Cultivation of plants, plant cells, and fungal cultures

Anthropogenic and naturally occurring radionuclides in soils may interact with plants and fungi. In addition, both plants and fungi release metabolites that influence their environment and affect bioavailability and transport of radionuclides. We perform bioassociation studies with plant cell and fungal mycelium cultures as well as plants to study their bioassociation with radionuclides on a cellular and molecular level to assess their impact on radionuclide transfer and uptake.

Various callus and suspension cells of plants as well as fungal mycelia are cultivated as model systems under controlled conditions in solid or liquid culture media. Plants can be grown and cultivated from seeds in hydroponics or in soil. For these cultivations, temperature, light, and humidity controlled plant growth chambers (Percival, CLF Plant Climatics) and incubators are available.