Following the established concept of the previous Sulfur Workshops, researchers from the areas of the molecular biology, cell biology and biochemistry mingled with crop researchers, ecotoxicology and atmosphere experts. This striking comprehensiveness is a consequence of the multitude of functions of sulfur in its different oxidation and binding states in the living and non-living environment. 

Topics and thematic focuses

Important topics during the conference were the role of signaling processes including transcription factor networks and sulfur-based protein modifications, the novel metabolic link to epigenetic DNA methylation, the requirement of high-resolution analyses at cell level, emerging findings from the sulfur perspective of so far under-investigated monocot crops, biotechnological approaches and the increasing influence of changing sulfur supplies in natural and agro-ecosystems. As an emerging theme the central role of sulfur and its manifold functions in networks of nutrient and stress signaling was recognized. At the same time, the necessity of more intense research in crop model plants and interaction with the environment from microbiome to ecosystem became evident.

Awards sponsored by the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) went to the PhD students Büsra Elkatmis (Cologne) and Susan Yee (Canberra) for the best oral presentations and Suvajit Basu (Cologne) and Jan-Ole Niemeier (Münster) for the best posters. 

The poster sessions were powered by snacks and drinks, fostering extensive career-promoting discussions between junior and senior researchers. The high share of presenting young researchers (i.e. not having a permanent position yet) emphasises the relevance and actuality of the topics and predicts a strong showing at the next Sulfur Workshop to be held in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2028.

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In December 2025

Markus Wirtz and Rüdiger Hell, Centre for Organismal Studies, University of Heidelberg, Germany