The Tree Biotechnology Group, led by Prof. Wout Boerjan, is part of the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB). The research group aims to understand biological processes that are specific to or well pronounced in trees. More specifically, the laboratory focusses on lignification as an important aspect of wood formation, and on growth adaptation to seasons.
After elucidating the biochemistry and the genetics of the wood synthesis process, the laboratory for Tree Biotechnology has been able to increase the wood quality for paper production by disabling specific enzymes in transgenic poplar.

Department of Plant Systems Biology
Ghent University
Technologiepark 927
B-9052 Ghent
Tel: +32 9 331 38 81
Fax + 32 9 331 38 09
wout.boerjan@psb.ugent.be
dirk.inze@psb.ugent.be
www.psb.ugent.be