Project Descriptions

A02 Diversity in the impact of karrikin signalling A02 on arbuscular mycorrhiza development

The arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis between most land plants and glomeromycotan fungi increases plant mineral nutrition and therefore has great potential for sustainable agriculture. The development of this symbiosis is largely controlled by the plant. The role of several plant genes involved in AM formation is conserved across species and among di- and monocotyledons.
In contrast, we have identified a striking qualitative difference in the requirement of the karrikin receptor complex (KAI2-MAX2) for AM development among divergent plant species. In some species, the fungus does not attach to the surface of kai2 mutant roots (Gutjahr et al., 2015; Meng et al., 2022), while it can pass the epidermis of kai2 mutants in other species (unpublished), to then colonize the root cortex at reduced levels as compared to the wild-type. The karrikin receptor complex perceives smoke-derived karrikins, which induce germination of fire-following plants.

These are thought to mimic endogenous, yet unknown plant hormones, tentatively called KAI2-ligands (KL). They bind to the nucleo-cytoplasmatically localised α/β-fold hydrolase receptor KAI2, which interacts with the F-box protein MAX2 in the nucleus to mediate ubiquitination and degradation of the karrikin signalling repressor SMAX1. smax1 mutants of different plant species. display increased root colonization, indicating that the the difference lies in the requirement for the KAI2-MAX2 module.

With this project, we want to unravel the molecular basis of the divergent requirement of the KAI2-MAX2 module for AM symbiosis in divergent plant species.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Caroline Gutjahr, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology

A03 The contribution of transposable elements of Blumeria graminis to cross kingdom compatibility with cereal hosts

With this project, the role of transposable elements (TEs) in shaping the genomic organization and effector repertoire of Blumeria hordei will be examined. As a result of adaptation to the host environment, this obligate parasitic fungus shows intra-species diversity at the genome organization as well as effector sequence levels.

This project will address the questions

• whether diversity is observed and selection occurs at TEs and candidate effector genes that derive from TE sequences (Nottensteiner et al. 2018, J Exp. Bot., https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/ery174) and
• what is the contribution of TEs to the chromosomal re-structuring and evolution and regulation of TE-neighbouring housekeeping and effector genes as well as on genome structure.

Principal Investigators:
Prof. Dr. Ralph Hückelhoven, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich
Prof. Aurelien Tellier, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich

A04 Genetic diversity within the basidiomycete yeast Dioszegia modulates reproductive fitness of the obligate pathogen Albugo laibachii on Arabidopsis thaliana

Plants, like animals, are no longer defined as individuals without considering their associated microbial communities, or microbiomes. However, the extent to which plant microbiomes influence pathogen threats is still largely understudied. Obligate plant pathogens depend on living hosts to complete their lifecycle and are responsible for the majority of crop yield losses. Previous research has shown that plants infected by obligate pathogens have altered microbiomes, which suggests that interactions between the pathogen and other microbes in the plant microbiome play a role in the infection. A04 project aims to investigate the genetic diversity within the plant colonizing basidiomycete yeast genus Dioszegia and its role in modulating the colonization efficiency of the white rust causing agent Albugo laibachii on Arabidopsis thaliana. By analyzing the genomes and transcriptomes of the yeasts, the pathogen, and the host plant, relevant genes that impact host colonization efficiency in this tripartite interaction will be identified.

The project also seeks to apply the acquired knowledge to different crop pathogens, particularly rust fungi, to gain insights into the specificity and mechanisms of ubiquitous leaf-associated basidiomycete yeasts and their role in promoting pathogenicity within the plant holobiont.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Eric Kemen, Interfaculty Institute of Microbiology and Infection Medicine Tübingen, University of Tübingen

A05 Allelic variants underlying fitness in different biotic environments

Chemical communication via small compounds (specialized metabolites) is the main route for plants to actively interact with their immediate surroundings. Understanding how microorganisms perceive and respond to specific plant-derived chemical cues, and how metabolite-mediated restructuring of microbial communities affects the ecology of plant-plant interactions, is one of our scientific goals. Within this project, we are using how genetic diversity in A. thaliana to identify alleles that control the phenotypic outcome of microbial restructuring in the context of plant-plant interactions mediated by benzoxazinoid compounds.

To do so, we grew maize, and a benzoxazinoid -synthesis mutants in field soil, to create two distinct biotic environments from a single soil. From this we acquired a rich phenotypic dataset containing detailed phenotypes of more than 400 A. thaliana inbred lines to map genetic loci that control plant growth in these soils. We then mapped genetic variants correlated to soil-history specific growth in a genome-wide association study and are now investigating the genetic variation at candidate loci.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Niklas Schandry, Institute of Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich

A06 Infection-induced germline and somatic mutation rates of resistance genes in plants

Resistance genes are known for their high genetic diversity. However, it is not clear whether they mutate more frequently or whether there is a strong diversifying selection pressure acting on these loci. Increased mutation rates could be mediated by homologous recombination, which is specific to regions with local duplications and increased upon pathogen infection. In consequence pathogen infection could lead to increased mutation rates specifically in genes encoding a response to exactly this stress.

We will test this hypothesis by analysing the actual germline and somatic mutation rates in plant grown with and without pathogen pressure.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Korbinian Schneeberger, Institute of Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich

A07 Genomic and geographic maps of NLRs and matching effectors in the A. thaliana - H. arabidopsidis pathosystem

Our ultimate goal is to learn what drives immune receptor diversity in wild plants. Such knowledge is not only essential for making predictions about infection dynamics in the wild, but also for making crop systems more resilient to pathogen infections.

To achieve this goal, we need to link immune receptor diversity in host plants to diversity in pathogens and pathogen genes. In this project, we will systematically test the recognition of dozens of alleles encoded by two known Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis effector loci by dozens of alleles of the corresponding Arabidopsis thaliana NLR receptor loci. Inventories of effector and receptor alleles will be obtained from a large number of fully assembled pathogen and host genomes.

This project will reveal

• the range of effector alleles recognized by specific receptor alleles,
• the range of receptor alleles capable of recognizing specific effector alleles, and
• how well individual effector-receptor interactions predict compatibility/incompatibility in the whole-organism context.

As a basis for work in the next funding period, we will develop single-cell based methods for the unbiased discovery of effector/receptor interactions.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Detlef Weigel, Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen

A08 Identification and characterisation of genes underlying host specificity/non-host resistance in the wheat powdery mildew pathosystem

Plant pathogens often display a high level of host specificity – they are only able to infect and reproduce on a single or a very narrow range of host species (Panstruga & Moscou, 2020). High levels of host specificity are particularly pronounced among biotrophic plant pathogens, which depend on living host tissue for their survival (Dracatos et al., 2018). Biotrophic fungi, such as the rusts and powdery mildews constitute important agricultural plant pathogens (Savary et al., 2019). From the plant perspective, the phenomenon of host specificity is referred to as non-host resistance, reflecting that a certain plant species is resistant against entire pathogenic fungal species/lineages (Panstruga & Moscou, 2020). The molecular mechanisms and evolutionary trajectories of host specificity and non-host resistance in plant/fungal interactions remain poorly understood, mainly because the underlying genetic components remain unidentified.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Marion Müller, Technical University Munich

B01 Regulation of plasma membrane nanoscale dynamics in plant immune signaling

Plasma membrane (PM) nanoscale dynamics emerges as a regulatory element shaping the outcome of plant-microbe interactions. Recent reports suggest that plants and microbes evolved mechanisms to respectively orchestrate and manipulate the organization of the PM for their own benefit. Our project seeks to leverage plant and microbial molecular and genetic diversity to understand how microbes manipulate membrane nanoscale dynamics and to identify counteracting measures evolved by plants.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Julien Gronnier, Technical University of Munich

B02 Diversification of the BIR receptor kinase family and its impact on plant health and crop yield

BAK1-INTERACTING RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1 (BIR) proteins are negative regulators of receptor-kinase complex formation of their co-receptor BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE 1 (BRI1)-ASSOCIATED KINASE (BAK1) and negative regulators of cell death by interaction with nucleotide binding leucine-rich repeat receptor (NLR) proteins. Thereby, they are linking surface pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) receptors to intracellular effector-triggered immunity (ETI) receptors.

Within the BIR protein family the two traits i) interaction with BAK1 and suppression of BAK1 complex formation and ii) cell death control are developing antagonistically. Molecular evolution drives diversification of molecular traits, often after reduplication of the functional gene. New functions evolve because of redundant genes under selective pressure. Efficient new functions are optimized and persist, while inefficient innovations are not under positive selective pressure and get lost.

The question is why and how the two molecular traits in the BIR protein family are diversifying, what is the selective pressure on the family evolution, and what is the impact of the innovation and diversification on plant health and crop yield.

We will identify genetic sequence adaptations underlying the different traits in the BIR protein family and study the effect of these sequence modifications on the structural interaction platform of BIRs with receptor kinases and NLR proteins.

Principal Investigator: PD Dr. Brigit Kemmerling, ZMBP - Center for Plant Molecular Biology

B03 Effector-induced manipulation of host polyamine levels

Understanding of how a TAL effector of the root pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum promotes bacterial wilt disease Ralstonia solanacearum is a globally distributed, broad-host plant pathogen, infecting many important crops. It infects plant roots and injects effector proteins into host cells, hijacking cellular functions and manipulating the host. We are studying Brg11, an R. solanacearum effector protein that causes increased expression of the host enzyme arginine decarboxylase (ADC) (Wu et al., 2019). ADC is involved in synthesis of polyamines, a group of essential metabolites involved in growth, development, and stress responses. Based on preliminary results, we have two hypotheses as to how Brg11-induced metabolic changes aid R. solanacearum infection. Firstly, over-expression of ADC boosts hydroxycinnamic acid-polyamine conjugates (HCA-PAs), a group of metabolites with antimicrobial activities (Liu et al., 2018). R. solanacearum is able to degrade such compounds (Lowe et al., 2015), leading to the hypothesis that Brg11 induces HCA-PAs to inhibit growth of niche competitors. Our second hypothesis is that the Brg11-induced increase in PA levels and their conjugation to HCAs could deplete the HCA pool, which is needed for the synthesis of suberin/lignin-based cell wall reinforcements to ward off R. solanacearum. A third working model suggests that PAs may induce lateral root formation, creating natural root openings, favouring infection by R. solanacearum.

REFERENCES
Wu et al. (2019), Cell Host Microbe 26, 638-649.
Liu et al. (2022) Front Plant Sci 13, 922119.
Lowe et al. (2015) Mol Plant-Microbe Interact 28, 286-297.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thomas Lahaye, ZMBP – General Genetics, University of Tübingen

B04 Exploring the functional diversification of the C4 proteins encoded by geminiviruses

This project addresses the functional diversity of C4 proteins from geminiviruses, which are essential components of symptom expression by these pathogens. C4 proteins are the most divergent proteins within this virus family, and the only viral proteins subject to positive selection. Exploiting the natural diversity of C4 proteins, this project will analyze the functional diversity of C4 homologues and identify plant pathways, processes and proteins targeted by different variants of the geminivirus C4 proteins.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Rosa Lozano-Durán, ZMBP, Plant Biochemistry, University of Tübingen

B05 Functional diversification within the microbial NLP superfamily

This project will analyze a subclass of the microbial family of proteins called necrosis- and ethylene-inducing peptide 1-like proteins (NLPs). Functional diversification has taken place in this family since the protein group under study lacks cytolytic activity. We intend to elucidate the physiological role of non-cytolytic NLPs (ncNLPs) in host plant infection as well as their molecular mechanism of action. NcNLP overexpression and biochemical binding studies will provide information about the virulence function of these proteins, the molecular nature of their plant targets and thus their molecular mechanism of action.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Thorsten Nürnberger, Centre of Plant Molecular, University of Tübingen

B06 Sequence adaptation of Symbiosis Receptor-like Kinase (SymRK) enabling nitrogen-fixing root nodule development

SymRK is a receptor kinase essential for the development of both arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) and root nodule symbiosis (RNS). In the course of evolution, SymRK has undergone a sequence adaptation that is required for an additional function, namely the development of RNS. Symrk mutants of the legume Lotus japonicus cannot develop AM and RNS. While SymRK orthologs from all tested flowering plants restored the ability to develop AM in this mutant, this was only possible for the RNS with SymRK orthologs from the Eurosid clade. In this project, the sequence differences between SymRK orthologs that are critical for this additional function - and their mechanistic consequences - will be identified.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Martin Parniske, Institute of Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilans-Universität Munich

B07 Genetic and functional diversity of Lotus SymRK homologous receptor kinases in root endosymbiosis

High yields in crops are equated with the use of fertilizers, while plants have developed their own solutions to nutrient deficiencies. For example, legume roots accommodate microorganisms, forming root endosymbiosis. Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (AM) formed with Glomeromycota fungi and Root Nodule Symbiosis (RNS) formed with nitrogen-fixing bacteria facilitate the acquisition of essential nutrients such as phosphate from the soil and the fixation of atmospheric dinitrogen, respectively. Despite their morphological and physiological differences, AM and RNS share a set of common symbiosis genes conserved in plants. These genes are essential for cell developmental programmes leading to intracellular accommodation of endosymbionts and include the membrane-bound Symbiosis Receptor Kinase (SymRK). SymRK, is a member of the Malectin-Like Domain Leucine-Rich Repeat Receptor Kinase (MLD-LRR-RK) family and is indispensable for epidermal infection of AM fungi and rhizobia bacteria. Since these symbioses develop largely in tissues below the epidermis, where SymRK does not appear to be essential, we hypothesized that other members of this uncharacterised gene family may also be involved in controlling symbiotic host cell development. To explore this hypothesis, we identified a family of SymRK Homologous Receptor-Like Kinases (SHRKs) in the model legume Lotus japonicus. In a first preliminary genetic survey, we observed that knockout of individual SHRKs potentially leads to at least three distinct phenotypes in AM or RNS, revealing functionally distinct sub-categories within this receptor subfamily. This project aims to uncover the molecular details responsible for this functional diversification. We anticipate unravelling novel regulatory hubs for symbiotic accommodation of AM fungi or rhizobia bacteria and assessing the genetic differences underlying their quantitative contribution to symbiosis.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Kate Parys, Institute of Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich

B08 Functional diversity of the Arabidopsis thaliana SHRK family

ShRK signalling in plant-microbe interactions
Receptor-like kinases (RLKs) are modular proteins that enable plant cells to monitor their environment and e.g. detect the presence of microbes. Most RLKs consist of an extracellular sensor domain that perceives exogenous or endogenous stimuli and an intracellular domain that executes downstream signalling. The extracellular domain can be comprised of different domains and architectures; most members of the LRRI-RLK family, for example, contain an extracellular malectin-like domain (MLD), which is connected to leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) via a GDPC amino acid sequence motif (MLD-LRR-RKs). MLD-LRR-RLKs are implicated in the accommodation of beneficial (Symbiosis Receptor-like kinase, SymRK; Lotus japonicus) and detrimental (e.g. SymRK-homologous Receptor-like Kinases, AtSHRKs; Arabidopsis thaliana) microbes. Aggregated data on SymRK and AtSHRKs suggest a complex regulation of MLD-LRR-RLKs. We found that at least three distinct AtSHRK paralogs are involved in the modulation of the interaction of the obligate biotrophic oomycete and the causative agent of downy mildew disease Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) with A. thaliana. We will explore the mechanistic details of SHRK signalling and the functional consequences of the ancestral sequence diversification among SHRK paralogs. We have identified a suite of putative SHRK interactors via yeast two-hybrid screens. These comprise diverse interaction specificities with either all three or only one or two SHRKs pointing towards SHRK-specific interactomes and thus potentially distinct signalling cascades. We will launch comparative biochemical, biophysical, genetic, phytopathological, and cell biological approaches to study the role of each SHRK and its interactors in the Arabidopsis-Hpa interaction. Overall, we expect to illuminate signalling mechanisms of MLD-LRR-RLKs and increase our understanding of the Arabidopsis-Hpa association. In the long run, our knowledge about MLD-LRR-RLKs might contribute to the targeted manipulation of diseases in agriculturally relevant crops.

The malectin-like domain leucine-rich repeat receptor kinase (MLD-LRR-RK) SymRK belongs to the LRR-I family of receptor kinases and is a key component in the successful establishment of plant root symbioses1-3. SymRK is subjected to proteolytic cleavage in planta giving rise to a free MLD and a truncated and highly-unstable receptor protein, which preferentially interacts with NFR54. The overabundance of SymRK results in the spontaneous activation of symbiosis signalling in the absence of rhizobia5. Release of the MLD as well as phosphorylation in the kinase domain are crucial for proper symbiotic development in the epidermis but not in the cortex6-7. Taken together, these data imply a complex regulation of MLD-LRR-RKs to fine-tune receptor activation and signal attenuation. Intriguingly, MLD-LRR-RKs are not only implicated in the accommodation of beneficial microbes (SymRK; Lotus japonicus). In Arabidopsis thaliana, SymRK homologous receptor kinase 1 (SHRK1) and SHRK2 support the reproductive success of the obligate biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis (Hpa) and contribute to the proper development of the oomycete within plant cells8. However, it is unknown how SHRKs impact the Arabidopsis-Hpa interaction and the underlying signalling events remain elusive. It is our long-term goal to illuminate the mechanistic details of SHRK signalling in plant-microbe interactions.

References
1. Stracke, S. et al. A plant receptor-like kinase required for both bacterial and fungal symbiosis. Nature (2002).
2. Markmann, K., Giczey, G. & Parniske, M. Functional adaptation of a plant receptor-kinase paved the way for the evolution of intracellular root symbioses with bacteria. PLoS Biol. (2008).
3. Gherbi, H. et al. SymRK defines a common genetic basis for plant root endosymbioses with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, rhizobia, and Frankiabacteria. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. (2008).
4. Antolín-Llovera, M., Ried, M. K. & Parniske, M. Cleavage of the symbiosis receptor-like kinase ectodomain promotes complex formation with nod factor receptor 5. Curr. Biol. (2014).
5. Ried, M. K., Antolín-Llovera, M. & Parniske, M. Spontaneous symbiotic reprogramming of plant roots triggered by receptor-like kinases. Elife. (2014).
6. Kosuta, S. et al. Lotus japonicus symRK-14 uncouples the cortical and epidermal symbiotic program. Plant J. (2011).
7. Saha, S. et al. Gatekeeper Tyrosine Phosphorylation of SYMRK Is Essential for Synchronizing the Epidermal and Cortical Responses in Root Nodule Symbiosis. Plant Physiol. (2016).
8. Ried, M. K. et al. A set of Arabidopsis genes involved in the accommodation of the downy mildew pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis. PLoS Pathog. (2019).

Principal Investigator: Dr. Martina Ried, Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry

B09 Dissection of CrRLK1L signalling pathways regulating disease susceptibility and resistance to powdery mildew

The receptor kinase FERONIA (FER) is a central regulator of plant growth and stress responses. FER perceives endogenous RALF peptides to regulate growth, reproduction and plant immunity. FER functions as a RALF-regulated scaffold and supports formation of cell surface immune receptor complexes to restrict bacterial invasion. By contrast, FER acts as a susceptibility factor for adapted powdery mildew fungi. In project B09, we study the underlying molecular mechanism.

We explore how FER's function as a powdery mildew susceptibility factor is correlated with RALF peptide perception and FER-RALF-mediated apoplastic pH modulations. FER is a member of the CATHARANTHUS ROSEUS RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1-LIKE (CrRLK1L) family and multiple members are demonstrated RALF receptors, too.

We obtained genetic evidence that FER-related CrRLK1Ls can either support or inhibit powdery mildew infection. We study their genetic and biochemical interplay with FER and harness CrRLK1L and RALF genetic diversity to unravel molecular signatures determining opposing powdery mildew infection outcomes.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Martin Stegmann, Institute of Botany, University of Ulm

Z02 Comparative ultrastructure of plant-microbe interfaces

The visualization of (ultra)-structural details of plant-microbe interfaces (PMIs), such as membranes, vesicles, membrane tubes or cell walls is central to their biological and functional understanding. Historically they are documented by individual snapshots selected for publications and/or drawings of the intuitively reconstructed structures. The resulting imaging - and thus knowledge - gap is in stark contrast to the central biological relevance of the PMI structure.

Here we aim to close this gap by 1) dissecting and comparing 3-dimensional (3D) structures of a diverse range of PMIs using (cryo) transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), or focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB/SEM) techniques and by combining this with proteomic data. We will be able to pinpoint similar and specific structural features among the PMIs studied within TRR356 with a focus on intracellular PMIs.

The comparative image repository of plant-microbe interaction structures generated in Z02 will serve to 2) investigate structural consequences of genetic variations of the host or of the microbial interaction partner.

Last but not least we can 3) bridge the gap between ultrastructure and molecular function, by determining the subcellular localisation and fate of molecular actors like plant receptors and receptor complexes involved in the detection of microbial signals and presence.

Most importantly, we will 4) make the generated data available online to the research community by using the GUI accessible image and metadata database system provided by the TRR356 research data management system VERDA.

Principal Investigator: Prof. Dr. Andreas Klingl, Plant Development, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich

Z03 Comparative genomics to study the diversity and conserved components inherent to the molecular interface of plant-microbe interactions

The elucidation of the molecular factors underlying cross-kingdom interactions and their interplay is of central interest. A vast body of molecular data sets and mechanistic insights have been accumulated for a number of model organisms. From the evolutionary perspective, biological functions are shaped by selection and are conserved if they provide a “selective effect”. Thus, to understand, deepen and generalize mechanistic insights and distinguish evolutionarily conserved or adaptive signals from taxon-specific “noise”, a comparative study of cross-kingdom relationships is required. Phylogenetic comparative genomics and phylogenomics allow the inference of ancestral, conserved traits, co-evolutionary patterns and lineage- or niche-specific selective adaptations across genomes. The rise and economization of -omics methods as well as the increasing technological and analytic opportunities bear the potential of a more rapid molecular study of organismic interactions on a larger taxonomic scale. This allows the detection and comparative analysis of the underlying key factors that transcend beyond molecular model organisms. With currently more than 400 ongoing genome sequencing projects in the phylum Plants/Streptophyta - a very rich “big data” information resource is available.

In the proposed project, we aim to implement an analytic, comparative framework that builds on the comprehensive toolkit and vast data collections others and we have established over the last decades. Within the TRR313 consortium, our work will serve to both research foci. We will develop, apply and share algorithms and resources to establish a multi-scale, evolutionary systems biology framework, i.e. a framework that links genomics, phenomics, phylogenomics, population genomics and systems biology into a comparative perspective of cross-kingdom interactions.

Principal Investigators:
Prof. Dr. Klaus Mayer; Plant Genome and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Munich
& School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich

Prof. Dr. Nadia Kamal, Computational Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich
& Plant Genome and Systems Biology, Helmholtz Munich

I01 Virtual Environement for Research Data and Analysis (VERDA)

The VERDA project implements the central information infrastructure for the data-driven and computational research of the TRR356. VERDA will provide active support through a Data Steward, and an extensive training and support program. OpenStack-based computing resources at Tübingen and Munich are made available through a convenient science gateway including access to Jupyter notebooks, workflows, and a wealth of useful tools.

VERDA will thus enable researchers with and without IT experience to conduct large-scale bioinformatics and data science analyses, and to efficiently capture, handle, share, annotate and publish their research data targeting all dimensions of diversity in plant-microbe interactions.

Principal Investigators:
Dr. Stephan Hachinger, Leibniz-Rechenzentrum
Dr. Jens Krüger, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Prof. Dr. Klaus Mayer, School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich

Ö01 Outreach project: Beneficial and harmful plant-microbe interactions – and how genetic diversity matters

In 2015, the United Nations agreed on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - at least six of them are strongly linked to plant health and agriculture. To develop and promote sustainable agricultural solutions, engagement and open discussion between science and the broad public are fundamental elements.

The concept of TRR 356 therefore includes, in addition to the research projects, a broad public outreach project which is primarily based at the Botanical Garden in Munich. Hereby, we want to inform the public about progress and findings in the field of plant-microbe interactions and their relevance for food security.

In addition to exhibitions, a teaching path, and various hands-on projects that we offer at the Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg and at the Biocenter in Martinsried, we are also planning public symposia and panel discussions on TRR356. Moreover, take a listen to our scientific podcasts with participating scientists.

The events are open for everyone who is interested - whether with or without previous scientific knowledge. To provide age-appropriate information about the topic of plant health, there will be special offers for school classes, families and students.

Dates and detailed information about TRR356 events can be found in the Events section.

Principal Investigators:

• Prof. Dr. Gudrun Kadereit, Systematik, Biodiversität & Evolution der Pflanzen, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich
• Dr. Dagmar Hann, Institute for Genetics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich