Institute of Integrative Plant Biology

From genes through to whole plants.. from plant genomes to the crop in the field..

This is one of the largest European Laboratories for the integrative Biology of plants. It is made up of 2 research units specialising in molecular and cellular physiology and eco-physiology (Agro M, CNRS, INRA UM2) and is backed up by the proteomics facilities built recently on the campus.

• UMR Biochemistry and Molecular Physiology of Plants
• UMR Laboratory for the study of the eco-physiology of plants under stress

Integrative Plant Biology aims especially to capitalise on knowledge about the sequencing of plant genomes: it includes :

• characterising gene activity by analysis of its products : RNA (transcriptome) and proteins (protéome)
• clarifying the functions of proteins in the cell (biochemistry and molecular physiology)
• identifying the impact of these proteins on the response of plants to environmental conditions (eco-physiology).

This approach involves the interaction of different research disciplines from the molecular level right up to that of the plant in its environment. The purpose of the IBIP is to create the environment necessary for this interaction to take place.

The knowledge gained this way is then used for R&D particularly by the agronomy teams who are also in the process of grouping together on the campus…
The IBIP has 150 permanent researchers and technicians as well as many PhD students and post-docs from France and abroad.
The IBIP houses the molecular biology, biochemistry and environmental physiology laboratories: specialised facilities with a range of equipment for biophysical methods the analysis and imagery of gene expression and quantitative phenol-typing of plants; culture chambers and green houses, and offices and meeting rooms.