Charles River’s Plant Metabolism group investigates the uptake, translocation, and metabolism of radiolabelled test materials in temperate and semi-tropical plant species, including cereals, pulses, oilseeds, root crops, legumes, leafy crops, fruits, cotton, grasses, sugar cane, and vines. Our facilities include six on-site glasshouses with full environment control and confined outdoor plots. Our facility in Lleida, North Spain, also enables us to conduct outdoor radiolabelled plant metabolism studies under Mediterranean climatic conditions, with on-site glasshouses also available.
The radiolabelled test material is applied according to the intended use pattern and method. Samples are harvested at intervals between application and maturity for intermediate and final analysis points to provide information on the metabolic pathway and changes in residue levels with time.
Confined crop rotation studies and investigations into degradation during storage and processing are also conducted, as well as specialized studies such as pollen transfer.