Standard Operating Procedures

General Sanitation Procedures To Minimize Pest and Pathogen Outbreaks

The staff must be notified BEFORE any plant material is brought into the greenhouse. Plants brought from field plots are particularly problematic.
All insect and disease problems are to be reported immediately to the greenhouse staff.
Keep the autoclaved soil in soil bins clean. Use only clean shovels and scoops to move soil around and do not return spilled soil to the bins.
Keep all hose ends clean and hung up off the greenhouse floor when not in use.
All greenhouse and headhouse space is to be kept clean and orderly by the users.
Greenhouse rooms are not storage areas for pots and other cultural supplies. No items are to be stored under the benches. Consult with the greenhouse staff for approved alternative storage.
Do not bring personal plants into the greenhouse.
Soil and plant material are to be disposed of at designated locations.
Greenhouse users who generate transgenic plant waste are to bag their transgenic plant materials in approved clear plastic autoclave bags and notify the greenhouse staff promptly for assistance in autoclaving the bags. Autoclave bags are to be supplied by the users.

Do not attempt to operate any equipment before receiving instruction in its use. Check with the greenhouse staff before using any greenhouse equipment.
Report breakage, loss or malfunction of any equipment to the greenhouse staff.
Greenhouse tools and equipment are not for personal use.

All first-time users of the greenhouse facility (faculty, staff, students, and volunteers) are required to schedule an orientation session with the greenhouse manager. This session will introduce the user to the resources and policies of the greenhouse facility, good housekeeping rules, disease and pest avoidance, and worker and pesticide safety.
Furnish seeds and plant materials required for the greenhouse project.
Be responsible for planting and the maintenance of their plants, including staking, training, transplanting, and weeding. If researchers don’t do essential tasks, the greenhouse staff will do them at PI’s expense.
Carry out all experimental treatments and make all experimental measurements.
Harvest all plant materials required for experimental purposes.
Maintain an active role in the progress of the greenhouse project.
Notify the green house staff promptly at the end of a greenhouse project. Dispose of unneeded plant material and remove equipment at the completion of the experiment. If not removed in a timely manner, it will be removed by greenhouse staff after warning at PI’s expense.