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

FLuorescence EXplorer (FLEX)

is a satellite that will provide new insights into photosynthesis of vegetation from 2025 onwards. The German FLEX project office is an interface between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German users of the FLEX data. Our goal is to optimally prepare the German user community for FLEX.

BIO2REG: BioökonomieREVIER goes Europe

As a model region for bioeconomy recognised throughout Europe, the Rhenish mining area can serve as a role model for other transformation regions. Together with European partners, the coordination office BioökonomieREVIER at Forschungszentrum Jülich is developing a network of regions funded by the European Commission. The project BIO2REG aims to enable the transition of greenhouse gas-intensive regions to bioeconomy model regions through concrete and actionable measures.

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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.