A broad range of Research Resources are available to Plant Biology faculty, postdoctoral associates, and students. Individual faculty have laboratories equipped for modern biological research. In addition, a number of Core Facilities are available:
- Plant Growth and Transformation
- Microscopy
- Biological Collections
- Libraries
- DNA, proteins and gene expression
- Computational solutions
Plant Growth and Transformation
Plant growth facilities include greenhouses, fully controlled walk-in growth chambers and small growth chambers.They are primarily located in the Guterman Complex, the Tower Road Plant Science complex and Emerson Hall (funding provided by NYSTAR), which is attached to the Plant Science building.
The Plant Tissue Culture and Transformation Facility provides researchers with access to state of the art equipment and materials for the transfer of genes into plant, algal and fungal species, as well as instruction and assistance in the use of transformation procedures.
Microscopy
Microscopy facilities are located in the Cornell Integrated Microscopy Center, the Microscopy, Imaging, and Fluorimetry Facility and the Nanobiotechnology Center. Users may perform light microscopy, electron microscopy, confocal and epifluorescence microscopy, and two-photon fluorescence microscopy using state-of-the-art equipment. Personal instruction in operating the microscopes is available at each facility.
Biological collections
The Bailey Hortorium Herbarium collection is one of the largest university-affiliated collections of preserved plant material in North America. It includes Cornell's Wiegand Herbarium (CU), which was merged with BH in 1977. The combined herbaria now number ca. 845,000 specimens of algae, bryophytes, and vascular plants.
Nursery and Seed Catalog Collection holds over 134,000 pieces; this collection is one of the largest of its kind. It includes catalogues from foreign countries as well as the United States and Canada.
Paleobotany Fossil collection includes materials from the diverse history of plants. Vascular plant remains from the Carboniferous, Cretaceous, and Tertiary ages are part of the collection. This material has been acquired from various geographical regions across the United States.
Libraries
Mann Library offers a wealth of information for users through its large collection of online resources, including E-Journals, and electronic reference tools. In addition, nearly 800,000 print volumes are available, making Mann's one of the top library collections in agriculture, life sciences and human ecology in the United States today. This steady influx of current material, combined with Mann's important historical collections support the research, teaching, and extension programs of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and provide a strong basis for scholarship in interdisciplinary areas across the University.
The Bailey Hortorium Library is a collection of some 30,000 volumes botanical books, journals, and reprints, representing the personal library of Liberty Hyde Bailey combined with the library of the old Wiegand Herbarium at Cornell University.
DNA, proteins and gene expression
The Biotechnology Resource Center performs services such as DNA Sequencing, Oligonucleotide Synthesis, Molecular Marker Analysis, Protein Sequencing and proteome analysis.
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility in the van Wijk lab. This facility includes three modern mass spectrometers, including LTQ-Orbitrap and Q-TOF mass spectrometers, both interfaced with nanoLC, and various robotic instruments for proteomics.
Microarray Facilities and Services are available at the Cornell Microarray Core Facility and at the Center for Gene Expression Profiling (CGEP) in the Boyce Thompson Institute BTI.
Computational solutions
The Computational Biology Service Unit provides research, software and hardware support for computational biology applications. Assistance in the design and implementation of computational solutions is available.