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

A Comeback for Buckwheat – A Crop with a lot of Potential

BIMOTEC research project wants to bring forward the comeback of buckwheat to meet the growing demand by revealing its bioeconomic potential

In an interview with Laura Junker-Frohn we learn how the project aims to revive buckwheat and why this crop deserves to become firmly established in agriculture again. Buckwheat has a long history: the robust pseudocereal was once a staple food in Germany. Yet over time, it disappeared from kitchens and fields, replaced by higher-yielding cereals. In other parts of the world, such as Asia, Ukraine, and Russia, buckwheat is still an integral part of people’s diet and is used in a variety of ways. Here in Germany, despite its nutritious grains, buckwheat is grown almost exclusively as a cover crop due to its beneficial properties for the soil and the environment.

Targeted irrigation: app supports farmers with water management

In addition to changing climatic conditions, the challenge for farmers was the lack of knowledge about how much water to use at what time to achieve the optimum yield.

In order to make agriculture more resilient to climate change, targeted irrigation of plants is beneficial. The actual water requirement depends on various factors, such as precipitation and the individual needs of the plant. As part of the DIRECTION project, the Institute of Plant Research (IBG-2) at Forschungszentrum Jülich and partners have developed a mobile phone app that runs a model based on real-time and weather forecast data to determine the water requirements of plants in the coming weeks.

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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.