German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG)

Das Team  unserer Zeitschrift Plant Biology trauert tief um seinen langjährigen und hochgeschätzten Kollegen Prof. Dr. Philipp Franken. Mit großer Bestürzung haben wir erfahren, dass er im Dezember nach schwerer Krankheit im Alter von nur 65 Jahren viel zu früh von uns gegangen ist. Editor in Chief, Prof. Dr. Christiane Werner (Freiburg) skizziert seine wissenschaftlichen Stationen und was Prof. Franken auszeichnete. 

From Thursday, February 26^th to Sunday, March 1^st, 2026, members of the international maize genetics community gathered at the Maritim Hotel in Cologne, Germany, for the 68^th Annual Maize Genetics Meeting. The meeting was organized by Frank Hochholdinger (University of Bonn), who acted as chair and local host, along with the team from the maize genetics meeting steering committee. The maize meeting is one of the longest-running conferences in plant genetics and serves as a central forum for researchers working on the genetics of maize (Zea mays). The conference, which was also supported by our German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG), had taken place for the 5^th time outside the United States and for the first time in Germany. It brought together 412 scientists from 26 countries to present and discuss recent advances in maize genetics. The program featured six invited plenary talks, 30 short talks and 30 poster lightening presentations. In two poster sessions, 273 posters were discussed, creating numerous opportunities for scientific exchange and networking within the community. 

The Central German Plant Physiology Conference, which brings together young scientists from four universities every year, took place for the 24^th time, this year in Dresden as scheduled. In addition to providing a very important forum for presentations by early career scientists (ECRs), the conference also plays a major role in promoting general scientific exchange between neighbouring universities in the field of plant sciences. Approximately 50 participants registered with a total of 20 presentations, 15 of which were given by researchers ranging from bachelor's and master's students to doctoral candidates. Once again, the sessions were chaired by ECRs. For those, who have been participating for some time, the development of scientific projects over the years is exciting, and it is possible to follow the many advances in the particular topics. This conference is free of charge for participants, since DBG's financial support enabled us organisers to provide well-equipped coffee breaks and to provide financial support to seven actively participating students at the bachelor's or master's level as well.

The topics presented ranged from plant development to abiotic stress and biotic interactions, as well as several contributions dealing with method development. The latter inspired many participants with new ideas. Techniques included - in addition to physiology - biochemical, molecular and genetic methods. Overall, the diversity of topics and the quality of the presentations were highly praised. Since the presentations were almost exclusively given by ECRs, a great deal of data from as yet unpublished projects was presented. These were discussed in detail, with the many coffee breaks again being put to good use. The conference format, consisting of two half-days, proved successful once again, as discussions continued not only during the scientific programme and coffee breaks, but also during the joint dinner afterwards at a local brewery. Organiser Prof. Dr. Jutta Ludwig-Müller reports about the topics, new ideas and the focus of research.

Prof. Dr. Christopher Grefen and his team invite you to this year's Botanik-Tagung, International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences to Bochum, Germany, from September 6 to 10, 2026. The conference motto, From Industrial Past to Green Future, highlights the structural change of the Ruhr area, from coal mining and heavy industries to the increasingly important issues of climate protection, sustainability, and preservation of biodiversity, with plant sciences at the forefront of this transformation. In nine plenary lectures, internationally renowned researchers will present their latest research findings. The invited guests will travel from Great Britain, the USA, Austria, Israel, and numerous research institutions in Germany, among other places. Eighteen thematic sessions and a public evening lecture will build the scientific framework of the conference. The program will be complemented by poster presentations, workshops, and extensive opportunities for professional exchange, which will offer early career researchers (ECRs) in particular the opportunity to get to know the people behind the papers. Registration is now open. 

Important dates are: 

• Early-bird deadline: 30 April 2026
• Standard registration: 1 May – 28 August 2026 (late/onsite fees apply thereafter)
• Abstract submission deadline: 31 May 2026
• Notification of acceptance: late June – early July 2026

UPDATE 23^rd March 2026: All Travel Grants have been assigned. 

In order to enable as many aspiring plant scientists as possible to participate, our DBG is awarding up to 60 travel grants for members, who come to our Botanik-Tagung, International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences, in Bochum (September 6 to 10, 2026) and present a poster or give an oral (short) presentation, each worth up to € 400 maximum for partial reimbursement conference fees, accommodation costs, or travel expenses. You are welcome to join our society prior to your application. The application form for the travel grants will be available starting 9^th March 2026 (9:30 a.m.) in DBG`s intranet. The grants will be awarded after membership evaluation in the order in which applications are received. So, it pays to be quick.

Details on the intranet (prior member log-in required)

With 26 final theses in the plant sciences our DBG has awarded more early career plant scientists (ECRs) in the last year than ever before, since our German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) first granted this master thesis prize at the participating universities in 2014. The topics of the theses stretched from ecology and questions of interactions with other organisms or the environment, (epi-)genetic regulation, morphological studies, enzyme reactions, protein chemistry, evolution, photosynthesis, biotic and abiotic stresses to the analysis of resistance in crops. Once again this demonstrates the diversity of the scientific disciplines that are represented in DBG. Our board especially thanks the on-site contact persons at the participating universities, who took over the sometimes not-so-easy selection process, thereby functioning as a jury.

The nominations for DBG’s three prestigious awards for aspiring early career plant scientists (ECRs) are open now. DBG members and others, please nominate suitable candidates for the Eduard Strasburger Prize, the Wilhelm Pfeffer Prize and the Horst Wiehe Prize. Awardees will be invited to present their work orally at the next International Conference of our German Society for Plant Sciences, the Botanik-Tagung. Application deadline is 26^th April 2026.

The International Symposium on Cereal Meristems and Stem Cell Systems, organised by DFG Research Unit FOR235 Cereal Stem Cell Systems: Establishment, Maintenance and Termination (CSCS), brought together around 90 scientists from 14 countries at Regensburg University, Germany, from 28^th of September to 1^st of October 2025. The Symposium was the first international scientific conference that focused on the frontiers of plant stem cell and meristem science in cereals and other crops through the presentation of cutting-edge research.  The organisers around Prof. Dr Thomas Dresselhaus and Dr. Melanie Heinrich report about keynotes, awarded contributions of early career researchers (ECRs) and their hope that this meeting will prompt further conferences in this emerging scientific discipline.

Ein alter Ginkgobaum im Botanischen Garten Marburgs ist seit mehr als hundert Jahren stiller Zeuge leiser Veränderungen im Leben dreier Menschen: eines Neurowissenschaftlers im Jahr 2020, eines Studenten im Jahr 1972 und einer Studentin im Jahr 1908. Den wie Poesie erzählten Film, mit seinen detailreichen Pflanzenaufnahmen, Zeitrafferdarstellungen und mikroskopischen Aufnahmen aus Zellen kann die stellvertretende Sprecherin unserer Sektion für Angewandte Botanik, Prof. Dr. Jutta Papenbrock, auch anderen ans Herz legen. Sie hat den Film bereits gesehen, der aktuell von Pandora-Film an die lokalen Arthouse-Kinos verliehen wird. Die Pflanzenwissenschaftlerin hofft, dass die Pflanzenvielfalt und wissenschaftlichen Details dazu animieren, die Pflanzenwelt im täglichen Leben bewusster wahrzunehmen.

Deadlines are approaching for members, who want to foster the career of an early career researcher (ECR) by awarding them with our scientific prizes, especially the Strasburger Prize, to be invited to present his/her work in a talk in a plenary session at our international Botanik-Tagung.
ECRs, who are not jet a member of our new YoungDBG network for early career researchers are now able to join it easily.
A new Strasburger workshop on complexome profiling in plants will invite ECRs soon.
The Editors of our journal Plant Biology recommend a viewpoint article that proposes a solution to conserve plant genetic resources of recalcitrant seeds that are hard to store. A review summarizes the methodological advances to study root responses to multifactorial constraints and multiple stressors. And another review about a RNA surveillance mechanism with an opportunity to develop viral interference in plants.

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Unter dem Dach des Verbandes Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland (VBIO) wird zukünftig das „Netzwerk Biologische Sicherheit (NBS)“ als Arbeitskreis tätig sein, das als bundesweite Vernetzung der Beauftragten für Biologische Sicherheit (BBS) an Hochschulen dient. In seiner Rückschau auf den Monat Februar verweist der Biologie-Dachverband auf eine Kampagne, die zeigt, welche Rolle Naturwissenschaften (inkl. Mathe) in einer sich wandelnden Welt spielt und welche Perspektiven sich jungen Menschen nach einem mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Studium eröffnen. Der VBIO hat sich ferner an der Allianz universitärer und außeruniversitärer Biodiversitätsforschung in Deutschland zur Evaluation der EU-Verordnung zu Access and Benefit Sharing beteilligt und erinnert an die laufende Ausschreibung des Ars legendi-Fakultätenpreis für herausragende Hochschullehre in der Biologie, die bis zum 4. Mai läuft.

Link zur Februar-Ausgabe (Log-In erforderlich)

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Wie die Forschungskürzungen in den USA auch die Wissenschaft in Deutschland treffen war Thema eines Wissenschafts-Podcasts in Bayern2. Im Podcast „Ein Jahr Trump – So verändert er Deutschlands Forschung" floss auch die Expertise des Präsidenten des Dachverbandes, Prof. Markus Engstler, ein. Das ist eines der vielen Themen aus der Rückschau auf den Monat Januar des VBIO, des Verbandes Biologie, Biowissenschaften & Biomedizin in Deutschland. 

Link zur Januar-Ausgabe (Log-In erforderlich)

YoungDBG, the new network for early career plant scientists is beginning to take shape. DBG is looking forward to its Conference in September in Bochum and has recently awarded more master theses with prizes than ever.
The Editors of our journal Plant Biology recommend three reviews on molecules to inhibit plant stress and to enhance crop resilience, on plant molecules that could be used as biopesticides and about the tasiR-ARF pathway in plants. They also suggest to read the viewpoint on why tropical forests vary in their response to hydrologic changes with implications for modelling. And they invite papers for a special issue on tetrapyrrole photoreceptors. The newsletter lists more than 50 conferences and scientific meetings, webinars and workshops, as well as summer schools for early career researchers (ECRs).

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Der Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland (VBIO) berichtet knapp über das zweitägige Treffen der Präsidiumsmitglieder des Dachverbandes Anfang Dezember in Würzburg, lädt zum SoftSkill Seminar und fasst wichtige Nachrichten aus Forschungs- und Hochschulpolitik im Dezember zusammen. 

Link to December issue (Log-In required)

DBG announces to establish a new network for early career scientists, asks for your input on topics to be addressed to all DBG members, and has awarded new Masters of Science with prizes.
The Editors of our journal Plant Biology recommend three reviews: on how multiple hormones orchestrate successful flowering and reproduction, about current knowledge on biosynthesis and function of phytosterols, sterol conjugates, brassinosteroids, and specialized steroidal metabolites in the very productive monocot Duckweed, and about the hydraulic traits and water use strategies of mountain and dwarf shrubs.
Besides positive news from the EU, you can find several funding opportunities in this issue. The newsletter also lists conferences, workshops, and other meetings for early career researchers and the scientific community. Please be aware that several (early bird) registrations will already end around the turn of the year or even earlier.

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Anfang Dezember lud der Dach-Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland (VBIO) gemeinsam mit den wissenschaftlichen Fachgesellschaften aus Physik (DPG), Geowissenschaften (DVGeo), Mathematik (DMV) und Chemie (GDCh) wieder zu einem Parlamentarischen Abend in die Parlamentarische Gesellschaft nach Berlin ein. Zum Thema „Versorgungssicherheit“ vermittelten die Expertinnen und Experten aus der Wissenschaft Einblicke in aktuelle Herausforderungen und konkrete Forschungsprojekte, in so unterschiedlichen Bereichen wie „Rohstoffe“, „Energie“, „Grundwasser“, „Ernährung“ und „Antibiotika“. Nachrichten aus der Forschungs- und Hochschulpolitk runden den Rückblick auf die Aktivitäten des VBIO im Vormonat ab. 

Link to November issue (Log-In required)

DBG recently has awarded three early career scientists for their outstanding plant science paper. The confirmed speakers of our international Conference next year in Bochum are worth to already mark your calendars today (6^th to 10^th of September 2026). A Canada based descendant of a famous German plant scientist made a big donation to DBG to award ECRs.
One of our Sections introduces the keynote speakers of their upcoming conference at the beginning of next year and three of our other Sections report about their recent scientific meetings and the newly elected speaker of one of them.
The Editors of our journal Plant Biology recommend five reviews: about transposable elements, the role of cell walls in Cuscuta parasitism, the sustainable production of capsaicinoids through organellar genome editing, on how forests will respond to compound droughts, as well as about drought responses in ornamental plants for horticulture incl. strategies for resilience. 

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Wie Hundsrosen ihre ungeraden Chromosomensätze bei der Fortpflanzung aufteilen, welcher medizinisch interessante Wirkstoff gleich zweimal unabhängig in zwei Pflanzen entstand und welches Splicing-Protein Wachstum und Stressanpassung ausbalancieren hilft, steht in unserer Forschungsrubrik.
DBG informs about current activities for ECRs and about our society-owned scientific journal. Half of our Sections are looking forward to their conferences in the summer months.
Three reviews in the Journal Plant Biology summarize current knowledge about anthocyanin pigmentation and promising usage, about bees, flowers and UV as well as about Ginkgo biloba flavonoids. And a research paper reveals, which trees in temperate forests are drought resistant and how they influence each other.

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Wann Wurzel-Gravitropismus unterdrückt wird, was Sorghumhirse noch interessanter macht und welcher Organismus nach mehreren tausend Jahren erfolgreich wiederbelebt wurde, sind Themen in der Forschungsrubrik. Außerdem: zur Zukunft wissenschaftlichen Publizierens. 
ECRs hurry up to register and submit your abstracts to take part in the conferences of three of DBG’s Sections (Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Natural Products, and Applied Botany), since their deadlines are coming soon. 
The Editor of our journal Plant Biology suggests to read a review summarizing where microRNAs contribute to gene regulation circuits and a viewpoint article about a new and more precise method to study microtubule-related processes. 
Please be aware that several other (early bird) registrations for 29 listed plant science congresses and DBG-supported meetings will also end on 30^th or 31^st May.

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Die Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft (DBG) begrüßt den Vorschlag der EU-Kommission vom 5. Juli 2023 zur Regulierung der Nutzung von mit neuen genomischen Techniken (NGT) erzeugten Sorten, um das Gentechnik-Recht an den aktuellen Wissensstand anzupassen. Es hat sich aus wissenschaftlicher Sicht als sinnvoll erwiesen, neue Pflanzensorten nach ihren Eigenschaften und nicht nach Art ihrer Erzeugung zu bewerten. Die DBG schätzt die Vorschläge der EU zur Kategorisierung und den einzelnen genetischen Änderungen im Folgenden ein und schlägt konkrete Präzisierungen vor.

Eine online-Befragung unter Pflanzenwissenschaftler*innen in Deutschland zeigt großen Bedarf an Freilandstudien mit gentechnisch veränderten Pflanzen. Nur mit Studien im Freiland lassen sich aussagekräftige Ergebnisse z.B. zur Ertragsbildung sowie Klima- und Stresstoleranz gewinnen. Vor gezielter Zerstörung gesicherte Freilandflächen (sog. Protected Sites) sind ein Lösungsansatz. Für 83 Prozent der Teilnehmer*innen an der Umfrage eröffnen sich damit neue Forschungsperspektiven. Die Einrichtung solcher zerstörungssicheren Freilandflächen kann die internationale Konkurrenzsituation der Pflanzenwissenschaften in Deutschland grundlegend verbessern. Dies ist wichtig, weil derzeit auch genomeditierte Pflanzen unter die Regularien des Gentechnikgesetzes fallen. Deshalb besteht dringender Handlungsbedarf  ̶̶  unabhängig von einer zukünftigen, an den Stand wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnis angepassten Neuregulierung genomeditierter Pflanzen in der EU.

zu den Ergebnissen und Abbildungen

The European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) published a statement against the war and support for scientists. EPSO, in which our DBG is an associate, wants to contribute to building a better Europe and world by an expanding list to facilitate refugee scientists from Ukraine in finding a host lab.

Read EPSO’s statement, in which they are referring to international law (Geneva Convention and UN convention) here:
https://epsoweb.org/epso/scientists-contributing-to-building-a-better-europe-and-world-stop-war-in-ukraine-offer-support-to-ukrainian-scientists/2022/02/28/

If you would like to add a new lab to this list, use their continuously updated Google-form: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRGe5Da_b6GGyC6VT7CLGViGs06SzeuX7wRKpC4K5tnvlhgg/viewform?usp%3Dsf_link__;!!C5qS4YX3!XnBWdlPAURTnwcPm57vNyo8-fN22nGHUvvPxL_RNPg4FR-40RmUPbMQ0l5qxmDHB$&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1646826005305500&usg=AOvVaw24bwgzVzsQ060tb-Fs3sTi

If you are looking for a labs, use their continuously updated Google list: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HqTKukfJGpmowQnSh4CoFn3T6HXcNS1T1pK-Xx9CknQ/edit#gid=320641758

132 European research institutes and science associations – with DBG being one of them - strongly recommend to the European Council, European Parliament and the European Commission to revise the existing directive for precision breeding, also known as genome editing. This is not only important for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis but also since genome-editing offers many solutions for a fast, relatively simple and much more directed way to create resilience to climate change compared to previous breeding techniques. Moreover the breeding of plants that are less dependent on fertilizers and pesticides is more efficient. Use of these methods preserves natural resources of our planet and supports to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations as well as the Green Deal of the EU. The European Sustainable Agriculture through Genome Editing (EU-SAGE) Network, under which the institutions named above are unified, recommends the European Commission to endorse this message for the benefit and welfare of all EU citizens and to adapt the current regulations to use genome-editing for crop and plant breeding to recent scientific results. In its Open Statement the EU-SAGE network cites scientific studies that demonstrate the successful creation of genome-edited plants with resilience to climate change and resistance against pests and diseases and therefore higher yields and revenues. Other studies have proven to reduce the dependency on pesticides by improving resistance against diseases in rice, wine, wheat, and grapefruit. In addition precision breeding accelerates the introduction of healthy traits into vegetables and fruits, as studies have shown.

Read EU-SAGE's whole open statement (pdf)

DBG promotes the positions of the German Life Sciences Association VBIO on basic research in the life sciences that need to be appreciated, extended and communicated.

Sorry, basic text in German only

Grundlagenforschung braucht mehr Wertschätzung, eine wirksame und längerfristige Finanzierung und die strukturelle Absicherung der dort Beschäftigten. Auch die Wissenschaftskommunikation muss ausgebaut werden, fordert der Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin in Deutschland e.V. (VBIO) in seinem Positionspapier. Diese Positionen teilt die DBG, die im Dachverband der Biolog*innen Mitglied ist, und das Papier gemeinsam mit weiteren 12 wissenschaftlichen Fachgesellschaften gezeichnet hat.

Quelle: VBIO

The German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG) and its Section Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology (SPPMB) jointly reach out to the newly elected European Parliament and the European Commission to adjust the old EU legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMO), issued in 2001, to current scientific knowledge and international stands. Together with 115 other scientific organisations and institutes, they suggest using the potential of precision breeding techniques like Genome Editing to enable sustainable agriculture and food production in the EU.

Read joint statement (pdf)

More than 85 European scientists and plant science organisations including our German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) unite to ask the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for immediate review of EU legislation concerning new breeding technologies like #CRISPR. They want to safeguard precision breeding for sustainable agriculture. Read the open letter supported across Europe at the VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology. If you want to support this position you are welcome to add your name to the list of signatories.
Letter and option to support the position at VIB-UGent

Doctoral position (m/f/d) 

Tree-water-relations: Sensing water potentials from leaf to stand scale

University of Freiburg, Ökosystemphysiologie, Project B3.1 within Collaborative Research Center (CRC) 1537 ECOSENSE, Freiburg, Germany

Start: July 2026

Deadline: 15 April 2026

Details (pdf)

Postdoctoral Researcher for 5 years (m/f/d)

How streptophyte cells process environmental information and translate it into growth and physiological responses

Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Institute for Microbiology and Genetics, Department of Applied Bioinformatics, Göttingen, Germany

Start: 1 May 2026

Deadline: 14 April 2026 

Details: Göttingen University

PhD position (m/f/d)

Molecular Plant Science

GreenRobust Cluster of Excellence, University of Heidelberg, Germany

Start: around 1 July 2026

Deadline: 15 April 2026

Details (pdf)

PostDoc position (m/f/d)

Plant Evolutionary Ecology 

GreenRobust Cluster of Excellence, University of Tübingen, Germany

Start: around 1 July 2026

Deadline: 15 April 2026

Details (pdf)

PhD position (m/f/d)

Plant Evolutionary Ecology 

GreenRobust Cluster of Excellence, University of Hohenheim, Germany

Start: around 1 July 2026

Deadline: 15 April 2026

Details (pdf)

Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeit (m/w/d)

Moderne integrative Taxonomie und maschinelles Lernen zur Entschlüsselung retikulater Artbildung bei Pflanzen – eine Pilotstudie am Beispiel von Thymus (Lamiaceae)

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Institut für Biodiversität, Ökologie und Evolution und dem Senckenberg Institut für Pflanzenvielfalt Jena (SIP), Jena, Deutschland

Start: baldmöglichst

Deadline: 30 April 2026

Details (pdf) 

Research Associate (m/f/d)

Root carbon dynamics, soil carbon sequestration and climate change in savannas of Southern Africa

Hamburg University, Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Institute of Wood Science, Hamburg, Germany

Start: 1 September 2026

Deadline: 14 April 2026

Details: Uni Hamburg

PostDoc position (m/f/d)

Do single traits synergize to boost macroevolution? - Why are there so many orchid species?

State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart (SMNS), Stuttgart, Germany

Start: as soon as possible

Deadline: 12 April 2026

Details (pdf)

PhD student position (m/f/d)

Developmental mechanisms behind syncephalia evolution in the sunflower family (Asteraceae)

University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Warsaw, Poland

Start: October 2026

Deadline: 17 April 2026

Details (pdf)

PostDoc position (m/f/d)

How changes in meristem patterning drive evolutionary innovations: insigths from syncephalia in the sunflower family (Asteraceae)

University of Warsaw, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Warsaw, Poland

Start: October 2026

Deadline: 30 April 2026

Details (pdf)

15 PhD positions (m/f/d)

Plant cell biology: Nuclear architecture and chromatin and advanced imaging analysis

Marie Curie Doctoral Network ‘AGILE’: open positions across the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and the Czech Republic

Start: September 2026

Deadline: 15 April 2026

Details (pdf)

Contact the editor:  position [at] deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de     

Publishing your ad is free of charge for members and other plant scientists.

Since plants rarely face single stressors in isolation but often encounter multifactorial constraints such as drought x salinity, heat x nutrient limitation or sequential flooding and drought, authors Saini, Nanda, Sachan and Kumar summarize methodological advances that enable the study of root responses beyond reductionist paradigms. The combinations of multiple stressors often produce synergistic, antagonistic or neutral interactions that cannot be inferred from single-stress studies. They analyse growth and performance assays, targeted molecular assays and high-resolution omics technologies and imaging methodologies. The authors also propose integrative frameworks that merge phenotyping, omics and imaging with computational modelling to disentangle the logic of root acclimation under multifactorial conditions. By bridging methodological layers, this review provides a roadmap for advancing plant stress biology toward predictive and translational frameworks, with direct implications for breeding resilient crops in the context of climate change.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2026) 

(DBG's members are able to access all Plant Biology papers via our intranet).

Nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) is a crucial RNA surveillance mechanism that not only prevents synthesis of harmful truncated proteins but also keeps an eye on the quality and quantity check of mRNA in an efficient manner for effective gene expression. Since virusses and their hosts are in a continuous arms race to establish establish infection, several families of plant RNA viruses were documented to have NMD substrate features as a by-product. By targeting the NMD pathway, it is possible to reduce the stability of pathogenic RNAs, leading to decreased pathogen viability and resistance. The review by the authors Rana, Luha and Kumar explores the mechanisms of NMD, its role in RNA quality control and the potential applications of manipulating NMD to combat pathogen resistance in agricultural and natural ecosystems. It also discusses the viral system circumventing the host NMD for their successful replication in plants. Moreover, an increased number of studies on the evasion mechanism of RNA viruses from host NMD provide insight into the molecular means of the NMD mechanism and may be linked to device defence strategies in agro-economic plants, which is an interesting future research possibility.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2026) 

(DBG's members are able to access all Plant Biology papers via our intranet).

Recalcitrant seeds are highly sensitive to drying and chilling, which limits their storage using conventional seed banking methods. In the viewpoint article "Exploring novel and innovative storage strategies for recalcitrant seeds", author K.G. Jaganathan suggests a technique that may be a solution to store these seeds. In recalcitrant seeds with epicotyl dormancy, the epicotyl elongates, sometimes forming a swollen tuber-like structure, then pauses growth while functioning independently of the seed, at which point it can be excised, dried and stored at about −20 °C or under cryogenic conditions. Integrating physiological, molecular and ecological knowledge is essential for developing innovative, tissue-specific protocols to improve seed longevity and conservation outcomes, thereby enhancing biodiversity preservation and agricultural resilience under rapidly changing environmental conditions.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2026) 

(DBG's members are able to access all Plant Biology papers via our intranet).

How benzamides could be used to inhibit plant stress, promote growth, and to manage crop resilience is summarized by authors Koetle, Motaung, and Amoo. In their review they delve into the mechanisms of action, applications, and potential benefits of benzamides, especially focusing on their role as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. They also describe, how benzamides modulate stress responses by inhibiting PARP activity, which is crucial for DNA repair and maintaining genomic stability. The review also highlights antimicrobial, herbicidal, and insecticidal properties of benzamides, which enhance plant defence mechanisms against various pests and diseases. In summary, benzamides offer multiple approaches to enhancing crop resilience and stress management, with significant implications for sustainable agriculture.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025)

In their review authors Annapoorneshwari, Sharma, and Hegde highlight the need for increased research on pteridophyte chitinases to harness their potential as valuable resources for cutting-edge biopesticides and other biotechnological applications, since chitinases catalyse the degradation of chitin, a major component of fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons. They therefore summarize current research results on fern chitinases, particularly in Pteris ryukyuensis and Equisetum arvense, that revealed distinct features, such as LysM domains, which enhance chitin-binding and antifungal activity. They also describe results on thermal stability, specific binding to chitin oligosaccharides, and the behaviour of engineered multimeric LysM domains fused with catalytic domains. These findings highlight the potential of pteridophyte chitinases in developing improved biopesticides against fungal pathogens. The unique
evolutionary position of the over 450 million years old pteridophytes,  including ferns and lycophytes, among non-vascular and seed plants suggests they may harbour additional novel chitinase variants with diverse biochemical properties.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

(DBG's members are able to access all Plant Biology papers via our intranet).

The versatility of the tasiR-ARF pathway in land plants according to known developmental and environmental responses where the phytohormone auxin plays an essential role, is discussed in this review by authors López-Ruiz, Juárez González, Jiménez-Ortega, Reyes, and Dinkova. The biogenesis of Trans-acting small interfering RNA (tasiRNAs), only found in plants, requires an initial miRNA-mediated cleavage of RNA precursors transcribed from TAS genes. TasiRNAs act in trans to silence gene expression by cleaving mRNAs with sequences partially complementary to their own. The miR390-TAS3-ARF pathway is highly conserved among land plant lineages and exerts its function by silencing a subgroup of Auxin Response Factor (ARF) genes; these tasiRNAs are termed tasiR-ARFs. Many downstream auxin signals are mediated by ARFs. These pathway functions are critical for plant growth, developmental timing, and correct organ patterning, such as leaf morphology and polarity, lateral root architecture, and flowering, as well as coping with stress. The phenotypes caused by mutations affecting tasiR-ARF production vary across plant species. One way to unify the diverse roles of this pathway would be through auxin response integration, possibly by exploring the evolution of ARF3 transcription factors and downstream genes.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025)

As authors Cheesman and Cernusak lay out in their article "Susceptibility of tropical trees to drought: Context across scales" that the variability in their responses should be understood in the context of interacting legacies across scales. They describe

• continental scales, where evolutionary history and past climatic filters have left distinct imprints on forest composition, and 
• landscape scales, where edaphic and hydrological heterogeneity constrain species distributions and
  functional strategies. 

They finally highlight the importance of integrating historical and environmental filters into predictive models of tropical forest futures. 

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

(DBG's members are able to access all Plant Biology papers via our intranet).

In the article “Bud to bloom”—hormonal coordination in floral initiation” the authors Baral, Vainer, Melzer, Hause, and Panda delve into current knowledge and address lingering questions regarding hormone-mediated flower development. They summarize current knowledge of this complex network of multiple plant hormones that orchestrate plant reproduction and address the significant gaps in our understanding of hormonal regulation and the intricate crosstalk between hormones. This opens a way for innovative strategies in effective fruit set management and crop improvement.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

The authors Klein, Appenroth and Sree summarize the knowledge on the very productive monocot Duckweed and its possible role as a powerful model to address key questions and problems in plant physiology, with a strong focus on sterol and steroid biology. Especially since Lemnaceae are a promising vegan protein source useful as animal feed and in human nutrition. The authors provide details on biosynthesis and function of phytosterols, sterol conjugates, brassinosteroids, and specialized steroidal metabolites, such as cardenolides. And they also discuss how current knowledge can be translated to solve agricultural and industrial problems.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

The authors Musso, Ganthaler, and Mayr not only summarize a literature review on a total of 104 publications on the water use strategies of mountain shrubs in which they focus on main hydraulic traits, water uptake, transport and release, as well as hydraulic limitations in summer and winter. In the review "Global variability in hydraulic traits and water use strategies of mountain shrubs and dwarf shrubs" they also measured leaf cuticular conductance in selected Alpine species. The dataset revealed a wide range of specific hydraulic conductivity (k_s; 0.8–25.8 × 10^-4 m²s^-1 MPa^-1), with highest values in tundra shrubs, and of the water potential at 50% conductivity loss (Ψ50; -11.8 to -0.29 MPa), with lowest values in steppe and temperate dry summer species. Deep-rooted shrubs from arid environments had access to more reliable water sources, while others relied on shallow but nutrient-rich soil water. No clear trend was observed along elevation or precipitation gradients, suggesting a wide range of hydraulic strategies to achieve a balanced water status. The authors also address the gaps in the geographic distribution of available studies.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025)

In the article "Impact of emerging compound droughts on forests: A water supply and demand perspective" the authors C. Werner,  M. Bahn,  T. E. E. Grams,  C. Grossiord,  S. Haberstroh,  G. Lenczner,  D. Tuia,  H. Vallicrosa not only summarize physiological and ecological responses of trees to emerging compound droughts, but also explain the role of acclimation and consequences for ecosystem-level functions. They explore the physiological and ecological mechanisms underlying tree water and carbon regulation during these extreme conditions, focusing on the balance between water demand and supply, the role of acclimation, and its consequences for ecosystem-level functions. By examining the mechanisms at play from the organ to the ecosystem-scale, they provide a comprehensive understanding of how trees and forests are likely to respond to an increasingly unpredictable climate with a higher likelihood of compound
droughts.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

In their review "Drought-induced aesthetic decline and ecological impacts on ornamentals: mechanisms of damage and innovative strategies for mitigation" the authors S. Chachar, N. Ahmed, and X. Hu summarize drought responses in ornamental plants by emphasizing hormone regulation, antioxidant defence, and gene expression changes. They focus on the dual challenge of ensuring drought tolerance while preserving aesthetic traits, which sets ornamentals apart from other plant types. The authors present innovative management strategies, such as genetic engineering (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9), transcription factor manipulation, and exogenous applications of hormones and biostimulants to enhance resilience, as well as solutions to mitigate drought-induced damage. This review underscores the urgent need for integrated molecular, physiological, and horticultural strategies to balance these demands, offering a roadmap to sustain the aesthetic and ecological contributions of ornamentals in an era of increasing climate variability. 

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) 

(DBG's members are able to access all Plant Biology papers via our intranet).

In their review "Genome blaze: engineering chilli pepper chloroplasts for sustainable production of capsaicinoids through organellar genome editing" the authors M. Bulle,  S. Abbagani,  A. Raza summarize recent advances for genetic improvement of Chilli peppers, enriched with heightened levels of phytochemicals, such as capsinoids (CATs) and capsaicinoids (CAPs) with potential health benefits. The expression of specific genes is crucial to stimulate the CAT and CAP levels in response to environmental conditions. The authors also highlight recent advancements in CRISPR/Cas and plastid engineering within Capsicum, coupled with application of base editing approaches for editing plant organelle DNA. The review also assesses the challenges and opportunities in the pursuit of commercial and sustainable production of bioactive compounds specific to Capsicum species.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025)  

(DBG's members are able to access all Plant Biology papers via our intranet).

MBP2026 

16 - 19 March 2026: 39^th Molecular Biology of Plants Conference of our Section Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology, in Hennef, Germany. 

Next DBG's Hot Topic Workshop for ECRs

13 - 15 April 2026: FIB-milling and Cryo-Electron Tomography, in Basel, Switzerland

Botanik-Tagung 2026

6 - 10 September 2026: International Conference of our German Society for Plant Sciences, the Botanik-Tagung, in Bochum, Germany.  

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Members receive more notes on conferences via our newsletter; incl. dates of DBG's supported meetings.

3^rd French-German Maize Breeder School 

Bonn University, Germany
3 – 4 November 2026
Applicant: Prof. Dr Frank Hochholdinger 

13^th PhD School Plant Development

Neustadt an der Weinstraße, Germany
23 - 25 September 2026
Applicant: Prof. Dr Michael Raissig
Website: https://raissiglab.org/plantdevoschool/ 

Complexome Profiling in Plants: Exploring Organellar Protein Networks - DBG's Eduard Strasburger Workshop

Leibniz Universität Hannover, Germany
22 - 24 September 2026
Applicants: Dr Nils Rugen, Matthias Döring

Botanik-Tagung, International Conference of our German Society for Plant Sciences

Bochum, Germany
6 - 10 September 2026
Applicant: Prof. Dr Christopher Grefen
Website: https://botanik-tagung.de

FEBS Workshop - Protein termini 2026: From mechanisms to biological impact (FEBS Advanced Course) 

Palermo, Italy
3 – 6 June 2026
Applicant: Prof. Dr Nico Dissmeyer
Website: https://proteintermini.org/meeting 

Structural Biology – Visualization of the photosynthetic machinery via FIB-milling and Cryo-ET - DBG's Eduard Strasburger-HOT TOPIC-Workshop

Biozentrum Basel, Switzerland
13 -15 April 2026
Applicant: Dr Davide Tamborrini
Website: DBG Hot Topic Workshop 

39^th Molecular Biology of Plants Conference 

of our Section Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology
Sportschule Hennef, Germany
16 - 19 March 2026
Applicant: Prof. Dr Hans-Henning Kunz
Website: https://www.pflanzen-molekularbiologie.de/en/conference-molecular-biology-of-plants 

68^th Maize Genetics Meeting 

Cologne, Germany
26 February - 1 March 2026
Applicant: Prof. Dr Frank Hochholdinger
read conference report incl. images in our Actualia

24. Mitteldeutsche Pflanzenphysiologie-Tagung

Universität Dresden, Deutschland
27 – 28 Februar 2026
Antragstellend: Prof. Dr Jutta Ludwig-Müller
read conference report incl. image in our Actualia  

The German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG) is the largest non-profit network of plant sciences and botany in the German speaking area. The society represents plant scientists, promotes plant sciences nationally and internationally and furthers scientific exchange among its more than 1,000 members. The DBG is one of the oldest botanical societies in the world, which is still active. It integrates all plant science disciplines, supports early career scientists and unites all generations.

If you want to support plant sciences, be part of and enjoy the benefits of a strong network, please feel free to join our society. Please use the online application form we have created for your convenience.