Center for Advanced Algal and Plant Phenotyping
What we do
We are facing unprecedented challenges that directly involve the plant sciences. The United Nations estimates that food production has to increase by at least 70% over the next 30-50 years. So, there is an urgent need to develop highly productive and sustainable food production sources. Our center's technologies can measure photosynthetic parameters, in real-time, and identify biophysical processes and genes that contribute to photosynthetic efficiency and productivity.
Technological platforms
DEPI Chambers
Dynamic Environmental Photosynthetic Imaging (DEPI) captures the types of environmental conditions seen in the field, such as light intensities or weather patterns, and replays them in the lab. Onboard cameras detect and quantify visible signals produced in real time by plant photosynthetic processes.
PhotosynQ
Most plant research happens in highly controlled lab conditions. Unfortunately, the plants that human beings care most about grow outside where weather, bugs, and animals impact their well-being. PhotosynQ is a platform for measuring plant health at a fundamental level in the field and collecting data across the world to create a global, open access dataset of plant activity.
Environmental Photobioreactor
The Environmental Photobioreactor (ePBR) enables scientists to study algae under the same conditions found in outdoor ponds, but in the much more efficient confines of the laboratory. Each ePBR can re-create environmental conditions such as temperature, light intensity, and CO2.
Contact
Center for Advanced Algal and Plant Phenotyping
612 Wilson Road, Room S-240
East Lansing, MI 48824
Dr. David Kramer
Principal Investigator
kramerd8@msu.edu
(517) 432-0072
Dr. Jeffrey Cruz
Director of Plant Studies
cruzj@msu.edu
(517) 432-0071