Plant growth chamber for pathogenesis assays and beyond

用于发病机制测定等的植物生长室

• 批准号: 344498-2007
• 负责人: Saville, Barry
• 金额: $ 5.2万
• 依托单位: Trent University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2006-01-01 至 2007-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=325554
• 关键词: Plant; growth; chamber; pathogenesis; assays

A key aspect of scientific research is the ability to reproduce the results of an experiment. In plant biology, carrying out reproducible experiments requires growing plants in defined conditions that can be reproduced. A primary way to carry this out is to grow plants in a chamber where light, temperature and humidity levels can be set and maintained.  There are two added advantages to growing plants this way: 1) the plants in the chamber are isolated, so if they were infected with a pathogen, that pathogen would be contained and 2) conditions in one chamber can be different than another chamber beside it. This last point differs from a greenhouse where it is much more difficult to set up distinct environmental conditions on one bench relative to the bench beside it.  Recent expansion of faculty at Trent University has allowed the formation of a core in plant biology research with distinct but complementary expertise.  This expertise means that important new research on a plant's response to pathogen infection, that would not have been possible at Trent previously, can now be carried out.  This new research requires new conditions for plant growth that cannot be met with the current facilities at Trent University.  As such, the purchase of a new, modern growth chamber with the capacity to grow plants under high intensity light, at an elevated humidity and temperature is required to meet this capability.  This new chamber is also absolutely necessary for ongoing NSERC funded research of incoming faculty. In our research of chambers we have selected modern design that is easier to operate and provides a better instrument for training new researchers.  We have also included a request for two external condensers that will cool the recirculation water for both the new chamber and a chamber that already exists at Trent. These new coolers eliminate the extreme water consumption rate of the chambers, which can reach 2700 gallons of city water per day.  Funding this proposal will add absolutely required capabilities at Trent in an environmentally conscious manner that facilitates the training of highly qualified personnel.

科学研究的一个关键方面是复制实验结果的能力。在植物生物学中，进行可重复的实验需要在可以繁殖的特定条件下种植植物。实现这一点的主要方法是在一个可以设置和保持光照、温度和湿度水平的室内种植植物。这种方式种植植物还有两个额外的优点：1）室内的植物是隔离的，所以如果它们感染了病原体，该病原体将被遏制，2）最后一点与温室不同，在温室中更难以建立不同的环境条件，相对于旁边的工作台，一个工作台上的条件。特伦特大学最近的师资扩充使得植物生物学研究的核心得以形成，这些核心具有独特但互补的专业知识。这种专业知识意味着关于植物对病原体感染的反应的重要新研究，这在特伦特大学以前是不可能的，现在可以进行。这项新的研究需要新的植物生长条件，这是特伦特大学现有设施无法满足的。因此，购买一个新的，现代化的生长室，能够在高强度光照下种植植物，为了满足这种能力，需要在较高的湿度和温度下使用。2这种新的室也是NSERC资助的新教师进行研究所必需的。在我们的实验室研究中，我们选择了现代化的设计，更易于操作，为培训新的研究人员提供了更好的工具。我们还要求提供两个外部冷凝器，用于冷却新实验室和特伦特现有实验室的再循环水。这些新的冷却器消除了腔室的极端耗水率，每天可以达到2700加仑的城市用水。资助该提案将以环保意识的方式增加特伦特绝对需要的能力，促进高素质人员的培训。