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Department of Plant Science

Mesocosm Research Photos

Mesocosms are large tubes (1.5 m high x 15.24 cm in diameter) used to grow maize, or rice under long-term conditions (4-6 weeks). The roots have plenty of room to grow downward. Custom media mixes are used, and parameters such as drought, high/low Nitrogen and high/low Phosphorus availability are evaluated.

Maize experiment growing in mesocosms

Dr. Qun Wang measuring maize leaves

PhD student Jennifer Yang and visiting scholar Baoru Sun using the Li-Cor 6400 to obtain photosynthesis measurements

Carrying a mesocosm tube to washing station

Michael Williams shown removing plastic liner and plant from mesocosm tube

A typical 4-week old maize root system

Jenn Yang, rotating student Olivia (Sihui) Gao and Baoru Sun sampling maize root system PB030251.jpg

Removing a sample from maize root system

Inserting root segment into root respiration chamber

While obtaining respiration measurements, the root sample is kept at constant temperature in a water bath.

Xiyu Yang, graduate student, readies Li-Cor 6400 to obtain root respiration measurements

PhD student Jenna Reeger researches upland rice roots in response to drought stress.

maize mesocosms.jpeg

washing rice roots from mesocosm.JPG

root washer.jpg

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Spotlight

Tools for breeding cowpea with better roots highlighted in CSA news article Breeding Beans for Better Roots Professor Kathleen Brown retires after 41 years Amelia Henry receives humanitarian award Jagdeep Sidhu receives research award Roots lab research focus of podcast from West German Public Radio Newly discovered trait helps plants grow deeper roots in dry, compacted soils | Penn State University CSA news article on Roots Lab work with bean breeding Jagdeep Sidhu Receives College Research Funding Jonathan Lynch recognized as Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Graduate student receives special award for early career contributions to ASPB LAT root image wins photo competition of Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research Graduate student awarded Outstanding Agricultural Graduate Student Award from AASIO News story on bean root architecture reaches 6 million people, worth $240,000 Bean root architecture results highlighted in CSSA News Field work proceeds with physical distancing, safety precautions