Plant Sciences (IBG-2)

Our mission

We develop integrated concepts for the intensification and sustainability of plant production for the bioeconomy based on molecular, physiological and ecological expertise.

News and events

CASSAVASTORE News

We Support One of the World’s Largest Cassava Genotype-Phenotype Databases to Drive Sustainable Crop Improvement

On June 16th, the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) in Thailand, several Thai partners together with the Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-2 and IBG-4) of Forschungszentrum Jülich, officially launched a large-scale genotype and phenotype database for cassava—one of the world’s most extensive databases of its kind. This achievement is the result of a collaborative Thai-German research project called CASSAVASTORE, coordinated by Tobias Wojciechowski (IBG-2, left), which aimed at supporting cassava breeding, improving production efficiency, and contributing to long-term food security.

News from „Enabling Technologies“

Taking the center stage: Our research featured on the Plant Phenomics journal cover page

How does the syndrome "basses richesses" (SBR) disease harm the sugar beet taproot? Using advanced tomographic imaging (MRI and PET), Kwabena Agyei and colleagues have revealed that the SBR pathogen not only deforms the taproot but also cuts off the supply of recently fixed photosynthates to infected areas. These findings may support the identification of promising genotype candidates for future breeding programs. Kwabena’s work is now published and was selected for the cover page of the journal. The IBG-2 PhD student Kwabena Agyei won runner-up prize for his poster about biotic disease effects in sugar beet at the 12th Symposium of the International Society of Root Research.

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RESEARCH THEMES

Shoot Dynamics

We aim to improve our scientific (biological) understanding of plant shoot functioning and dynamic shoot traits from the leaf to the canopy, which will provide the basis to optimize plant production. Our special focus is on understanding of the regulatory properties of photosynthesis, the mechanisms of leaf and canopy water content and transpiration as well as the dynamics in shoot architecture in crops.

Root Dynamics

Plants obtain water and mineral nutrients through their roots, and thus roots sustain global biomass productivity. Understanding and improving root development and function in the soil directly impacts the efforts to develop more resource efficient and high yielding plants and agricultural systems.

Jülich Plant Phenotyping Center

We focus on the application and development of high-throughput, non-invasive phenotyping methods for screening of plant shoot and root productivity traits.

Enabling Technologies

We are focussing on the development and application of technologies that enable in-depth as well as high throughput measurements of plant traits.

Alternative Biomass

The Alternative Biomass group develops biomass production systems in close collaboration with the biomass conversion and downstream processes in biorefineries. Besides the optimization of quality and yield of biomass, we try to minimize competition for land and resources as well as the environmental impact. The targeted development towards innovative, biomass-based products, generates new opportunities for novel value networks for a sustainable Bioeconomy While alternative biomass crops have mostly been grown for bioenergy purposes over the last decades, we focus on developing novel, value-adding products in combination with targeted circular processes in systemic approaches including production, conversion and recycling.

Strategic initiatives IBG-2

With our regional, national and international initiatives, we develop strategies in the field of bioeconomy, implement projects together with our partners and thus contribute to the realization of sustainable value creation and circular economy.