Congratulations to Danning for receiving the faculty prize for the best thesis in plant science.

Together with the CFG and CS group  we enjoyed a wonderful hiking trip on the Apollinaris-Schleife, which included a wine tasting from the Maibachfarm at the Ahr Valley. Later, we had the opportunity to see and got to know the ostriches at the farm in Remagen.

Maize can grow successfully in very different local conditions. An international study headed by the University of Bonn has now demonstrated the important role of the plant root system. The researchers analyzed more than 9,000 varieties in the study and were able to show that their roots varied considerably – depending on how dry the location is where each variety was cultivated. They were also able to identify an important gene that plays a role in the plant’s ability to adapt. This gene could be the key to developing varieties of maize that cope better with climate change. The results were recently published in the prestigious journal Nature Genetics.

Thanks to the good weather, we were able to plant our maize field at the University of Bonn's experimental station on May 2, 2024.

Danning worked in her project on genetic basis and environmental regulation of root-microbiome associations in maize.

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”.

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).