Plant Facility

The team

Matthias
Dorota
(maternity leave)
Nicole
Hannah

Book incubator here:

Big Incubators
https://seafile.ist.ac.at/f/70eba53e071c4e13ade5

Minis
https://seafile.ist.ac.at/f/57ff202eb88e462ea564/

Facility Services

– Introduction of the new users to the Plant Facility rules and regulations.

– Plant watering.

– Applying fertilizer.

– Plant health management, pest and disease monitoring and treatment application.

– Technical support, incubator programming.

– Supply of working materials and green labcoats.

– Washing utensils (trays, propagator lids and ARA system) that are part of the Plant growth facility inventory.

– Preparation of the soil mix.

– Propagation and maintenance of Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana wild type.

– Individual assistance on request (tying, harvesting, seed sawing, seedlings transplanting, pots preparation).

Potting room and storage

  • Soil work

Harvesting room

  • Plant work (staking, tying, pruning)
  • Microscopy work (plant crossing)
  • Seed work (harvesting)

In Vitro (36C)

  • Temperature setpoint:21°C; average temperature in the room: 21,5°C
  • Humidity setpoint: 70%; actual room humidity range from 20 to 30%
  • 16 hour day light
  • 8 hour dark
  • LED Philips GreenPower Production module DR/B/FR
DatePPFD [µmol/m²/s ]PFD-BPFD-GPFD-RPFD-FR
Q4 2024137,24 +- 3,2416,03 +- 0,830,18 +- 0,01121,03 +- 2.418.09 +- 0,32
Q1 2025139,04 +- 4,0816,25 +- 0,890,21 +- 0,04122,58 +- 3,158,17 +- 0,48
Q2 2025139,45 +- 5,6416,19 +- 1,020,2 +- 0,02123,06 +- 4,678,22 +- 0,51
Q3 2025137,29 +- 3,7216,25 +- 0.850,15 +- 0,07120,9 +-2.947,73 +- 0,34

Actual data of measurements and historical data can be found here. 

In Vivo 1 (36A)

  • Temperature setpoint:22°C; average temperature in the room: 22,3°C
  • Humidity setpoint: 50%; actual room humidity range from 50 to 60%
  • 16 hour day light
  • 8 hour dark
  • Room capacity: 64
  • LED
  • LED Philips GreenPower Production module DR/B/FR plus DR/W
DatePPFD [µmol/m²/s ]PFD-BPFD-GPFD-RPFD-FR
Q4 2024152,96 +- 3,3514,91 +- 0,9417,51 +- 0,79121,07 +- 2,003,79 +- 0,16
Q1 2025164,81 +- 7,3215,62 +- 1,3918,99 +- 1,3130,19 +- 5,043,99 +- 0,29
Q2 2025158,24 +- 6,6714,86 +- 1,0418,16 +- 1,14125,21 +- 5,133,84 +- 0,18
Q3 2025163,06 +- 7,0915,56 +- 1,4818,94 +- 1,3128,56 +- 4,693,64 +- 0,25

Actual data of measurements and historical data can be found here. 

In Vivo 2 (36B)

  • Temperature setpoint:22°C; average temperature in the room: 22,3°C
  • Humidity setpoint: 55%; actual room humidity range from 50 to 60%
  • 16 hour day light
  • 8 hour dark
  • Room capacity: 202
  • LED Philips GreenPower Production module DR/B/FR plus DR/W
DatePPFD [µmol/m²/s ]PFD-BPFD-GPFD-RPFD-FR
Q4 2024159,61 +- 6,0915,75 +- 0,4818,09 +- 0,75125,77 +- 5,164,05 +- 0,19
Q1 2025171, 07 +- 7,2516,80 +- 0,8519,62 +- 0,94134,65 +- 5,734,39 +- 0,26
Q2 2025166,96 +- 8,3116,37 +- 0,919,07 +- 1,13131,51 +- 6,554,22 +- 0,26
Q3 2025157,53 +- 7,6615,79 +- 0,9718,03 +- 5,96123,20 +- 5,963,85 0,02

Actual data of measurements and historical data can be found here. 

In Vivo 3 (36D)

  • Temperature setpoint:22°C; average temperature in the room: 22,3°C
  • Humidity setpoint: 55%; actual room humidity range from 50 to 60%
  • 16 hour day light
  • 8 hour dark
  • Room capacity: 122
  • LED Philips GreenPower Production module DR/B/FR plus DR/W
DatePPFD [µmol/m²/s ]PFD-BPFD-GPFD-RPFD-FR
Q4 2024137,82 +- 11,6913,16 +- 1,0415,57 +- 1,18109,09 +- 9,563,58 +- 0,22
Q1 2025145,60 +- 12,7413,74 +- 1,1816,50 +- 1,47115,35 +- 10,163,81 +- 0,40
Q2 2025133,09 +- 10,1912,57 +- 0,8715,19 +- 1,15105,32 +- 8,213,57 +- 1,19
Q3 2025147,43 +- 12,2413,92 +- 1,2316,70 +- 1,50116,81 +- 9,563,52 +- 0,37
*

*large standard deviation is caused by reduced light intensity on top most shelve layer directly under ventilation pipes

Actual data of measurements and historical data can be found here. 

Percival 1 (Model: CU-41L4X)

  • Moss propagation
  • 15°C
  • Continuous light
  • fluorescent bulbs
DatePPFD [µmol/m²/s ]PFD-BPFD-GPFD-RPFD-FR
Q2 202023852,29101,184,559,58
Q3 2020272,860,24117,495,2010,10

Actual data of measurements and historical data can be found here. 

Percival 2 (Model: CU-41L4X)

  • Assigned for the short term experiments; settings can be customized to user request
  • Temperature range: min.10°C (+/-0.5°C); max. 45°C
  • fluorescent bulbs
DatePPFD [µmol/m²/s ]PFD-BPFD-GPFD-RPFD-FR
Q2 202023852,29101,184,559,58
Q3 2020272,860,24117,495,2010,10

Mini incubators 1-4 (Model: Panasonic MIR-154)

  • Assigned for the short term experiments; settings can be customized to user request
  • Temperature range is between 0°C ～ +60°C.
  • LED Fluence Ray22
DateIncubatorPPFD [µmol/m²/s ]PFD-BPFD-GPFD-RPFD-FR
Q3 2021Mini1195,8433,3778,5283,946,93
Q3 2023Mini1188,6531,8675,8480,935,53
Q3 2021Mini2197,1733,3079,2784,596,95
Q3 2023Mini2192,5631,8976,7683,905,55
Q3 2021Mini3199,4234,0680,2085,156,98
Q3 2023Mini3186,6631,2575,3080,115,47
Q3 2023Mini4199,9532,5980,3286,735,50

Actual data of measurements and historical data can be found here. 

GENERAL PLANT FACILITY USER GUIDELINES 

*New users must get a detailed introduction of the basic facility rules before they are granted access.*

  • No food and drinks are allowed in the Plant Facility.
  • Always start with healthy plant material. Follow seed preparation protocols described in the next section.
  • Plant material that is no longer needed should be discarded immediately. This also applies to petriplates in the In Vitro room.
  • Do not harvest seeds outside of the Plant facility.
  • All plant material is considered genetically modified and must be placed into appropriately closed transport containers (ARA mobil) for transport outside the plant rooms. Always clean the transport box after use.
  • Equipment provided for common use shall be returned clean and in good state.
  • All materials must be stowed away in the designated areas.
  • When entering/leaving the growth chamber ensure that your clothes and shoes are clean. Walk over sticky mats to avoid dragging in dirt and contaminants and spreading genetically modified plant material (GMO).
  • Keep the growth and work areas clean and orderly! Make use of the cleaning equipment, which is provided in each room.
  • Do not enter the Fish Facility directly after you worked in the Plant Facility.

SEED PREPARATION PROTOCOLS

  • All seeds need to be treated at -20°C for at least 24h before sterilization procedure. This simple action helps to eliminate any hazards being introduced simultaneously with the seeds. This cold treatment has to be applied not only to seeds coming from third parties, but also to all internally propagated seeds.
  • Seed sterilization protocol:
  1. Ethanol sterilization

Perform in a laminar flow cabinet to ensure asceptic conditions. Spray everything with 70% ethanol. Aliquot seeds in 1.5mL Eppendorf tubes (volume equivalent = 100-200uL). Add 1mL 95% ethanol and mix the seeds well, remove this solution after 5minutes. Add once more 500mL 50% ethanol, pipette the seeds so that they are all in suspension and distribute this suspension on sterile whatman paper. Let the ethanol evaporate and the seeds dry before spreading them on germination medium in petriplates.

  1. Chlorine gas sterilization (at room temperature)

This procedure is to be performed in a fumehood because chlorine gas is toxic (use PPE appropriately). Aliquot the seeds in 1.5mL Eppendorf tubes (volume equivalent to 100uL or less). Place the vials in a plastic rack or box, but don’t close the caps. This rack (or box) is then placed in a sterilization box. Also place in the box a 250mL beaker in which you add 100mL of bleach. Add 3mL of HCl to the beaker containing the bleach (caution: the reaction starts immediately so proceed fast). Close the sterilization container well to ensure gas accumulation inside the container. After 4h (or overnight), open the sterilization container and allow to vent to eliminate the chlorine gas. Bring the rack (or box) containing the Eppendorf tubes with seeds into a laminar flow hood and let them air out. Spread the seeds on germination medium in petriplates.

POTTING ROOM

  • Use only clean trays and growth containers. Place trays only on a bench -not on the floor.
  • Only soil from the container stored on the bench can be used; always close the container after taking out soil.
  • Use the room only for transferring young plant material. Sowing seeds directly to the soil must be done with extra care.
  • Remember to apply the nematodes solution to every newly planted tray – you prevent your plants from being eaten by the fungus gnat larvae.
  • Do not bring any plant material from the growth chambers back into the soil preparation room.
  • No harvesting is allowed in the potting room.
  • Keep the soil preparation room clean at all times.

HARVESTING ROOM

  • Clean up when you have finished your work.
  • Place dirty trays on the trolley next to the autoclave.
  • All dirty Arapods have to be placed in the blue box.
  • Dirty propagator lids have to be placed in the tray above the sink.
  • Do not leave anything lying around; take back whatever you bring to the facility.
  • Used sticks are collected in a cardboard box.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

  • All waste produced in the growth chambers is considered contaminated with genetically modified plant material and must be autoclaved before final disposal. All plant waste goes into the biohazard waste bins lined with autoclave bags, this includes pots and labels.
  • Don’t reuse wooden sticks, they are excellent for carrying over contamination e.g. fungus, they need to be trashed in to the cardboard box placed on the bench.
  • Do not fill the waste bins more than half full and exchange the bag when full.
  • All waste water produced in the growth chambers is considered to be contaminated with genetically modified plant material and must be autoclaved. If there are any problems with the waste water autoclave contact immediately the plant facility technician.

IN VIVO1, IN VIVO2 AND IN VIVO3 ROOMS

  • Never transfer plants between the rooms.
  • Create a booking through the online system and print a label for every tray at a newly occupied spot. Link to the Booking Manager : https://plantroom.ista.ac.at/
  • All plant work in the In Vivo3 room (tying, harvesting and crossing) must be done inside the room. Taking out plants from the room is forbidden.
  • Always wear a green labcoat when entering the rooms.
  • Remember to tie and stalk your plants. Proper spacing will ensure air movement as well as provide access for watering and pest control measures.
  • Inform the plant facility technician in case of specific requirements for your plants.
  • Use ‘ARA Mobil’- closed transport containers when moving plants to the lab.
  • Remember to harvest your seeds as soon as they are ready.
  • Do not block space in courtesy of other users.
  • The doors of all rooms should be kept close at all times.

PERCIVALS AND MINI INCUBATORS

  • The growth chambers (Percivals) and mini incubators are intended for short-term experiments.
  • Remember to book a time slot when planning to occupy a device.
  • Check availability of the devices before you plan your experiment.
  • The operating instructions and guidelines on how to program the devices can be found on the top of Percival. Contact the plant facility technician if you need any help in setting the program.
  • More details concerning devices technical specification can be found in a section ‘ Resources and conditions ‘.

PEST AND DISEASES MANAGEMENT

  • Regular monitoring of the plant health is done by the plant facility technician, but you are also responsible for your plants. Please check them regularly!
  • If you find any indication of an infestation or when you are in doubt about the health of your plants, please inform the plant facility technician immediately.
  • Heavily infested plants have to be discarded into biohazard waste bins in the chamber.
  • All chemical insecticide or fertilizer application will be done in agreement with the scientists.
  • Please limit your access to the infested rooms and remember to wear a green coat.
  • Always wear gloves when handling plants, pots, trays after insecticide treatments.

           

     If you notice anything not working properly inform the plant facility technician.

 

Please remember about team work. The Plant Facility has very limited space and your cooperation is very important to maintain the perfect working conditions!

        -THANK YOU-

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