Slovenian Forestry Institute

“Forest Biology, Ecology and Technology” research programme

Li-COR 6400 P is a basic, open measuring system for photosynthesis measurements. It is compact, handy, and suitable for field work. It is independent of weather conditions due to its own light source. IRGA in the sensor head enables full control of parameters and their real-time recording and display without delay. An upgrade for measurement of fluorescence and CO2 flux is possible.

WinSCANOPY (Regent) – a system for analysis of irradiance using spherical photographs.

Skye pressure chamber (Scholaner bomb) – a system for measurement of water potential

Molecular analysis of biological samples in the Department of Forest Physiology and Genetics

The molecular analysis method enables isolation of molecular markers from DNA and thus the possibility of identification of any biological material (fungi, ectomycorrhizae, plants, bacteria, animals) on the level of PCR products, RFLP or DGGE/TGGE samples or nucleotide sequences. Markers point toward the presence of particular organisms in the analysed samples, or can be compared to the reference collections (Mycotheca and Herbarium of the Slovenian Forestry Institute, Slovenian Forest Gene Bank) and databases (PCR-RFLP database for fungi and spruce at the SFI, GenBank, UNITE, accessible at the www) for the purpose of identification of an organism, exclusion, comparison, phylogenetic studies etc.

The method is based on a series of procedures:

RFLP --> analysis, comparison with the database and interpretation
DNA extraction --> PCR --> sequencing --> analysis, comparison, phylogeny
DGGE (in preparation) ---> analysis, comparison, interpretation

The following molecular methods have been developed (or are under development) in the Laboratory:

• ectomycorrhizal types from soil samples or in vitro cultures
• identification of fungi/bacteria and other mixed samples (rhizosphere, endophytes, symbiotic structures)
• bacterial cultures (mixed or pure, primary pure soil samples, e.g. Frankia spp)
• analysis and identification of forest reproduction material (Picea, Fraxinus, Quercus spp.)
• mixed samples from a phytopathological laboratory
• animal material (in preparation)

The Laboratory operates in line with EN ISO/IEC 17025:2002 standard (accreditation according to this standard is in preparation)

A brief list of selected instruments and devices available in the Laboratory

• ABI Prism 310 system for sequential and fragment analysis
• AMB 50 apparatus for measurement of humidity
• Autoclaves
• BioCrane cryobiological storage vessel
• Centrifuges, balances
• Device for measurements of photosynthesis
• DHT I hygro-thermometer
• Ductless fume enclosure
• GeneAmp PCR system 9700
• HPLC Spectra-Phyics with SCM400 solvent degasser, P4000 gradient pumps, UV2000 UV/VIS detectors, SF-2120 super fraction collector, Advantec Chromjet injector CH2
• ImmunoWash 1575 & ELISA plate reader
• Incubators
• Weather station
• Microscopes with automated image analysis (Olympus, Image AnalySIS)
• Balteaubloc BL 100/5 X-ray device
• DGGE system
• other