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Submitted to: HortTechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 8/22/2004 Publication Date: 4/1/2005 Citation: Bowman, K.D. 2005. Identification of woody plants with implanted microchips. HortTechnology. v.15:352-354 Interpretive Summary: Many types of agricultural, natural resources and ecological research rely on secure long-term identification of individual trees and shrubs. Currently used methods for applying identification tags to these plants often fail, causing errors or dramatically increasing costs of the research. Tiny radio-frequency electronic tags, called microchips, can be implanted in trees and shrubs to provided permanent identification marker. Experiments are described that demonstrate implanted microchips have no damaging effects on citrus trees. Some limitations of microchip use wood plants are also described. Technical Abstract: Secure identification of individual plants by some kind of labels in field plantings is an important part of many types of horticultural, plant, and ecological research. This report describes implanted microchips as one method of plant tagging that is reliable, durable and secure. This technology may be especially useful in long-term experiments involving perennial woody plants. Two methods are described for implanting microchips in citrus trees that would be applicable to other woody plant species. One method of implanting microchips is demonstrated to have no deleterious effect on citrus nursery tree growth through the first 18 months after implantation. Since microchips implanted beneath the bark will become more deeply imbedded in wood as plants grow, signal penetration through wood was evaluated and determined to be good enough for long-term field utility. Implanted microchips are noted to be potentially useful for secure tagging of valuable or endangered plant species to deter theft by providing secure and conclusive identification. |
