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Gravel, Valérie

Academic title(s): 

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Gravel, Valérie
Contact Information
Email address: 
valerie.gravel [at] mcgill.ca
Phone: 
514-398-8132
Address: 

Raymond Building, R2-023A

Research areas: 
Sustainable agriculture and climate resilience
Plant-biotic interactions
Extension and community engagement
Biography: 

Valérie Gravel obtained her MSc and PhD in Plant Science in 2007 from Université Laval (Québec, QC) following undergraduate studies in Agronomy at the same institution. Between 2007 and 2012, she completed postdoctoral research at Agriculture and AgriFood Canada (St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC) and at Wageningen University (The Netherlands). In 2012, she became an assistant professor at the Nova Scotia Agriculture College (Truro, NS) in collaboration with the Organic Agriculture Center of Canada (OACC). She joined ɬÀï·¬ in 2013 as an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Science. She currently serves as president of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science (CSHS) and as vice-president of Plant Canada. She is also a member of Ordre des Agronomes du Québec.

Active Affiliations:

  • Member, Ordre des Agronomes du Québec
  • President, Canadian Society for Horticultural Science (CSHS)
  • Vice-President, Plant Canada
Degree(s): 

B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.(Laval)

Areas of interest: 

Canadian and Quebec consumers have become more aware of potential health benefits of consuming pesticide-free nutritious produce with elevated concentrations of health-related compounds. As growing conditions have a major impact on how well horticultural plants grow, my work focusses on understanding how sustainable production practices influence the overall quality of fresh horticultural produce.

Current research: 

Sustainable production horticulture is often defined by environmentally sound cultivation practices to ensure long-term food security by promoting, among other things, a higher produce quality. Recent work has therefore concentrated on understanding the pathways leading to health-related bioactive compound accumulation in plant tissues. In fact, it is often associated with a physiological response to abiotic stress (high salinity, drought-like conditions or higher CO2 concentrations) or biotic stress (often triggered by the soil microbial communities) similar to conditions resulting from sustainable production practices. Our goal is to define and understand patterns of plant response to multiple simultaneous abiotic and biotic stresses.

Using our expertise in the area of sustainable horticultural production systems with a specific emphasis on sheltered or greenhouse crops, our research interests include: nutrient availability and plant uptake in organic cropping systems, plant growth regulation in sustainable production systems, microbial interactions within the soil-plant-environment continuum, and biological control of diseases and pests in sustainable fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops.

Courses: 

PLNT 307. Agroecology of Vegetables and Fruits.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Credits: 3
Offered by: Plant Science (Faculty of Agric Environ Sci)
Terms Offered: Fall 2025
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Description

Application of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of selected vegetable and fruit agroecosystems. Includes selection of varieties and management from seedling to harvest to storage.
  • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken PLNT 321.
  • Prerequisite: AEBI 210 or PLNT 200 or permission of the instructor

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.


PLNT 310. Plant Propagation.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Credits: 3
Offered by: Plant Science (Faculty of Agric Environ Sci)
Terms Offered: Winter 2026
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Description

Principles and practical aspects of plant propagation are examined. The course consists of two parts. The first third deals with sexual propagation; the production, processing storage certification and analysis of seeds. The remaining two-thirds deals with vegetative propagation; cutting, budding, grafting, layering, and tissue culture.
  • 3 lectures and one 3-hour lab

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.


PLNT 622. Advances in Plant Protection.

Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.

Credits: 3
Offered by: Plant Science (Graduate Studies)
Terms Offered: Fall 2025
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Description

Current topics related to plant protection. Review of current literature on selected topics that may include control of weeds, pathogens and/or insects.

Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.

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