RESEARCH

• Academic staff and their research

• Talks and seminars
• Research opportunities
• Scientific journals
• LESARS
• Experimental Glasshouses
  • How to find us
  • Facilities
  • Temperature data for download
  • Information for internal staff
• Transcriptomics Facility
• Research highlights on film

Research groups

• Behaviour, Sensory and Neurobiology
• Ecological and Evolutionary Processes
• Plant and Pathogen Biology

Facilities

The Glasshouses

There are five compartmentalised glasshouses with a total of 114 m² of actual growing bench and/or floor space. Supplementary lighting is installed in the majority of the compartments. Each lamp consists of a 125W 50/60Hz High output, Correct Spectrum Class 11 energy saving bulbs.

Due to the amount of climate control available, we can offer an extensive service, ranging from propagation, seed production, quarantine facilities, etc. We can grow a wide range of crops, often out of season, ranging from common ornamentals, to endangered species. We can even maintain cultures of pest and diseases in isolation if required.

All the glasshouses are linked to an independent data acquisition system, which monitor and logs real time temperature and relative humidity levels. This can be used to replicate growing conditions at a later date, as well as supplying students and academic staff with useful information.

The various forms of heating and ventilation control give a wide range of growing conditions. In addition to the Glasshouse space available, a small illuminated cooled incubator with a capacity of 450lt is available for seed or plant vernilisation purposes.

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The Main Glasshouse (68 m² of growing space, 5 compartments)

All have heating, supplementary lighting, ventilation and shading, which are computer controlled. Within the main glasshouse, there are a further 2 compartments and header compartment which have refrigerated cooling, filtered negative air pressure ventilation and treated drainage which conforms to ACGM level 2.

An on-site, external meteorological station is connected to the computer controllers and control the lighting and shading. Use of the ridge and side ventilators are also limited by the controllers during windy or wet weather.

The Top and Rear Glasshouses (38 m² of growing space in total)

These glasshouses also has supplementary lighting. Heating and cooling is provided by a split system air conditioner.

Isolation Glasshouse (2 m² of growing space)

This glasshouse is an unheated greenhouse and has no supplementary lighting. Ventilation is provided by an automatic ridge vent.

Radiation Glasshouse (6 m² of growing space)

This glasshouse is also an unheated glasshouse and has no supplementary lighting. Ventilation is also provided by an automatic ridge vent.

Pot Standing Area

There is a limited amount of outside pot standing space, which also has several cold frames for plant hardening off purposes.

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