Holger Puchta

Molecular Biology and Biochemistry of Plants

The CRISPR/Cas molecular scissors are revolutionizing biology and plant breeding. We have been working for a long time on using molecular scissors to achieve new types of genome modifications. Recently, we were able to recombine plant chromosomes for the first time using CRISPR/Cas and are now working on making this approach generally usable for plant breeding.

Molecular Cell Biology of Plants

Life is not easy. There are two ways to master it - animals run away, plants adapt. We want to understand how. The key is plant cells, because they mediate shape, adaptation and the enormous diversity of plants."

Tilman Lamparter

General Botany - Photobiology

In the Lamparter group, phytochromes and photolyases are studied biochemically. Both are chromoproteins whose enzyme activity is altered by light. Our group has discovered two phytochromes and two photolyases in Agrobacterium fabrum (= A. tumefaciens) and determined their crystal structure. We are also conducting studies with a filamentous cyanobacterium called Phormidium lacuna, which was isolated from a rockpool during a previous Helgoland field trip. Recently, the natural transformation of Phormidium lacuna was discovered in our group. This opens up numerous possibilities for physiological experiments and biotechnological approaches.

Natalia Requena

Molecular Phytopathology

The molecular basis of plant microorganisms is investigated in the Requena group. We are interested in finding out how plants perceive symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi and distinguish them from pathogenic fungi. Compared to pathogenic fungi, which can cause major damage, mycorrhizal fungi contribute significantly to an improved nutrient supply (phosphate and nitrogen), increased plant defense and improved soil quality. The symbiosis is controlled by an extraordinarily complex exchange of signals, which ultimately leads to the reprogramming of fundamental plant development and metabolic processes. How this plant reprogramming takes place and how we can use this knowledge biotechnologically to produce more resistant plants is our field of research.

Maren Riemann

Whether thale cress, rice, grapevine, tobacco or tomatoes - our research would be impossible without the experimental plants provided professionally and competently by our gardeners. This research also results in important applications - at the KIT Botanical Institute, for example, new technologies such as CRISPR-Cas are perfected on Arabidopsis or rice genes are found for the breeding of drought-resistant varieties. A seed bank of endangered plants not only contributes to species and nature conservation, but also investigates potential uses for these wild plants.

Here, science does not only take place in the ivory tower. The KIT Botanical Garden is an important link between the public and science. With the support of the Association of Friends of the KIT Botanical Garden e.V. regularly offers guided tours and events.