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Plant pathology

Plant Pathology

Monika Maurhofer is the leader of a research group with interest in elucidating the multitrophic interactions going on in the hot spot rhizosphere with focus on physical and molecular interactions between plants, plant pathogenic fungi, plant beneficial pseudomonads and insect pests. Her research is aimed at improving the use of microorganisms for the control of plant diseases and insect pests. Her group is part of the plant pathology group which is headed by Prof. Bruce McDonald and located in the Institute of Integrative Biology. Monika Maurhofer is also involved in teaching and gives lectures in systematics and ecology of fungi and algae for first year ETHZ biology and pharmacy students and offers a block course in plant pathology for third year ETHZ and UniZH biology students.

Research topics

  • Mechanisms of biocontrol of plant diseases by Pseudomonas fluorescens

  • Diversity of plant growth-promoting root-colonizing bacteria in soil

  • Insecticidal activity of root-colonizing pseudomonads

  • Signaling between plants, fungal pathogens and beneficial bacteria in the rhizosphere

  • Risk assessment of fungal biocontrol agents

Interdisciplinary

  • Collaboration with the groups of Beat Keller (UniZH) and Thomas Boller (UniBa) within the National Research Program NRP59 on benefits and risks of transgenic plants

  • Collaboration with Syngenta Crop Protection on insecticidal activity of plant-associated pseudomonads

  • Coming more from a microbiological background we always look for collaboration especially with specialists on plant insects pests or plant scientists

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Contact Person

Dr. Monika Maurhofer

ETH Zurich
Institute of Integrative Biology
Website
monika.maurhofer-at-agrl.ethz.ch
+41 (0)44 632 38 68

eligible for PLANT FELLOWS

Recent publications

  • Title: Existence of different physiological forms within genetically diverse strains of Ampelomyces quisqualis
    Author(s): Angeli, Dario; Maurhofer, Monika; Gessler, Cesare; et al.
    Source: PHYTOPARASITICA, 40 (1): 37-51 FEB 2012
    Document type: Article (Details)
  • Title: Field trials with genetically modified powdery mildew-resistant wheat
    Author(s): Foetzki, Andrea; Winzeler, Michael; Boller, Thomas; et al.
    Source: AGRARFORSCHUNG SCHWEIZ, 2 (10): 446-453 OCT 2011
    Document type: Article (Details)
  • Title: Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Biosynthesis Gene pqqC, a Novel Molecular Marker for Studying the Phylogeny and Diversity of Phosphate-Solubilizing Pseudomonads
    Author(s): Meyer, Joana Beatrice; Frapolli, Michele; Keel, Christoph; et al.
    Source: APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, 77 (20): 7345-7354 OCT 2011
    Document type: Article (Details)
  • Plant- and Microbe-Derived Compounds Affect the Expression of Genes Encoding Antifungal Compounds in a Pseudomonad with Biocontrol Activity
    de Werra, P; Huser, A; Tabacchi, R; et al.
    APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY 77 (8): 2807-2812 APR 2011 (Details)
  • Novel T-RFLP method to investigate six main groups of 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol-producing pseudomonads in environmental samples
    von Felten, A; Meyer, JB; Defago, G; et al.
    JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGICAL METHODS 84 (3): 379-387 MAR 2011 (Details)