INRES - Plant Nutrition

Over the course of evolution, plants have developed an elegant strategy to counteract a lack of phosphate in the soil — they form symbiotic relationships with soil fungi. These mycorrhizal fungi efficiently supply their plant partners with phosphate and other essential minerals. Recently, scientists at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) in Halle, in collaboration with partners at the University of Bonn, discovered a molecular switch that detects the plant's phosphate content and signals whether to initiate or inhibit the symbiosis. This signaling pathway could enable plants to form partnerships with soil fungi even when sufficient phosphate is available. The study, published in the renowned journal Science Advances, offers a potential solution to a long-standing agricultural problem and opens new avenues for reducing fertilizer use.

Excursions are always a highlight of academic teaching—for both students and teachers. This is especially true when the destination offers not only fascinating production systems but also opportunities for international exchange and collaboration. From March 24 to April 2, Dr. Shyam Pariyar, Junior Professor Dr. Janina Dierks, and Dr. Jan Ellenberger had the unique opportunity to lead a student excursion to Nepal, organized on the behalf of the ARTS study program (Agriculture and Resource Management in the Tropics and Sub-tropics). The excursion aimed to explore Nepal’s agricultural landscape and its agroecological diversity.

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. 

At the Dies Academicus Dr. Matthias Wissuwa will give his inaugural lecture on: "Gene banks preserve the crop genetic diversity for future use – but how to utilize this resource?".