After more than 24 years of business, we bid farewell to Hartmut Friedrich. He has helped to shape UGT’s innovations in the lysimeter sector.
Hartmut: All the best….

Novel and Emerging Capabilities that Can Provide a Holistic Understanding of the Plant Root Microbiome

• Esther Singer^{1 2 †}
• John P. Vogel^{1 2 3}
• Trent Northen^{1 2}
• Christopher J. Mungall²
• Thomas E. Juenger⁴

¹Joint Genome Institute, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720

²Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720

³Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, 111 Koshland Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720

⁴The University of Texas at Austin, 2415 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712

Published Online:18 Jan 2021

https://doi.org/10.1094/PBIOMES-05-20-0042-RVW

Abstract

In recent years, the root microbiome (i.e., microorganisms growing inside, on, or in close proximity to plant roots) has been shown to play an important role in plant health and productivity. Despite its importance, the root microbiome is challenging to study because of its complexity, heterogeneity, and subterranean location. Fortunately, root microbiome research has seen a tremendous influx of novel technologies (e.g., imaging tools, robotics, and molecular analyses), experimental platforms (e.g., micro- and mesocosms), and data integration, modeling, and prediction tools in the past decade that have greatly increased our ability to dissect the complex network of interactions between above- and belowground environmental parameters, plants, bacteria, and fungi that dictate soil and broader ecosystem health. Herein, we discuss methods that are currently used in root microbiome research and that can be expanded to phytobiome research in general ranging from laboratory studies to mesocosm-scale studies and, finally, to field studies; evaluate their relevance to ecosystem studies; and discuss future root microbiome research directions.

The small lane Hölertwiete in Hamburg-Harburg represents a good example of the future challenges of climate-change adapted city development: the narrow and highly paved lane is lined by two densely built rows of houses. Due to this structural design, increasingly occurring extreme weather events, such as heavy rains and heat waves, have a particularly strong impact.

One solution for mitigating urban heat-island effects one the one hand and preventing overloading of the urban sewer systems and flooding on the other hand is the so-called sponge-city concept. In the project BlueGreenStreets, geo-ecologist Michael Richter and his colleague Prof. Wolfgang Dickhaut from the Department of Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning of the HafenCity University Hamburg investigate, how to make the best use of rainwater from roofs. Instead of leading the rainwater as usual from the adjacent gutters to the sewer system, they are supplying it to the few trees growing at Hölertwiete. Together with experts from soil science and plant ecology they are testing the small-scale sponge-city system. One key question is, how the supply of rainwater affects the vitality of the planted honey locusts and consequently also their potential to provide ecosystem services and more specifically their cooling potential.

The team of specialists from different disciplines is conducting a series of experiments with regard to climate-adapted urban planning in the city of Hamburg and its surrounding areas. These include experiments with green roof systems, an experiment in a tree nursery and the measurement campaigns in the real city environment such as Hölertwiete. The sensor technology installed at the different sites varies according to the different research questions and respective approaches. At Hölertwiete, the focus is on continuous level and discharge measurements in the tree pits – an ideal and creative area of application for UGT expertise and the level monitoring instruments of our partner company In-Situ.

This approach, however, is also viewed sceptically, especially from the city administration. Future results have yet to show if the adduction of water is a curse or a blessing for the trees. The topic of waterlogging is widely debated. Michael Richter is confident, however, that using rainwater for the trees will have positive impacts for their vitality, for flood control as well as for the urban climate (keyword tree cooling).

Already for spring 2021, further tree plantings are planned on another location in Hamburg-Harburg. We as UGT follow with greatest interest, which exciting topics will become crucial for this new experiment. We will gladly assist for planning and equipping the measurement campaign. Our products from the areas of meteorology, hydrology, ecophysiology and soil science can be used and combined to evaluate the potential of such innovative urban development approaches.

UGT is proud to be part of this magnificent event!
The Expo 2020 Dubai was planned to be from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021. As the worldwide pandemic limit all activities, the EXPO 2020 was postponed and takes place from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Over the course of 182 days, the world exhibition will present innovations, share ideas and foster collaboration between Nations to consider the challenges facing today’s world and the ways in which they could be solved. “The World’s greatest Show” presents itself in line with its overarching theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”.
In Dubai, the focus will be on three sub-themes of major significance for the world in which we live: opportunity, mobility and sustainability. They each present us with a difficult task but they also offer new perspectives on how we can change the way we live our lives.

Expo 2020 will be the first world expo to be held in MENA region and is set to attract the highest ever number of visitors from abroad. The number of visits to Expo 2020 is expected to be as high as 25 million, with around 70% coming from outside the United Arab Emirates. More than 200 countries, international organisations and companies will be represented in Dubai – to ensure a better, sustainable future..

This week the EcoUnit from UGT was prepared for the shipment to Dubai. Our Managing Director Dr. Sascha Reth made the last check-up of the exhibit EcoUnit.

We congratulate Uwe Leisterer and Dr. Christian Heerdt on the 10th anniversary of the company.
UGT would like to thank both of them for their commitment over all these years.

UGT More than Standard

As partner of science we like to offer you a special chance. We launch our high end RTG-Lysimeter as Campus Edition 2020.

Field data are an important base to understand enviromental processes and predict future by modelling szenarios. Lysimeter are sophisticated instrument for enviromental monitoring to observe water, matter and energy fluxes.

Students should learn with the best available instruments. Therefore we launch a Campus Edition 2020 of our successful RTG Lysimeter with a generous discount.

We offer the Campus Edition 2020 with an attractive discount of 25% on our pricelist.

This special offer is dedicated to universities and schools.

The lysimeter is supposed to be used for teaching purposes only. Each department can order one piece of our Campus Edition 2020 at this rate. The Campus Edition RTG Lysimeter is of course the regular product with all functions of our high end lysimeter.

This promotion is valid untill end of 2020.
With ordering you get a free invitation to our lysimeter workshop in March 2020 on top.

You need more than one of our sophisticated lysimeter? When ordering additional devices untill 15.11.2020 you get a promotion discount of 10% on all RTG Lysimeter.

Are you interested in this unique chance?
Please contact us to get an offer.