PLANT HEALTH & PROTECTION LABORATORY

PLANT HEALTH & PROTECTION LABORATORY

RESEARCH

The PHP lab conducts research to advance sustainable horticultural production by focusing on effective plant disease control

Illustration of a bacterial cell with labels showing the cell membrane, cell wall, and flagella. The bacteria are depicted as rod-shaped, with some attached to the surface.

Plant defense responses

Illustration of a tomato plant showing the process of fertilization with labeled arrows indicating key steps.

Plant microbiome

A digitally rendered map of the United States with highlighted states in green, purple, and white, and a network of curving lines connecting various regions.

Induced resistance

NEWS

Je bord ontrafeld

In “Je bord ontrafeld” Tessa Avermaet, Wannes Keulemans, and Barbara de Coninck offer a critical view on the facts, fables, and emotions in the food debate.

Growing team

Late 2025 and early 2026 we are welcoming four new members to the PHP team.

Meet Dr. Elissar Alam, Eveline Van den Steen, Eva Vansteenkiste, and Kaatje Wuytack

Dr. Killian van Loocke

On the eighteenth of february 2026 Killian van Loocke has succesfully defended his PhD and can proudly be called Dr. Killian van Loocke!

New paper

A highly efficient platform for Arabidopsis hairy root induction using Agrobacterium strain K599

FUNDING

Blue rectangular banner with white text reading 'KU LEUVEN'.

Close-up of the word 'two' in colorful, stylized letters

Colorful pop art portraits of Marie Curie arranged in a 2x2 grid, with a vertical 'ACTIONS' label on the right, and her name at the bottom.

COLLABORATIONS