Pathogenic and beneficial microorganisms have a great impact on plant health and quality of food and feed. They play a significant role in all stages of the production chains from primary producers to consumers. Our research focuses on analysing and manipulating the interaction of fungi and bacteria with their biotic and abiotic environment in soil, plants and food.
We use integrated approaches to develop preventive cropping systems benefiting from the diversity of beneficial organisms and to suppress harmful organisms in an environmentally safe and economic way. Innovative organic and integrated cropping systems are taken as a starting point to improve conditions for a healthy produce.
Classic and molecular tools such as Taqman and DGGE are used to characterise microbial communities in soils and plants, to detect and monitor populations of microorganisms in the food chain and to unravel biotic interactions. Basic ecological data are collected to feed epidemiological models and early warning systems. Special attention is given to suppressive soils and breakdown of crop residues in order to manipulate inoculum sources. By combining molecular techniques with advanced bioassay systems antagonistic organisms are selected and screened for their antagonistic properties and their potential as biocontrol agent.
Technology
- Screening of biologicals
- Dynamic modelling of micro-organisms
- Quantitative PCR and DGGE
- Mutivariate analysis of ecological data
Current projects
Current projects focus on the ecology and control strategies of major diseases in arable crops, vegetables and fruit. Diseases such as apple scab (Venturia inaequalis), potato late blight (Phytophthora infestans), pear brown spot (Stemphylium), downy mildew (Perenospora), cereal blights (e.g. Fusarium), black scurf (Rhizoctonia), potato rot (Erwinia), brown rot (Ralstonia) and replacement of copper fungicides (REPCO) are major targets for research.
In crop production and produce quality our attention focuses on mycotoxin-producing fungi and crop-related human pathogens.