Inside the Phytotron: A Tour of CEMPS Advanced Plant Research Facilities
- PlantHouse Enterprise
- Feb 26
- 2 min read
Visited on: 12 December 2025
Join us for an in-depth tour of the research infrastructure at the Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS). From high-throughput analytical platforms to specialized climate-controlled greenhouses, we explore how modern plant science is moving from the lab to automated production.
In this video, we visit our shared research platforms, discuss specialized genetic transformation services (including CRISPR design), and provide a first look at our automated duckweed (Lemna) production prototype.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction and Research Life at CEMPS
1:03 – Building 2: Shared Research Platforms (Centrifuges & Protein Purification)
3:22 – Plant Genetic Transformation & CRISPR Design Services
4:58 – Metabolomics, Proteomics, and Mass Spectrometry Hub
6:53 – Greenhouse Facilities and Recent Renovations
8:36 – Molecular Plant Editorial Office
9:17 – Xinjiang Ephemeral Plants: A 33-Day Life Cycle
12:42 – Duckweed (Lemna) Prototype & Automated Production
15:24 – Specialized Facilities for Rice and Corn Research
25:37 – Automated Harvesting Strategy & Nutrient Specifications
Technical Highlights:
1. Xinjiang Ephemeral Plants: These unique plants complete their entire life cycle in just 33 days under cold, high-light conditions, making them ideal for studying NPQ mechanisms.
2. Automated Duckweed Production: Our prototype utilizes a daily 10% harvest strategy, leaving 90% of the biomass to ensure the light interception coefficient is always maximized.
3. Nutrient Management: The duckweed system uses a Hoagland-based solution maintained at an EC of 2000–3000 µS and a pH between 6.0 and 6.5.
4. Custom Lighting: We utilize specialized LED arrays with adjustable heights and photoperiods tailored specifically to the differing needs of C3 and C4 crops like rice and corn.
Keywords: Plant Science, Phytotron, CEMPS, Agriculture Technology, Duckweed, CRISPR Crop Physiology, Botany, Research facilities
Location:
300 Feng Lin Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Tel: 86-21-54924000
Fax: 86-21-54924015
Email: webmaster@sippe.ac.cn
Shanghai ICP #05033115
Attribution 4.0 International — CC BY 4.0 - Creative Commons
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