Our multi-million-pound, state-of-the-art facilities can help you advance your research, whether you are working from the molecular to whole-plant scales. We provide access to cutting edge equipment in dedicated facilities allowing you to perform world-class research. Our capabilities can help with fundamental discoveries in plant sciences through to applied research that is tackling environmental and climate change, food security and other global research challenges. Our technical experts will help your team make new discoveries and translational developments in plant sciences, guiding you through the journey every step of the way. Plant Growth Facility Specialisms Agri-tech, agri-food and plant health Food and drink Life sciences and industrial biotechnology Pharmaceuticals and medical biotechnology Facilities available Current facilities for plant growth include a standard glasshouse (2,200 m2), seven controlled environment rooms (>550 m2), roof-top Grodome, growth cabinets and tissue culture rooms. We have standardised our light sources to sustainable LED daylight spectrums throughout the facility. Expand all Collapse all Services Plant growth and maintenance Pest control Soil/media mixing and trials Plant propagation from seed/cuttings to harvest Regeneration of plants from cuttings Tissue culture Crossing Grafting Seed stock generation Tissue Culture Facility Facilities for the maintenance and propagation of plant tissue culture: 3 temperature-controlled rooms (21m² shelf space, lab with laminar flow hoods). Controlled Environment rooms and cabinets 7 walk-in controlled environment rooms (240m² of shelving.) 6 rooms run 16 hours light and 1 room runs 9 hours light. Five Snijders Economic Deluxe and two Snijders Microclima growth cabinets. Standard environmental conditions are 15⁰C - 40⁰C temperature range with up to 250μmol/m²/s of light intensity. The Grodome The roof-top Grodome is a containment glasshouse with a small header room attached. There are five environmentally controlled chambers, some of which are primarily used for growing transgenic plants and for research into plant pathogens. Glasshouse Our heated glasshouse is compartmentalised and has a total bench surface of 134m², including 3m² of an automated misting unit. Temperature and day length are regulated through a BMS control system. Light levels in the heated glasshouse are ~150μmol/m²/s at bench height. Case Study - Edinburgh Plant Growth facility helps researchers to understand sugar transport in plants The development of phloem tissue in plants was a key evolutionary step enabling sugar transport and larger and more complex plant forms. Dr Sandy Hetherington and Zishan Fu are investigating the origin and evolution of the phloem in early-diverging groups of vascular plants such as ferns, to determine how phloem structure has changed over time. The Edinburgh Plant Growth facility identified potential sources of Azolla filiculoides, provided advice and support on the correct risk assessments and standard operating procedures for working with the species, and finally established the optimal growth conditions for the plants. Read the Case Study Find out more about the Plant Growth Facility and how we can help you with your research: Plant Growth Facility Biology scanning electron microscope facilities (BioSEM) Our Electron Microscope facility provides both scanning and transmission EM and sample preparation. Electron Microscopy Facilities Other Facilities Discover how our School’s biological expertise and facilities can help you develop innovative ideas and deliver solutions to the world’s greatest scientific challenges. Our technical experts will help your team make new discoveries and translational developments from genotype to phenotype. Our specialist support will guide you through the journey every step of the way. DNA assembly, sequencing and bioinformatics - Edinburgh Genomics, Edinburgh Genome Foundry Protein production - Edinburgh Protein Production Facility Cell free testing – EdinOmics Cell based testing - Beacon at the Edinburgh Genome Foundry, Centre for Optical Instrumentation Laboratory (COIL), The Cryo-Electron Microscope Facility, Transmission Electron Microscope Facility Organism phenotype - Edinburgh Plant Growth Facility, Flow Cytometry Core Facility School of Biological Sciences Facilities This article was published on 2024-06-17
