Plant Growth Facility

The Boyce Thompson Institute Plant Growth Facility encompasses approximately 25,000 sq. ft. of space within a private, not-for profit research facility, located on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca NY. This multi-faceted facility, which services a wide array of research projects, consists of greenhouses, growth chambers, a dew room, a plant functional genomics room, a plant pathogen room and a seed harvest room.

Specific facility components include:

• Greenhouses: a total of 20 greenhouses, 480 sq. ft. each, controlled and monitored by an ARGUS computer automated greenhouse control system designed specifically to control the highly dynamic climate variables in greenhouses. Six units are air-conditioned with chilled water and fourteen units use evaporative cooling.
• Conviron Growth Chambers: A total of 40 chambers, including 16 walk-in chambers totaling 3,854 sq. ft., and 24 reach-in chambers totaling 401 sq. ft.
• Dew Room: consisting of 72 sq. ft.
• Plant functional genomics room: consisting of 600 sq. ft.
• Plant pathogen room: A 267 sq. ft. isolated room where plant pathogens may be used.
• Seed Harvest Room: totaling 520 sq. ft. where plants can be finished, dried down and harvested.

The Plant Growth Facility is managed based on the following principles:

• Goal – To use an Integrated Pest Management approach to achieve optimum plant growth and provide excellent facilities and services in support of the research staff.
• Vision – To operate a state of the art plant growth facility providing the highest quality research plants.
• Focus – A proactive service oriented approach that will anticipate the needs of the growth facility users.

The Plant Growth Facility operates in compliance with BTI, Cornell University, State and Federal Regulations including the Worker Protection Standard, Best Management Practices, all transgenic requirements and pesticide regulations.

For more information

For more information or to schedule a tour, contact Brian Bell at bkb3@cornell.edu.