Projects
Pome fruit tissue growth modelling. KU Leuven
Development of Fruit Growth Models for Agrivoltaics KU Leuven
There is an increased interest in exploiting the combination of production of renewable solar energy and food production. In particular, partially covering fruit production areas with solar panels may offer benefits in land use area, providing the required scale for photovoltaics to quickly deploy towards a zero carbon energy supply. While such agri-PV can represent a paradigm shift towards the rapid development of PV, there is also a high ...
Ecophysiological modeling of fruit growth for smart digital horticulture KU Leuven
The goal of this PhD project is to develop a digital fruit – a mathematical model that accurately describes and predicts biochemical and physical changes in fruit as affected by pre- and postharvest conditions. Such a model can be used to study the effect of environmental factors on fruit physiology during growth and postharvest life. The aim is to develop and apply an ecophysiological model of tomato fruit growth and quality. This model will ...
An integrated plant model for tomato: combining plant water and carbon status to predict fruit growth and quality Ghent University
The aim of this research project is to gain more insight into the interaction between microclimate, plant water and carbon status and quality aspects of tomato fruits. This will finally result in an integrated plant model for tomato that mechanistically describes different plant processes and allows to predict fruit growth and quality based on climatic conditions.
Ecophysiological control of plant growth regulators to optimize fruit quality in tomato: a chemical-analytical approach Ghent University
The main objective of the doctoral research concerns the optimization of the nutritional and organoleptic quality of the tomato fruit via cultural techniques. Therefore, the correlation between hormonal status of the plant and relevant fruit constituents is determined and the influence of various growth conditions on the hormonal status is assayed. This information is integrated in a mechanistic plant model.
LA-AGROBACTERIUM: Control of excessive root growth (crazy roots) caused by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, in fruit vegetables under glass. KU Leuven
The aim of the present project is to provide low-threshold management methods to growers in a short term to achieve the control of excessive root growth (crazy roots) caused by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, in fruit vegetables under glass.
Knowledge of the pollination process in pear to improve fruit set, yield and fruit quality KU Leuven
The goal of this research is to improve the fruit set, yield stability and the fruit quality by hetter knowledge and by optimizing the pollination process. This optimization will be accomplished by acting on two domains.
Firstly, this will be done by diversifying the pollinator community: providing nesting and nectar sources, the introduction of bumblebees and honeybees and increasing the attractiveness of the nectar through yeast. Also ...
Influence of the water balance and the functioning of the vascular tissue on the fruit quality of tomato and grape Ghent University
Water availability, or the lack of it, is one of the most influential factors in plant
and fruit growth. Typically, well-watered plants will thrive and thus fruit yields are
highest under well-watered conditions. However, moderate water deficits can
have beneficial effects on the quality of the fruit by increasing the concentration of
sugars and a multitude of other quality-related compounds. As such, by changing
the ...
Internal fruit rot (Fusarium spp.) in bell pepper: An integrated approach for a complex disease KU Leuven
In our current society, peppers (Capsicum spp.) play an important role in food, medical, ornamental and many other uses. Consumption is increasing, new uses are being discovered, and the interest of the general public for this crop seems insatiable. Belgian greenhouse pepper production is mainly focused on export and peppers are traded under the high-quality label of ‘Flandria’. From the beginning of this century the well-recognized ...