J. Westerdijk Room: Portrait of Corné Pieterse
If you can protect a plant from disease, it’s a genuine victory.
Protecting the immune system of plants
A quarter of the global harvest is lost to plant disease. Corné Pieterse researches how we can better protect the immune system of plants against disease.
Benign bacteria
"We examine why certain plants do not become diseased as quickly, or are more resistant to fungi or pest insects. We do this by investigating the molecular mechanisms of plants’ natural defence systems. We also research how benign bacteria can be used on plant roots as an organic means of stimulating plant growth and health."