Featuring removed detection and data - capturing capabilities , Texas A&M AgriLife Research has launched “ the future of farming research ” with its multi - million dollar Automated Precision Phenotyping Greenhouse on the Texas A&M University campus in Bryan - College Station .
The nursery is part of the Texas A&M AgriLife Plant Growth and Phenotyping Facility , which also include the Borlaug Center for Southern Crop Improvement .
“ The Automated Precision Phenotyping Greenhouse will serve our research enterprise in addressing new challenge and expectations of the food for thought system , ” said Cliff Lamb , AgriLife Research director , during a stately grand possibility . “ Our growing universe will require a higher quality solid food scheme that prevent dieting - related chronic disease , and whose smaller environmental footprint expend less water and few stimulation – these are great challenge . The greenhouse will position us as a worldly concern drawing card in precision agriculture . ”
( Left ) Cliff Lamb , Ph.D. , Texas A&M AgriLife Research director ; Jeffrey W. Savell , Ph.D. , vice chancellor and dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences ; John Sharp , chancellor of The Texas A&M University System ; and Seth Murray , Ph.D. , Texas A&M AgriLife Research Zea mays breeder and Eugene Butler Endowed Chair in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller )
With Texas enduring ongoing drought conditions , the enquiry readiness will allow scientist to explore breakthrough plant crop genomic find to cancel one of the nation ’s most rough growing environments .
In conjunction with advanced genomics and big information collection , the glasshouse technology can identify specific chemical compound and quicken harvest industrial plant improvement through breeding and genetic science , maximize productiveness and stress leeway .
enquiry initiative fundingLocated at 3950 Finfeather Road in The Texas A&M Plant Growth and Phenotyping Facility , the glasshouse is funded by the Chancellor ’s Research Initiative Award and equal by the Governor ’s University Research Initiative Award . Additional robotic equipment is fund by a Research Development Fund Award . The facility had a construction budget reckon at $ 3.5 million .
Located at 3950 Finfeather Road in The Texas A&M Plant Growth and Phenotyping Facility , the greenhouse is fund by the Chancellor ’s Research Initiative Award and matched by the Governor ’s University Research Initiative Award . Additional robotic equipment is funded by a Research Development Fund Award . The facility had a building budget estimated at $ 3.5 million . ( Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller )
The facility sport two greenhouses with robotlike gantry system , one 2,400 square feet , and the other 600 square foot . Their gantry system transmit the entire length of each greenhouse . On the gantry system are rolling trucks with long - reaching robotic arms to do various research activities , such as monitoring works wellness and movement . A sensor head includes a multispectral camera and a Raman spectrometer .
The greenhouse facility also includes three additional 600 - square - foot research greenhouses without robotic system . All five greenhouse boast advanced LED lighting systems and eaves that are 19 metrical foot high . science lab and field researchers can also get at a 1,500 - satisfying - foot headhouse equip with sterilizer and potting tables , as well as a laser room and common - usance research lab .
‘ milepost for Texas A&M AgriLife’“This is an important milestone for Texas A&M AgriLife Research , Texas A&M AgriLife , and The Texas A&M University System as we continue to innovate and satisfy new challenge in ply solutions for Texas agriculture and abroad , ” said Jeffrey W. Savell , Ph.D. , frailty chancellor and James Byron Dean for Agriculture and Life Sciences .
The facility provides Texas A&M staff with a unique infrastructure for automated preciseness phenotyping , importantly accelerating harvest improvement progress and allowing iterative cycles of optimization and standardization .
“ It will also be a platform for interdisciplinary enquiry where physicist , biochemist , and engineers will work alongside playing field scientists in soil , plants , germ , insects , and other interrelated disciplines , ” Lamb said .
The new technology will avail march on urban and traditional field - based row USDA , he take down .
“ Researchers can replicate environs that happen naturally in the field . Technology will allow traits to be quantify autonomously with extreme precision using golem and sensing element . ”
Lamb said the adeptness will also help inscribe postgraduate educatee .
“ These succeeding scientists will learn the up-to-the-minute acquisition and technologies needed to characterise plant and stressor interactions and body of work for hired man in hand with producers and consumers , ” he said . “ The greenhouse installation will aid staff in pull top alumna school prospect and additional Union and diligence funding in these areas . ”
For more info : Texas A&M AgriLife Extensionwww.agrilifetoday.tamu.edu
