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 About

Phytopathogens are of significant economic importance, threatening both the quantity and quality of food production. Reducing crop losses caused by disease epidemics is critical to ensuring a stable supply of agricultural products. Conversely, the colonization of plants by beneficial microbes can stimulate growth by enhancing nutrient uptake through the roots or by priming plants for improved resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. These interactions offer promising new approaches to achieving more sustainable agriculture. Over the past three decades, our understanding of molecular plant–microbe interactions have advanced considerably. Ongoing research continues to highlight the importance and fascination of this field.

The relevance of our work was underscored by the United Nations’ declaration of 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (see video below).

IN OUR RESEARCH, we focus on plant–microbe interactions, with a particular emphasis on their molecular aspects and plant immunity. We work with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana especially to study patter-triggered immunity and we are establishing Papaver somniferum (poppy) as our model crop. Our specific aim is to become a world-leading laboratory in poppy immunity research, developing novel treatment strategies and gene-editing approaches to protect poppy plants from pathogens and pests.