Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy

Within the Molecular Plant Sciences specialization area, the Baier (Plant Physiology) and Wiermer (Biochemistry of Plant-Microbe Interactions) research groups closely interact with other groups focusing on plant sciences, microbiology, molecular and cellular biology, genetics and genomics. Major efforts of our groups aim at understanding and teaching the mechanisms that regulate the communication, acclimation and adaptation of plants to the biotic and abiotic environment at the molecular, cellular and organismal level.

Our regular interactions with other research groups at the Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy are accompanied by collaborative research with

• the Federal Institute for Material Testing and Research (BAM),
• the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DSMZ),
• the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB),
• the Leibniz Institute of Vegetable and Ornamental Crops (IGZ),
• the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Genetics (MPI-MG),
• and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPI-PZ).

A key objective of our teaching efforts in molecular plant sciences is to comprehensibly communicate to our students the fundamental principles and concepts of contemporary plant biology with a special focus on inter-organismic communication and environmental acclimation and adaptations, as well as helping our students to develop the ability for self-direction and self-generation of ideas. Our curriculum offers a broad range of biochemical, cell biological, molecular genetic and physiological methodology to investigate plant-pathogen interactions and plant physiology. In our practical courses, students work in small groups to encourage their ability to collaborate and to help developing problem solving strategies together with their peers.

Major research priorities in this specialization are directed towards understanding the molecular mechanisms regulating plant innate immune responses to pathogenic microbes, inter-organismic communication and plant acclimation and adaptations to changing abiotic environments.

Our biochemical, cellular, genetic/genomic and physiological studies make a powerful match to reveal important information on the intricate regulation of plant responses to their biotic and abiotic environment. This should provide new strategies for future sustainable plant protection, which is becoming increasingly important in the context of global change.