Plant Phenotyping Facilities
Here, we introduce the infrastructure for phenotyping of specific plant traits in our institute.
BIOP explores natural defense mechanisms, growth and fitness of plants, as well as the efficient use of resources in response to environmental cues. Focus is placed on the molecular mechanisms that allow plants to respond and adapt to biotic as well as abiotic factors.
The associated Research Unit of Environmental Simulation, EUS, acts as a research platform for controlled environment simulations in exposure chambers, solar simulators, research greenhouse within the institute and in external collaborations. EUS's scientific focus is on the functional identity and role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by plants, especially in plant defense and stress response.
Within the DPPN network, novel and medium- to high-throughput phenotyping facilities have been established with focus on plant pathogen interaction. Further infrastructure will follow soon. These platforms will allow to address a variety of biological questions with a so far unreached efficiency, accuracy supported by a high level of automation. Besides growth and developmental phenotypes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and intracellular fluorescent markers for plant-pathogen interactions will be analyzed in high resolution.
| High Throughput Confocal Microscopy Platform – SignalSCREEN | |
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 | An automated approach to identify and to characterize signals or markers that derive from plant pathogen interactions using non-destructive confocal imaging. |
| Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Platform – VOC-SCREEN |
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Find out about VOCS here.
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A multi cuvette system to determine gas exchange and VOC emissions of plants under biotic stress. Root + Shoot and Shoot phenotyping in a PATHO-adjustable automated greenhouse – Fitness-SCREEN | |
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 | A plant-to-sensor automated system with above and below ground analysis of a broad spectrum of relevant traits regarding fitness, root growth, pathogenicity among others. Plants up to crop size can be analyzed inside a controlled greenhouse structure which meets all requirements for plant pathology experiments. Find out about Fitness-SCREEN here (soon). |
Environmental Simulation | |
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In order to perform the phenotyping experiments under realistic conditions, the installations of the research group Environmental Simulation (EUS) with exposure chambers and sun simulators guaranty high flexibility and accuracy.
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Data Management | |
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 | Handling a high amount of data requires a strategy on storage, exchange, evaluation and publication. Each platform is supported by a data management pipeline to ensure all aspects from labelling to quality management and visualization. For further information, please follow the link. |
