Klimakammer Mais 1

• Subject Area: Plant Sciences
• Term: Funded in 2016
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 323250248

Over the past fifteen years the ZMPB has acquired world renown thanks to its groundbreaking research on the small model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. In 2013 the ZMBP and the University of Tübingen made the strategic decision to extend their research direction into fundamental research of crop species. Consequently, as part of the Excellence Initiative and with the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the University appointed me Professor early in 2015. As outlined in the proposal, our research focuses primarily on shoot development in the cereal crop maize. However, the establishment of a successful research program in maize at the ZMBP requires access to climate chambers that provide controlled environments for the growth and characterization of genetically diverse maize varieties. The growth facilities currently available at the ZMBP for research on Arabidopsis are unsuited for this purpose, as maize is adapted to grow in tropical or subtropical conditions and requires distinct temperature, humidity, and light conditions. We therefore seek to obtain funding to purchase large walk-in growth chambers equipped with high intensity light fixtures to accommodate the environmental conditions needed to grow maize. These will be used for the research directions outlined below, and additionally can provide the infrastructure needed for other members of the ZMBP to move findings from Arabidopsis into crop species; a major goal in the University's strategic plan under the Excellence Initiative.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Klimakammer Mais 1
• Instrumentation Group: 4400 Pflanzenwuchskammern und -schränke, Klimaversuchsanlagen für Biologie und Medizin
• Applicant Institution: Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
• Leader: Professorin Dr. Marja Timmermans