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Modification and testing of a domestic freezer for use in studies of plant growth and survival at low temperatures
Author(s) -
HAYCOCK R.,
AULD M. H. D.,
OLLERENSHAW J. H.,
STEWART W. S.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1987.tb02026.x
Subject(s) - relative humidity , humidity , perennial plant , biology , horticulture , lamina , atmospheric temperature range , zoology , botany , materials science , meteorology , physics
SUMMARY Modifications of a domestic freezer are described, which convert it to a versatile controlled environment chamber capable of maintaining temperatures between ambient and ‐ 18 °C and therefore useful in investigations both of plant growth at low positive temperatures and of survival of sub‐zero temperatures. The temperature control mechanism can provide a wide range of diurnal temperature regimes and of cooling and warming rates. Measurements in two such chambers showed air temperatures were always uniform to within ° 1 °C of set temperature except in a 6 cm band round the inside walls, where they were lower by 0°6 °C, at most; CO 2 concentration was always close to 300 v.p.m.; relative humidity was usually in the range 80–90% and photon flux densities during the light period were 180 ° 10 μmol m ‐2 s ‐1 . The uniformity of environmental conditions within each chamber was confirmed by measurements of leaf growth and plant survival of tillers of a single genotype of perennial ryegrass growing in pots of compost. These tests also confirmed the lower temperature of the 6 cm band adjacent to the chamber walls. Although temperature settings were identical, air and compost temperatures were 0°3 °C higher in one of the two chambers tested. Although this difference did not result in significant differences in plant survival, significant differences in leaf lamina extension were found between cabinets. Problems encountered in the design and testing of the chambers are discussed.