In the subterranean confines of the Science Research Building at the University of Toronto Scarborough lies a sophisticated facility dedicated to pioneering plant research. Within this domain, four chambers resembling commercial walk-in refrigerators serve as cutting-edge laboratories where biologists are conducting pivotal experiments aimed at fortifying the resilience of food crops.
Nestled within the Plant Growth Facility of the building, these recently installed chambers boast advanced capabilities to replicate diverse growing conditions. Researchers wield precise control over factors such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, and even the speed and direction of simulated winds, facilitating comprehensive assessments of stressors like drought, heat, and infections on plant development.
Furthermore, an astronomical clock integrated into the facility enables the recreation of average sunlight levels corresponding to various geographical regions and seasons across the globe.
Here, Jenan Noureddine, a doctoral candidate in the biological sciences department, meticulously monitors the progress of her Arabidopsis plants. These diminutive, flowering specimens, akin to cabbage and mustard, hold significant importance in the realm of plant biology as model organisms.
Adam Mott, an assistant professor managing the facility, articulates the overarching objective: to translate research findings into enhanced crop varieties capable of bolstering local agriculture.
The facility encompasses a total of 21 growth chambers, facilitating a spectrum of plant experiments, from elucidating key genes crucial for disease resistance to unraveling the intricacies of growth-regulating proteins.
Mott underscores a pivotal feature of the newly added chambers: the capacity to regulate carbon dioxide levels, empowering scientists to design experiments elucidating the impacts of climate change. These chambers maintain humidity levels of up to 75 percent (90 percent with lights off) and can attain temperatures akin to the sweltering Amazon rainforest during summer, reaching a maximum of 40 degrees Celsius. Each chamber offers an expansive growing space of 18 cubic meters, with adjustable shelves accommodating tall plants.
Exuding luminance akin to a sunlit Toronto summer day, the LED lighting within these chambers necessitates the use of UV protective eyewear as a safety measure.
Funding for the acquisition of the state-of-the-art growth chambers was secured through a grant from the Office of the Vice-Principal Research and Innovation at U of T Scarborough.