CROP POLLINATION

Materials chemist Eijiro Miyako of the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Nomi has been experimenting with how drones might help pollination. His latest idea is to use a drone to blow bubbles that contain pollen onto flowers. He and a colleague, Xi Yang, found that pollen grains remained most healthy and viable in bubbles made with lauramidopropyl betaine—a chemical used in cosmetics and personal care products. Using that solution as their base, the researchers added pollenprotecting ingredients, like calcium and potassium, along with a polymer to make the bubbles sturdy enough to withstand winds generated by drone propellers.

The researchers blew pollen bubbles at flowers on three pear trees in an orchard. On average, 95 percent of the 50 pollinated blossoms on each tree formed fruit. That was comparable to another set of three similar trees pollinated by hand with a standard pollen brush. Only about 58 percent of flowers on three trees that relied on insects and wind to deliver pollen bore fruit.

The researchers note that making drone pollination practical would require AI drones that could recognize flowers and deftly target specific blossoms.