Publications
Casein as protein and hydrolysate: Biostimulant or nitrogen source for Nicotiana tabacum plants grown in vitro? Hasselt University
In contrast to inorganic nitrogen (N) assimilation, the role of organic N forms, such as proteins and peptides, as sources of N and their impact on plant metabolism remains unclear. Simultaneously, organic biostimulants are used as priming agents to improve plant defense response. Here, we analysed the metabolic response of tobacco plants grown in vitro with casein hydrolysate or protein. As the sole source of N, casein hydrolysate enabled ...
Effects of chilling on the photosynthetic performance of the CAM orchid Phalaenopsis Hasselt University KU Leuven
IntroductionCrassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is one of the three main metabolic adaptations for CO2 fixation found in plants. A striking feature for these plants is nocturnal carbon fixation and diurnal decarboxylation of malic acid to feed Rubisco with CO2 behind closed stomata, thereby saving considerable amounts of water. Compared to the effects of high temperatures, drought, and light, much less information is available about the effects ...
Charge-transfer states in photosynthesis and organic solar cells Hasselt University
Light-induced charge-transfer mechanisms are at the heart of both photosynthesis and photovoltaics. The underlying photophysical mechanisms occurring within photosynthesis and organic photovoltaics in particular show striking similarities. However, they are studied by distinct research communities, often using different terminology. This contribution aims to provide an introductory review and comparison of the light-induced charge-transfer ...
Plant microbial fuel cells from the perspective of photovoltaics: Efficiency, power, and applications Hasselt University
The plant microbial fuel cell is a fascinating technology that combines plants and bacteria to produce electricity. As sunlight is converted into electric power, plant microbial fuel cells can be compared to photovoltaics on various levels. To investigate to what extent this comparison goes up, a rough upper limit for the energy conversion efficiency of plant microbial fuel cells was calculated and compared to various photovoltaic classes. By ...
Can chlorophyll fluorescence imaging make the invisible visible? Hasselt University
Chlorophyll fluorescence has developed into a well-established noninvasive technique to study photosynthesis and by extension, the physiology of plants and algae. The versatility of the fluorescence analysis has been improved significantly due to advancements in the technology of light sources, detectors, and data handling. This allowed the development of an instrumention that is effective, easy to handle, and affordable. Several of these ...
Enhanced Laterally Resolved ToF-SIMS and AFM Imaging of the Electrically Conductive Structures in Cable Bacteria Hasselt University University of Antwerp
Cable bacteria are electroactive bacteria that form a long, linear chain of ridged cylindrical cells. These filamentous bacteria conduct centimeter-scale long-range electron transport through parallel, interconnected conductive pathways of which the detailed chemical and electrical properties are still unclear. Here, we combine time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to investigate the ...
Imazamox detoxification and recovery of plants after application of imazamox to an imidazolinone resistant sunflower hybrid Hasselt University
Imidazolinone herbicides combined with imidazolinone resistant (IMI-R) crops provide a tool for solving the important problem of the occurrence of weeds during the early growth stages of sunflower. These herbicides inhibit the synthesis of branched chain amino acids by interrupting the key enzyme acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS). We studied the imazamox detoxification in an IMI-R sunflower hybrid together with plant growth and photosynthetic ...
An Ordered and Fail‐Safe Electrical Network in Cable Bacteria Hasselt University University of Antwerp
Cable bacteria are an emerging class of electroactive organisms that sustain unprecedented long-range electron transport across centimeter-scale distances. The local pathways of the electrical currents in these filamentous microorganisms remain unresolved. Here, the electrical circuitry in a single cable bacterium is visualized with nanoscopic resolution using conductive atomic force microscopy. Combined with perturbation experiments, it is ...
Performance Index and PSII Connectivity Under Drought and Contrasting Light Regimes in the CAM Orchid Phalaenopsis Hasselt University KU Leuven
Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is a specialized mode of photosynthesis characterized by improved water use efficiency mediated by major nocturnal CO2 fixation. Due to its inherent metabolic plasticity CAM represents a successful physiological strategy for plant adaptation to abiotic stress. The present study reports on the impact of drought stress and different light intensities (PPFD 50 and 200 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) on the photosynthetic ...