Plant Sciences
The research activities within the Plant Sciences axis are both fundamental and applied, ranging from molecular activity to the support of economic actors in the integration of innovations in production processes.
They concern :
- Plant physiology and ecophysiology, in particular the biology of the rhizosphere of plants with a view to stimulating growth and improving growth and root activity.
- Plant improvement through the search for better expression of genes to increase food quality or resistance to stress, particularly in tropical plants.
- Optimization of production methods on farms in tropical regions with a focus on improving the phytotechnics of food crops, crop associations and new crops for the production of non-food biomolecules.
- The improvement of field crop production methods in temperate regions in order to increase their productivity and the quality of harvested products while maintaining soil fertility and reducing environmental impacts.
- The biorefinery of materials from plant production for the optimal use of biomass and the development of biomolecules for food, chemical and energy uses.
Our laboratories:
🔬 Temperate phytotechnics
Historically, part of the research conducted within the Temperate Plant Science Unit has been focused on cereal, oilseed and protein crops in temperate regions. For the past 50 years, this research has been aimed at helping farmers to optimize their production methods.
In addition, various other research themes focus on soil fertility via the restitution of organic matter, on the environmental impact of agricultural practices and on the development of research tools, forecasting models and innovative cropping systems.
🔬 Plant Genetics
The Plant Genetics Lab studies fundamental genetic responses of plants to biotic and abiotic stresses as well as develops new technologies to address global challenges in agriculture. The research team is strongly committed to the implementation of technologies where they can help making agriculture more sustainable. Through research on tropical crop species, the Plant Genetics Lab also aims at improving North – South collaboration in plant genetics.
Contact: Hervé Vanderschuren - +32(0)81/62.25.71
🔬 Plant biology
While post-harvest physiology of crop products has been the core activity of the unit for more than 15 years, the focus has been more recently placed on plant rhizosphere biology and ecophysiology, unravelling molecular interactions between plant roots and biotic communities of the soil. The present researches focus on plant-bacteria and plant-plant interactions mediated through volatile organic compounds in the rhizosphere of basic and applied model plants. The Laboratory aims at understanding the physiological response of plants to volatiles emitted in their rhizosphere in order to develop biostimulant products allowing plants to better tolerate nutritional and water stress, by improving the architecture, growth and activity of the root system.
Contact: Patrick du Jardin - +32(0)81/62.24.55
+32 81 62 21 43
