Jülich Plant Phenotyping Centre (JPPC)
http://www.fz-juelich.de/ibg/ibg-2/EN/_organisation/JPPC/JPPC_node.html
Core Data
Identification
Hosting Legal Entity
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
Address:
Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, Helmholtz Nano Facility, Jülich, PO: 52428, Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany)
Location
Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, Helmholtz Nano Facility, Jülich, PO: 52428, Nordrhein-Westfalen (Germany)
Structure
Type Of RI
Single-sited
Coordinating Country
Germany
Status
Status
Current Status:
Operational since 2006
Scientific Description
Mission and objectives
Jülich Plant Phenotyping Centre (JPPC) was established in 2006 based on the knowledge generated by groups within the institute IBG-2 at Forschungszentrum Jülich. The centre focuses on quantitative assessment of plant – environment interaction and houses mechanistic, high-throughput and field phenotyping facilities to measure key structural and functional properties of plants by integrating stringent control of growth conditions and the application of non-invasive technologies. Quantification of roots and shoots properties can be performed with a range of different crops and model species in automated plant screening facilities under controlled growth chamber and greenhouse conditions, as well as in field plots. JPPC implements a variety of optical approaches to assess visual-reflectance, fluorescence, multi- and hyperspectral as well as microwave analysis of plants. These methods are applied in studies on growth performance, nutrient and water use efficiency, abiotic and selected biotic factors. Partners are academia, plant breeders and biotech industry. Facilities and techniques to quantify 3D-geometries of single plants and canopies based on optical approaches to nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are available. The greenhouse facility PhyTec has highly transparent glass allowing experiments at close-to-natural light intensity and spectral composition (including UV-B). All growth chamber and greenhouse systems comply with S1-biosafety regulation. All data including plant handling, specific measurements and the environmental parameters are integrated in a relational data base.

RI Keywords
Model species, Non-invasive methods, Image processing and analysis, Genotype, Functional traits, Shoot, Structural traits, Phenotyping, Resource use efficiency, Crops, Root
Classifications
RI Category
Genomic, Transcriptomic, Proteomics and Metabolomics Facilities
Agronomy, Forestry, Plant Breeding Centres
Scientific Domain
Biological and Medical Sciences
Services
Access

The JPPC coordinates the central facility in the German Plant Phenotyping Network (DPPN) funded by the BMBF and the EU funded project European Plant Phenotyping Network (EPPN). Core aspects of both projects include offering access to users to the phenotyping facilities. Users can apply for access by submitting a proposal which will be evaluated based on a transparent procedure which includes an assessment by independent reviewers. according to the EU regulations with transparent procedures for the application of users, the review and selection process. Financing of access is possible through the user’s own resources or other funding programs which support access. Applications will be evaluated by independent reviewers and ranked according to their assessment. A stuff member will be assigned to each selected user gaining access. This staff member will assist a user in the experimental work by providing assistance with operating the systems, training, data analysis and interpretation. The aim of this supporting program is to train the user to become as much as possible an independent researcher with respect to phenotyping approaches. Selected users are also integrated in the local working groups (including access to labs, greenhouses, IT infrastructure, etc.) and will attend local group meetings, as well as present their own work to the local staff. This approach ensures that users receive sufficient feedback from the local working groups. Additional expertise of the staff members is available for support in plant cultivation, samples preparation and experimental design.

Equipment
GROWSCREEN Fluoro
SCREEN House
GROWSCREEN Root
GROWSCREEN
FieldSCREEN
PlanTIS
GROWSCREEN Rhizo
Stationary NMR systems
Portable NMR
SCREEN Chamber