Prof. Dr Ir Paul C. Struik

Dr Ir Paul C. Struik

Teaching subjects (see 'Education')

• Advanced crop physiology (CSA-30306)

Research projects

• Designing a breeding approach to increase stress tolerance and product quality through improving root system architecture in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) for organic and low-input agriculture (Theme 1.1.1)
• Analysis of production and quality of propagation material of generatively and vegetatively propagated crops (Theme 1.1.3)
• Development and use of biochemical photosynthesis models to quantify photo-oxidative stress (Theme 1.1.4) 
• Predicting gene-to-phenotype relationships (Theme 1.1.5)
• Physico-chemical research of lignocellulose synthesis in primary and secondary cell walls of plant tissues (Theme 1.1.6)
• Understanding crop adaptation through an integrated approach based on statistical models for the study of genotype by environment (g x e) interactions and crop growth models (Theme 1.1.7)
• Quantitative analysis of dry matter production in vegetable crops (potato and garlic) as affected by environmental factors (Theme 1.1.8)
• Relationship between maize plant characteristics and in vitro rumen fermentation (Theme 1.1.9)
• Pesticide use and bee health (Theme 1.1.10)
• Effect van fysiologische leeftijd van pootgoed op oogstzekerheid en het verloop van resistentie tegen Phytophthora in biologische aardappelteeltsystemen (Theme 1.1.11)
• Virtual roses: a new tool to optimize plant architecture in glasshouse rose production systems (Theme 2.1.1)
• Modelling phenotypic plasticity in the 3D structure of plants (Theme 2.1.2)
• Improving potato research production systems in East Africa through participatory research (Theme 5.1.2)
• Management and domestication of wild food plants by HIV/AIDS affected households; its impact on species biodiversity in Tanzania (Theme 5.1.3)
• Biodiversity in home gardens as affected by affliction with HIV/AIDS (Theme 5.1.4)
• Participatory Plant Breeding in Syria: Women, Rights and Governance (Theme 5.1.6)
• Quantitative analysis of seasonal abundance of usable flora - useful plant diversity in paddy rice agro-ecosystems in Kalasin, Northeast Thailand (Theme 5.1.7)
• Role of wild gathered foods in the livelihoods of the Konso people, Ethiopia (Theme 5.1.8)
• African rice - Sierra Leone (Theme 5.2.1)
• African rice - Ghana/Togo (Theme 5.2.2)
• African rice - Guiney, Conakry (Theme 5.2.3)
• Farmers' perception and actual use of the fertility of Terra Preta in Colombia (Theme 5.3.1)
• Local perceptions, practices and implications for livelihoods and agrobiodiversity in traditional use of Amazonian Dark Earths (Terra Preta) (Theme 5.3.2)
• Converging ethnography, indigenous knowledge and technical science: improving oil palm processing in the kwaebibirim district, Ghana (Theme 5.4.1)
• Smallholders’ perceptions and analysis of the constraints in the oil palm chain and their innovative practices in Benin (Theme 5.4.2)
• Economic and agronomic analysis of seed potato supply chains in Ethiopia (Theme 5.5.1)
• Using agronomic and logistics tools to improve the  synchronisation, uniformity and quality of pineapple in Benin produced for local and international markets (Theme 5.5.2)

Recently Finished Projects

• Quantification of the risk of infection by Phytophthora infestans, causal agent of potato late blight, in relation to external inputs of viable sporangia
• Enhanced biodiversity and weed suppression in agro-ecosystems
• Millipedes in sweet potato
• Perennial ryegrass cultivar effectson intake, milk and manure production, N utilisation, and quality in dairy cows using NIRS
• INREF programme: From natural resources to healthy people. Physiology and modelling of zinc distribution and accumulation in aerobic rice
• Phytoremediation of nitrogen and phosphorus with aquatic plants
• Nitrogen use efficiency in grazed grasslands
• Sustainable production system for hemp textiles (HEMP-SYS)
• Constraints in leafy vegetable production in Ghana
• Management and domestication of wild food plants by HIV/AIDS affected households; its impact on species biodiversity in Tanzania
• Organic soil amendments to improve bioavailability of zinc in sorghum grains while simultaneously serving yield and soil and water conservations goals
• Socio-economic and agronomic analysis of practices of yam and cowpea diversity management
• Integrating formal research and farmers' management of sorghum varieties in northern Ghana
• The effects of photoperiod, temperature and growth regulators during the in vitro phase and storage on the quality of starting material (plantlets, microtubers and minitubers) and their subsequent propagules (transplantlets or tubers) in a seed production scheme.
• Starch accumulation in sagopalm
• Modelling abiotic stress in wheat; quantifying genotype x environment interactions on sink and source processes and yield formation under abiotic stress conditions
• The relationship between maturity type and resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in potato
• Optimization for productivity and quality of tomato in Eritrea
• INREF programme: From natural resources to healthy people. Genetic organization and physiological mechanisms of zinc and phytate content in pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) grain
• Physiological characterization, growth and development of Plectranthus edulis in Ethiopia
• IENICA- Interactive European Network for Industrial Crops and Applications - Millenium
• Farmers' seed source and quality: implication for seed programs
• Environmental and genotype interactions and farmers participatory in tef varietal selection under different agro-ecologies in Ethiopia

Possibilities for MSc thesis

• Developing selection criteria for improved root system architecture in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) for organic and low input agriculture

• Quantifying nitrogen efficiency in a large set of potato genotypes/varieties in response to contrasting N-input levels

• Evaluating the feeding value of starch in silage maize

• Linking natural and social sciences

Other responsibilities

• Member of the Council of the European Association of Potato Research
• Editor-in-Chief Potato Research
• Editor-in-Chief of NJAS – Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences
• Editor of Annals of Applied Biology
• Member Editorial Board Pflanzenbauwissenschaften/German Journal of Agronomy
• Member of the Academic Board of Wageningen University (former Board of Deans)
• Acting Deputy Rector Magnificus of Wageningen University
• Member of the Executive Board of the C.T. de Wit Graduate School for Production Ecology and Conservation of Resources

Publications

More than 290 scientific papers published in double refereed international journals; more than 300 other scientific papers or papers for the general public; 15 books; more than 140 abstracts in proceedings / books of abstracts. A selection of recent publications is given below.

• Keurentjes, J.J.B., G.C. Angenent, M. Dicke, V.A.P. Martins Dos Santos, J. Molenaar, W.H. van der Putten, P.C. de Ruiter, P.C. Struik & B.P.H.J. Thomma, 2011. Redefining plant systems biology: from cell to community. Trends in Plant Science. DOI:10.1016/j.tplants.2010.12.002.
• Evers, J.B., J. Vos, X. Yin, P. Romero, P.E.L. van der Putten & P.C. Struik, 2010. Simulation of wheat growth and development based on organ level photosynthesis and assimilate allocation. Journal of Experimental Botany 61 (9): 2203-2216.
• Archontoulis, S.V., P.C. Struik, J. Vos & N.G. Danalatos, 2010. Phenological growth stages of Cynara cardunculus: Codification and description according to the BBCH scale. Annals of Applied Biology 156 (2): 253-270.
• Yin, X. & P.C. Struik, 2009. Theoretical reconsiderations when estimating the mesophyll conductance to CO2 diffusion in leaves of C3 plants by analysis of combined gas exchange and chlorophyll measurements. Plant, Cell & Environment 32: 1513-1524.
• Stomph TJ, W Jiang & P.C. Struik, 2009. Zinc biofortification of cereals: rice differs from wheat and barley. Trends in Plant Science 14 (3): 123-124.
• Nuijten, Edwin, Robbert van Treuren, Paul C. Struik, Alfred Mokuwa, Florent Okry, Béla Teeken & Paul Richards, 2009. Evidence for the emergence of new rice types of interspecific hybrid origin in West African Farmers’ fields. PLoS One October 2009, Volume 4, Issue 10, e7335 (9 pp.).
• Yin, X. & P.C. Struik, 2008. Applying modelling experiences from the past to shape crop systems biology: The need to converge crop physiology and functional genomics. New Phytologist 179, 629-642.
• Evers, J.B., J. Vos, M. Chelle, B. Andrieu, C. Fournier & P.C. Struik, 2007. Simulating the effects of localized red:far-red ratio on tillering in spring wheat (Triticum aestivum) using a three-dimensional virtual plant model. New Phytologist 176, 325-336.
• Yin, X., J. Harbinson & P.C. Struik, 2006. Mathematical review of literature to assess alternative electron transports and interphotosystem excitation partitioning of steady-state C3 photosynthesis under limiting light. Plant, Cell and Environment 29: 1771-1782.
• Yin, X., Struik, P.C., van Eeuwijk, F.A., Stam, P., Tang, J., 2005. QTL analysis and QTL-based prediction of flowering phenology in recombinant inbred lines of barley. Journal of Experimental Botany 59: 967-976.
• Struik, P.C., X. Yin & De Visser, 2005. Complex quality traits: now time to model.  Trends in Plant Science 10 (11): 513-516.
• Evers, Jochem B., Jan Vos, Christian Fourier, Bruno Andrieu, Michael Chelle & Paul C. Struik, 2005. Towards a generic architectural model of tillering in Gramineae, as exemplified by spring wheat (Triticum aestivum). New Phytologist 166: 801-812.
• Yin, Xinyou, Paul C. Struik & Martin J. Kropff, 2004. Role of crop physiology in predicting gene-phenotype relations. Trends in Plant Science 9 (9): 426-433.

Full list of publications is available.


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Updated: 2011-03-16