The Wellensiek Fund finances research in the field of horticulture and related disciplines.
The impact of your gift
Your gift allows talented PhD students to conduct research to serve a greater good. Since the establishment of the fund, three PhD students were able to complete their promotion through the direct and indirect support from the Wellensiek Fund.
In coordination with the chair group and with financial contribution from the fund, Sander was able to apply for a VENI grant. He wrote a proposal to research the role of non-photosynthetic active pigments on the growth of crops. Non-photosynthetic active pigments are colouring pigments in the leaves that filter out light or certain elements of the electromagnetic spectrum, thereby making less available for photosynthesis.
Plant cultivation is in his genes. As a high school student, he already upgraded a flower in his father’s greenhouse, the woolflower (Celosia). His father’s company did not offer a future though and Hogewoning went on to study Plant Sciences at Wageningen University.
In coordination with the chair group, the Wellensiek Fund contributed a small amount of money for the writing of a proposal for a VENI grant. Hogewoning wrote a proposal to research the role of non-photosynthetic active pigments on the growth of crops. Non-photosynthetic active pigments are colouring pigments in the leaves that filter out light or certain elements of the electromagnetic spectrum, thereby making less available for photosynthesis. The idea is that plants can become more efficient if they did not produce certain components. Unfortunately, the proposal was not accepted by the VENI.
Energy-saving lighting in greenhouses
As a PhD student, Hogewoning conducted fundamental research on the reaction of a plant to different wavelengths of light. The horticultural industry, namely, wants to switch to energy-saving lighting in greenhouses. LED lighting (light emitting diodes) is potentially much more energy saving than high pressure sodium-vapour lamps, currently used as greenhouse lighting. You can also have LED lighting discharge only those wavelengths that the plant can use.
During his research, Hogewoning hypothesised that instead of adjusting the light, the photosynthesis of a plant could be influenced to make it more efficient in its relation with light. Hogewoning explains, “A plant grows by daylight. I am very curious as to how the plant actually uses that daylight. Maybe it can even be improved. In the end, it’s more sustainable and efficient if you can produce more by using the same amount of (free) daylight.”
Hogewoning wanted to delve into a group of leave pigments, the flavonoids. These pigments absorb mainly UV, blue and sometimes green light. They do not contribute to photosynthesis, however, as opposed to the leave pigment chlorophyll (especially through red light) and to a lesser extent carotene (blue and green light).
Flavonoids mainly offer protection. They function like a type of sunglasses and prevent damage by insects because of their bitter taste. However, maize in Norway may not need the type of sunglasses it would in Mexico. Also, little UV light enters a greenhouse and a producer can protect its plants against insect damage. The flavonoids in the leaves therefore cost unnecessary light energy through photosynthesis. Hogewoning expands, “There are, however, 4.000 different flavonoids. These polyphenols also form oxidants in food. Therefore, you must first research which flavonoids serve which purpose - do they only serve as sunglasses or are they healthy – before reducing them.”
In first instance, research is being conducted on the model organism, arabdopsis thaliana, also known as thale-cress or mouse-ear cress. Pigment composition in the leaves does not influence the nutritional value of fruit- or vegetable crops like the tomato.
The effect would be enormous if useful plants for humans can convert sunlight into biomass like crops and algae that can produce biofuels. Hogewoning explains, “Even if a plant is only 1% more efficient in its relation with sunlight it could lead to a huge increase in production on a global scale.”
Due to contributions from the Wellensiek Fund, two research proposals regarding the influence of LED- or diode lighting on plant growth were accepted by the Dutch Technology Foundation STW.
LED lighting in greenhouses (2004)
Two PhD students received €10.000 for a research proposal that they submitted to, and was accepted by, the Technology Foundation STW. Engineers Sander Hogewoning and Govert Trouwborst started a four year research project in 2005 into the possibilities of using LED lighting in greenhouses. This research focused on the effects of coloured light emitted from the LEDS (light emitting diodes) on the growth of greenhouse plants.
Project manager: Dr. Ir. Wim van Ieperen, Group Horticulture Production Chains.
Fructification and abortion of flowers and young fruits of bell peppers
The fund also contributed to the doctoral research of the fructification and abortion of flowers and young fruits of bell peppers. Spontaneous abortion in practice leads to sharp fluctuations in price and labour demand. Research of the underlying mechanisms of the crop through climate control was carried out in order to gain a grip on these fluctuations.
Project manager: Dr. Ir. Ep Heuvelink, Group Horticulture Production Chains.
PhD student: Ir. Maaike Wubs. Promotion date: 6 October 2010.
The Wellensiek Fund was created through a gift from Mrs. A. Wellensiek-Manger that emanated from the estate of her late husband, Prof. Wellensiek.
Professor Dr. Ir. S.J. Wellensiek
Dr. Ir. S.J. Wellensiek (1899-1990) was professor horticultural plant cultivation, an enthusiastic researcher and encouraging teacher who worked until he was 91 years old. He is responsible for having created a solid basis in horticultural sciences with more than 300 publications and 42 promoters to his name. His research of the growth of plants has been of great importance to the field of horticulture. His name is still associated with his upgrading of the cyclamen, the so-called Wellensiek-cyclamen.
In the terms of his will in 1990, Dr. Ir. Susan Wellensiek arranged for a great part of his estate to be made available through the Wageningen University Fund as funding for promotional research at Wageningen UR in the field of horticultural plant cultivation. His widow, Mrs. A. Wellensiek-Manger decided to make the funds available earlier for doctoral students, ahead of the deeds of his estate being released.
The Wageningen University Fund set-up a Fund on Name for the Wellensiek Fund. It is listed as a separate legal provision on the WUF balance sheet and earned interest flows back into the fund.
Three doctoral students were able to complete their promotion through the direct or indirect financial support from the Wellensiek Fund since its inception. Mrs. Wellensiek determined that the second part of the estate would also be donated to horticultural doctoral students and was released to the WUF upon her death in March 2012.