Plant Growth Facilities

National Research Council Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
What the facility does

Underpinning platforms for live plant research and product development, offering an array of specialized equipment and controlled environments.

Areas of expertise

We offer a diverse selection of scalable and customizable controlled-environment solutions. Our available infrastructure includes large and small automated greenhouse ranges, and one of the largest collections of plant growth chambers (Phytotron) in North America. The facilities have more than 10,000 square feet of plant growth area in combination of greenhouse, tissue culture, growth chambers and secure seed storage. The facilities' dedicated technical team can provide clients and collaborators with the growth space, supplies and services necessary for start-to-finish plant production and testing.

Research services

Stakeholders routinely use our plant growth facilities and expertise for:

  • cell technology and protocol development;
  • plant breeding;
  • precise abiotic and environmental testing and storage; and
  • new crop, variety and technology development.

Utilizing our plant growth facilities opens the door to additional National Research Council Canada (NRC) expertise and specialized assistance. Our clients often leverage other National Research Council analytical and research platforms such as hormone profiling and mass spectrometry, DNA services, cell technology and bioinformatics.

Sectors of application
  • Agriculture, animal science and food
  • Forestry and forest-based industries
  • Life sciences, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment

Equipment

Function

Phytotron

Plant production lab with 115 controlled environment chambers; provides 3500 ft2 of lit growth chamber and tissue culture space.

Transgenic plant centre greenhouse

6000 ft2 fully automated facility allows for multiple-line experiments and seed increases.

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) crop greenhouse

1000 ft2 isolation greenhouse allows precise temperature control while utilizing supplemental and natural light spectrums.

Sunrooms

Combined lab / growth space providing natural sunlight with supplemental light for overcast days and shorter winter daylight hours.