This purpose-built facility is an ideal tool for biocontrol, biosecurity and biotechnology research involving microbes and plants.

While developed to support the research of the Bio-Protection Research Centre, the Biotron is available for commercial clients wishing to undertake specific research activities. Contact us if you are interested in hiring the facility.

Stuart Larsen oversees all operations relating to the Biotron, including technology development, establishment and maintenance of experiments, and the day-to-day running of Biotron equipment. 

Almost all parameters of the physical environment - including air temperature, soil temperature, light, relative humidity and carbon dioxide concentrations - can be manipulated within the individual plant growth chambers to simulate various natural and human-influenced ecosystems.

Read growth room specifications.

The two-storey facility has growth chambers on the top floor and rhizotrons beneath in separate air-conditioned  rooms. A rhizotron is an encased core of soil with small portals along its length, allowing observation and the insertion of monitoring and measuring instruments.

The set-up allows separate control of ground temperatures above- and below- ground, enabling researchers to simultaneously study interactions between plants and pests - such as microbes, insects and weeds - in realistic field conditions.

The New Zealand Biotron was officially opened by Prime Minister the Rt Hon Helen Clark in 2004.

See what's been happening at the New Zealand Biotron.