Chemical Ecology (USMB)

Environmental analyses of the functional response of plants to herbivory pressure and its consequences on soils and biogeochemical cycles.

Scientific manager : Annie MILLERY

This technical platform (93 m2) allows the acquisition of physico-chemical data from very diverse samples :
. soil, leachate, litter, plants, insects.

 

This platform allows in particular :

– the preparation and conservation of samples :

  • sieves,
  • ovens,
  • mechanised ball or blade mills,
  • manual grinding under liquid nitrogen,
  • precision balance,
  • cold room

– the extraction of metabolites by techniques adapted to a wide range of substrates :

  • extraction under reflux,
  • Soxhlet,
  • restlessness,
  • SPE,
  • orbital shaker,
  • ultrasonic bath,
  • rotary evaporators,
  • centrifuge,
  • Precellys Evolution Ozyme lyser/homogeniser

– purification on column (Sephadex) of raw extracts
– chromatographic (HPLC-DAD and Fluo Agilent) and colorimetric analysis of plant metabolites, in particular polyphenolics
– Colorimetric analysis (UV-VIS spectrophotometry, double beam) for the determination of total phenols, total sugars, proteins in plants, for the determination of nitrates, ammonium ion, in soils.
– physico-chemical characterisation of soils : pH meter, muffle furnace (organic matter)

– field monitoring of plant metabolism using portable spectroscopic systems :

  • Hansatech (fluorescence and photosynthesis),
  • Dualex (foliar polyphenols).

 

To this analytical platform are added :

  • two phytotrons intended for the cultivation of plants under controlled conditions,
  • an optical microscope equipped with a camera,
  • an autoclave and a microbiological safety station
  • equipment for tracking animals in the field (VHS and GPS).
     

Who is involved ?

Research assistants :

– Jean-Noël AVRILLIER
– Annie MILLERY

 

Who is using it ?

Researchers / Professors :

– Christiane GALLET
– Sébastien IBANEZ

 

What are the ongoing projects ?

Projects
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