Biotic Interactions

Not only prolonged drought and heavy rain periods can be stressors for plants. Microbes, soil bacteria or fungi (the biotic stressors with which they interact throughout their life cycle) can also have a direct effect on plant health and plant production. In fact, these can be pathogens that trigger plant defence mechanisms, starving the plant of resources and reducing bioproduction. Although the use of conventional pesticides can help, it is neither in the interest of sustainable agriculture, nor is it favourable for the quality of water bodies and groundwater.

We are therefore investigating alternatives to reduce or replace the use of conventional pesticides and aim to support and optimise plant defence mechanisms against pathogens. Inducible defence mechanisms should ensure that the plant is not deprived of any valuable resources (or at least only to a limited degree), ensuring that plant production remains stable. We are applying modern methods of molecular biology to examine genes, metabolites, proteins or signals that can be used for plant defence.