SBIR-STTR Award

Patented AcclimatronTM plant propagation technology by Clemson University, Clemson, SC has proven to be successful in minimizing the shock of transfer of plant tissue culture from heterotrophic growth in the laboratory to photoautotrophic growth in natural sunlight. This technology will be marketed through exclusive licenses by plant genera to growers. Southern Sun Propagation Systems, Inc. of Hodges, SC will collaborate under licensed agreement with Clemson University to manufacture hardware and software, to install, to train, and to monitor commercial Acclimatron(TM) Systems. Although the technology has successfully transferred quality plantlets to potting media with minimal fall down, it remains to determine how rapidly a plantlet can grow in the Acclimatron(TM) if enriched with CO2? This potential production boost could greatly impact successful transfer of this technology to the growers.Applications:The Acclimatron(TM) plant propagation technology has the potential to replace conventional micropropagation systems for the 120-million-unit domestic plant tissue culture industry. The ability to make heterotrophic- to-photoautotrophic transition of micropropagules in a full sun environment with controlled CO2 enrichment will optimize photosynthetic capacity in a manner impossible with conventional propagation systems. Production schedules should be shortened by weeks, perhaps even months, for certain plant species. The well-defined CU-Starts(TM) units and the sealed vessels are compatible to shipping and transfer mechanization. Plant quality should be greatly enhanced by the controlled environment of the Acclimatron(TM) .

The AcclimatronTM plant propagation technology patented by Clemson University minimizes the shock of transfer of plant tissue cultures from heterotrophic growth in the laboratory to photoautotrophic growth in natural sunlight. Southern Son Propagation Systems, Inc. (SoSun) has acquired exclusive license from Clemson University to manufacture AcclimatronTM Systems and to market them by specific plant genera to licensed growers. Under support of a SBIR Phase I grant, SoSun and Clemson University have established that plant growth in the AcclimatronTM System is enhanced by CO2 enrichment. Since the enclosed AcclimatronTM atmosphere is temperature-maintained even during high daytime temperatures, plant units, called CU-StartsTM, inside the AcclimatronTM receive the benefit of CO2 enrichment conditions resulted in dry matter accumulations for Hosta ?Newberry' Gold up to twice that of plants grown under ambient CO2 levels. An interactive effect of CO2 level with natural sunlight levels was observed. For optimal utilization of the AcclimatronTM, the next steps for research and development include efforts (1) to quantify the interactive effects of CO2 with variability of natural sunlight, (2) to design a more user-friendly, CO2- enriched AcclimatronTM, and (3) to test additional, economically attractive plant genera.

Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications of Research:
The AcclimatronTM plant propagation technology has the potential to replace conventional micropropagation systems for the 120-million-unit domestic plant tissue culture industry. The ability to make heterotrophic- to-photoautotrophic transition of micropropagules in a full sun environment with controlled CO3 enrichment will optimize photosynthetic capacity in a summer impossible with conventional propagation systems. Production schedules should be shortened by weeks, perhaps even months, for certain plant species. The well-defined CU-StartsTM units and the sealed vessels are compatible to shipping and transfer mechanization. Plant quality should be greatly enhanced by the controlled environment of the AcclimatronTM.