Plant Growth Facility

Our Mission

The Plant Growth Facility (PGF) strives to provide collaborating scientists with best-in-class resources for research, product development, and learning. We accomplish this by designing, operating and maintaining state-of-the art controlled-environment growth facilities and through the client-focused services of our expert PGF staff.

 

PGF User Guidelines & New User Orientation

Welcome to the Danforth Plant Growth Facility! BEFORE using any of the growth facilities (including greenhouses, growth chambers, potting rooms, etc.), all NEW USERS must complete the following items:

1. Read and understand the Plant Growth Facility User Manual. Direct any questions on these policies and procedures to PGF Director, Kevin Reilly (kreilly@danforthcenter.org).
2. Complete EPA-mandated agricultural worker pesticide safety training. Contact Mary Lyon (mlyon@danforthcenter.org) or
   Tara Oehler (toehler@danforthcenter.org) for information on upcoming training sessions.

​New users are also strongly advised to schedule a PGF Orientation by e-mailing  Mary Lyon (mlyon@danforthcenter.org).

 

All PGF users should read and be familiar with the policies and guidelines outlined in the PGF User Manual.

 

Are you already a DDPSC client? Click here to request growth space.

 

 

 

PGF clients should take an active role in monitoring their crops by planning space and supply needs in advance, learning how to use the Plant Transfer Record (PTR) system, properly spacing plants, and maintaining open communications with the greenhouse team including relevant plant care instructions and feedback.

 

All Users must read and be familiar with the PGF Policies & Guidelines Manual and Other PGF Policies, including Pesticide Safety information. 

Users should also take responsibility for:

• Planning space needs and supply needs and notifying PGF staff of any unique requests well in advance
• Using the Plant Transfer Record (PTR) system and tags when placing plants in the facility
• Submitting USDA/APHIS and other permits to Kevin Reilly (PGF Manager) prior to moving regulated materials into PGF
• Spacing plants properly to optimize growth space for efficiency
• Giving instructions and feedback to the greenhouse team
• Monitoring for pests and diseases
• Keeping growth and work areas clean and organized
• Notifying greenhouse or chamber manager when an experiment is terminated
• Removing all PTR tags before plant disposal and checking them out in the PTR system
• Discarding all general plant waste in designated orange containers/bins/carts.
• Placing Lab, tissue culture, pathogen- and/or chemical-treated biowaste into red autoclave bag prior to disposal
• Return trays, pots, and stakes to the main potting room for cleaning and/or disposal.

Every plant grown in the PGF is required to have a Plant Transfer Record (PTR). PTRs allow us to accurately track what goes in and out of our greenhouses and how to assess charges based on this information. They are also a useful tool for researchers to easily keep track of their plants for their own record-keeping. PTRs can be created at the PTR terminals located in the main potting room (PGF-A) or the new potting room at the PGF-B growth chambers. Alternatively, you can go to ptr.danforthcenter.org to access the PTR system, however labels will be printed at either PGF-A or PGF-B terminals.

 

Creating a PTR:

1. Log in using your Danforth login information or the external client login information.
2. Click Create PTR to go to the creation page.
3. All PTRs must have the fields in bold and marked by asterisks (*). Typically, the "Watering", "Fungicide", and "Pest Control" fields can all be left as default. If you have specific requirements for any of these, please also alert your caretaker of the requirements.
4. "Variety/Accession/Ecotype" should be filled out if possible.
5. Use the "Stake Note" and "Other Instructions" fields to add additional information on experiment type, variety, planting date, etc.
6. Click "Submit". If you used either PTR terminal, the stakes will be printed at the accompanying printer.

 

 

 

We are currently in the process of updating our protocols. Please reach out to the PGF staff for the most updated versions. Thank you for your patience. 

 

Please click on the links below to view our various Plant Growth and Care protocols, which include standard recommendations for planting, watering, fertilization, pest management, environmental conditions, and more.   Please be sure to talk with the PGF Manager or the PGF staff member responsible for your growth space if you would like to use an alternate protocol.

 

Arabidopsis

Brachypodium

Camelina

Castor

Lettuce

Maize

Medicago

Pennycress

Petunia

Quinoa

Rice

Sorghum

Soybean

Sweet Potato

Tobacco

Tomato

Wheat

 

If you are interested in a protocol not shown on the above list or have general questions, please contact Kevin Reilly at kreilly@danforthcenter.org. We are happy to develop/update protocols as needed.

The settings to the greenhouses and growth chambers can now be accessed virtually by scanning the QR code on the doors at each growth location or through the following portal: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=140e7976b9084c4daea52b4d9505c091.

 

If you have any questions, need any settings updated, or need any additional information, please contact the Manager or Horticulturist in charge of that location. All changes should be reflected in each location's page as soon as the update occurs to ensure all clients have access to the most up-to-date information at all times.

Pest management is an incredibly important part of what we do at the Danforth Center. Pests are a daily concern in greenhouses and growth chambers and even a small number of pests can do a lot of damage.  PGF staff utilize Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies, including weekly pesticide applications, to keep pest populations within reasonable levels. Below is what you need to know to stay safe.

If you would like more information, please contact us.

 

What You Need to Know About Pesticides

Pesticides are chemicals that are designed to target specific, unwanted plants and/or animals. ​

 

If you see this sign, DON'T GO IN THERE:

 

 

On a greenhouse or chamber door: this sign means the space is unsafe and you cannot enter until the REI (restricted entry interval) has passed. See the bottom of the sign for the date and time you can reenter. Most REIs are 12 hours.

 

On a greenhouse hallway door: this sign means there is an active spray and the range is locked down until the spray is complete. It typically takes 30 - 60 minutes to spray any range. Please be patient and plan accordingly.

 

It is against Federal Law for unauthorized personnel to enter an area where a warning sign is posted.  

 

 

REI (Restricted-entry Interval)

From the EPA: The restricted-entry interval is the time immediately after a pesticide application when entry into the treated area is restricted.

A greenhouse or growth chamber that has been sprayed will have the sign above with the following information:

• Date and Time of the application
• Chemical used
• Date and Time of the REI expiration

YOU MAY NOT ENTER THE AREA UNTIL AFTER THE REI HAS EXPIRED. Greenhouse staff will remove the signs the following morning after the REI is expired. Even though the REI is expired, residues may remain on plants and surfaces, so it is best to wear gloves the day after a pesticide application when handling plant material or pots.

What if I need a special soil or fertilizer for my experiment?
Please talk with staff member assigned to the greenhouse or growth chamber where you are growing your plants. We are often able to purchase non-standard supplies for you. please note that the costs associated with non-standard supply purchases are generally charged back to the requesting client.

 

​What if I need my plants to have a specific watering treatment?
Please talk with staff assigned to the greenhouse where you are growing your plants. Specialized watering schedules are often able to be accommodated.  Charges may apply depending on extra time spent compared to our regular watering program.

 

​How often do you water the plants? Do I need to check them myself?
Greenhouse staff checks plants 1-4 times a day, depending on individual plant needs. They are here every day, including weekends and holidays. Unless you have put a “Do Not Water” sign by your plants and are taking full responsibility for their watering, you should not water your own plants.

 

What if I don’t want my plants to be sprayed, fertilized, or top-watered?
There are signs in the back of the main potting room for specialized instructions for your plants. Please put a sign in each flat that those directions will pertain to.

 

What type of fertilizer do you use?
Our general purpose fertilizer for most crops is Jack’s 15-16-17, which is applied at 200ppm nitrogen in the greenhouses three times a week, and 150ppm nitrogen in the chambers twice a week. Sorghum and corn receive 15-5-15 Cal Mag fertilizer at 200ppm nitrogen on weekdays. Specialized fertilizer for tuber or root growth is used for sweet potatoes and cassava.

 

Where should I clean my seed?
There is room for cleaning seed in multiple locations. In the main potting room, there are supplies on the table facing the phenotyping room. You may also work at any outer table that is not being used by someone else, but we ask that you leave the center of the table open for those working with soil. The basement in C-Range has a number of tables as well, and there is a room specifically for seed cleaning off the storage again in the Bellwether Chamber area. You are free to use the bags, envelopes, staplers, and markers at each location. Please do not remove any of the sieves though or take them back to your labs.

 

I have plants that I know are not transgenic. Can I just throw them out with the regular trash?
We treat all plants the same at our growth facility. Please place all plant material (leaves, stems, seeds, soil) in an orange plant waste container to be autoclaved. Any residue brushed off tables or swept off floors must also be placed in orange plant waste containers.

 

Where should I put my orange plant waste containers?
There are large hoppers (long trash bins on wheels) located around the facility including in the soil room off the main potting room, C-Range corridor, PGF-B chamber area, and C-Range basement. Bags can be placed either in these hoppers or taken to the autoclave room in B-Range.

 

How does the PTR system work? Do I need a label with each plant?
The PTR system allows us to track the owner, location, activity codes, and plant types and sizes of every plant in our facility. Each flat, no matter how many plants or the sizes of cells, needs one label. Every pot that is a one- gallon or larger needs its own label. There is a computer in the main potting room and the PGF-B potting room set up to create and print labels. You will log in with the same information you use to access your email.  You will need to know your activity code before making a label. Greenhouse staff can assist if you need help with filling out the other information.

 

Where can I find safety supplies?
You can find gloves and dust masks in all three potting rooms. Spill kits can be found in either pesticide room. First aid kits are also available in all three potting rooms.

 

Who Do I Talk to About...?
We often get the question "Who do I talk to about..." followed by any number of topics. Here are a few of the most common questions we receive, and the answer.   If you have a question that is not answered below, please contact us! 

 

 

PLANTS

 

Who takes care of my greenhouse/growth chamber?
Kris Haines provides care in all PGF growth chambers. The name of the PGF staff member assigned for care of each greenhouse is listed on the door to the greenhouse.

 

If my plants seem too dry?
Do not water your own plants. Contact the greenhouse staff member who is assigned to the specific house or chamber if you have concerns about how your plant are being watered. Plants may appear dry on the surface, but have plenty of moisture underneath the top layer of media. Plants can be stressed from overwatering, so make sure you talk to your greenhouse contact before picking up a hose.

 

If I see pests on my plants?
There will always be some pest presence in both greenhouses and chambers. Weekly sprays can be an inconvenience to some, but they are necessary to minimize pest pressure and damage. If you're worried about pest damage, contact the greenhouse staff member assigned to your house.

 

If I am unhappy with how my plants are doing?
Contact the greenhouse staff member caring for your plants immediately. You can also contact Kevin Reilly, PGF Manager. Maintaining open lines of communication between researchers and PGF staff is important to ensuring your plants are receiving the best care possible.

 

FACILITIES 

 

If I'm in on the weekend or a holiday and need to talk to someone about an urgent issue?
The PGF is staffed 365 days a year. If you cannot find a PGF staff member, please contact Kevin Reilly directly. Kevin may be able to address your concern or will be happy to contact the appropriate personnel.

 

If I notice a mechanical issue that needs attention?
If you find something wrong with one of the greenhouses or growth chambers, please contact the person in charge of the house or chamber. You can find the name posted on the white board by the door. You can also contact Kevin Reilly with any concerns.

 

If I need to have my greenhouse or chamber settings adjusted?
​If you need settings adjusted in a greenhouse, contact the staff member in charge of the house. If you need settings adjusted on a growth chamber, contact the PGF staff member responsible for the growth space. You can also contact Kevin Reilly for adjustments to either greenhouses or growth chambers.

 

Please note, adjustments to multi-user houses and chambers must be agreed upon by multiple parties, so please contact Kevin Reilly.

 

If I need to set up auto-irrigation or a specialized watering program?
Talk to the staff member in charge of your house.  No matter the issue, we are more than happy to work with you to find a solution to meet your needs.

 

 

SERVICES 

 

If I need to bring in plants from outside the Danforth PGF?
Please contact Kevin Reilly prior to bringing plants in from outside the Danforth Center. We need to inspect any plants, seeds, or cuttings for pests and diseases before moving them into the greenhouses or chambers. Plants may then be placed in a quarantine chamber for a period until it is clear they are free of both pests and disease. A greenhouse staff member will notify you when they are ready to be moved to their designated greenhouse or chamber.

 

If a pesticide spray is going to conflict with my work schedule?
Contact the PGF staff members responsible for you’re the affected growth space. If we have advanced notice, we will try to accommodate your request, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Weekly sprays are important to keeping pest pressures low, and most houses get sprayed once a week. We send out notices every Monday with the date and time each house will be sprayed.

 

If I need supplies that you do not normally carry?
Contact the person responsible for your growth space if you require media or supplies that are not part of our standard offerings.  We are happy to help you find the right supply to fit your needs. Please note that non-standard supply purchases are generally charged back to the requesting client.

 

 

Didn't Find What You Were Looking for?

We're always here to help, just send us an email!

 

 

 

In order to track our impact and productivity, the Plant GrowthFacility appreciates acknowledgment in your publications and poster presentations as follows:

 

Generic Acknowledgment

”We wish to thank (staff name here) from the Plant Growth Facility (RRID:SCR_024902) at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center for support with (support provided)…”.

 

If contributions go beyond our standard fee-for-service support, including significant intellectual contribution and/or manuscript preparation, Plant Growth Facility staff should be considered for co-authorship.

 

Core facilities must charge for services rendered according to cost accounting practices set up at each institution.  Charging for services does not preclude authorship on manuscripts provided the Core laboratory individual has contributed to the research in a substantial way.  If authorship is anticipated, it is preferably established at the beginning of the project so that both the customer and the Core researcher are cognizant of each other’s criteria.

 

Important reasons for acknowledging contributions from core facilities in publications, by co-authorship or by formal mention in the acknowledgments section, include:

 

1. Core facility personnel are scientists. When they make a substantial intellectual and/or experimental contribution to a publication they deserve to be acknowledged just as any other co-author.
2. The existence of core facilities depends in part on proper acknowledgment in publications. This is an important metric of the value of most core facilities. Proper acknowledgment of core facilities enables them to obtain financial and other support so that they may continue to provide their essential services in the best ways possible. It also helps core personnel to advance in their careers, adding to the overall health of the core facility.

Activities for which authorship are recommended:

• Author should make substantive contributions to the project
  • Conception, design of project, critical input, or original ideas
  • Acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, beyond routine practices
  • Draft the article or revise it critically for intellectual content
  • Write a portion of the paper (not just materials and methods section)
  • Intellectual contribution
  • Final authority for the approval of article

• Each author should have participated enough to accept responsibility for the content of the manuscript

The following activities do not represent intellectual contributions to a project and would not constitute authorship:

• Providing funding (department chair who has no intellectual input)
• Collection of data (technical skill but not involved in interpretation of data)
• General supervision of research group, but no intellectual input into the project

All contributors that do not meet the criteria of authorship should be recognized in the acknowledgments section, for example:

• Paid technical help
• Writing assistance
• Financial and material support
• Scientific advice

Two examples are pertinent: (from Robert A. Day: How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 5th Edition)

 

Example 1: Scientist A designs the experiments, and tells Technician B exactly how to do the experiments. If the experiments work and a new discovery is made and a manuscript results, Scientist A is the sole author and Technician B is recognized in the acknowledgments section.

 

Example 2: Scientist A designs the experiments, Technician B carries them out but they do not work. Technician B suggests some changes to the protocol, the experiments then work because of the changes and a discovery results. Scientist A and Technician B are now both authors.