Experts in applied plant research

We work in applied research in the agri- and horticultural sector and our experts work in the following domains:

Plant Pathology

• develops and tests biological and chemical agents against plant pathogens.

• permits for Good Experimental Practice (GEP) trials and BPG-II and BPL-II permits to work with quarantine organisms.

• infection studies in fully controlled greenhouse

Plant Physiology

• monitor plants in a closed growth system using data from nutritional and water samples, climate data and advanced sensors

• develop strategies for optimal growing conditions, including light, temperature and nutrient supply

• determine how this can be adjusted to maximize the beneficial effects of a biostimulant.

Entomology

• detection of pest insects

• insects as biological control

• categorizing present insects using new techniques for attracting and trapping pests, combined with image recognition and eDNA for identification

• entomopathogenic fungi and natural antagonists to fight the pests directly.

Microbial Ecology

• investigate how microorganisms – such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and viruses– work together in soil, plants and water systems.

• Knowledge of this microbiome is crucial for sustainable agriculture, soil health and optimal crop production.

Genomics

• sequencing pipeline to identify microorganisms in complex mixtures (microbiomes)

• metagenomics strategy to reveal their functions.

Field-Lab Identification of Organic Matter

• at the core of the Field-Lab stands the LC-QTOF-MS: untargeted mass spectrometry, analysing different matrices

• multi-omics (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics) approach to find biobased solutions and promote the circular economy

• creating and testing methods for processing of organic residual streams to value chemicals, substrates, fertilizers, soil improvers or biostimulants.