School of Plant Biology
Further Information
Bookings
Facilities at other Schools
We have numerous facilities that are well equipped for your research.
Plant Growth Facilities
The Plant Growth Facilities complex provides various growth environments and related equipment for carrying out experiments under controlled conditions.
There are glasshouses, phytotrons, controlled environment rooms, controlled temperature rooms, PC2 certified facilities and more.
- Email contact
Molecular biology
The cross-disciplinary applications of molecular technology are shared with two other schools in the Faculty.
- The extensive molecular biology facilities can house 15 to 20 people working together at any one time.
- Students are encouraged to make the most of the collegial environment and access to academic staff of international repute.
Analytical equipment
Gas Chromatography (GC)
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Two Shimadzu GCs with flame ionisation detection for fatty acid, essential oil, amino acids, carboxylates and ethylene analyses among many other applications. Contact Greg Cawthray for pricing and queries on other applications.
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A Hewlett Packard 5890GC with 5970 Mass Selective Detector (GC-MS). Contact Greg Cawthray for pricing and queries on applications.
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A Shimadzu GC2010 belonging to the Forest Products Commission of Western Australia is available for fee-related work. Contact Chris Jones for pricing and queries on applications
Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
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HPLC waters liquid chromatographs with photodiode array (UV/Vis), fluorescence, conductivity, and evaporative light scattering detection modes, as well as fraction collection capabilities. Applications include carboxylates, phenolics, biogenic amines, organic solutes, amino acids, cations/anions, carbohydrates, herbicides and plant pigments. Contact Greg Cawthray for pricing and queries on applications.
Miscellaneous
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Several UV/Vis spectrophotometers are located within the School. Contact Greg Cawthray for queries on applications and access.
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The NanoDrop Spectrophotometer is an instrument that quantifies DNA, RNA and protein using only a microlitre of sample. It is in room 2.120 of the Agriculture Central Wing Building. Contact Chris Jones or Julie Plummer for training and access to this computer.
Tissue culture laboratories
Two tissue culture laboratories include a main laboratory equipped for anything from double haploidy to micro propagation.
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A PC2 tissue culture facility is also available.
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The tissue culture laboratories have several laminar flow work surfaces available and cultures are grown in the phytotrons or controlled environment rooms.
Ecophysiology equipment
The school has a range of portable and lab-based equipment for ecophysiological research in controlled conditions as well as in the field. The equipment includes:
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Measurement systems for gas exchange (photosynthesis and transpiration, oxygen fluxes, chlorophyll fluorescence). Follow the link to book LICOR gas exchange units.
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Water relations (sapflow, water status, hydraulics).
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Leaf and root measurements (scanning and image analysis).
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Several other environmental, plant and soil sensors.
The school has a root scanner linked to a computer with the special Winrhizo program which is used to analyse root characteristics such as surface area, length and diameter. The system is used to compare the health and growth of root systems.
Contact: Greg Cawthray
Western Australian Biogeochemistry Centre
The Western Australian Biogeochemistry Centre (WABC) is temporarily closed because we are expanding and installing new isotope ratio mass spectrometers. Building started in April 2008 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
The WABC has four isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) plus access to a considerable range of analytical instrumentation such as gas chromatographs (GC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and capillary electrophoresis autoanalyzer (CE) that are routinely used in biogeochemical studies.
The IRMS are coupled with a variety of sample preparation modules to facilitate analysis of a broad range of stable isotopes of C, H, O, and N.
Yule Brook Reserve
The Yule Brook Reserve, also referred to as the Alison Baird Reserve, is a protected area of bushland in Kenwick owned by us. The 35-hectare reserve is part of the Greater Brixton Street Wetlands, an area with the highest plant biodiversity of any surveyed bushland remnant in Perth. The Reserve has been used for many years for research and training of botanists.
Contact: Mark Brundrett, Mike Shane, or Hans Lambers.
Shenton Park field station
The 67-hectare Shenton Park Field Station, only 15 minutes from campus, has a variety of facilities, including large open irrigated field areas, netted areas, screen houses, glasshouses, PC2 facilities and quarantine facilities.