Greenhouses & Plant Chambers
The aim of this facility is to provide logistic and technical assistance to plant growth, propagation and protection under controlled environment conditions and support classes and outreach activities.
Our services include:
- Support in trials set up and plant maintenance in both the glasshouse and in growth chambers as well as in open-field conditions (e.g. seed sowing, seed collection, harvest of plant material, plant growth measurements, RGB photographic records)
- Support agronomic and greenhouse operation tasks (substrate preparation, pots filling, plantation, plants transplantation and transport, irrigation and fertilization, phytosanitary control, weeding, and pruning)
- Cleaning of greenhouse, climate chambers and tools and materials used
- Manage and treat organic and inorganic wastes (e.g. used substrate, plant debris for autoclaving)
- Plant propagation and/or production needed for demonstration classes or other outreach events.
Glasshouse
ITQB NOVA's glasshouse is located in Quinta do Marquês, Oeiras (Lat: 38°41'45.91"N; Log: 9°19'14.73"W). The glasshouse has a total covered area of 440m2 and is subdivided in 6 compartments, each with 80m2 and with independent environment control. The glasshouse has a straight side wall, with a maximum height of 4.5 m on the ridge and 3,10 m at the gutter. The environmental control (air temperature, air relative humidity-RH, radiation) is semi-automatic. The ventilation is zenithal and the glasshouse is equipped with a semi-automatic fogging system to regulate air RH and with shading/insulation screens to regulate radiation and air temperature. Two compartments have unheated mobile aluminum benches to propagate and grow plants in pots or plastic trays.
Growth chambers
ITQB NOVA has 8 walk-in climatic chambers of different dimensions:
1st floor: Four walk-in chambers (1A, 1B, 1C and 1D):
Chambers 1 A, 1B and 1C: (small, Fitoclima Aralab PLH): 2,00m x 1,60m x 2,04m (length x width x height), organized in 6 shelves, one shelf corresponding to a set of lights, with 0,50m x 1,50m m = 0.75 m2 each, total useful area of 4.50 m2). It has light, temperature and humidity control and also CO2 control if needed (1A).
Chamber 1D: organized in 2 tables of 0.74m×2,00m = 1.48 m2. It has light and temperature control. Light is provided by a LED system (Lumigrow Pro325).
8th floor: Two walk-in Fitoclima Aralab 10000 EHHF chambers (Chamber 8A and 8B) of 3,30m x 1,60m x 1,95m (length x width x height), with a useful internal floor area of 3.30m x 1.60 m (5.28 m2) organized in 6 main tables. They have light, temperature and humidity control.
Outside the ITQB NOVA building. Two walk-in chambers (OutA and OutB):
Chamber Out A (small, Fitoclima Aralab PLH): 2,00m x 1,60m x 2,04m (length x width x height), organized in 6 shelves, one shelf corresponding to a set of lights, with 0,50m x 1,50m m = 0.75 m2 each, total useful area of 4.50 m2). It has light, temperature and humidity control and also CO2 control if needed.
Chamber Out B (big, Fitoclima Aralab HP): 3,30m x 1,60m x 1,95m (length x width x height), with a useful internal floor area of 3,30m ×1,6 m (5.28 m2) (organized in 6 main tables + 2 smaller tables). It has light, temperature and humidity control and also CO2 control if needed.
General information:
- Reading the manual: “Plant growing facilities at ITQB NOVA- General rules for plant work in growth chambers and greenhouses” is mandatory for anyone who intends to use them, regardless of their relationship to ITQB NOVA or duration of use.
- Any technical support should be requested through a helpdesk ticket two weeks in advance to guarantee its execution.
- Booking growth chambers should be done by filling the form and are subject to prior approval.
- The ITQB NOVA plant growth facilities are for exclusive use in research activities. However, they may be visited as part of institutional activities/projects open to the community (Open Day, Plant Fascination Day, partnerships with schools, Citizen Science Projects, etc.). Requests must be done by filling the form.
Please contact Renato Afonso (renatojta@itqb.unl.pt) for further information.
