A researcher at the Jardin botanique since 2012, Frédéric Pitre specializes in plant biochemistry. His research aims to understand the physiological and metabolic mechanisms that enable plants to withstand environmental stress. He studies soil-plant relationships and has a particular interest in trees.
- Botanist and researcher at the Jardin botanique de Montréal
- Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the Université de Montréal
- Read his articles on our blog
Areas of research and expertise
- Plant biochemistry
- Phytochemistry
- Soil-Plant relationships
- Tree biology
- Life sciences and space travel
- Environmental contamination
- Agroenvironment
- Phytoremediation
Education
Doctorate – Forest biology, 2007
Université Laval and AgroParisTech
Proposing alternative solutions in environmental rehabilitation
Plants, when exposed to harsh conditions such as contamination, have defense or tolerance mechanisms, as well as processes for degradation or detoxification. Toidentifyand understand these stress responses, Frédéric Pitre studies the metabolic processes adopted by plants. The researcher also aims todeterminewhich molecules or vital plant functions (respiration, photosynthesis) are affected,in order toimprove the properties of plants and enhance their use for environmental applications.
For example, Frédéric Pitre studies the responses of plants when they are kept in controlled environments, such as hydroponics, to develop methods for producing food during space travel.
Another aspect of his work is the identification of metabolites and the production of bioproducts. Heseekstoidentifycompounds induced in plants in response to stress for pharmaceutical or industrial applications.