Research Capabilities
Purdue's Ag Alumni Seed Controlled Environment Phenotyping Facility (CEPF) employs a novel automated phenotyping system that facilitates plant growth and high-throughput plant measurements. We support a broad range of applications in plant science, crop breeding, agricultural engineering, molecular biology and plant pathology to name a few.
As researchers increasingly have access to relatively inexpensive genotypic data, there is a need for quantitative phenotypic data to complement this information.
The CEPF bridges this gap by explaining gene function and revealing how plants respond to a changing environment – a critical step in addressing the growing global demand for food, fuel and fiber.
Plant growth
- 256-plant capacity
- Precise environmental controls
- Automated conveyors for plant growth and randomization
- 60,000-square-feet of connected greenhouse space
Precision irrigation
- Fully automated and precise weight-based water dosing and water-to-saturation options
- Single nutrient limitation with gradient control
Imaging and measurement
- Image up to 13-foot-tall plants
- RGB cameras quantify traits over time, such as height, width, color and shape
- Hyperspectral cameras reveal nutrient content, stress reaction, disease and insect infection
- X-ray CT root scanner non-destructively records root growth and architecture over a long period of time - all in 3D
Data management
- Web-based data delivery
- Experiment and plant management
- Conduit for connecting plant researchers and facilitating collaboration
- Zegami plant phenomics software
- Sort, select and analyze date visually
- Generate and interrogate complex graphs on the fly