UNINE conducts new measurement campaign with the improved SSP system

The University of Neuchâtel (UniNe) is carrying out a second measurement campaign to test the new, improved version of the Sensor system prototype (SSP) developed by Chromatotec.

On 27 and 28 October, Axelle Fillinger and Stéphane Le Calvé (CNRS, Strasbourg) went to Neuchâtel to install the SSP together with the reference system (GC-PID). In parallel, the UniNe team will also be using the PTR-TOF-MS for comparison purposes.

The experiments focus on maize plants, comparing healthy individuals with those damaged by fall armyworm larvae (Spodoptera frugiperda). Over the next few weeks, researchers will carry out controlled headspace sampling in glass bottles with clean air flow and semi-natural measurements in meshed cages to better simulate field conditions.

This work will allow the team to assess the performance of the SSP under different sampling conditions, comparing it with both the reference system and direct measurements from the PTR-TOF-MS.

This collaboration strengthens the partnership between UniNe, CNRS, and Chromatotec within the PurPest project, aiming to develop innovative tools for monitoring volatile compounds emitted by plants under pest attack.