UiT
The team
- Laura Jaakola — Professor in Plant Biology, Leader of the Climate Laboratory
- Thomas Bawin — Head engineer, Plant Phenotyping
- Steinar Trædal-Henden — Chief engineer, Leader of Data Management in PheNo
- Wojciech Leoniuk — Head engineer, Gardener
The Climate Laboratory Holt in Tromsø is the world’s northernmost phytotron, jointly run by UiT and NIBIO. It focuses on how environmental factors — especially light and temperature — affect plant growth, quality, and adaptation to climate change. PheNo-UiT Team will also be responsible for the data management of the infrastructure.
About
The facility includes controlled growth chambers, a molecular lab, and advanced phenotyping equipment, forming a key research hub for Arctic plant science.
At the Climate Laboratory Holt, we are experts in plant growth experiments under controlled conditions, molecular biology and phenotyping with a focus on crops, such as berries, potato, turnips and forages, and their wild relatives.
Research topics
Plant adaptation, Plant stress, Climate change impact, Light & temperature response, Plant-pest interaction, Molecular biology, Phenotyping.
Services provided
Advanced Plant Phenotyping
- 3D Multispectral Imaging (MicroScan with PlantEye F600)
- High-throughput scanning in various growth conditions.
- Non-destructive measurement of plant traits such as: biomass, height, leaf area, colour, health, and stress.
- 2D Hyperspectral Imaging
- Specim FX10e and FX17e (400–1700 nm): push-broom cameras for spectral imaging.
- IMEC VNIR (450-900 nm): Portable hyperspectral unit for detailed, magnified imaging.
- Applications including, but not limited to: monitoring of crop quality, nutrient status, early disease detection, tissue/species classification and characterisation.
- Thermal Imaging
- Seek ShotPro thermal camera to monitor plant temperature and physiological stress responses.
Controlled Environment Growth Facilities
- Phytotron chambers for precise control of light, temperature, and humidity.
- Support for year-round experimentation with various plant species.
Molecular and Analytical Lab Support
- Dedicated lab space with basic equipment for molecular biology and sample processing.
- Ideal for post-imaging follow-up analysis of growth experiments.
Plant Cultivation and Storage
- Greenhouse space for propagation and maintenance of research plants.
- Sample preparation areas, cold rooms, and controlled freezers for plant storage.
To be announced:
- 3D Multispectral Imaging (TraitFinder with two PlantEye F600 scanners)