Department of Vegetable Crops

Research at the Department of Vegetable Crops focuses on plant water balance and irrigation, product quality, ecological approaches and the impact of climate change on vegetable production e.g. stress-induced resilience.

We primarily focus on the plant’s physiological performance in greenhouse experiments and field trials – from the level of single plants up to entire crops. Our scientific findings aid in the development of innovative technologies for resource-saving and ecological cultivation systems. The goal of controlling vegetable quality is being pursued experimentally in studies ranging from remote sensing to metabolite analysis, and includes a positive flavor development, which is validated by sensory evaluations of the product. All approaches to improve product quality and the sustainability of cultivation systems are supported by the drive to use non-destructive, automatable techniques to provide application-oriented decision support tools for agricultural practices and management. In the context of Industry 5.0, machine learning techniques are used, and with data-based cultivation systems we are setting the course for sustainable vegetable production of the future.

Here you will find more about the research portfolio and infrastructure of the Department of Vegetable Crops.