Variety of shapes and sizes, foliage, perfumes, colors... The plant universe is of unparalleled richness and complexity - visible to the naked eye - and all the more surprising on the microscopic scale.
But why focus on the plant world?
Because of its vital importance for human beings and life on earth! Symbiosis, defense mechanisms, nutritional, medical or technological properties all represent areas / elements of interest for research. Indeed, if many aspects of plants are currently studied and unveiled, they have not yet revealed all their secrets!
Plants are the foundation of the food chain, are responsible for the production of the oxygen we breathe and play the leading role in the recycling of carbon dioxide (CO2). Studying their physiology and how they evolve, their diversity or their interaction within ecosystems is therefore crucial for a better understanding, protection and use of our environment.
Beyond improving our knowledge of plants, research also allows a practical impact in many areas such as the development of organic farming or the fight against certain forms of environmental pollution for example.
In this perspective, research carried out at the Jardin botanique contributes greatly to the expansion of knowledge. Like most of the world's botanical gardens, the Jardin botanique de Montréal keeps and cultivates a wide variety of plants that allow it to do research in situ. Thanks to the presence of the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV), which performs at the highest excellence in its field, the Jardin botanique has access to laboratories and researchers dedicated to this cause.
The various disciplines thus extend from molecular biology to ecology, via biological control. Research, both fundamental and applied, is carried out according to the proper rules of the scientific process and contributes to the institution's international reputation, as well as its recognition.
