ADC Bioscientific

ADC Bioscientific is a UK-based company that designs and manufactures scientific instruments for research into plant physiology, environments, soils, and for monitoring carbon dioxide. ADC BioScientific's instruments are used in scientific areas such as climate change, agriculture, environmental monitoring and crop science, which includes investigation of photosynthesis, gas analysis, leaf area, plant stress and soil respiration.
History
ADC was founded in 1969, under the name The Analytical Development Company. The name was formally changed to ADC BioScientific Ltd in 1998, following an employee driven management buyout. From 2007 - 2012 ADC BioScientific Ltd was a privately held company based in Great Amwell, Hertfordshire UK.
In 2012, as part of an expansion program, the company relocated back to Geddings Road, Hoddesdon, close to where the company was originally formed.
Developments
The company was the first to develop a commercially available photosynthesis system that is portable and uses the open system of measurement. Most modern photosynthesis systems base their method of operation on these early developments. The system uses CO2 and H2O sensing technologies to non-destructively measure the photosynthesis and transpiration rates of plants.
The AM350 series of leaf area meters, allow scientists to accurately measure the area and perimeter of leaves, intact, while working in the field.
With the increasing concern over atmospheric CO2 levels, more researchers have focused on evaluating natural sources of carbon dioxide, such as soils. The requirement for long term monitoring of soil CO2 flux has led ADC to develop the ACE Automated CO2 exchange system designed for long-term, unattended monitoring of soil flux. This was the first to allow scientists to economically monitor large numbers of experimental sites within their research area.
For short term monitoring of soil respiration, ADC developed the portable SRS1000 and SRS2000. In these instruments "a highly accurate miniaturised CO2 infrared gas analyser, designed for a wide variety of environmental research applications, was housed directly adjacent to the soil chamber to ensure the fastest possible response to gas exchanges in the soil".
For monitoring atmospheric CO2 concentrations, ADC has designed a range of Infrared gas analyzers. The battery-portable Gas Analyser is for short-term, intermittent monitoring. The Lambda T CO2 Gas Monitor is suitable for long-term monitoring of CO2 concentrations.
The company also supplies a range of portable chlorophyll fluorometers which measure chlorophyll fluorescence to enable researchers to investigate different types of stress in plants.
The OS5p can determine numerous parameters, including photochemical and non-photochemical quenching coefficients, and fluorescence parameters including Fo, Fm, Fv/Fm, Y, Ft, etc.
The company was the first to develop the integrated fluorometer and gas exchange system with the ability to measure leaf absorptance, transmittance and leaf chamber leakage automatically. For the first time Mesophyll conductance and CO2 at the site of carboxylation can be measured accurately in the field.

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