Customer Needs..

Why do Scientists need Controlled Environments to g row plants ?

• Total control of environmental conditions• Independence of time and place• Confidence in the repeatability of results• Uniformity of conditions

Environmental condition affect the behaviour and characteristics of plants:-

Parameter EffectTemperature - Growth relatedHumidity - Transpiration, gas exchange, cooling.Rainfall - Translocation & PhotosynthesisDay length / Season - Growth & fruiting,Wind-speed / Direction - Temperature, humidity.Nutrients - Growth & Health related.Atmosphere - Carbon source & toxicity

What options does the customer have ?

• Grow plants in the field outside• Glasshouse• Plant Growth chamber or room

PARAMETER OPEN FIELD GLASS-HOUSE P lant Growth Chamber

Temperature None Limited YesHumidity None Limited YesRainfall None Yes YesWind speed & direction None Yes YesNutrients None Yes YesGaseous Atmosphere None Limited YesIndependence of time None Limited YesIndependence of place None Limited YesRepeatability of conditions None None YesUniformity None None Yes

Temperature..

• Rate ofPhotosynthesis

• Biomass

• Optimum

• Too Low

• Too High

Humidity..• Affects plant ‘stress’- water loss and ability to exchange

gasses i.e. CO2

• Should, but not always required by customer.

• Relative Humidity (RH) or Vapour Pressure Deficit (VPD) ?

• Mostly, RH is requested but VPD is more appropriate as TRANSPIRATION is strongly related to VPD

Site of gaseousexchange

• Too Low - Stomata close, CO2

….uptake reduced + no growth

• Too High - limited Transpiration= low nutrient flow

Humidity..

• What is Vapour Pressure Deficit ? It’s another way of measuring humidity

• VPD = Saturated vapour pressure - actual vapour pressure (at a given…………temperature) Units are kPa• RH = Saturated vapour pressure - actual vapour pressure (at a given………...temperature) Units are %rh

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VPD0.8kPa

VPD 0.5kPa

VPD0.2 kPa

Humidity..

• Why does it matter % rh or VPD ?

• Example:-70% RH @ 10oc = 0.37 kPa VPD70% RH @ 20oc = 0.70 kPa VPD70% RH @ 30oc = 1.27 kPa VPD

To give 0.7 kPa @ 30oc = 86%RH To give 0.7 kPa @ 10oc = 42%RH

• Most plants require a VPD of approx.. 0.6 kPa VPD

• VPD measurement is mostly demanded by Plant Physiologists.

• Affects Temperature & Humidity

• Vertical / Horizontal Airflow ?

• Gradients will always exist – Light(heat)

• Average air speed 0.2m/s (max0.5m/s) disturbs ‘BoundaryLayer’

• Maximum uniformity

• Minimises variations in growing plane

Airflow ..

Light - very important factor

Has important biologicaleffects on plants…… ..

• Quality & Quantity

• Photosynthesis

• Photomorphogenesis

• Photoperiodism

• Phototropism

•Photosynthesis• Produces sugars and oxygen• Fixes CO2

• Photomorphogenesis• Development and form (shape)

• Photoperiodism• Flowering & fruiting• Together with light quantity

• Phototropism• Movement in response to light• Blue and UV

Light... Human vision

Sensitivity of the human eye

Light...

Plant Photosynthesis curve vs. typical fluorescent spectrum

Incandescent (Tungsten) spectrum vs. human vision

Typical fluorescent spectrum Metal halide (HQI) spectrum

Incandescent (Tungsten) spectrum

Light… sources

Fluorescent– T8,T5,High Output, compact– Must commonly used source– Low cost– Uniform light source– Energy efficient (HF)– Dimmable– Limited output– Some temperature dependence

Irradiation source(s)

� 27 kHz (100 Hz)

� Electronic dimming ensures more uniform lighting

� Allows appropriate exposure levels to be consistently achieved

� Avoids de-selecting lamps to achieve light levels.

� Can be used with feedback control

High Frequency Lighting - Electronic Light Regulation

Philips 18WTLD84o Fluorescent Lamp at 100% Dimming

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Light Dimming Characteristics

100% output 10% output

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• No significant change in spectral distribution

Metal Halide (HQI)

- High light output- Wide spectrum- Point source- High heat output – barrier required

- Limited dimming ability

Irradiation source(s)

LEDs- Rapidly developing technology- Provide specific wavelengths - selectable- Energy efficient- Long life- Provides uniform light distribution- Dimmable- Higher capital cost- Do not provide ‘complete’ spectrum- User acceptability

Irradiation source(s)

Light MeasurementLux, Wm -2, µmol.m -2s-1 ?

• Photometric

• Radiometric

• Quantum...(PAR)

Examples of‘Artificial’

lightsources

Approximate conversions of somecommon units of measurement

Current FITOTRON Product Range

To meet user requirements :-

•Range of sizes m2 and m3

•Reach-in and Walk-in to accommodate:-• Available laboratory space• Containment

•Variety of lighting requirements•Range of temperature requirements•Range of humidity requirements•Special airflow requirements•Multiple chamber installation•Customised facilities

Current FITOTRON Product Range

• Reach-in Plant Growth Chambers• Standard (not extreme) performance

• Temperature• Humidity• Lighting• Limited range of options

Model Terminology :-

Standard Growth Chambers

Current FITOTRON Product Range

• Walk-in Plant Growth Rooms• Standard (not extreme) performance

• Temperature• Humidity• Lighting• Limited range of options

Model Terminology :-

Standard Growth Rooms

Current FITOTRON Product Range

• Walk-in Plant Growth Rooms• Wider range performance

• Temperature• Humidity• Lighting• Wider range of options

Model Terminology :-

High performance Growth Rooms

Current FITOTRON Product Range

• Walk-in Plant Growth Rooms• Specially designed for ‘Cost Effective’ bulk growth

• Temperature• Humidity• Lighting

Model Terminology :-

Multi-tier Culture Rooms

Versatile Chamber….wide range of applications

• Tissue Culture• Plant Growth• Pathogen Development• Insect Culture• Seed Storage

• Supplied ready to use- no assembly needed• Range of user changeable options to suit..applications – ‘Plug and Play’• Easy to use• Energy efficient lighting - dimmable• Ultrasonic humidification• Touch screen controller• Space efficient• Easily integrated into laboratory

SGC110

SGC120Introduction...

Refrigeration System

Safety thermostat

Adjustable /Removable shelves

Adjustableirradiation level- individual

Touchscreencontroller

Humidifier (optional)

Double wing doors withmagnetic seals

Castors with locks

Model SGC120

Main powerswitch

USB dataport

Lockable doors

Optional irradiation units… user decidesModules include….

• Overhead lighting for maximum uniformity

• 12 x 36W lamps = 620µmol.m-2s-1

• 6 x 36W lamps = 290µmol.m-2s-1

• 4 x 36W lamps = 170µmol.m-2s-1

• 3 x 36W lamps = 140µmol.m-2s-1

• 2 x 36W lamps = 100µmol.m-2s-1

# Maximum total of 12 lamps is permitted

# Interchangeable with different types

of lampsAll measurements are taken & 150mm from lamps at 25oc

LED Lighting Module

•Interchangeable with existing system•Contains 3 individual wavelength LEDs

• Blue - 470nm• Red - 660nm• Far-Red - 740nm

•Ratio 3B:6R:6FR – recommended for‘general’ plant growth•Can be individually ‘tuned’ for specificplants

Model SGC120

LED Lighting Module

• Using Philips LEDModules

• Mainly for research

• Allows betterunderstanding of plantresponses

• More developmentactivity by WG

Multi-tier Culture Room

• Designed for ‘bulk’ growth ofplant material

• Flexible and Cost Effective

• Ideally suited for medium &small plants – Arabidopsis

• Uniform airflow system

• Provides users multipleoptions

Multi-tier Culture Room

• Standard Modularsizes

• Range of light unitsavailable – purchasedseparately

• Can utilise ‘site’chilled water

MCR range

• Integratedfan/plenum system

• Ensured uniformity

• 3 tier module • 4 tier module

MCR range• Budget range

• Temperature• Optional Humidity• Standard sizes• Shelving system

• Easy and quick to assemble