Dear all, We are currently running an external hydroponics-based phenotyping experiment in phytotron #1. In case you are interested in hydroponics please feel free to take a look through the window and/or talk to Anneliese. Protocols are also available at our facility. Basically, plants are germinating on agar in a sample holder until the roots reach the fluid medium. Advantages are a highly homogenous and controlled root environment; the possibility of working with different chemicals (fertilizers, hormones, salt, etc.) and the root system is easily accessible for sampling or shovelomics (until a certain developmental stage; then roots get knotted). And: no black flies, so far. Disadvantages: handling and potential contaminations of the agar in the sample holder. The system we use is called Araponics: http://www.araponics.com/ Best, Jakub [VBC Logo] Jakub Jez Head, Plant Sciences Facility T +43 1 7962324 7090<tel:+43179623247090> M +43 664 8084 77090<tel:+43%20664%208084%2077090> jakub.jez@vbcf.ac.at<mailto:jakub.jez@vbcf.ac.at> Vienna BioCenter Core Facilities GmbH Dr. Bohr-Gasse 3 1030 Vienna Austria www.vbcf.ac.at<https://www.vbcf.ac.at> Chair, Austrian Plant Phenotyping Network (APPN<https://www.appn.at/>) and Support Group Member of ESFRI EMPHASIS<https://emphasis.plant-phenotyping.eu/> project Twitter: @VBCF_PlantS<https://twitter.com/VBCF_PlantS> LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jezjakub<http://www.linkedin.com/in/jezjakub> [signature_656262654] FFG PHENOPlant<https://www.ffg.at/sites/default/files/allgemeine_downloads/strukturprogramme/FuE-Infrastrukturf%C3%B6rderung/Kurzfassung_PHENOPlant.pdf>: Austrias 1st multi-sensor, high-throughput plant phenotyping infrastructure launching 2021!