Tiny organisms such as bacteria and fungi help to promote the health and function of plant roots. It is commonly assumed that the composition of these microbes is dependent on the properties of the soil. However, an international team of researchers led by the University of Bonn has now discovered when studying different local varieties of maize that the genetic makeup of the plants also helps to influence which microorganisms cluster around the roots. The results, which have now been published in the prestigious journal Nature Plants, could help to breed future varieties of maize that are better suited to drought and limited nutrients.

Prof. Alexander Lipka from the University of Illinois will give a talk with the title “Lipka Lab: addressing key challenges of crop sciences through quantitative genetics”.

Caroline Marcon, invited by Dafang Wang from Hofstra University in New York, introduced and was interviewed about the BonnMu resource of sequence-indexed mutations in maize.

Prof. Hans Lambers from University of Western Australia, Honorary Professor, China Agricultural University on "Carboxylate-releasing phosphorus-mobilising strategies are pervasive in phosphorus-impoverished landscapes". Please find his classical and pioneering work on root ecology and root function (https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/hans-lambers).

With an joint effort, we harvested over 1500 rhizosphere samples within two days! We are now curious about what microbes do such soil contain and what functions do they play in poor soil.

Frank Hochholdinger took over the role of head of the study group maize (AG 11) of the German Society of Plant Breeding from Albrecht Melchinger (University of Bonn) who held this position for 30 years!

Prof. Zhongtao Jia from China Agricultural University (CAU) on "Hormonal regulation of root nitrogen foraging responses in plants". Prof. Jia did his postdoc with Prof. Nicolaus von Wirén in Leibniz-Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK Gatersleben, Germany). He is mainly interested on molecular mechanisms underlying nitrogen signaling on root development. His research topics include the identification of molecular regulators and genetic allelic variants determining nutrient use efficiency in the aspect of root development and nutrient acquisition.

The 5th INRES - Minisymposium (INRES Day) will take place on August 24 on the Campus Poppelsdorf in the lecture hall center "CP1-HSZ", Endenicher Allee 19C, 53115 Bonn, Germany.