting assembly can cut at a uniform height. The sorting belt assembly includes a series of belts for collecting and sorting the cut baby greens at the easiest and most effective time to do so, immediately after the baby greens are cut and before the baby greens are clumped in storage bins or in other storage containers.

Abstract: In a field harvester and trimmer for root crops having foliage tops growing from the crowns of the crop to be harvested and trimmed, such as large bulbous onions, turnips, parsnips and rutabagas, consisting of a movable vehicle having at least a forward mounted severing and lifting mechanism and trimmer, the improvement comprising a series of rotating and caged flail drum sub-assemblies for trimming the foliage tops and roots of the gathered crop the results of which is a surprisingly enhanced trimmed state. In accordance with the invention, the series of caged, rotating flail drum sub-assemblies of the invention each includes independently rotating dissectable cylindrical cage circumferenential of a series of transverse knives mounted on a central, independently driven shaft. The cylindrical cage includes a side wall preferably provided with a plurality of slots defining major axes of symmetry substantially transverse to axis of rotation of the central driven shaft.

Abstract: Methods for processing freshly harvested leafy produce, fruits and vegetables comprising cutting such produce, fruits and vegetables from their growth sites, removing the cores of the produce as necessary, positioning the produce, fruits and vegetables to allow their natural juices to exude from the cutting and coring sites for a time sufficient to permit substantially all the free-flowing natural juices at or near such sites to exude, and then washing the coring site to remove the exuded natural juices.

Abstract: The harvester has a harvesting head, a shredder, cleaning and separating assemblies including a roller bed, a fruit sizer and a fruit discharge. The roller bed includes a plurality of parallel rollers journaled on a roller bed frame. The roller bed frame is pivoted relative to the harvester frame to control the rate of movement of crop material in an axial direction relative to the rollers. Nips are formed between the rollers. A bar is supported by the roller bed frame directly above each nip in a position parallel to the adjacent nip. These bars are vertically adjustable toward and away from the nips to accommodate different sizes and shapes of fruit and to keep two rollers from simultaneously engaging one fruit. A reversible drive rotates adjacent rollers in opposite directions to separate leaves and stems from the fruit.

Abstract: A harvester system for separating ripe fruit such as tomatoes from harvested plants includes first and second sorters for detecting and sorting loose fruit and accepting or rejecting the loose fruit on the basis of the detected color and a transport conveyor for recycling rejected loose fruit from the second sorter back through the first sorter.

Abstract: A drive system for the sieves in an agricultural combine that includes a flywheel for improving the fatigue life of the sieves. The flywheel minimizes damaging accelerations in the sieves that result from speed variations in the drive shaft. A hydraulic motor is also provided for directly driving the sieves without the use of belts.

Abstract: A lettuce harvester and an improved method of harvesting lettuce provide a frame having ground engaging members (eg. wheels, skids, tracks) that enable the frame to move along the rows of lettuce to be harvested. Powered paddles separate each head of lettuce from its stem and root system, thrusting it through the air to a conveyor. A timing arrangement coordinates the paddle actuation with the speed at which each head of lettuce is encountered. As the head is thrust upward, a spray mist emerges from the tip of one paddle and engulfs the cavity that remains after separation from the stem and root. The spray mist can be a liquid and air mixture that contains a desired chemical to prevent discoloration in the area of the “wound” resulting from being torn from the stem and root system.

Abstract: A harvesting machine particularly suitable for picking or harvesting vegetables, such as peppers or tomatoes, employs a harvesting frame on which is mounted a rotating shaft aligned transversely to the direction of movement of the machine. A pair of spaced apart picking members are mounted on the shaft on opposite sides of a row of plants having a crop to be harvested. The picking members are simultaneously rotated; and each of them has a plurality of arcuate picking elements pivotally mounted on them. The picking elements rotate with the picking members in the same direction of movement of the machine; and as the picking elements rotate downwardly above the row of plants, a cam pivots them into a position adjacent the picking members, spaced away from a plant located between the picking members.

Abstract: A tomato harvester includes loading systems designed to introduce cut plants into the harvester. Further systems designed to shake the plants received from the loading systems detach the tomatoes. A number of parallel bars are situated below the loading systems and are oriented toward the shakers. A conveyor pulls the plants from the loading area towards the shakers and then from the shakers towards a discharge area. The route of the conveyor has at least one section which leads from the discharge area to the shakers. The harvester is configured to eliminate a number of components which can cause soil accumulation and clogging in known harvesters.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for harvesting vinous crops includes cutting a fruit-carrying vine mass from its growing roots, sweeping the vine mass with rotary reel motion onto a upwardly inclined endless conveyor for carriage to a position of commencement of a first arcuate path and thereafter carrying the vine mass along the arcuate path by first lifting and then lowering the vine mass while imparting vibratory motion to the vine mass to separate fruit from vines of the mass.