Events

This guided tour reveals what usually remains hidden: the fascinating interplay between (crop) plants and soil fungi. Dr. Dagmar Hann, scientist from the TRR356 PlantMicrobe research network, provides insights into research on arbuscular mycorrhiza – a symbiosis that has shaped life on land for around 450 million years. Together, we will discuss how research can contribute to sustainable agriculture. The tour offers space for questions and exchange about the scientific background, microscopic structures, and new perspectives for the future of plant cultivation.

The tour is in German.

The tour is part of the public guided tour series ‘Botanik für alle’ at the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg.

Start & Meeting Point
2:30 p.m. in the Green Hall at the end of the greenhouses (no registration required)

Location
Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
80638 Munich
+49 (0)89 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de

Admission
Regular: €5.50 | Reduced: €4.00
Under 18 years | Students over 18 years: free admission
Children under 12 years: only when accompanied by an adult

More information: Opening hours & tickets

A fascinating partnership between roots and soil fungi takes place underground - an almost invisible network that has strengthened our land plants for over 450 million years. The arbuscular mycorrhiza, ‘tree-like fungal root’, is one of the best-known symbioses in biology. The fungi supply the plant with water and nutrients, especially phosphate, and in return receive carbohydrates and fatty acids via the plant´s metabolism. Arbuscular mycorrhiza promotes the growth of numerous land plants, can reduce the need for synthetic fertilisers and point the way to new approaches for a more sustainable agriculture.

The ‘Deeply rooted’ exhibition invites visitors to discover this hidden world of plant-microbe interaction - vividly, interactively and based on current research. It is organised by the TRR356 PlantMicrobe research network in close cooperation with the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg.

Exhibition period: October 25, to December 07, 2025

Admission

Admission to the exhibition is included in the regular admission ticket for the Botanical Garden.
€ 5.50 | reduced € 4
Under 18s: free admission
More information: Opening hours & tickets

Location

Green Hall (House 7 of the public greenhouses)
Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
D-80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de
www.botmuc.snsb.de

About the event

In this exciting love story, we learn about the important interaction between plants and bacteria in the soil and their mutual need for each other. In the garden, we dig up bean roots with the mysterious nodules and take a closer look at them under the microscope like real scientists. Videos and (walk-in!) models show us what is happening beneath the soil and in the roots until we can harvest beans. Finally, we will enjoy a delicious bean soup together around the fire bowl!

Lecturer of the event is Dr Dagmar Hann from LMU, Institute of Genetics. The event is organised by the Münchner Umwelt-Zentrum e.V. and is recommended for families with children aged 6 to 11.

The event is held in German.

Date

September 27, 2025 from 2-4 pm

Location

Ökologisches Bildungszentrum München (ÖBZ)
Englschalkinger Straße 166
D-81927 München

Ticket pricing

Fees: Adults €8 / Children €5 / Families €20

Places available: 20

Registration required via MUZ website: Bohnen und Rhizobien - eine ganz besondere Liebesgeschichte

Science isn't just about knowledge — it's also engaging and entertaining. That’s the spirit behind the CRISPR Whisper Roadshow, a week of events dedicated to the revolutionary CRISPR gene-editing technology. Organised by the DFG SPP 2141 ‘CRISPR-Cas functions beyond defence’ and BioWissKomm, the TRR356 PlantMicrobe is partnering the event together with the German Life Sciences Association (VBIO), the Museum Mensch und Natur (SNSB) and Synthego - CRISPR-Solutions.

The roadshow features:

• Two hands-on lab courses "Selber CRISPRn"
• Special training for teachers "CRISPR macht Schule"
• A theater performance "Micro*Scope" and Science Slam
• Two evening lectures
• A Science Café
• The interactive workshop "Wissen schafft Kunst"

All events are free of charge.

We are pleased that two speakers of the TRR356 are contributing to the programme:

• Prof. Dr Martin Stegmann will present a short lecture on CRISPR applications in plants at the Museum Mensch und Natur on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, starting 7 pm.
• Prof. Dr Martin Parniske will give a talk on "Gene editing in plants: from basic research to application" at the Biocampus Martinsried (Lecture Hall B00.019) on Friday, June 27, 2025, starting 7 pm.

Please register for the lecture evenings informally via e-mail to info@biowisskomm.de

Please note that all events are in German.

For a complete overview, detailed event information, and registration, please visit the CRISPR Whisper Roadshow website.

We look forward to welcoming many visitors!

About the event

Countless microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, can be found in and around plants. They can have a major influence - both positive and negative - on plant health. Using the example of various plants in the Botanical Garden, we learn more about the beneficial coexistence in the form of symbioses.

The tour language is German.

Date

May 6, 2025 at 2.30 pm.

Meeting point is in front of the greenhouse entrance (no registration necessary).

Location

Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de
botmuc.snsb.de

Ticket pricing

regular € 5.50 / reduced € 4.00
under 18 years / pupils over 18 years: free admission
Children under 12 years: only if accompanied by an adult
More info: Admission prices & discounts

About the event

Countless microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, can be found in and around plants. They can have a major influence - both positive and negative - on plant health. Using the example of various plants in the Botanical Garden, we learn more about the beneficial coexistence in the form of symbioses.

The tour language is German.

Date

May 6, 2025 at 2.30 pm.

Meeting point is in front of the greenhouse entrance (no registration necessary).

Location

Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de
botmuc.snsb.de

Ticket pricing

regular € 5.50 / reduced € 4.00
under 18 years / pupils over 18 years: free admission
Children under 12 years: only if accompanied by an adult
More info: Admission prices & discounts

Vernissage at the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg

More than 40 guests could immerse themselves in the world of microbes and learn more about our PlantMicrobe research in a varied afternoon programme at the vernissage in the Green Hall ("Grüner Saal"). Prof. Dr. Gudrun Kadereit (Ö01 project) began her talk by addressing the size relationship between microbes and their environment. ‘I see what you don't see’ is invalidated by the microphotographs, which give the human eye a clear view of the cellular processes.

Afterwards, the winners of the public photo competition ‘Plants and their microcosm’, organised by TRR356 PlantMicrobe Ö01 with the kind support of the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg, were officially announced. The two jury members Carolin Bleese (photographer at LMU Biocampus) and Dr. Thibaud Messerschmid (scientific curator at the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg) presented the winning images and handed over the prizes. The award-winning images can now be seen as a central exhibition component in large format. The other submissions can be viewed as part of a digital exhibition frame.

To round off the event, Dr. Dagmar Hann (Ö01 project) guided the guests through the exhibition and went into more detail about the microphotographs.

Many thanks to all participants for the pleasant event!

If you want to visit the exhibition you can find more info here.

Although invisible to the naked eye, microorganisms are crucial for plant health and thus our food security. While the biological processes take place on a microscopic level inside the cells, their consequences are usually recognisable without zooming in. The outward appearance of leaves, roots and fruit quickly indicates whether a plant is well nourished thanks to living together in symbiosis or whether it is infected by pathogens.

The exhibition 'From the visible to the invisible' (DE “Vom Sichtbaren zum Unsichtbaren”) presents different perspectives on the diverse interactions between plants and microbes through both macro- and microphotographs. Researchers from the TRR356 PlantMicrobe network provide a microscopic view on hidden cellular worlds through their images. At the same time, macrophotographs from the public photo competition 'plants and their microcosm' (DE “Pflanzen und ihr Mikrokosmos”) show fragments of the interplay between plants and microbes that are visible to the naked eye. The exhibition explains in an informative way what is hidden behind the close-up shots.

For children, a colouring table and a digital play station offer exhibition-related activities.

Admission

Admission to the exhibition is included in the regular admission ticket to the Botanical Garden.

Location

Green Hall of the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
D-80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de
www.botmuc.snsb.de

From September 28 to October 6, 2024, the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg will host its annual Thanksgiving exhibition. In line with this year's programme focus on regional legumes, Dr. Dagmar Hann, LMU Biocampus Martinsried, will give a talk on "visible and invisible talents of legumes" on October 3, 2024 at 2.30 pm. In her talk, she will focus in particular on the root nodule symbiosis of legumes. You can find the detailed event programme on the Botanical Garden website: Thanksgiving exhibition

The Thanksgiving exhibition at the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg is organised in cooperation with the TAGWERK Förderverein e.V.

Note: The exhibition and the talk will be in German.

Date & Time

October 3, 2024 - The exhibition programme starts at 10.30 am. The talk by Dr Dagmar Hann will take place at 2.30 pm.

Admission

Price: regular €6.50, reduced €4.50

All information on admission and opening hours of the Botanical Garden can be found here.

Location

Winter Hall of the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de
www.botmuc.snsb.de

After great feedback on the first tour in June, we are now offering the PlantMicrobe photo tour for a second time.

This tour literally focuses on microorganisms and their interactions with plants. Dr. Dagmar Hann, TRR356 scientist at Biocampus Martinsried, and Carolin Bleese, photographer and graphic designer, will guide visitors through the Botanical Garden and not only explain the fascinating interplay between plants and microorganisms, but also show how to capture it photographically.

Whether amateur or advanced photographers, all participants are welcome to bring their own camera and go on a photo tour together. All cameras are suitable, from SLR to system and compact cameras.

The tour takes place in context of the TRR356 public photo competition 'Pflanzen und ihr Mikrokosmos'.

Please note that the tour is in German.

Date & Time

Thursday, July 4, 2024 at 5.00 pm

Meeting point

In front of the greenhouse entrance (no registration required).

Place

Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
D-80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de

More information on the garden visit here.

This summer, we offer many exciting activities focusing on the diverse interaction between plants and microbes. Visitors can look forward to our digital learning station, Meet-the-Scientist, microscopy stations, coloring comics, board games, poster presentations, and more. There is something for everyone, young and old alike.

We are looking forward to your visit!

Date & time

Wednesday, July 3rd 2024

Our TRR356 booth is open to visit from 10.15 am to 2 pm. Please find our acitivities also in Room D00.013.

More information on the Open House 2024

Location

Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich
Faculty of Biology, Biocenter
Großhaderner Str. 2
82152 Planegg-Martinsried
Germany

Map & how to get there

Every year at the beginning of June, the Verband Botanischer Gärten e.V. (en: Association of Botanical Gardens e.V.) invites visitors to a collaborative event including guided tours, workshops and talks. This year, the nationwide theme for the week from 8 to 16 June 2024 is "Von Bohne, Erdnuss und Mimose - fabelhafte Fabaceae" (en: "Beans, peanuts and mimosa - fabulous Fabaceae").

Everyone knows beans, lentils and peas as domestic crops. However, the plant family also impresses with its ability to fix nitrogen. In this context, TRR356 PlantMicrobe offers a guided tour in the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg.

No prior scientific knowledge is required. The tour is in German.

We look forward to welcoming many visitors!

Topic

Fabelhafte Fabaceae – Unsichtbare Talente von Hülsenfrüchtlern

Date & Time

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at 2.30 pm

Meeting point

In front of the greenhouse entrance (no registration required)

Place

Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
D-80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de

More information on the program here.

More information on the garden visit here.

This guided tour literally focuses on microorganisms and their interactions with plants. Dr. Dagmar Hann, TRR356 scientist at Biocampus Martinsried, and Carolin Bleese, photographer and graphic designer, will guide visitors through the Botanical Garden and not only explain the fascinating interplay between plants and microorganisms, but also show how to capture it photographically.

Whether amateur or advanced photographers, all participants are welcome to bring their own camera and go on a photo tour together. All cameras are suitable, from SLR to system, compact and smartphone cameras.

The tour takes place in context of the TRR356 public photo competition "Pflanzen und ihr Mikrokosmos". More information about the competition here.

Please note that the tour is in German.

Date & Time

Tuesday, June 6, 2024 at 10 am

Meeting point

In front of the greenhouse entrance (no registration required).

Place

Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
D-80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de

More information on the garden visit here.

As scientific curator, Dr. Dagmar Hann (LMU) guides through the photo exhibition 'Friends and Foes' in the Green Hall.

Visitors will gain insights into the friendly as well as hostile interactions between plants and microorganisms and learn first-hand how the colourful microphotographs were created.

Date

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Start & meeting point

10 a.m. in the entrance hall of the greenhouses (no registration necessary)

Location

Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Street 65
D-80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de

More information on the garden visit here.

Microorganisms are critical to the health of plants and thus to our food security. However, things are not always on a friendly basis. Quite contrary: on the one hand, plants can form so-called symbiotic communities with microscopic organisms that improve the plant's nutrient supply and protect it from pests; on the other hand, pathogenic microorganisms can cause massive damage to plants and turn out to be deadly enemies.

The exhibition "Friends and Foes - Interaktionen zwischen Mikroben und Pflanzen" presented both sides of plant-microbe interactions in a fascinating way. Researchers from TRR356 used their photographs to provide a microscopic view of biological processes that are normally hidden from the human eye. What may initially look like abstract art due to bizarre shapes, structures and garish colors, shows cellular changes, for example through defense mechanisms of plants or infection strategies of microorganisms, in large format. The exhibition explained in an understandable way for adults and children what is hidden behind the detailed images.

We were delighted to welcome more than 4,500 visitors between November 4 and December 13, 2023. Our next exhibition will follow in 2024.

View the press release

View the event on the website of the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg

Location

Green Hall of the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Menzinger Straße 65
D-80638 Munich
089 17861-321
botgart@snsb.de

More information on the garden visit here.

'Friends & Foes' on Social Media

View Instagram-Reel 1

View Instagram-Reel 2

As part of the TRR356 outreach project and the “Botany for all” series, Dr. Dagmar Hann (LMU) guided interested visitors through the open-air area of the Botanical Garden. The tour led mainly through the crop section and focused on interactions between plants and microbes.

Once there, visitors were first able to learn more about beneficial interactions in the form of symbiosis with fungi and bacteria. For example, they were able to dig up roots of various legumes like beans and red clover for a closer look at nodules while learning more about their nitrogen-fixing function.

Participants also learned about plant diseases and immunity when a few pathogen-infested plants such as mildew on pumpkin or ramularias on rhubarb were discovered. Not surprising for this time of year: when the immune system of plants weakens in autumn, pathogens are more likely to infect them.

The tour ended at this year's new milpa bed as an example of sustainable cultivation in the ecological-genetic section. Also known as the “Three Sisters”, beans, corn and pumpkin are grown in a mixed crop, being beneficial to each other. In keeping with the PlantMicrobe motto, the bean can deliver nitrogen to its two "sisters" through its nitrogen-fixing root nodules.

We thank all participants in August and September for their interest in our research.

More impressions of this tour on Instagram @botanischergarten.muenchen - Reel

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Would you like to take part in the next PlantMicrobe tour? You can find all information on our upcoming tours here on the TRR356 Outreach Events page.

We also welcome all TRR356 colleagues to offer tours on their PlantMicrobe research topics in the Munich Botanical Garden. If anyone is interested, please contact the outreach team (Ö01).

As part of the TRR356 outreach project and the “Botany for all” series, Dr. Dagmar Hann (LMU) guided interested visitors through the open-air area of the Botanical Garden. The tour led mainly through the crop section and focused on interactions between plants and microbes.

Once there, visitors were first able to learn more about beneficial interactions in the form of symbiosis with fungi and bacteria. For example, they were able to dig up roots of various legumes like beans and red clover for a closer look at nodules while learning more about their nitrogen-fixing function.

Participants also learned about plant diseases and immunity when a few pathogen-infested plants such as mildew on pumpkin or ramularias on rhubarb were discovered. Not surprising for this time of year: when the immune system of plants weakens in autumn, pathogens are more likely to infect them.

The tour ended at this year's new milpa bed as an example of sustainable cultivation in the ecological-genetic section. Also known as the “Three Sisters”, beans, corn and pumpkin are grown in a mixed crop, being beneficial to each other. In keeping with the PlantMicrobe motto, the bean can deliver nitrogen to its two "sisters" through its nitrogen-fixing root nodules.

We thank all participants in August and September for their interest in our research.

More impressions of this tour on Instagram @botanischergarten.muenchen - Reel

---

Would you like to take part in the next PlantMicrobe tour? You can find all information on our upcoming tours here on the TRR356 Outreach Events page.

We also welcome all TRR356 colleagues to offer tours on their PlantMicrobe research topics in the Munich Botanical Garden. If anyone is interested, please contact the outreach team (Ö01).

In addition to short lectures, interactive laboratories, guided tours, and academic counseling, the Open House program featured a variety of interactive information booths, giving an overview of current research areas at the LMU Biology Center. Children and adults alike had the opportunity to learn about the research on plant-microbe interactions through various stations, in a playful and engaging manner.

Understanding the scientific background

A dedicated TRR356 booth showcased scientific posters from the poster design course led by Dr. Dagmar Hann (Ö01) and Dr. Daniela Meilinger, highlighting the current state of research on the symbiotic ('friendly') and pathogenic ('enemy') relationship between plants and microorganisms. Additionally, microscopes were available for visitors to glimpse these small creatures.

Playful approach

A treasure hunt designed by LMU students guided participants through the Biology Center premises using puzzles and riddles to explain basic biological concepts and raise awareness of the societal importance of TRR356 research, such as the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. For younger visitors, we offered coloring comics and a board game centered around the interaction between bacteria and plants. To carry the theme of plant health and sustainable agriculture home, visitors received seeds for a Three Sisters garden ('MILPA garden'), which involves mixed cultivation of corn, beans, and pumpkin.

We thank all visitors, organizers, and students for a wonderful day, and we are already looking forward to next year!