Webinars
PP Systems offers webinars highlighting some of the important research our customers are performing. Please sign up below if a topic is of interest to you. Would you like to be notified of upcoming webinars? Simply provide your name and email below and we will be happy to notify you!
Indoor vertical farming enables superior strawberry production through optimized conditions. As strawberry growth, production, and quality can be largely affected by genotype and environment, it is important to identify cultivars with characteristics desirable for indoor production. Twenty-five publicly available strawberry cultivars were selected from the USDA-ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository and evaluated in a walk-in growth chamber. Strawberries ‘Mara des Bois’ and ‘Dover’ with early production, higher average weekly yield, and low sensitivity to dormancy-inducing photoperiod were recommended for indoor cultivation. Fruit quality traits, including size, shape, color, firmness, total soluble solid content (Brix), and titratable acidity (TA) were evaluated. ‘Chandler’ produced the largest fruit, ‘Sweet Sunrise’ showed the lowest calyx-to-fruit size value, and ‘Mara des Bois’, ‘Hood’, ‘Benton’, and ‘Puget Beauty’ fruit had a Brix-to-TA ratio ≥ 1.0. Correlations among productivity, quality, and morphological characteristics revealed the potential to enhance both productivity and quality by optimizing environmental conditions. The information on strawberry plant growth, development, and fruit production provided in this study can assist indoor growers in cultivar selection and potentially contribute to the development of new strawberry cultivars that thrive in indoor production.
Characterizing the growth, morphology, productivity, and fruit quality of twenty-five strawberry cultivars in an indoor vertical farm environment
Presented by Yiyun Lin, Ph.D.
About Dr. Lin
Dr. Yiyun Lin is a postdoctoral scholar in Horticulture and Crop Science at The Ohio State University. She holds a BS in Biology from China Agricultural University and a PhD in Horticulture and Crop Science from The Ohio State University. Her PhD research focused on improving the quality and nutrient use efficiency of floriculture crops in greenhouses using biotechnology and biostimulants. Her career goal is to enhance sustainability in controlled environment production by understanding the interaction among plant genetics, physiology, and environment. Currently, Dr. Lin’s research focuses on identifying strawberry cultivars suitable for indoor vertical farming and enhancing strawberry quality through the optimization of production environments.
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Past Webinars
Phosphorus deficiency leads to stunting, but what does that really mean | 06.11.24
Presented by Presented by Marlon Retana-Cordero
Marlon Retana-Cordero presents his research on the connection between Phosphorous (P) deficiencies and Carbon (C) gain and loss in Southern Highbush Blueberry (SHB, Vaccinium corymbosum interspecific hybrids). Marlon’s research examines young plants under P-deficiencies to estimate the consequences of growing SHB under these conditions.
About Marlon Retana-Cordero
Marlon Retana-Cordero received his bachelor’s degree in Agronomy at the University of Costa Rica, after which he completed his Master’s Degree in Environmental Horticulture at the University of Florida in 2021 thanks to a scholarship through the University of Florida Field and Fork Farm Campus Food Program. His thesis focused on ginger and turmeric production as alternative crops for Florida. In 2022, Marlon was selected by the Horticultural Sciences Department to receive the University of Florida CALS Dean’s Award. Currently, Marlon is a Ph.D. candidate under the mentorship of Dr. Gerardo Nunez in the Small Fruit Horticulture Lab. His research focuses on phosphorus nutrition in blueberries.
Climate-Smart Agriculture: Advancing Crop Stress Phenotyping for Improved Crop Resilience | 05.08.24
Presented by Dr. Aline de Camargo Santos
Water scarcity poses a significant constraint to profitable crop production worldwide. Crop physiologists face the challenge of characterizing plant stress responses non-destructively and under precisely controlled conditions to develop efficient stress management strategies. In this study, Dr. Santos utilized gas exchange measurements as stress indicators to gain insights into plant biomass accumulation and water utilization under stress conditions while developing crop stress acclimation strategies. Net CO2 assimilation and water use efficiency was increased in pre-acclimated peanut plants compared to control plants in our study. The findings demonstrate significant potential for implementing stress management practices based on the manipulation of crop physiological processes.
About Aline Santos
Dr. Santos began her career in agricultural research as an agronomist in 2012 at the University of São Paulo. She continued her studies, earning a M.Sc. and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Florida in the summers of 2019 and 2023, respectively. Currently, Aline is a postdoctoral scholar at The Ohio State University in the Kubota Lab. Throughout her career journey, she has focused on plant and soil nutrition, plant ecophysiology, and crop stress resilience. Her ultimate goal is to use her multidisciplinary training to conduct research that has a positive impact on farmers and enables collaboration with researchers at local, regional, and international levels. The primary objective of her research is the development of affordable technologies and strategies to overcome the many adversities that affect farmers. Additionally, she looks forward to improving science communication, which she sees as a way to translate scientific findings into practical results that meet the needs of farmers.
“Zoogeochemistry” and using innovative technologies to characterize the effects of changing animal communities on ecosystem carbon cycling dynamics | 04.10.24
Presented by Dr. Elizabeth Forbes
Stomata are small pores on the leaf surface of land plants that facilitate gas exchange. Grass stomata have fast stomatal responses, which may be associated with the dumbbell-shaped guard cells and lateral subsidiary cells. Subsidiary cells are thought to reciprocally exchange water and ions with guard cells. However, the relative contribution of subsidiary cells and the mechanisms of how they contribute are unclear. In this study, Le Liu and Michelle Facette measured the stomatal conductance and photosynthesis of plants to prove the necessary role of subsidiary cells to the guard cells.
About Elizabeth Forbes
Elizabeth Forbes is an ecologist at Yale School of the Environment who studies how changes to animal communities (mostly large-bodied vertebrate consumer species) in the modern world cascade into subsequent changes in the structure and function of the ecosystems in which those communities are found. She is particularly interested in the effects of community change on ecosystem carbon storage and cycling and has explored these connections in central Kenya, southern Massachusetts, and the Maritimes Canada. She is also extremely interested in applying academic research to conservation and management strategies, and having grown up in coastal MA she enjoys dabbling in marine ecology and conservation every so often. She is an artist who leans heavily on her art education to inform and enhance her science work. Find more about Dr. Forbes’ research at Schmitz Lab at Yale
Roles of specialized cells in grasses to control stomatal closure and plant transpiration | 03.13.24
Dr. Facette’s and Le Liu’s research referenced in this webinar:
Stomatal closure in maize is mediated by subsidiary cells and the PAN2 receptor
Presented by Le Liu & Dr. Michelle Facette
Stomata are small pores on the leaf surface of land plants that facilitate gas exchange. Grass stomata have fast stomatal responses, which may be associated with the dumbbell-shaped guard cells and lateral subsidiary cells. Subsidiary cells are thought to reciprocally exchange water and ions with guard cells. However, the relative contribution of subsidiary cells and the mechanisms of how they contribute are unclear. In this study, Le Liu and Michelle Facette measured the stomatal conductance and photosynthesis of plants to prove the necessary role of subsidiary cells to the guard cells.
About Michelle Facette
Michelle Facette is an Assistant Professor in the Biology Department at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is interested in how stomata function, and how they are made. She is particularly interested in the fast movements of grass stomata, and the cellular processes that lead to the divisions that form specialized cell types, in stomata and other tissues like roots. More about research can be seen at facettelab.weebly.com
About Le Liu
Le Liu is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in Michelle Facette’s lab at UMass, Amherst. Her research interests primarily focus on understanding the mechanisms governing the rapid response of stomata in grass. She maintains a longstanding dedication to applying innovative techniques aimed at enhancing plant resistance and overall improvement.
Photosynthetic efficiency and leaf gas exchange responses of lettuce to temperature and light intensities | 02.07.24
Presented by Suyun Nam
As well as light intensity, temperature conditions significantly affect photosynthetic efficiency, both conditions should be considered for optimal artificial lighting control. In this webinar, the effects of temperature and light intensity on photosynthetic efficiency and leaf gas exchange in lettuce plants were investigated. The photosynthetic acclimation process was also evaluated. Leaf gas exchange parameters and rapid A/Ci response curves with a high-speed CO2 ramping technique were measured using the CIRAS-3 Portable Photosynthesis System.
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Substituting 15 or 30% of the total photon flux for far-red photons demonstrated equivalent, increased, or decreased photosynthetic rate compared with no far-red light. The results were highly dependent on both species and cultivars within species, suggesting there may be genetic or causal links that may modify the photosynthetic rate under far-red light.
About Suyun Nam
Suyun Nam is a Ph.D. student and graduate research assistant at the University of Georgia’s Department of Horticulture. Her research focuses on optimizing supplemental LED light levels in greenhouse production. She has participated in developing an innovative lighting control system which is called the “Chlorophyll Fluorescence-based Biofeedback system”. The system can adjust artificial LED light intensity based on real-time plant physiological responses so that electrical lighting energy can be used more efficiently.
Field assessments of A vs. Ci curves at a local Massachusetts farm: Differences in species and cultivar responses to far-red light | 10.25.23
Presented by John Ertle, Ph.D.
Current literature suggests that far-red photons substituted for photosynthetic photons are capable of driving equivalent rates of photosynthesis. However, there is a need to test this hypothesis for many more species cultivated in different environments. In this webinar, A/Ci curves of various species under white light were compared when far-red photons were added to the light spectrum. Using our CFM4 Chlolorphyll Fluorescence Module, the impact of far-red light on photosynthesis was examined on five species, and cultivars within species, at a local Massachusetts farm using the SSCO2R™ Method.
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John Ertle earned his MS (2020) and Ph.D. (2023) at The Ohio State University where he worked with Dr. Chieri Kubota, specializing in applied research problems. His MS work explored abiotic stress tolerance of grafted fruiting vegetable crops, while his Ph.D. focus was nutrient deficiency of lettuce grown in indoor farms.
About Dr. Ertle
John Ertle earned his MS (2020) and Ph.D. (2023) at The Ohio State University where he worked with Dr. Chieri Kubota, specializing in applied research problems. His MS work explored abiotic stress tolerance of grafted fruiting vegetable crops, while his Ph.D. focus was nutrient deficiency of lettuce grown in indoor farms.
Leaf gas exchange and water use efficiency in almond and grapevine varieties: A physiological approach to support optimal and accurate irrigation management | 09.20.23
Dr. Oliveira’s published research referenced in this webinar:
Presented by Dr. Ana Fernandes de Oliveira
Dr. Oliveira presents two studies conducted in Sardinia, Italy, where leaf gas exchange and water use efficiency of different field-grown almond and grapevine varieties were monitored in order to evaluate varietal plasticity to cope with soil water scarcity and their diverse capacity to adapt to drought and heat stress.
The research conducted on vine physiological behavior allowed for developing a simple and user-friendly irrigation need index to accurately guide vineyard irrigation according to plant water use efficiency and responses to water deficit.
Both studies highlight the importance of characterizing the relationships among cultivar traits that affect plant physiological performance under drought in order to better assist planting choices and crop irrigation management for given environmental contexts.
About Dr. Oliveira
Dr. Ana Fernandes de Oliveira is a researcher at the Arboriculture Research Service of the Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia (Italy). She is a lecturer in viticulture, agrometeorology, and ecophysiology. Her primary research is focused on woody plant ecophysiology, water relations and irrigation strategies, abiotic stress mitigation in tree crops, and precision agriculture.
Introducing The Single Step CO2 Response (SSCO2R™) Method: Rapid measurement of A/Ci in real time without post processing | 05.10.23
Presented by Dr. James Bunce
Just when you thought you couldn’t measure A/Ci curves faster and more efficiently with your CIRAS-3 or CIRAS-4 Portable Photosynthesis System! The SSCO2R™ Method is a new high-speed CO2 ramping method that eliminates the need for empty chamber ramps and all post-processing, allowing A-Ci curves to be produced in real time directly on the CIRAS-4 console. Join plant physiologist Jim Bunce, Ph.D. as he demonstrates how quick and easy it is to perform rapid measurement of A/Ci on C3 and C4 species using the SSCO2R™ Method with his CIRAS-4 Portable Photosynthesis System.
About Dr. Bunce
Dr. James Bunce built his first photosynthesis system as a graduate student 48 years ago and has been performing leaf gas exchange measurements ever since.
He has 40 years of research experience with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland as an environmental plant physiologist. His focus has been on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and plant water relations and their response and acclimation, in the context of plant adaptation to the environment, most recently adaptation to the global change factors of rising carbon dioxide concentration and temperature.
Gas exchange & chlorophyll fluorescence: Taking advantage of lettuce physiology to mitigate tipburn & quantifying acute chilling stress in grafted watermelon seedlings | 10.12.22
John Ertle’s recently published research on the subject: Watermelon Seedling Quality, Growth, and Development as Affected by Grafting and Chilling Exposure During Simulated Transportation
Presented by John Ertle,
The Ohio State University
Dr. Kubota Laboratory for Controlled Environment, Plant Physiology & Technology
In two separate studies, learn how John used leaf gas exchange analysis of lettuce plants to inform potential tipburn mitigation solutions and how chlorophyll fluorescence is affected by acute chilling stress of grafted and non-grafted watermelon seedlings.
About John Ertle
John Ertle is a Ph.D. candidate and Graduate Research Associate at The Ohio State University where he worked with Dr. Chieri Kubota for his MS (2020) and his Ph.D. (2023), specializing in applied research problems. His MS work explored abiotic stress tolerance of grafted fruiting vegetable crops, while his Ph.D. focus was nutrient deficiency of lettuce grown in indoor farms.
Specifically, John’s MS work evaluated risks associated with acute chilling stress of watermelon seedlings occurring during transportation that have the potential to delay post-transplanting development. During his Ph.D., John investigated the lettuce nutrient deficiency known as “tipburn”, which is problematic for indoor (vertical) farms. His research dealt with establishing standardized evaluations for tipburn risk, as well as designing physiology-based strategies to mitigate tipburn incidence for controlled environment growers.
John plans to complete his Ph.D. in 2023 and is planning the next steps in his career.
Where to find this research
Tipburn research:
- Publishing soon! In the meantime: u.osu.edu/Ertle.6/
Grafting research:
- Ertle, J., C. Kubota. (2020). “North American Grafting Survey”. The Ohio State University.
- Ertle, John. “Effects of Short-Term Chilling Stress on Seedling Quality and Post-Transplanting Growth of Grafted and Nongrafted Watermelon.” Thesis, The Ohio State University. 2020.
- Ertle, J., C. Kubota, and E. Pliakoni. “Transplant Quality and Growth of Grafted and Non-Grafted Watermelon Seedlings as Affected by Chilling during Simulated Long-Distance Transportation.” Acta Horticulturae, no. 1302 (2021): 87–94.
- Ertle, John M., and Chieri Kubota. “Watermelon Seedling Quality, Growth, and Development as Affected by Grafting and Chilling Exposure During Simulated Transportation.” HortScience 57, no. 8 (August 2022): 889–96.
Follow John Ertle on LinkedIn, Twitter, and ResearchGate.
Measuring breathing rocks – carbon dioxide release during sedimentary rock weathering | 05.12.22
Dr. Hilton’s recently published research on the subject: Temperature control on CO2 emissions from the weathering of sedimentary rocks
Presented by Robert Hilton, Ph.D.
When rocks are exposed at the surface they can be weathered, altering their physical and chemical properties. When this happens, carbon can be transferred between the atmosphere and rocks. Sedimentary rocks contain organic matter that is millions of years old, alongside sulfide and carbonate minerals. When the organic matter interacts with air, water, and life, weathering reactions can lead to the release of carbon dioxide. This is a natural process that is important in the long-term carbon cycle but has remained poorly understood because we have lacked measurements of the carbon dioxide release.
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In this 5-year project funded by the European Research Council, Dr. Hilton and his team designed and implemented new methods to make these measurements. At a site in France, they found fluxes that varied throughout the year, showing an increase with temperature. This webinar will discuss the methods they designed, and some of the technical challenges they faced, alongside a summary of the main results.
About Dr. Hilton
Dr. Hilton is a geochemist and professor of Sedimentary Geology at the University of Oxford, UK, and lead of the ROC-CO2 project. He studies the exchange of carbon between the atmosphere and rocks, and how these carbon transfers respond to and drive climate change. His research quantifies how erosion and weathering processes act as CO2 sinks, and CO2 sources, and transfer CO2 between the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and oceans, and long-term, geological storage in sedimentary deposits.
To do this, he has developed several geochemical approaches, which include trace element proxies of weathering and their isotopes (e.g. rhenium), while also tracking carbon as CO2, dissolved and particulate organic carbon, and their radiocarbon and stable C isotope composition.
His main focus is on modern river catchments to constrain fluxes and their controls, including work on small catchments in the European Alps, New Zealand (East Cape and Southern Alps), Taiwan, Sichuan, Andes, alongside over a decade of work in the Mackenzie River basin.
His research currently tackles four main themes: Environmental controls on CO2 emissions from weathering of sedimentary rocks, oxidative weathering in the geological past, extreme geomorphic events for carbon export from the terrestrial biosphere, and greenhouse gases released from Arctic Rivers in a warming world.
Measurements of carbon assimilation reveal competition asymmetry in wetland invaded by Phragmites australis | 04.05.21
Presented by Rebecca C. Rooney, Ph.D.
Dr. Rebecca Rooney shares her research on the interspecific competition between an aggressive and highly problematic wetland invader called common reed (Phragmites australis) and three of the typical wetland dominant species that common reed displaces in freshwater marshes.
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All four species are perennial graminoids, capable of reproducing vegetatively through rhizomes, limiting the usefulness of typical measures of aboveground biomass due to flexibility in resource allocation behaviors under different environmental conditions.
Considering only aboveground biomass, the relative competition index would suggest that the three species of plants being displaced by invasive common reed were actually growing more under competition. Incorporating measures of carbon assimilation reveals that interspecific competition did disadvantage the three displaced species, but their response to growing under shade from invasive common reed was to allocate more resources to aboveground production and less to belowground growth and storage.
This study highlights the value in instantaneous measures of plant production alongside aggregate measures like aboveground biomass in teasing apart the effects of competition and biological invasions on wetland plant communities.
About Dr. Rooney
Dr. Rebecca C. Rooney is a wetland ecologist and associate professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Waterloo. Her research program focuses on the response of wetland communities to natural and anthropogenic disturbances. She has published over 50 peer-reviewed papers and given hundreds of presentations to scientific and lay audiences.
Her comprehensive research into the effects of common reed invasion in coastal wetlands on the Great Lakes has enhanced our understanding of the effects of biological invasion on plants, invertebrate communities, carbon and nutrient cycling, bird communities, and their foraging behavior. She has also investigated the recovery of species at risk plants and birds following common reed management.
Her current studies focus on the recovery of native plants and ecosystem functions following herbicide application and insect-based biocontrol to eliminate common reed, including developing invasion-resistant native seed prescriptions for active restoration.
Dr. Rooney’s recently published research on the subject:
Total diffuse CO2 flux across Yellowstone: Going beyond thermally active, altered basins for adequate quantification | 11.09.21
Presented by Kristen Rahilly, Ph.D. & Tobias Fischer, Ph.D.
Kristen Rahilly Ph.D. and Tobias Fischer Ph.D. discuss their research showing that thermally inactive, cold degassing sites can emit more diffuse CO2 per km2 than thermally active basins and why the contribution of these cold degassing sites must be included in calculations of total diffuse CO2 flux for adequate quantification of Yellowstone’s role as a major contributor within the global volcanic CO2 budget.
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Topics covered include:
- Diffuse CO2 flux from cold degassing and thermally active soils
- Collecting soil CO2 gas samples in the field for later carbon isotope composition analyses
About Dr. Rahilly
Kristen Rahilly is a Frontiers of Science postdoctoral fellow and lecturer in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Columbia University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico, where she spent time in the field measuring diffuse carbon dioxide flux at Yellowstone caldera, Valles caldera in New Mexico, and across geothermal sites in southwestern Utah.
About Dr. Fischer
Tobias Fischer has over 25 years of experience with volcanic gas sampling and analysis. Recently he has led an international group of researchers to better constrain global volcanic carbon emissions through the Deep Carbon Observatory and is currently leading a Research Coordination Network on coordinating the scientific community with USGS Volcano Observatories to respond to volcanic eruptions in the U.S. He is director of the University of New Mexico Volatiles Laboratory where analyses of major and trace gases in gas and water samples using gas chromatography and quadrupole mass spectrometry are routinely performed.
Extensive work in East Africa resulted in the advancement of our understanding of the role of volatiles in the formation of continental rifts and three field seasons to Erebus Volcano, Antarctica shed light on processes in sub-glacial hydrothermal systems. Earlier work provided insights into eruption processes using gas geochemistry which is also a current focus of ongoing research that involves the utilization of drones and other gas sensing and sampling instrumentation.
Education:
Ph.D., Arizona State University, 1999
M.Sc., Arizona State University, 1994
B.S., Albert Ludwidgs Universitaet, Freiburg, Germany 1991
Toxicity Assessment in Water: Best biomonitoring practices and technology to provide real-time status of drinking water quality. | 10.21.21
Presented by Detlev Lohse, Ph.D.
Water is one of the most precious resources on earth. Pollutants from industry and raw material extraction are dangerously impacting water quality on a daily basis. The US EPA reports that more than 80,000 known contaminants may be present in the water of US homes. Drinking water supplies for more than six million Americans contain unsafe levels of industrial chemicals.
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Those chemicals include chlorines, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, and heavy metals. All of them pose risks to human health, the effects of which depend on the content of the pollutants. It is therefore important to monitor water quality. Surface water is particularly vulnerable to contaminants. The use of biological sensors—biomonitors—are used to quickly survey and provide the real-time status and an incoming decrease of water quality. The focus of this webinar is to provide insight as to current forms of biomonitoring.
Topics discussed include:
- About toxicity
- Toxicity and biomonitoring
- Dose response effects
- Fish, waterfly, or microalgae—what is a suitable model organism
- Toxic events & alarm recognition
About Dr. Lohse
Dr. Lohse studied biochemistry at the University of Hannover, Germany, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Düsseldorf in 1986. He spent more than ten years in fundamental research specializing in plant biochemistry. For more than 22 years, Detlev’s focus has been on knowledge transfer regarding photosynthetic processes and algal pigments.
Exploring Soil Carbon Capture Across Ecosystems
and energizing the next generation of transformative scientists | 09.30.21
Presented by the labs of A. Peyton Smith, Ph.D. & Julie Loisel, Ph.D.
Learn about the collective research of Drs. A. Peyton Smith & Julie Loisel from Texas A&M University on global change impacts on soil carbon capture – from the tropics to the arctic. Experience how soils forming high above the ground in tropical tree canopies to sustainably managed semi-arid agricultural soils to permafrost-affected soils respond to climate and land-use change. This webinar will also highlight the importance of creativity in science and multi-form mentoring in order to launch today’s students into transformative scientists.
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Topics discussed include:
- Impact of climate warming on CO2 production from mineral and organic permafrost soils
- Soil carbon dynamics in soil health quantification
- Payment for Ecosystem Service programs and tropical soil C stocks
- Capturing soil carbon dynamics in the tropical forest canopies
- Creativity in science and the importance of mentoring
- How to increase student engagement in environmental science through soil carbon measurements
About Dr. Smith & Dr. Loisel
Dr. Smith is an Assistant Professor in the Soil and Crop Sciences Department at Texas A&M University. As a soil ecologist, her research focuses on how physical, biological, and chemical processes interact at soil aggregate or pore scales to alter the flow of carbon and nutrients at the field or landscape scale. Dr. Smith also investigates how global change influences the soil microbiome and their role in fundamental biogeochemical processes in both natural and agro-ecosystems. Despite being an early career scientist, she has mentored over 30 students and postdocs, many of who have secured successful positions in academia or governmental agencies.
Dr. Loisel is an Assistant Professor of Geography at Texas A&M University and heads the Texas A & M Peat lab which focuses on peatlands research and climate change. If she had it her way, she would only teach field courses, as she believes the connection between student and nature is essential to help them appreciate the world’s intricate complexity (and beauty), which then leads to better stewardship. Her research revolves around carbon cycling in wetlands worldwide. In her lab, students reconstruct past climate change using a suite of natural relics that are left in the soil layers over time (such as pollen grains, plant fossils, and many others); these climate reconstructions are then used to better understand the sensitivity of carbon cycling in wetlands over time. For example, her group has established that a past warm period (about 9000 years ago) led to rapid carbon sequestration across high-latitude peatlands, which suggests that future climate change may help some peatlands store carbon at a greater rate than now.
Carboxylation capacity limits photosynthesis at elevated CO2 throughout diurnal cycles | 08.25.21
Presented by James Bunce, Ph.D.
Most ecosystem/canopy photosynthesis models assume that leaf CO2 assimilation rate at ambient CO2 is limited by the maximum carboxylation capacity of Rubisco at high light, but by electron transport at less than saturating light.
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Extrapolation to elevated CO2 either uses the same assumptions or assumes that electron transport rather than carboxylation capacity remains limiting at high light. These experiments tested these hypotheses for three species, throughout whole days in the field.
Learn how to:
- Determine what limits photosynthesis biochemically at any time of the day
- Conduct and interpret diurnal curves of photosynthesis.
About Dr. Bunce
Dr. James Bunce built his first photosynthesis system as a graduate student 48 years ago and has been performing leaf gas exchange measurements ever since.
He has 40 years of research experience with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland as an environmental plant physiologist. His focus has been on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and plant water relations and their response and acclimation, in the context of plant adaptation to the environment, most recently adaptation to the global change factors of rising carbon dioxide concentration and temperature.
Cold Chasing Electrons: Dissection of early cold-induced deficiency in soybean | 07.28.21
Presented by Jennifer Robison, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Biology, Manchester University
Join Dr. Robison and chase electrons through PSII during early cold stress in soybean using the Handy PEA+ system.
- Learn how to interpret fast chlorophyll fluorescence induction curves
- Step-by-step parameter analysis beyond Fv/Fm
About Dr. Robison
Jennifer Robison, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Manchester University. She has been teaching undergraduates for over a decade. Her research specializes in the physiological and molecular response of plants to abiotic stress. Outside of the lab, she is a single mom and amateur glassblower.
CO2 Efflux in Four Compost Windrows: Understanding how to minimize the loss of carbon through emissions during the compost maturation process | 05.20.21
Presented by Travis Pennell with Louis-Pierre Comeau, Ph.D.
Learn what the Comeau Lab at the Fredericton Research and Development Centre has learned by measuring carbon flux and organic carbon, focusing on four windrows that represented the two main compositions found on the site: solid-state organic waste and mixed industrial waste from local businesses. This important research contributes to a broader understanding of how to minimize the loss of carbon through emissions during the compost maturation process
About Travis Pennell & Dr. Comeau
Travis holds a BSc in Environment & Natural Resource Management from the University of New Brunswick (UNB). He has worked with Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) since the project began last summer and continues to work with researchers and instructors at UNB to further pursue his interest in soil science and soil management. He is also involved in a smaller project focused on mapping soil compaction in heavily disturbed areas and has been a teaching assistant for the introductory soil science course at UNB.
Dr. Louis-Pierre Comeau is a research scientist with the Federal Government of Canada. His research is focused on landscape and soil carbon – specifically investigating ways to replenish soil organic matter from agricultural and forest lands.
Dr. Comeau collaborates in initiatives to protect soil health from the effect of global warming and climate change and leads national projects that investigate the relationship between soil biodiversity and carbon storage as well as projects on compost optimization. His long-term scientific goal is to contribute knowledge as to why some carbon molecules remain stable in the soil for thousands of years.
Dr. Comeau is now working on a ground-breaking Canadian soil mapping project which is the first of its kind in Canada. The main goal of the endeavor is to pull all of the results from broad soil carbon and biodiversity surveys together with the use of supercomputers to create detailed maps of what he calls the soil universe.
Dr. Comeau began his Research Scientist appointment with AAFC after his postdoctoral fellowship at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr. Comeau previously completed a B.Sc. in Biology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico; an M.Sc. in Soil Science at the University of Saskatchewan; and a PhD. in soil Science at the University of Aberdeen UK (with the fieldwork done in Indonesian forests).
Cyanobacteria & Microalgae In Situ Determination with the bbe AlgaeTorch | 04.29.21
Presented by Tobias Boehme Ph.D. & Detlev Lohse, Ph.D.
- Learn about the benefits and use of the bbe AlgaeTorch for in situ determination of cyanobacteria and microalgae.
- Topics covered include: About phytoplankton, algae determination & chlorophyll, advanced fluorometry, algaeTorch features & handling, application field measurement & guidelines
About Dr. Boehme & Dr. Lohse
Dr. Boehme’s background is in physics and oceanography. Today he is involved in several research projects in the field of holographic detection of algae and is focused on developing new and innovative algae devices as well as instrument installation and integration for bbe Moldaenke and is a frequent speaker on the topic of HAB.
Dr. Lohse studied biochemistry at the University of Hannover, Germany, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Düsseldorf in 1986. He spent more than ten years in fundamental research specializing in plant biochemistry. For the last 22 years, Detlev’s focus has been on knowledge transfer regarding photosynthetic processes and algal pigments.
Four methods of measuring mesophyll conductance with the CIRAS-3 Portable Photosynthesis System | 04.15.21
Presented by James Bunce, Ph.D.
Learn the four independent methods of measuring mesophyll conductance in leaves of C3 plants using the CIRAS-3 portable photosynthesis system as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and how to program the CIRAS-3 for each method, as well as the measurement and data analysis steps needed for each method.
About Dr. Bunce
Dr. James Bunce built his first photosynthesis system as a graduate student 48 years ago and has been performing leaf gas exchange measurements ever since.
He has 40 years of research experience with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland as an environmental plant physiologist. His focus has been on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and plant water relations and their response and acclimation, in the context of plant adaptation to the environment, most recently adaptation to the global change factors of rising carbon dioxide concentration and temperature.
Step-by-step automated tracking of diurnal patterns of leaf gas exchange in the field with the CIRAS-3 Portable Photosynthesis System | 02.24.21
Presented by James Bunce, Ph.D.
Learn how quick and easy it is to record diurnal patterns of leaf gas exchange with the CIRAS-3 as well as Dr. Bunce’s best practices for long-duration, unattended operation in the field.
About Dr. Bunce
Dr. James Bunce built his first photosynthesis system as a graduate student 48 years ago and has been performing leaf gas exchange measurements ever since.
He has 40 years of research experience with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland as an environmental plant physiologist. His focus has been on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and plant water relations and their response and acclimation, in the context of plant adaptation to the environment, most recently adaptation to the global change factors of rising carbon dioxide concentration and temperature.
The SBA-5 CO2 Gas Analyzer: A Key Component for Researchers Monitoring & Understanding Degassing Processes at Active Volcano Sites | 11.18.20
Presented by John Stix, Ph.D., Maarten J. de Moor, Ph.D. & Jessica Salas
Learn how the SBA-5 CO2 Gas Analyzer is relied upon as a key component for researchers monitoring and understand degassing processes at active volcano sites by some of the most renowned researchers in the area of volcanology.
About Dr. Stix, Dr. de Moor & Jessica Salas
John Stix is a professor of volcanology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. He holds the William Dawson Chair in Geology. He has worked on active volcanic systems since 1989, with a focus on volcanic gases, supervolcanoes, and subsurface magma plumbing systems. He is the past Editor-in-Chief of the Bulletin of Volcanology, the premier journal in its field. He and his group are continually searching for novel and exciting ways to study active volcanoes and their impacts.
Dr. Maarten de Moor is a volcanologist focusing on using gas geochemistry to understand volcanic processes and evaluate volcanic activity. He is based at the Observatory of Volcanology and Seismology in Costa Rica at the National University and uses in-situ instrumentation at active volcanoes to show that significant short-term variations in key gas ratios (CO2/SO2, H2S/SO2) accompany, and in some cases precede, eruptive activity. Real-time gas data thus provide insights into eruptive processes and show great potential for forecasting dangerous volcanic eruptions.
Jessica is a chemist and Master’s candidate in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at McGill University. Prior to joining McGill, she was a research assistant at the Costa Rican volcano observatory where she became interested in geochemical research, monitoring volcanic activity, and science communication. Currently, she works with Dr. Stix and Dr. de Moor to design a new version of a Multi-GAS, an instrument capable of real-time field measurements of volcanic gas concentration.
Photosynthetic Responses to Brief High and Low Temperature Events in Crops Grown at Ambient and Elevated CO2 | 10.30.20
Presented by James Bunce, Ph.D.
Presented at the 1st Brazilian Symposium on Photosynthesis on October 30, 2020.
About Dr. Bunce
Dr. James Bunce built his first photosynthesis system as a graduate student 48 years ago and has been performing leaf gas exchange measurements ever since.
He has 40 years of research experience with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland as an environmental plant physiologist. His focus has been on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and plant water relations and their response and acclimation, in the context of plant adaptation to the environment, most recently adaptation to the global change factors of rising carbon dioxide concentration and temperature.
The Benefits of Algae class Differentiation to Acquire Information About the In-situ Algae Class In Open Waters | 10.22.20
Presented by Tobias Boehme Ph.D. & Detlev Lohse, Ph.D.
- General overview of the FluoroProbe instrument for depth profiling in the field
- Optional accessories including WorkStation 25 for laboratory sampling
- Method of the bbe instruments (Fingerprint simulation will be presented)
- Using live algae for calibration of Fingerprints (importance compared to other manufacturers that use dye solutions for calibration)
- Data presentation of the FluoroProbe. Depth dependence of Cyanobacteria.
About Dr. Boehme & Dr. Lohse
Dr. Boehme’s background is in physics and oceanography. Today he is involved in several research projects in the field of holographic detection of algae and is focused on developing new and innovative algae devices as well as instrument installation and integration for bbe Moldaenke and is a frequent speaker on the topic of HAB.
Dr. Lohse studied biochemistry at the University of Hannover, Germany, and received his Ph.D. from the University of Düsseldorf in 1986. He spent more than ten years in fundamental research specializing in plant biochemistry. For the last 22 years, Detlev’s focus has been on knowledge transfer regarding photosynthetic processes and algal pigments.
Best Way to Perform Light Response Curves?
The right protocol depends on the information you’re looking for! | 10.15.20
Presented by James Bunce, Ph.D.
What important factors should you consider when purchasing a leaf gas exchange system? Find out more about the popular CIRAS-3, the fastest, most accurate portable photosynthesis system on the market for high-level research.
About Dr. Bunce
Dr. James Bunce built his first photosynthesis system as a graduate student 48 years ago and has been performing leaf gas exchange measurements ever since.
He has 40 years of research experience with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland as an environmental plant physiologist. His focus has been on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and plant water relations and their response and acclimation, in the context of plant adaptation to the environment, most recently adaptation to the global change factors of rising carbon dioxide concentration and temperature.
Red, Green & Blue: Misconceptions About the Photosynthetic Efficacy of Different Light Colors | 07.23.20
Presented by Marc van Iersel, Ph.D.
Because of the relatively low leaf absorptance of green light, it is commonly believed to be inefficient in driving photosynthesis. Dr. Marc van Iersel, from the University of Georgia, will discuss how A/Ci and light-response curves were used to develop a more nuanced understanding of the interactive effects of light intensity and color with regard to photosynthesis.
About Dr. van Iersel
Dr. Marc van Iersel has been with the University of Georgia’s Department of Horticulture since 1995, where he now holds the Dooley professorship.
His research focuses on cost-effective supplemental lighting technologies in greenhouses and vertical farms.
He is the director of project LAMP, a $5M, US-based research project that brings together plant scientists, engineers, and economists to develop profitable supplemental lighting strategies.
In 2017, he co-founded Candidus, Inc. to help bring novel lighting strategies to the greenhouse industry.
Dr. van Iersel has published 130+ scientific papers and has given invited lectures about his research around the world, including in Italy, Spain, Taiwan, Kenya, Canada, Chile, and Brazil.
What, Why & How: A/Ci? | 06.24.20
Presented by James Bunce, Ph.D.
Learn the purpose of performing non-steady-state A (Assimilation) vs. CI (Intercellular CO2) curves and how to perform and process them quickly.
About Dr. Bunce
Dr. James Bunce built his first photosynthesis system as a graduate student 48 years ago and has been performing leaf gas exchange measurements, including many A/Ci curves ever since.
He has 40 years of research experience with the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Beltsville, Maryland as an environmental plant physiologist. His focus has been on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, and plant water relations and their response and acclimation, in the context of plant adaptation to the environment, most recently adaptation to the global change factors of rising carbon dioxide concentration and temperature.
He has recently published two research papers utilizing the technology and technique presented in this webinar: Three Methods of Estimating Mesophyll Conductance Agree Regarding its CO2 Sensitivity in the Rubisco-Limited Ci Range and Variation in Responses of Photosynthesis and Apparent Rubisco Kinetics to Temperature in Three Soybean Cultivars.