The present invention provides an apparatus for fluidics-based automated orientation of plant embryos. The apparatus comprises flow channels, flow direction means, an orientation detector and a control unit. The orientation of embryos suspended in liquid flowing individually through the flow channels is constrained to cotyledon-first or cotyledon-last orientation by dimensional constraints. The orientation is determined by the orientation detector. Embryos not oriented as desired are directed into a reservoir tube by the flow direction means, after which the flow is directed from the reservoir tube to the outlet thereby having reoriented the embryo. Means of sorting viable embryos from other objects are optionally included in the apparatus.