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Transparent soil made by gel beads
Category(s):
For Information, Contact:
OIC Commercialization Team
515-294-4740
licensing@iastate.edu
Web Published:
5/24/2017
ISURF #
4601
Summary:
This innovation appears to be the first description of using beads made with “natural” gelling materials to observe plant roots. The bead formulation is novel and optimized for plant growth.

Development Stage:
Description:
ISU researchers reported their invention to be a transparent soil medium which can provide a heterogeneous environment with aeration and porous condition for plants. The medium is composed of commonly used gels and is transparent in a basal medium solution. The transparent soil composition is controllable, affordable, and require simple processing protocols. Brassica rapa grown in transparent soil shows root phenotypes resembling those of pure soils, as opposed to the phenotypes observed with homogeneous gels.

Advantage:
• Shelf life
• Aeration by using beads
• Potential for near infrared root imaging (no need for visible light)
• Easy to prepare
Patent Information:
*To see the full version of the patent(s), follow the link below, then click on "Images" button.
Country Serial No. Patent No. Issued Date
United States 16/107,512 11,197,435* 12/14/2021


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