An improved, simple, hydroponic method for growing Arabidopsis thaliana

Arabidopsis thaliana is one of the most studied plant model systems. Completing the genomic sequence of A. thaliana has provided new opportunities for physiological and biochemical studies. While its small size is advantageous for genetic studies, the plant's low biomass makes it difficult to obtain enough plant material for biochemical and physiological research. The small size and rosette leaf structure, combined with the sensitivity of the apical meristem to flooding, make hydroponic growth of this model plant difficult. A few systems for hydroponic culture of Arabidopsis have been described. Gibeaut et al. (1997) introduced the use of rockwool for Arabidopsis hydroponic culture. We have improved this system by introducing small-volume plastic containers with improved plugs to support the rockwool. This method is simpler than the original setup and provides improved germination and growth. The smaller containers enable the use of this system in growth chambers or small growth rooms for a large number of parallel experiments.