On January 21, 2026, the advanced-level biology class (Biologie Leistungskurs) of the Gesamtschule Rheinbach visited the Department of Plant Nutrition at the Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation (INRES), University of Bonn, as part of a scientific excursion. 

When a maize plant is attacked by the fungus Ustilago maydis, tumor-like tissue growths occur at the site of infection. How the pathogen causes this response in its host has long been unknown. But a University of Bonn study has now shown how the fungus takes over the plant’s function for forming lateral roots. The findings have been published in the journal New Phytologist.

The EU’s Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall visited Bonn on December 1 to find out about the research being done in the University of Bonn’s PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence. Discussions focused on three main topics: digital agriculture, sustainable food systems and preserving biodiversity.

We mourn the loss of Dr. Holger Hindorf, who passed away on November 17, 2025, after a long illness. He began his phytopathological work with a dissertation (on coffee berry disease) in the early 1970s under Prof. Kranz at the University of Giessen, which included extensive field studies in Kenya. In 1973, he moved to the Institute for Plant Diseases at the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, where he worked until his retirement in February 2007, initially as curator and, from 2002, as academic advisor. He was also responsible for training agricultural technical assistants for many years.

The Bonn–St Andrews Joint Academic Appointments Scheme, now in its third year, continues to strengthen the strategic alliance between the University of Bonn and the University of St Andrews. This innovative partnership initiative allows colleagues from both universities to spend 20 percent of their time over three years teaching and conducting research at the partner institution.

The University of Bonn is continuously expanding its research infrastructure – thereby creating the foundation for the success of its researchers. Under the umbrella of the Bonn Technology Campus (BTC), 14 core facilities are now available for university-wide use, combining cutting-edge technologies, specialized expertise, and comprehensive services. They provide all researchers at the university with access to instruments and methods that would often be inaccessible or difficult to obtain for individual research groups. In doing so, the University of Excellence creates the conditions necessary to put research ideas into practice at the highest level.

The University of Bonn is continuing to invest in sustainable infrastructure and is currently constructing a new Sample and Vegetation Center for the Faculty of Agricultural, Nutritional, and Engineering Sciences. The newbuild will meet the most stringent environmental standards and thus serve as a role model for construction that is focused on the future. 

Congratulations to Michaela Matthes for sucessfully completing her habilitation with her inaugural lecture.