Pollinator-Assisted Phenotyping Platform
DARkWIN offers a new pollinator-assisted phenotyping service base don RFID technology. The platform uses pollinators as biological sensors to monitor plant-pollinator interactions in real time and support the selection of crop varieties with improved reproductive success, resilience, and adaptation to environmental stress.
Our greehouse platform includes six independent climate modules, automated irrigation and climate control, RFID monitoring, pollinator tagging facilities and phenotypic, with the option of additional services such as hormonal, ionomic and metabolic analysis capabilities.
Platform Capacity
Each climate module can host up to 186 plants, with RFID monitoring available in 56 plants per module. Overall, the platform can accommodate up to 1,116 plants across 6 independent climate modules, with RFID monitoring available for up to 336 plants. Services include access to greenhouse facilities, RFID monitoring, behavioural data análisis, technical supervision and experimental support.
Our Service
🌱 Pollinator-assisted crop breeding
We support breeding companies and seed producers in the evaluation of new varieties by incorporating pollinator preference as a key selection trait. This service enables the identification of genotypes with higher pollination efficiency, imporved fruit set and better adaptation to abiotic stress.
🐝 Pollinator monitoring and behavioural analysis
Our RFID-based system allows precise monitoring of pollinator activity, floral preference and plant-pollinator interactions under controlled or semi-controlled agricultural conditions. This service is suitable for studies on pollinator performance, crop compatibility and pollination efficiency.
🧪 Assessment of agrochemicals and biostimulants
DARkWIN can be used to evaluate the impact of agrochemicals, phytosanitary products and biostimulants on pollinator behaviour and plant reproductive performance. This service provides valuable information for companies developing safer and more sustainable agricultural inputs, as well as for regulatory authorities seeking objective data to support risk assessment, product evaluation, and pollinator-friendly agricultural guidelines.
🌡️ Environmental stimulus and pollinator response testing
RFID antenas can also be used to assess pollinator responses to specific environmental stimuli, attractants, repellents or crop management strategies. This approach can support biological control, targeted pollination and the optimisation of agroecosystem management.
🔬 Exploring new applications
DARkWIN is a flexible platform open to the exploration of new applications and collaborative research opportunities. These may include flowering phenology monitoring, the adaptation of the system to other pollinator of beneficial insect species, and the development of customised exprimental approaches to address specific agricultural and scientific challenges.
Service Parameters Overview
Comprehensive measurement and phenotyping services offered through the DARkWIN platform, covering environmental monitoring, pollination biology, fruit quality analysis, and metabolic profiling.
| Parameter | Measured By | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature & Humidity | Out and in probes for each greenhouse sector | Passive or active control by cooling and/or humidification, Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) calculation |
| Radiation | Out probe | Active control by shading |
| Pollen Density | Vibrator designed by CSIC-CAR | Assessing pollen release in 5s as proxy of pollen transferability by pollinators |
| Pollen Quality | Carmin acetate stain and Neubauer chamber | Quantify % of viable pollen in a flower |
| Pollinator Activity | RFID tracking | Reach foraging paths of each tagged bumblebee |
| Pollinator Preference | Logging and analysis software developed by CSIC-CAR | Rank cultivars based on pollinator attraction (number of visits, visit duration, number of visitors) |
| Fruit Yield | Fruit number and weight | Estimate plant potential production |
| Fruit Quality | Brix° values by refractometry | Evaluate fruit sweetness |
| Fruit Composition | HPLC-MS or ICP-OES | Specific content of organic acids (citrate, malate), sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose, galactinol), amino acids (glutamate, tryptophan, phenylalanine) and nutrients (K, Ca, Mg, Fe…) |
| Hormonal Profile | HPLC-MS | Plant hormones associated to growth/stress: ABA, SA, GAs, cytokinins (ZR, iP) and ethylene precursor ACC |
| Rootstock Selection | Phenotyping of grafts onto diverse rootstocks | Adaptation to soils affected by salinity and/or water/nutrient deficiency |
Contact
Interested in exploring how DARkWIN technology can be applied to your crop, product or research programme?
Please contact us to discuss experimental design, platform availability and service options.