Purpose and objectives
A constantly growing world population, a rapidly changing climate and highly intensified land use systems are exerting unprecedented pressure on our planet's environmental systems. In order to meet the demand for food, energy and other natural resources while maintaining essential ecosystem services, a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of our ecosystems' functioning is required.
The Greenhouses & Phytochambers Unit (GPU) at the TUM Plant Technology Center provides TUM scientists with state-of-the-art facilities to grow and cultivate wild plants, crops, genetically modified organisms, and natural plant communities. Our interdisciplinary team actively supports researchers, ensuring optimal conditions for their individual research questions.
The GPU Dürnast provides a range of facilities for plant science experiments, including 5300 m² of greenhouse space, 8 climate chambers, 10 walk-in growth chambers, 3 vernalization chambers, and 1.2 hectares of open-field areas.
We offer eight climate-controlled greenhouse compartments (4 x 4 x 2.2 meters). Each cabin features automated irrigation systems, with options for sub-irrigation or drip irrigation. For customized lighting, you can choose from dimmable LED lights, metal halide lamps, or sodium vapor lamps.
Our state-of-the-art research greenhouse spans 500 m² and features compartments of various sizes, all equipped with automatic climate and irrigation systems. Optional lighting is provided by metal halide lamps, offering additional 250 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ in the photosynthetically active spectrum. This advanced facility ensures optimal conditions for cutting-edge plant research and cultivation year-round.
For applied research projects, we offer professional horticultural greenhouses in various sizes, equipped with automatic climate control and irrigation systems. These facilities are ideal for seasonal projects, providing optimal conditions to support your research activities.
Our facility includes walk-in climate chambers (WxDxH: 2.4 x 2 x 1.9 m) designed for precise environmental control. These chambers offer customizable settings for temperature, humidity, and light.
| Number | Temperature | Relative humidity | Lighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 5 – 30 °C | 40 - 90 % *) | LED, 3 channels |
| 4 | 8 – 25 °C | 40 - 90 % *) | LED |
| 2 | -5 – 20 °C | 60 - 90 % **) | LED |
*) from > 15 °C **) from > 13 °C
Our facility offers three walk-in vernalization chambers (dimensions: 2.4 x 2.4 x 1.9 meters) equipped with advanced LED lighting. These chambers maintain a constant temperature of 3 – 5 °C, ideal for effective vernalization.
Our outdoor area features a covered vegetation hall with 400 m² of ground space and 72 m² of table space. This facility provides an ideal environment for plant cultivation, providing protection from birds, animals, and adverse weather conditions such as rain and storms, while still maintaining natural outdoor conditions.
Our facility provides both cold frames and extensive outdoor cultivation areas. The cold frames, located on a 330 m² area, can be set up with either natural soil or gravel. Additionally, we offer small outdoor plots totaling 12,400 m², perfect for studiying a variety of plants in natural conditions.