Phytotrons

The two Phytotron (phyto- plant, tron- control) Glasshouses are equipped with a series of phytotron bays allowing us to run different photo periods of natural light and/or natural light plus extension lighting in parallel. Plants are placed on moveable trolleys in the glasshouse area that automatically move into dark bays at pre set times.

These bays can be dark or have extension lighting, typically weak (non-photosynthetic levels to allow comparison of photoperiod, not of different photosynthetic levels) incandescent lighting. Incandescent lighting provides a high proportion of far-red wavelengths, (used in plants phytochrome daylength detection systems), but have low photosynthetic efficiency.

There are seven bays in all, individually controllable so a range of photoperiods can be run in parallel, or individual trucks can remain on the apron area under our standard 18 hour photoperiod. Thus eight photoperiods can be run in parallel while all other environmental variables are the same. This facility is one of only a few worldwide that provides the possibility to research large numbers of plants under controlled day lengths. This highly versatile system is particularly useful for photomorphogenic (plant responses to light) research. For more information on photomorphogenesis, click here or on photomorphogenic research, click here.

The phytotron bays, up to 10x2 metres each, are large temperature controlled spaces that can double as additional growth cabinets. For example, they have been used for screening of seedlings for phototropism (bending towards light, which is largely a blue light response).

Figure 3: Phototropism screening in a phytotron bay. Red and blue lights are at the same intensity. Plants will bend towards the blue light.

   Figure 1. Phytotron bays.

   Figure 2. Phytotron enterance.

   Figure 3. Phytotron bays.