Latest whole-plant
Enriching Plant Science Education for the Next Generation of Researchers | CID & CASEE
Battleground Public Schools’ Center for Agriculture, Science, and Environmental Education (CASEE) is a leader in plant science and STEM education in the greater Portland area. The center has integrated several CID measurement tools into their curriculum to give students an in-depth look at the latest in modern plant research. Recently, Application Scientist Galen George visited the 80-acre outdoor learning… Continue reading…
Reducing the Effects of Lead Toxicity in Plants
Lead Toxicity Treatments Reduce Impacts on Leaf Area, Biochemistry, and Physiology Today we take a look at two studies of lead toxicity in plants, and the environment at large. Lead toxicity is increasing and it is impacting the performance of many crops. Leaf parameters, such as leaf area and chlorophyll levels, are reduced due to… Continue reading…
Plant Canopy Data to Assess Urban Cooling Methods
With global warming and its effects becoming increasingly apparent, all possible measures must be explored to reduce its impact on human life. A growing number of communities find themselves dealing with increased temperatures not taken into account in earlier city planning. Urban cooling measures can make life easier for these residents and also mitigate climate… Continue reading…
Nutrients Moderate Root Dynamics
The continuous cultivation of trees in plantations requires nutrient management to maintain soil fertility. The method and extent to which nutrients are increased can alter species interactions in mixed plantations by influencing root growth. Until recently, little was known about these below-ground dynamics, as they were difficult to study. Advanced tools like minirhizotrons, which make… Continue reading…
Specific Leaf Area Drives Tropical Forest Seedling Diversity
Several forest restoration strategies are commonly attempted today, such as monocultures, mixed-species plantations, and passively regenerating forests. Scientists are also looking at an increasingly wider array of parameters to find out more about the processes that drive seedling diversity in recruitments in different forest restoration methods. Specific leaf area was found to be crucial in… Continue reading…
Leaf Area Measurement and Ecosytem Dynamics in a Changing Climate
An interesting marshland study in the Yangtze Estuary shows the difficulty in extrapolating general predictions of increased vegetative growth, under climate change-induced air warming. Local environmental factors in specialized ecosystems, such as salt marshes, can complicate plant growth patterns to give C3 plants an advantage over C4 plants in warmer climates. Moreover, population-level effects can… Continue reading…
INTERVIEW: Reaching into the Rhizosphere – Root Studies Impacting Commercial Peach and Citrus
University of Florida Plant Root Biologist Dr. Lorenzo Rossi sits down with CID Application Scientist Galen George to discuss commercially impactful root research on Florida peach cultivation, and HLB-affected citrus trees using the CI-602 Narrow Gauge Root Imager. ABOUT DR. ROSSI Dr. Lorenzo Rossi is an Assistant Professor affiliated with the Horticultural Sciences Department and located… Continue reading…
Root Imaging and Genotype Selection in Marshlands Restoration Project
In an effort to restore ailing marshlands, a group of scientists turned their focus to not only selecting appropriate native species, but also understanding specific genotypes that could hold their own against the invasive common reed. Several root investigations were conducted in a bid to find the mechanism that helped the dominant genotype succeed against… Continue reading…
Canopy Cover and Mercury Sequestration in Tropical Forests
Mercury pollution, which has increased due to anthropogenic activities, can spread far from its sources. Knowing how tropical forests solve this issue is important, as these ecosystems are valuable carbon sinks which keep pollutants out of circulation. However, there are many gaps in the understanding of mercury flux in tropical forests. A team of scientists… Continue reading…
Studying Tree Cricket Signalling using Infrared Gas Analysis
A team of biologists wanted a tool for CO2 measurement to find the drivers of trade-offs in insect signalling. A portable Infrared Gas Analyzer, which was designed for plants, was found to be suitable for the task because it allowed non-destructive measurements of respiration. The tool was unrestrictive and allowed the insects to continue their… Continue reading…