ADC Bioscientific
Encyclopedia
ADC Bioscientific is a UK-based company that designs and manufactures scientific instruments for research into plant physiology
, environments
, soils, and for monitoring carbon dioxide
. ADC BioScientific's instruments are used in scientific areas such as climate change
, agriculture
, environmental monitoring and crop science, which includes investigation of photosynthesis
, gas analysis, leaf area, plant stress and soil respiration
.
UK.
that is portable and uses the open system of measurement. Most modern photosynthesis System
s base their method of operation on these early developments. The system uses CO2 and H2O sensing technologies to non-destructively measure the photosynthesis
and transpiration
rates of plants.
The AM300 series of leaf area meters, allow scientists to accurately measure the area and perimeter of leaves, intact, while working in the field.
With the increasing concern over atmospheric CO2 levels, more researchers have focused on evaluating natural sources of carbon dioxide
, such as soils. The requirement for long term monitoring of soil CO2 flux has led ADC to develop the ACE Automated CO2 exchange system designed for long-term, unattended monitoring of soil flux. This was the first to allow scientists to economically monitor large numbers of experimental sites within their research area.
For short term monitoring of soil respiration, ADC developed the portable SRS1000 and SRS2000. In these instruments "a highly accurate miniaturised CO2 infrared gas analyser, designed for a wide variety of environmental research applications, was housed directly adjacent to the soil chamber to ensure the fastest possible response to gas exchanges in the soil".
For monitoring atmospheric CO2 concentrations, ADC has designed a range of Infrared gas analyzer
s. The battery-portable Gas Analyser is for short-term, intermittent monitoring. The Lambda T CO2 Gas Monitor is suitable for long-term monitoring of CO2 concentrations.
The company also supplies a range of portable chlorophyll fluorometer
s which measure chlorophyll fluorescence
to enable researchers to investigate different types of stress in plants.The OS5p can determine numerous parameters, including photochemical and non-photochemical quenching
coefficients, and fluorescence parameters including Fo, Fm, Fv/Fm, Y, Ft, etc.
Plant physiology
Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of botany concerned with the functioning, or physiology, of plants. Closely related fields include plant morphology , plant ecology , phytochemistry , cell biology, and molecular biology.Fundamental processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, plant nutrition,...
, environments
Environment (systems)
In science and engineering, a system is the part of the universe that is being studied, while the environment is the remainder of the universe that lies outside the boundaries of the system. It is also known as the surroundings, and in thermodynamics, as the reservoir...
, soils, and for monitoring carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
. ADC BioScientific's instruments are used in scientific areas such as climate change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, environmental monitoring and crop science, which includes investigation of photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
, gas analysis, leaf area, plant stress and soil respiration
Soil respiration
Soil respiration refers to the production of carbon dioxide when soil organisms respire. This includes respiration of plant roots, the rhizosphere, microbes and fauna....
.
History
ADC was founded in 1969, under the name The Analytical Development Company. The name was formally changed to ADC BioScientific Ltd in 1998, following an employee driven management buyout. ADC Bioscientific Ltd is a privately held company based in Great Amwell, HertfordshireHertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
UK.
Developments
The company was the first to develop a commercially available photosynthesis systemPhotosynthesis system
Photosynthesis systems are electronic scientific instruments designed for non-destructive measurement of photosynthetic rates in the field. Photosynthesis systems are commonly used in agronomic and environmental research, as well as studies of the global carbon cycle.- How photosynthesis systems...
that is portable and uses the open system of measurement. Most modern photosynthesis System
Photosynthesis system
Photosynthesis systems are electronic scientific instruments designed for non-destructive measurement of photosynthetic rates in the field. Photosynthesis systems are commonly used in agronomic and environmental research, as well as studies of the global carbon cycle.- How photosynthesis systems...
s base their method of operation on these early developments. The system uses CO2 and H2O sensing technologies to non-destructively measure the photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
and transpiration
Transpiration
Transpiration is a process similar to evaporation. It is a part of the water cycle, and it is the loss of water vapor from parts of plants , especially in leaves but also in stems, flowers and roots. Leaf surfaces are dotted with openings which are collectively called stomata, and in most plants...
rates of plants.
The AM300 series of leaf area meters, allow scientists to accurately measure the area and perimeter of leaves, intact, while working in the field.
With the increasing concern over atmospheric CO2 levels, more researchers have focused on evaluating natural sources of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
, such as soils. The requirement for long term monitoring of soil CO2 flux has led ADC to develop the ACE Automated CO2 exchange system designed for long-term, unattended monitoring of soil flux. This was the first to allow scientists to economically monitor large numbers of experimental sites within their research area.
For short term monitoring of soil respiration, ADC developed the portable SRS1000 and SRS2000. In these instruments "a highly accurate miniaturised CO2 infrared gas analyser, designed for a wide variety of environmental research applications, was housed directly adjacent to the soil chamber to ensure the fastest possible response to gas exchanges in the soil".
For monitoring atmospheric CO2 concentrations, ADC has designed a range of Infrared gas analyzer
Infrared gas analyzer
]An infrared gas analyzer measures trace gases by determining the absorption of an emitted infrared light source through a certain air sample. Trace gases found in the Earth's atmosphere get excited under specific wavelengths found in the infrared range. The concept behind the technology can be...
s. The battery-portable Gas Analyser is for short-term, intermittent monitoring. The Lambda T CO2 Gas Monitor is suitable for long-term monitoring of CO2 concentrations.
The company also supplies a range of portable chlorophyll fluorometer
Fluorometer
A fluorometer or fluorimeter is a device used to measure parameters of fluorescence: its intensity and wavelength distribution of emission spectrum after excitation by a certain spectrum of light. These parameters are used to identify the presence and the amount of specific molecules in a medium...
s which measure chlorophyll fluorescence
Chlorophyll fluorescence
Chlorophyll fluorescence is light that has been re-emitted after being absorbed by chlorophyll molecules of plant leaves. By measuring the intensity and nature of this fluorescence, plant ecophysiology can be investigated....
to enable researchers to investigate different types of stress in plants.The OS5p can determine numerous parameters, including photochemical and non-photochemical quenching
Non-photochemical quenching
Non-photochemical quenching is a mechanism employed by plants and algae to protect themselves from the adverse effects of high light intensity. It involves the quenching of singlet excited state chlorophylls via enhanced internal conversion to the ground state , thus harmlessly dissipating...
coefficients, and fluorescence parameters including Fo, Fm, Fv/Fm, Y, Ft, etc.