AN INCUBATOR FOR STUDIES OF GERMINATION RESPONSES TO TEMPERATURE AND INTERACTING ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS

A germination incubator is described which enables simulation of natur ally occurring fluctuations of temperature in combination with light, gas or water chemical conditions. The apparatus is basically a thermog radient bar with ten parallel germination chambers in a block of alumi nium. A personal computer monitors and regulates temperature continuou sly, in accordance with a chosen temperature regime. The regulation al gorithms control the heat transfer independently on two sides of the b lock in order to achieve maximal correspondence between predetermined and actual temperatures. Constant temperatures, linear increases or de pressions of temperatures, as well as curve functions of temperature c hanges (e.g. sinus curves) can be obtained on each of the two sides. D esign, operation, performance, and examples of seed germination result s are presented.