Research Portfolios
Comparative Evolutionary Biology and Systematics
Adaptation and diversification of succulent plants
PD Dr. Reto Nyffeler, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Systematic Botany
The succulent life form is a tried and true strategy for flowering plants to thrive in arid environments. The adaptation...
Plant Evolution and Systematics
An integrative phylogenetic approach to elucidate the evolution of plant diversity
Prof. Dr. Elena Conti, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Systematic Botany
The fundamental goal of my research is to understand the evolution of plant diversity. To achieve this goal, I integrate...
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Biological activity and role of syrbactins in host-microbe interactions
Prof. Dr. Robert Dudler, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology
aaSyringolin, a representative of syrbactins, constitutes a novel class of proteasome inhibitors secreted by a group of...
Plant Biotechnology
Cereal biotechnology research for crop improvement
Dr. Navreet K. Bhullar, Zurich-Basel PSC, ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences
Cereals, such as rice and wheat, are important source of food worldwide but they contain very low levels of bioavailable...
Chloroplast Metabolism
Chlorophyll breakdown
Prof. Dr. Stefan Hörtensteiner, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology
Chlorophyll breakdown is the most obvious sign of leaf senescence, but occurs also during fruit ripening and as response...
Molecular Genetics of Plant Development
Chromatin and transcriptome dynamics during sexual plant reproduction
Dr. Célia Baroux, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology
Sexual reproduction in flowering plants involves several cell fate transitions: (i) vegetative-to-reproductive...
Epigenetics
Epigenetic control of gene expression
Dr. Etienne Bucher, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Basel, Institute of Botany
Epigenetics encompasses a variety of highly conserved molecular mechanisms that provide an additional layer of...
Molecular Ecology of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
Experimental fungal community assembly
Dr. Hannes A. Gamper, Zurich-Basel PSC, ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences
We aim at understanding the ecological and evolutionary determinants of biodiversity in natural arbuscular mycorrhizal...
Plant Developmental Genetics
Genetic and epigenetic control of plant reproduction
Prof. Dr. Ueli Grossniklaus, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology
Our research centers on the genetic and epigenetic control of plant reproduction. We are interested in both sexual...
Microbiology
Interactions of bacteria with plants
Prof. Dr. Leo Eberl, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology
Many bacteria produce small diffusible signal molecules to co-ordinate expression of particular phenotypic traits, a...
Molecular and Cellular Plant-Virus Interactions
Macromolecular trafficking and intercellular communication in plants
Dr. Manfred Heinlein, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Basel, Institute of Botany
Intercellular communication in plants plays pivotal roles in the orchestration of development and defence responses and...
Plant Nutrition
Microbial functions in soil nutrient dynamics
Dr. Else Bünemann-König, Zurich-Basel PSC, ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences
A good understanding of biological cycling of P in terrestrial ecosystems is important in view of both decreasing...
MicroRNAs and siRNAs in Plant Development
Molecular analysis of plant small RNAs regulations
Dr. Franck Vazquez, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Basel, Institute of Botany
RNA silencing processes are recently discovered RNA dependent processes involved in controlling the expression and...
Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Molecular aspects of symbiosis and pathogenesis in plants
Prof. Dr. Thomas Boller, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Basel, Institute of Botany
Plants interact with microbes (bacteria and fungi), in both friendly and hostile ways – this is the essence of plant...
Crop Science
Plant growth and phenotyping
Prof. Dr. Achim Walter, Zurich-Basel PSC, ETH Zurich, Institute of Agricultural Sciences
More versatile and efficient crop production systems require an in-depth understanding of dynamic plant growth...
Plant Immunity
Regulation of plant receptor kinases in pattern triggered immunity
Dr. Delphine Chinchilla, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Basel, Institute of Botany
Plant immunity relies on the recognition of surrounding microbes and the induction of robust defense responses to...
Molecular Genetics of Plant Development
Regulatory factors controlling cell wall formation
PD Dr. Christoph Ringli, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology
The shape of plant cells and ultimately the entire plant is defined by the cell wall surrounding each cell. Cell walls...
Molecular Plant Virology
Silencing and innate immunity in plant defense against viruses
PD Dr. Mikhail M. Pooggin, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Basel, Institute of Botany
The frontline of plant defense against non-viral pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and oomycetes is provided by...
Plant Molecular Biology
The cereal genomes: hidden treasures for evolutionary genomics and agronomy
Prof. Dr. Beat Keller, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology
We are studying the genomes of the grass species wheat, barley and rice to analyze genome evolution in cereals. Plant...
Evolutionary Biology
The molecular basis of pollinator-mediated reproductive isolation and speciation
Dr. Philipp M. Schlüter, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Systematic Botany
Divergent selection by the environment can result in the establishment of reproductive isolation and, thereafter, the...
Molecular Physiology
The role of ABC and vacuole transporters in plants
Prof. Dr. Enrico Martinoia, Zurich-Basel PSC, University of Zurich, Institute of Plant Biology