US (MO): New SMSU dedicated to Rice Research
The 1,500-square-foot facility will help further new high yielding rice varieties. Numerous classes focused on breeding and genetics, horticulture, plant physiology and soil sciences, particularly Plant Science, Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition, will use the facility.
The research, demonstration and teaching greenhouse is being funded in part with a $100,000 USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) targeted at supporting rice breeding research, developing new rice breeding techniques and furthering research of Missouri rice.
Kiefner Brothers Construction of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, served as general contractor for the project. The greenhouse was manufactured by Conley’s Manufacturing and Sales and installed by Jamieson Construction, LLC. Work began in November and was completed earlier this month.
The greenhouse’s siding and roof are made of polycarbonate, offering a glass-like appearance. This is the most efficient type of greenhouse, based on its size and construction, according to Jamieson representatives, said Lisa Howe, senior project manager with Southeast’s Facilities Management.
The greenhouse has two purposes. It will be used to enhance rice breeding efforts by allowing the rice breeder to grow and house rice varieties used in the breeding program each year and then to grow out and evaluate during the winter months the offspring of the varieties crossed and bred.
The greenhouse also will be used to grow other species of plants – vegetables, tropical plants, flowers and some agronomic crops — that can be used to enhance students’ knowledge in teaching labs for some agriculture courses. Students will participate in group and individual greenhouse research projects where they will grow plants using a completely randomized design to evaluate soil fertilizers and other soil additives.
Read more at Southeast Missouri State University