Main research topics at INRES - Plant Pathology

The focus of the Plant Pathology professorship is on cell biological, genetic and molecular research into the biogenic causes that lead to disease in plants. Based on this understanding of the causes of disease, strategies are developed to protect crops from disease.

The main focus is on phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes in their interaction with their respective host plants. Furthermore, scientific plant models such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana are used in the research, which serve to expand basic knowledge about the plant immune system and are easily accessible experimentally and genetically.

Two research approaches are being pursued.

Ustialgo maydis auf Mais.jpg
© Armin Djamei

The focus of the Plant Pathology professorship is on cell biological, genetic and molecular research into the biogenic causes that lead to disease in plants. Based on this understanding of the causes of disease, strategies are developed to protect crops from disease.

The main focus is on phytopathogenic fungi and oomycetes in their interaction with their respective host plants. Furthermore, scientific plant models such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana are used in the research, which serve to expand basic knowledge about the plant immune system and are easily accessible experimentally and genetically.

Two research approaches are being pursued.


U_maydis_confocal_Bild6.jpg
© Armin Djamei
  • Molecular biology, protein biochemistry, cell biology, genetic and bioinformatics methods are used to study the biotrophic interaction between the maize blight pathogen Ustilago maydis and the host plant maize in molecular detail. Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic fungus that is considered a model organism due to its genetic accessibility. The research group focuses on a class of secreted proteins, so-called effectors, which the fungus emits to suppress the host plant immune system and manipulate host metabolism in the interest of the pathogen.  This research serves on the one hand to gain a detailed knowledge of the molecular processes during biotrophic interactions and on the other hand the study of effectors offers the possibility to apply them as new manipulative tools in plants and to develop plant protection strategies tailored to them.
  • Molecular biology, protein biochemistry, cell biology, genetic and bioinformatics methods are used to study the biotrophic interaction between the maize blight pathogen Ustilago maydis and the host plant maize in molecular detail. Ustilago maydis is a biotrophic fungus that is considered a model organism due to its genetic accessibility. The research group focuses on a class of secreted proteins, so-called effectors, which the fungus emits to suppress the host plant immune system and manipulate host metabolism in the interest of the pathogen.  This research serves on the one hand to gain a detailed knowledge of the molecular processes during biotrophic interactions and on the other hand the study of effectors offers the possibility to apply them as new manipulative tools in plants and to develop plant protection strategies tailored to them.

Protein_Aufreinigung_neu.JPG
© Armin Djamei
  • Imaging techniques are used to detect host-pathogen interactions at different scale levels - from cellular to stand level; thermography, chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral techniques are used for this purpose. The organisms studied from agriculture and orchards differ in colonization strategy and feeding mode (biotrophic, hemibiotrophic, or necrotrophic, respectively), e.g. Plasmopara viticola (obligate biotroph)on grapevine, Phytophthora infestans on potato, Magnaporthe oryzae (hemibiotroph) on rice, Venturia inaequalis on apple, Cercospora beticola on sugar beet; Fusarium species (necrotroph) on wheat and maize. In addition, emerging diseases on crops are identified and characterized (e.g. downy mildew on rhubarb). This research is used to assess disease detection methods, the impact of host plant resistance, crop management measures, and chemical or biological control methods on the epidemic development of the respective pathogens and crop yield formation. The goal is to develop innovative prevention and control strategies under field and greenhouse conditions.
  • Imaging techniques are used to detect host-pathogen interactions at different scale levels - from cellular to stand level; thermography, chlorophyll fluorescence and hyperspectral techniques are used for this purpose. The organisms studied from agriculture and orchards differ in colonization strategy and feeding mode (biotrophic, hemibiotrophic, or necrotrophic, respectively), e.g. Plasmopara viticola (obligate biotroph)on grapevine, Phytophthora infestans on potato, Magnaporthe oryzae (hemibiotroph) on rice, Venturia inaequalis on apple, Cercospora beticola on sugar beet; Fusarium species (necrotroph) on wheat and maize. In addition, emerging diseases on crops are identified and characterized (e.g. downy mildew on rhubarb). This research is used to assess disease detection methods, the impact of host plant resistance, crop management measures, and chemical or biological control methods on the epidemic development of the respective pathogens and crop yield formation. The goal is to develop innovative prevention and control strategies under field and greenhouse conditions.

Completed doctorates


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