New glasshouses to help in fight against invasive species

The establishments of state-of-the-art glasshouses at AgResearch's Ruakura campus will help the country's largest Crown Research Institute to better combat invasive species that threaten New Zealand's economy.

The glasshouses were opened recently by AgResearch Board Chairman, Rick Christie, joined by AgResearch CEO Dr Andrew West and members of the AgResearch Board.


Pictured left to right at the opening of the
glasshouse complex are AgResearch CEO Dr Andrew
West, Scientist Trevor James and AgResearch
Board Chair Rick Christie.

The 12 glasshouses replace ageing buildings spread over a wide area of the campus and will be used chiefly by the Biocontrol and Biosecurity section. The glasshouses feature an environment control system that allows users to manipulate humidity, light and temperature.

AgResearch’s Biocontrol and Biosecurity group will be able to conduct longer experiments in any season and emulate precise environmental conditions, says scientist Trevor James.

“The new glasshouses will enable us to investigate a full range of plant protection problems. We will be conducting experiments involving nematodes, fungi and insects as well as assessing the impact of herbicides on particular plants and the environment.”

The complex comprises:

  • two large 8x16 metre glasshouses that will be used for a variety of plant protection projects
  • four physical containment level- two glasshouses that will be used for experiments involving biological materials that are under strict quarantine
  • six glasshouses to house experiments on biological materials that need to be isolated from other plant protection projects.

The complex will be used on projects such as the clover root weevil biocontrol programme which involves the rearing of parasitoid wasps before their release into weevil-infested areas.

Trevor James says the glasshouses will encourage synergies between scientists from different AgResearch sections, bringing together entomologists, microbiologists, nematologists and weed scientists.

Back to Biosecurity Magazine - Issue 71

Page last updated: 18 June 2008