Research
The aim of our research is to investigate the interactions between plants and plant pathogenic nematodes. In this way, we want to develop new approaches to reduce the damage caused primarily by nematodes to crops.
Plant pathogenic nematodes cause enormous damage worldwide to important agricultural crops such as soybeans, tomatoes, bananas, potatoes and cereals, but also reduce yields in subsistence farming. The damage is mainly caused by the fact that the nematodes deliberately divert important physiological processes in the plant to their advantage and thus prevent the healthy development of the plants.
We are working on elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which nematodes control the physiology of the plant on the one hand and by which the plant builds up defenses against nematodes on the other. In this way, we can provide important information for the breeding of resistant plants.
In an additional approach, we work on identifying and characterizing novel microbes and microbial compounds that promote plant health and plant development in general.
Signaling in plant-nematode interactions
The development of pathogenic parasites is based on the manipulation of the plant host through a complex exchange of signals. Once contact between host and pathogen is established, a dynamic arms race begins in which almost all physiological processes in both organisms are involved. A wide range of chemical signals are exchanged to inhibit or promote biochemical processes in the enemy, allowing the host or pathogen to continue its own development.
Group leaders:
Dr. Shamim Hasan
Dr. Badou Mendy
Scientists:
cand. PhD Maximilian Euler
cand. PhD Usman Ijaz
cand. PhD Letia Sharon
cand. PhD Aryani Sianipar
Dr. Yuliia Zhukova
Dietary demands of biotrophic nematodes
Some groups of nematodes cause the development of pathologically enlarged cell systems in the root from which they exclusively extract their food. The beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii forms a nutrient cell system in the central cylinder of the root, in which the affected cells fuse to form a syncytium. The syncytium is metabolically hyperactive and extracts nutrients from the root, which form the nutritional basis for the parasitizing nematodes. We investigate the question of which nutrients the nematodes actually absorb from the syncytium and concentrate in particular on water-soluble vitamins of the B group.
Junior group leader:
cand. PhD Clarissa Hiltl
Scientists:
cand. MSc Sherouk Khalifa
cand. BSc Laura Oe
cand. BSc Michelle Stankiewicz
Microbial promotion of plant health and growth
Microbes produce a variety of bioactive substances, some of which can massively promote the development and in particular the immune system of plants. We investigate bacteria and bacterial agents for their growth-promoting and immunostimulatory activity and analyze the underlying mechanisms of action. In basic research, we are working on analysing the activated signalling pathways and characterizing the triggered effects in detail. In application research, we test and optimize our bacterial candidate isolates and molecules in cooperation with other research institutions and companies on a wide variety of crops such as potatoes, tomatoes and cereals.
Group leader:
Dr. Sylvia Schleker
Scientists:
cand. PhD Seema Aslam (guest)
cand. PhD Sandra Bredenbruch
Dr. Philip Fricke
cand. PhD Yuanyuan Feng (guest)
cand. PhD Mengmeng Huang
Dr. Ava Umerova