The Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation
was founded in 2005 by a consolidation of several institutes with the goal of coordinating and focusing research and teaching in the field of crop production and resource conservation.
The research of the 15 professors and several independent research groups is directed at a wide field ranging from soil science, microbiology, plant pathology, molecular physiological basis of stress resistance, functional genome analyses, plant breeding and crop production.
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.
A new variety of rice that is adapted to life in low-phosphorus soils, that contains an exceptionally large amount of zinc and that was developed specifically for the conditions in Madagascar where it is grown, has recently been certified in the country. The variety was created under the leadership of plant scientist Professor Matthias Wissuwa from the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and the PhenoRob Cluster of Excellence at the University of Bonn which he joined as a visiting professor in spring 2023, together with the Africa Rice Center and the National Centre of Applied Research for Rural Development in Madagascar (FOFIFA)
In February 2024 INRES - Horticultural Science participated in the lecture series “Smart Horticultural Practices” that was a joint project of GIZ, Green Innovation Centre India and Competence Centre for Fruit Cultivation at Lake Constance (KOB).
From February 28th to March 1st, 2024, 185 scientists from all horticultural disciplines - including a large number of young scientists - gathered for the well-attended 56th annual conference of the German Horticultural Science Society (DGG) and the Federal Association of Students and Graduates of Higher Education Studies in Horticulture and Landscape Architecture (BHGL) at the Thünen Institute in Braunschweig to present and discuss current research findings in horticulture as well as to network.
Contact
INRES - Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation
Managing Director: Prof. Dr. Armin Djamei
Address
Karlrobert-Kreiten-Strasse 13
53115 Bonn