Plant Physiology

Topic A : Biochemistry and molecular biology of plant cell wall degradation due to fungal and bacterial pectic enzymes (Fusarium, Pseudomonas) (Koedam N.) Molecular cloning, gene (product) and regulation analysis Investigation of virulence factors in Fusarium oxysporum induced wilting of chickpea and disease suppression by fluorescent Pseudomonas Topic B : siderophores of bacterial origin (Pseudomonas) : production, regulation and interaction with potentially toxic metals (Zn, Cd, Al, Cu, Ni,...) (Cornelis P. and Koedam N.) Application of rhizobacteria as biocontrol agents. Extension of these activities to the tropical environment (Sri Lanka) Plant growth promotion and fluorescent pseudomonads: mechanism of inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceris, causative agent of vascular wilt in Cicer arietinum Study on the interaction between plants and fluorescent pseudomonads within the rhizosphere : colonisational aspects, antagonism against fytophatogenes and effects on growth. Development of the orientation Molecular Biology at the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka Topic C : secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical importance in Datura (productivity, regulation) and allelopathy. Extension to some tropical medicinal plants (Demeyer K.) Valorisation des végétaux tropicaux par extraction d'huiles essentielles, alcaloïdes à usage pharmaceutiques, cosmétologiques et agro-alimentaire' Burundi Topic D : physiology of new crops in marginal soils (saline environments) : Crambe, Aster and Salicornia. Stress phenomena in saline environments (Bogemans J.) A contribution to the diversification of the production of vegetable crops by research on cultivation methods and selection of halophytes Topic E : Educational project : establishment of a scientific self-study centre at the University of Nairobi (Neirinckx L.)