Disclosed is a robotic plantlet handling apparatus. The apparatus includes a workstation 10 having an operator work portion 14, a material source portion 13, a material delivery portion 15 a robot arm 12, and at least one housing 18 located at the material source portion 13. The housing 18 contains a plurality of plantlet holders 25 each comprising an open-topped container having apertures open to nutrient medium in use and having a handling lug (not shown). The operator work portion 14 includes one or more work stands 24 each including a handling lug engagement portion (not shown) adapted to cooperate with the handling lug of a plantlet holder 25 for a worker to operate on a plantlet in the holder 25. The housing 18 is closable by a lid 29 having a complementary engagement periphery adapted to mechanically and sealingly engage a corresponding peripheral lip of the housing 18. The housing 18 is located at the material delivery portion 15 and adapted to receive a plurality of plantlet holders 25. A tool assembly 16 having gripper ends is provided on the robot arm 12 and adapted to engage the handling lug for movement of a plantlet holder 25 between the material source portion 13, the operator work portion 14, and the material delivery portion 15. A closure manipulator (not shown) is also provided on the robot arm 12 and is selectively operable to engage a closure for removal from and attachment to the housing 18.
