101 Ways to (Try to) Grow Arabidopsis: Summary of Recommendations
Rob Eddy and Dan Hahn, Purdue University, Dept. of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture (10/2011)
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Standard Production, very low risk of plant failure |
Fast Production, slight risk of plant failure |
Root Treatment Production (no flowering required) |
| Location |
Growth chamber, light shelf, greenhouse only if <26C |
Growth chamber, light shelf or greenhouse <30C |
Growth chamber, light shelf, greenhouse <30C |
| Photoperiod | 16-hour
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24-hour
|
12-hour
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| Light intensity |
100-150 µmol/m2/s fluorescent or high-intensity discharge (MH, HPS) or 100-600 µmol/m2/s sunlight |
100 µmol/m2/s fluorescent or high-intensity discharge (MH, HPS) or ambient sunlight extended to 24-hours with 100 µmol/m2/s |
100-150 µmol/m2/s fluorescent or 100-400 µmol/m2/s high- intensity discharge (MH, HPS) or 100-600 µmol/m2/s if sunlight |
|
Temperature |
<p ">22C light 18C dark |
22C constant |
22C light 18C dark |
| Container and
plant density |
3” square pot , 3-6 plants or 3601 (36-cell) tray, 2-4 plants |
3” square pot, 3-6 plants or 3601 (36-cell) tray, 2-4 plants |
72-cell tray, 72 plants |
|
Soilless Mix |
75% commercial soilless germination mix/ 25% calcined clay granules (0.2-0.5 cm diameter) |
50% commercial soilless germination mix/ 50% calcined clay granules (0.2-0.5 cm diameter) |
100% calcined clay granules (0.2-0.5 cm diameter or finer granules roughly sand-particle size, <0.1 cm) |
| Water Source | Tap water, unless testing indicates very poor water quality | Tap water, unless testing indicates very poor water quality | Tap water, unless testing indicates very poor water quality |
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Watering system |
Gentle top water when possible. Sub-irrigation for young seedlings and for plants with maturing seeds. Drain trays 5 minutes later. |
Capillary mat “self-watering” tray or Constant sub-irrigation |
Sub-irrigation, may need to fill to surface of medium. Drain trays 5 minutes later. |
| Watering frequency |
After first true leaves appear, allow soil to completely dry to depth of 1-cm below surface. Approximately every 7-10 days. |
Keep capillary tray reservoir filled or Keep sub-irrigation tray filled to about 1.5 cm depth. |
After first true leaves appear, as needed to avoid water stress. Approximately every 1-3 days. |
| Fertilizer type |
General purpose liquid fertilizer w/ micronutrients |
General purpose liquid fertilizer w/ micronutrients |
General purpose liquid fertilizer w/ micronutrients |
|
Fertilizer strength |
150-200 ppm N (150-200 mg N/liter) |
250-300 ppm N (250-300 mg N/liter) |
150-200 ppm N (150-200 mg N/liter) |
|
Fertilizer frequency |
Every other irrigation |
Every irrigation |
Three fertilizations, followed by one tap water irrigation |
| Fungus gnat control |
Allow soilless mix drying, as described. If needed, apply S. feltiae beneficial nematodes, or Bt ssp israelensis. |
If needed, apply S. feltiae beneficial nematodes, or Bt ssp israelensis. |
Dry out media while avoiding plant water stress |