Cardiff University

 School of Biosciences:

Welcome to Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, where ground-breaking research and innovative technology intersect to push the boundaries of scientific exploration. In a fascinating convergence of biology and cutting-edge technology, the Biosciences team at Cardiff University has embarked on an exciting journey to understand the potential of their new lighting setup. In recent experiments, they’ve set their sights on mint tissue culture and rocket salad, using VertiLinks to nurture these plant varieties. The ambitious plan is to continue experimenting with different plant types in the coming weeks, exploring their responses to this advanced lighting system. As you delve into this blog post, you’ll discover how the Biomolecular Hub and Plant Growth Technology Hub Lead, Dr. Richard Ludlow, envisions the future of this technology, creating versatile options for plant growth in various settings. Join us as we shine a light on the incredible work being done at Cardiff University, where innovation and scientific curiosity thrive, paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.

In their recent experiments, the Biosciences team at Cardiff University has been testing the capabilities of their new lighting setup. Currently, they have mint tissue culture growing under one set of VertiLinks, and another set is nurturing rocket salad. The team’s plan is to continue trying different plant varieties over the next few weeks to gauge their responses.

The Biomolecular Hub and Plant Growth Technology Hub Lead, reflecting on the installation process, envisions the potential for an optional framework to clip the lights onto, creating a ceiling-hung array or a stand to position the lights above a growing bench. They note that the lights have the power to support the growth of various plants, but adjustments in light height might be necessary for larger plants to accommodate the increased canopy height. While this might not be a concern for the primary target audience, which is likely shelf-grown small plants, the customer believes that these lights could have versatile applications in other settings. The uniformity of light intensity and the well-balanced colour of the light was greatly appreciated by the customer.

There are plans for INDO to work further with Cardiff University in the future.

I’ve been pleased so far with how quickly they’ve (Rocket plants) grown, and the energy savings compared to the HID lamps in that room are an obvious bonus.

Dr Richard Ludlow, Biomolecular Hub and Plant Growth Technology Hub Lead