How do bacteria hack the immune system of plants?

Share:

About the research

Like humans, plants are constantly attacked by diseases. Joren De Ryck (VIB - UGent) does research on a bacterium called Ralstonia, which can infect and kill all these crops in a few weeks time. He wants to find out how we can develop crops that are resistant to the disease.

Agriculture
Joren De Ryck
UGent - VIB

In the soil we walk on, there's an intense battle going on. Not only between microorganisms (such as fungi and bacteria), but also between microorganisms and plants. During his thesis, Joren De Ryck investigated the interaction between benign bacteria and plants. On the other hand, he also wanted to know more about the interaction between malignant bacteria and plants. How can one bacterial species cause more than 200 plant species to wilt in a matter of weeks? Therefore, during his PhD, he examines the interaction between a malignant bacterium, called Ralstonia solanacearum, and tomato.

Contact Joren

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joren_De_Ryck
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorenderyck/

Gerelateerde video's

Karolien
Langendries
ILVO

How can we support old laying hens to keep laying good eggs for longer?
Did you know that laying hens stay on a laying farm until they are 18 months old? "But maybe this could be 4 months longer, provided their health, welfare, and egg quality are still fine," says Karolien Langendries (ILVO). Together with her colleagues, she investigates what support old laying hens need so that they can lay good eggs for longer.
Read more
Esther
Geukens
ILVO
KU Leuven

Is Japanese holly a good alternative to boxwood?
Away with bare boxwood bushes! The infamous boxwood moth went on a rampage in Flanders in recent years 🐛🌳 But don't panic! Meet Japanese holly, a robust alternative that is immune to these voracious caterpillars. The catch? The soil in many Flemish gardens is not acidic enough for this shrub to grow well. Bioengineer Esther Geukens will therefore tinker with the plants and the soil so that Japanese holly can thrive here.
Read more
Fauve
Maertens
ILVO

In search of tobacco whiteflies and their transmissible viruses
The tobacco whitefly, an exotic fly smaller than a grain of rice, can kill almost any vegetable in a greenhouse. These flies already turned up in greenhouses of vegetable growers in our country, but we don't know how big the problem is. At least, for now. Because Fauve Maertens (ILVO) wants to change that by mapping the spread of the tobacco whitefly.
Read more
All videos