The Model Ecosystem Analyser TUMmesa is a subunit of the Greenhouse and Phytochamber Unit of the Plant Technology Center (PTC), located at the TUM School of Life Sciences in Weihenstephan. The TUMmesa ecotron houses eight identical walk-in phyto-hambers designed for conducting plant science experiments.
In TUMmesa, fundamental questions on multispheric interactions of plant systems with their biotic and abiotic environment can be systematically investigated. Complex dynamic climate simulations can be realized in each of the TUMmesa ecotron units, with additional options for CO2 and ozone fumigation enabling the detailed simulation of future climate scenarios. This offers unique opportunities to study ecological interactions under precisely controlled external conditions.
How can I conduct an experiment in TUMmesa?
Walk-In Phyto-Chambers
TUMmesa features eight identical, walk-in plant growth chambers (W × D × H: 2.4 × 3.2 × 2.2 m), where temperature, humidity, light, CO₂, and ozone can be independently controlled, monitored, and recorded with high temporal resolution.
High-Precision Environmental Control
Temperature, humidity, light, CO₂, and ozone can be dynamically regulated, monitored, and recorded with high temporal resolution.
The system achieves a high degree of homogeneity and reproducibility – both within individual phytotron units and across all chambers. The advanced climate control capabilities of the TUMmesa facility, even under complex experimental conditions, are described and analyzed in detail in the publications “Regionalized dynamic climate series for ecological climate impact research in modern controlled environment facilities” (Jákli et al., 2021) and “Ecotrons: Powerful and versatile ecosystem analysers for ecology, agronomy and environmental science” (Roy et al., 2020).
LED Lighting
A key feature of the system is its LED lighting setup, which operates across ten independently controllable spectral bands. The lighting is exceptionally uniform and flicker-free, making it suitable for experiments involving organisms that are highly sensitive to light flicker outside the range of human perception – such as many species of pollinating insects. In addition, low-level air movement within the chambers minimizes disturbances to insect flight behavior.
Lysimeters
Thermally insulated lysimeter containers are available in two sizes: 400 mm (small) or 700 mm (large) in diameter, each with a height of 700 mm. Up to nine large lysimeters can be placed individually on robust platforms in each chamber. Each unit includes an integrated irrigation system and can be equipped with tensiometers, soil moisture sensors, and temperature probes (sensors are not provided by TUMmesa).
Plants
At the GPU, it is possible to cultivate crop plants, trees, perennials, ornamental plants, and transgenic plants within an S1-compliant environment. The cultivation of plant communities is also possible.
Plants and Insects
The flicker-.free LED lighting and low air velocity allow for the investigation of interactions between plants and beneficial or pest insects.
Irrigation
Plants can be irrigated using an automated subirrigation system or time-controlled drip irrigiation.
Biosafety Level S1
Conduct research with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in an S1-compliant laboratory environment.
Plant Containers
Choose from a variety of benches, pots, trays, or lysimeters, and grow your plants in substrate or using hydroponic systems.
Bring Your Own Equipment
Each chamber is equipped with a CR1000 data logger (Campbell Scientific, UK). Researchers are welcome to install external sensors and configure the loggers for customized data acquisition.
Your Experiment at TUMmesa – From Idea to Project
We are committed to providing TUM researchers and their collaboration partners with easy access to our Ecotron. Once an initial concept for a research project has been developed, the next step is to get in touch with the TUMmesa team for an informal first consultation. Whether you have questions about feasibility, technical capabilities of TUMmesa, or potential connections to other research groups – we are happy to advise you.
Not every project idea requires the specific technical setup offered by TUMmesa. In such cases, we will support you to identify the most suitable facility within the PTC's wide range of experimental infrastructure.
Following the initial consultation with our team, an official application is required to use the TUMmesa ecotron. Applications can be submitted at any time to the scientific director of the facility (. Each proposal is reviewed by the PTC Advisory Board, which also makes the final decision on approval.
Proposals submitted by July 15 will be considered for use in the following operational year (April to March).
You can find the application template and further information here.
We look forward to supporting your research project!
Contact us at tummesa[at]ls.tum.de
or contact the scientific coordinator of the facility directly
