Research Topics

A strategic and highly innovative research objective of the MeBioS division is to construct mathematical models of plant systems of agricultural importance with special attention to fruit (‘virtual fruit’). These models incorporate submodels for both the metabolic pathways of the plant cell as well as for biophysical phenomena such as transport of gasses, water and metabolites (Biofluidics group ) and cell mechanics (Computational cell mechanics group). Plant models are used in in silico experiments to improve our understanding of plant physiology, to guide molecular breeding programs, to study effects of the agricultural practices or climate change on plant growth, to optimize storage procedures for agricultural crops, typically when actual experiments are too costly or impractical.

The computational cell biology group focusses  on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) because it is a plant model system; on pear (Pyrus communis L.) and on apple (Malus domesticus Borkh.) because the latter two climacteric fruit are well suited to study respiratory pathways in relation to gas exchange. These three fruit are of large economic importance to the Belgian fruit and vegetable industry and the group has ample experience with these fruit (Postharvest technology).