German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG)

The Summer School „The Numbers Matter: Exploring Photoautotrophic Organisms through Quantitative Biology” took place from 15^th to 19^th September 2025 at the Institute for Biosciences at the University of Rostock. Fourteen PhD students and Rostock’s colleagues discussed recent findings, experienced hands‐on workshops on quantitative techniques. Theoretical lectures accompanied the lab courses. The organisers Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jennifer Selinski (Kiel) and Jun.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Richter (Rostock) report on the topics and contributions of the DBG-supported Summer School.

This year’s meeting of our Section Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology brought together early career researchers (ECRs) and experienced scientists. The more than 90 participants from four countries presented and discussed recent research results under the motto Frontiers in Plant Systematics and Evolution in Heidelberg at the End of August. Prof. Dr. Elvira Hörandl (Göttingen), reports on the highlights, the topics, informs, who of the ECRs received prizes for excellent research, and who was elected to be the new speaker of the Section. 

On 9^th and 10^th September DBG’s Executive and Extended Board met at the RUB to coordinate not only the highlights of the programme of our German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) International Conference, the Botanik-Tagung, but also discussed the first results of DBG’s survey about the needs of early career researchers (ECRs), which is running since 1^st August. The invitation of the next conference chair, Prof. Dr. Christopher Grefen, also encompassed a test about possible meals that could be served at the conference, which awaits - like in previous years - several hundreds of plant scientists from various disciplines next year. Board reports from our president, Prof. Andreas Weber, our Treasurer, Prof. Raimund Tenhaken, about the impact of our scientific journal Plant Biology, about outreach and website, as well as solutions for current challenges for scientific societies were also topics discussed at this year’s Board meeting. 

From 1^st to 3^rd September 2025, the Early Career Workshop (early career researchers, ECR) of the DBG's sections Natural Products and Applied Botany took place at the Michaeliskloster Hildesheim, Germany. Over thirty doctoral students and postdocs from 16 institutions across Germany, as well as from the United Kingdom and Denmark, presented their current research work and used the forum for intensive scientific exchange. The two organisers, Prof. Dr. Dietrich Ober and Prof. Dr. Christian Zörb, report about the topics and research focuses discussed in the first joint meeting of the two Sections. 

In May, Canadian Robert William Pfeffer, great-grandson of eminent plant scientist Wilhelm Pfeffer, visited the places in Leipzig, Germany, where the namesake of the Wilhelm Pfeffer Foundation had conducted his research at the turn of the 19^th century. Robert William Pfeffer and his wife Martha Pfeffer presented a generous donation of 10,000 Euros to support the goals of the DBG's own foundation, which honors early-career plant scientists for outstanding research achievements. The foundation alternately awards the Wilhelm Pfeffer Prize for a Ph.D. thesis and the Prize for the Best Plant Science publication.

For their study published in the journal Science on the genetic basis of the biosynthesis of gramine, a toxic alkaloid in barley, the three first authors receive this year's Prize for the Best Plant Science Publication. The prize, awarded by the Wilhelm Pfeffer Foundation of our German Society for Plant Sciences and endowed with 1,000 euros, goes in equal parts to:  

• Sara Leite Dias from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research in Gatersleben (IPK), to
• Dr. Ling Chuang during the study at the Leibniz University Hannover (now at the Max-Planck-Institute for chemical ecology), and to
• Shenyu Liu, also from Leibniz University Hannover. 

"The discovery of the key enzyme for the production of gramine completes our knowledge of its biosynthetic pathway and holds the potential for numerous applications in plant breeding and agriculture. In addition, the enzymatic mechanism for creating a new carbon-nitrogen bond is also quite unusual,“ Prof. Severin Sasso, president of the Wilhelm Pfeffer Foundation, explains the award for this Science study entitled 'Biosynthesis of the allelopathic alkaloid gramine in barley by a cryptic oxidative rearrangement'. The elucidation of gramine biosynthesis also enables its production in other organisms that cannot synthesize gramine themselves, as the authors have shown for the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana or the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The new results also provide a basis for the breeding of improved barley varieties that are more resistant to herbivores, fungi and bacteria in the future and thus make a contribution to sustainable pest control. At the same time, the existing toxicity of barley for ruminants can be reduced in the future.

More on DBG's awards for early career plant scientists:

The scientific conference on the evolution of signalling and development in plant reproduction, organised by the DFG Research Unit “Innovation and Coevolution of Plant Sexual Reproduction (ICIPS)” in March in Berlin, was attended by more than 100 plant scientists from more than eleven countries. It not only provided a forum to discuss latest research results on land plants but also revealed that regulatory processes might have evolved before the traits that actually indicate them. Prof. Dr. Annette Becker and Dr. Romain Scalone summarize the international meeting, introduce the diversity of plants being under investigation and report about the awards that were given for best posters and an oral presentation. 

From March 9^th to 12^th, 2025, the 21^st scientific conference of the Phycology Section of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) took place in the venerable halls of the "Alte Mensa" at the University of Göttingen. The conference was organized by Dr. Maike Lorenz, Prof. Jan de Vries, Prof. Thomas Friedl, and Dr. Janine Fürst-Jansen (University of Göttingen), and provided over 120 participants from Germany and abroad an opportunity to present and discuss their current research in the field of algal studies. A wide range of phycological topics was covered in 44 talks and 50 posters. Most of these contributions were presented by PhD students and postdocs and stood out for their high scientific quality. One of the many highlights was the visit to the University of Göttingen's Culture Collection of Algae (SAG) on the final day of the conference. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to explore Göttingen’s historic old town through guided tours in both German and English, with many references to the university city's fascinating history.

The annual meeting of the plant physiology groups at the Universities of Leipzig, Halle, Jena and Dresden took place this year already for the 23^rd time. It is traditionally organized in regular rotation between the four universities and took place this year on 14 and 15 February at the Leucorea in Wittenberg, being the “ancestral home” of Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. Since its founding the organisers try to meet two major objectives:

1. to foster scientific exchange among the involved working groups at central German universities
2. to provide a board for early career researchers (ECRs, late bachelor and master students until dissertation) to actively present their findings at a scientific meeting.

This also provides a place to discuss scientific findings in an open atmosphere to an auditorium not only from the own working group. To do this, the programme, comprising 20 scientific talks and discussions, was almost solely carried out by the participating ECRs. The conference was supported by the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG).

For the 38^th time, the Molecular Biology of Plants conference (MBP2025) brought together around 190 scientists in North Rhine-Westphalia, from 10^th to 13^th February 2025. Under the patronage of the Section Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology (SPPMB) of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG), the meeting once again provided a platform for PhD students, postdocs, and group leaders to present their latest research findings and engage in fruitful scientific discussions. Organised by Christopher Grefen (Ruhr University Bochum, RUB) together with Ute Höcker (Cologne) and Henning Kunz (Munich), this year's meeting provided a great cross-section of modern molecular plant sciences, with slightly more submissions on topics related to biotic interactions, molecular physiology, as well as cell and developmental biology. Conference Chair Grefen provides the details.

The Gordon Research Conference "Plant Proteolysis - Integration and Regulation of Plant Proteolytic Pathways" was held from January 19 to 24 at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco near Lucca (Barga) in Italy. 44 talks covering all facets of proteolysis in plants were highly appreciated and intensively discussed by the audience. The conference was organized by conference chair Andreas Schaller (University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany) and co-chair Marisa Otegui (University of Wisconsin–Madison, USA).

As the micro blogging platform X (formerly Twitter) has in recent weeks developed into a place that no longer respects scientific values and offers no space for fact based and constructive discussions, our German Society of Plant Sciences (DBG) has opened a new account on the platform Bluesky. With the handle @plantsciencedbg.bsky.social, the DBG has moved to a platform that is being joined by more and more people from the scientific community (s. Kupferschmidt (2024) 10.1126/science.zgpept9). Bluesky is a microblogging service, similar to the early days of Twitter, which uses an open protocol. DBG’s two X accounts – in German (@PlantScienceDBG with 2390 followers) and English (@PlantSciDBG_en with 6900 followers, as of January 7, 2025) – are kept in a “frozen” state to preserve the names and prevent them from being taken over by others.

In autumn, more than 600 researchers from various disciplines of plant sciences met for the Botanik-Tagung, International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG), in Halle (Saale). In his report, conference host Professor Edgar Peiter summarises the scientific topics, outstanding examples and award-winning research, and outlines which leading research personalities gave an insight into their latest results. 

In the past year 18 authors of master theses received awards for their excellent research in the plant sciences. The topics for example were development, establishment or verification of new methods or techniques, analysis of metabolic pathways and biosynthesis, or addressing impacts of climate change. The studies also addressed plant pathogen defence, plant-microbe-interactions, functional characterizations, seed dispersal, enzyme studies, stress reactions, quality of seeds, or water balance. Thanks to the help of our contact persons DBG was able to award these prizes for the tenth year in a row at the participating universities.

New board members took office on first of January according to our statutes: Professor Iris Finkemeier (Münster) took over the position as our new Secretary General from Professor Caroline Müller (Bielefeld), who had served with distinction for the past five years. Our new Secretary will be Professor Boas Pucker (Braunschweig), succeeding Dr Thomas Janßen (Berlin). The two new board members were elected in September 2024 at the general meeting in Halle. Dr Sophie de Vries (Göttingen) and Professor Christopher Grefen (Bochum) were elected as members of the extended board also during the Botanik-Tagung in Halle. Dr de Vries will represent early career researchers and Professor Grefen is the elected chair of our next international Botanik-Tagung in Bochum, Germany, 6^th to 12^th September 2026.

The recent Strasburger Hot Topic Symposium on "Co- and Post-translational Control in Chloroplasts" was held at the University of Münster in November 2024. It brought together more than 50 researchers from six countries to discuss the latest developments in control of chloroplast functions and on advances in our understanding of co- and post-translational modifications, protein interactions, and stress responses within chloroplasts.

Thanks to several photographers more than 1,000 images from our recent Botanik-Tagung in Halle in September were taken from which many are available via our Intranet. Please log in first.

The fourth international Thermomorphogenesis Symposium was organized in Würzburg, Germany, from 4^th to 6^th September 2024. Almost 50 participants joined the meeting to exchange unpublished research results about plants’ adaptions to higher temperatures – a topic becoming more and more important due more frequent heat waves occurring with climate change. Main organiser Dr Daniel Maag summarises the conference topics and points out how early career scientists profited from the exchange with other scientists during the DBG-supported gathering. 

Around 60 researchers gathered in Bochum for this year's symposium of the International Society of Endocytobiology (ISE) from September 10 to 12. This year’s conference was organized by Professor Danja Schünemann and her team at the Ruhr University Bochum. Over two and a half days, 35 presentations and 13 posters highlighted the latest research findings in the field of endocytobiology. A key focus of the symposium, once again, was on the evolution of chloroplasts and mitochondria and their molecular functions, including aspects such as gene expression, protein sorting, and organelle/membrane biogenesis. Additionally, many contributions centered on the analysis of organismic symbiosis. In her report Schünemann pronounces the importance of conferences especially for early career scientists and lists the awarded presentations. 

Unanimously, the member assembly decided that the emerita Professor Dr. Ulla Bonas will become new honorary member of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG). Proposed by DBG’s board, our president Professor Dr. Andreas Weber and honorary member Prof. Dr. Birgit Piechulla conveyed the news to Bonas, professor for Plant Genetics at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, since she unfortunately was unable to participate at our International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences. Our honorary member Professor Dr. Regine Kahmann summarizes in the laudation how Professor Bonas has made exceptional scientific discoveries. For example, her group was able to crack the recognition code of the newly discovered DNA binding domain in TAL effector proteins. The modular architecture of the proteins enabled the design and construction of artificial DNA-binding proteins with new specificities, which led to TALENs (Transcription activator-like effector nucleases). This was a major breakthrough to inactivate genes in eukaryotic genomes. The technological advancement cannot be underestimated and deserves the greatest recognition. TALENs would still be used today if the more-easy-to-use CRISPR Cas9-based gene editing system would not have been invented. Moreover, Bonas and her group gained major insights into the mechanisms as to how bacterial pathogens manipulate their host plants. Bonas received many prestigious awards and also serves the scientific community, e.g., as vice president of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, as Kahmann’s laudation describes, which DBG’s president Weber presented at our member assembly in Halle, Germany, on 17^th September 2024. 

Recent advances in scientific iron nutrition in plants to solve global challenges based on scientific evidence were in the focus of the 21st International Symposium of Iron Nutrition and Interactions in Plants (ISINIP 2024) at Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU), Germany. Special emphasis was given to the significance of research of the critical micronutrient for food security, environmental sustainability, and the molecular regulation of iron uptake, allocation, and storage. The conference brought together more than 100 international plant science experts and early career scientists to broaden their expertise and helped to build their networks. Conference chair, Professor Dr Petra Bauer, reports about the topics of the meeting that took place in July, which comprised fundamental biology, soil ecology and biotechnology approaches of plant iron nutrition.

For her exceptional commitment and her impressive efficiency, with which Professor Dr Caroline Müller (Bielefeld) executes her office as the Secretary General of our German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) in the years from 2018 until today DBG’s president thanked her in the name of all the more than 1,100 members. Her management still sets new standards and shaped the development of our Society substantially, Weber pointed out during the regular member assembly at the Martin Luther University of Halle, Germany. The auditorium thanked Müller with long lasting applause for her work. She will continue her office until the end of the year, until the newly elected Secretary General will take over her office according to our statutes, since professor Müller did not wanted to be considered for reelection. President Weber also thanked Christine Fiebig (Bielefeld), who has supported Müller over all these years and is going to retire soon, and our Secretary Dr. Thomas Janßen (Berlin) for his office in the years 2012 until 2024. Both could not make it to this year’s member assembly in Halle.  

Four persons were elected in the member’s assembly to become new board members of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) on 17^th September 2024 in Halle. Professor Dr Iris Finkemeier (Münster) becomes our new Secretary General and takes over this office from Professor Dr Caroline Müller (Bielefeld), who did not wish to stand for re-election. With this Professor Finkemeier advances from one of the two offices as extended board members, which she had filled since 2016, to our executive board. Professor Dr Boas Pucker (Braunschweig) will also join the executive board as our new secretary, since Dr Thomas Janßen has stepped down from this office, which he occupied since 2012. New members of the extended board are Dr Sophie des Vries (Göttingen), representing early career researchers, and Professor Dr Christopher Grefen (Bochum) as designated conference chair of the next international Botanik-Tagung 2026. Unanimously, Professor Dr Andreas Weber (Düsseldorf) was re-elected as DBG’s president as well as Professor Dr Raimund Tenhaken (Salzburg) to be our treasurer. 

The participants voted for the ten best out of the almost 400 science posters presented at the Botanik-Tagung, International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG). DBG’s awardees will receive 142 Euros each, since DBG was founded 142 years ago. The list with the names of first authors and the titles of the awarded posters, as well as single photos of each of the hand-overs of the certificates are summarized here:

In his opening speech of the Botanik-Tagung, International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG), our president, Professor Dr Andreas Weber, reminded us that plants as our common study objects are not only at the base of most food webs and important to maintain ecosystem function. But plant science can also contribute to find ways to effectively remove carbon from the atmosphere as well as for developing solutions to prevent further biodiversity loss. He reminded us, that the loss of biodiversity is an even greater threat to humankind than climate change, since we are losing diversity at an alarming rate of 150 to 200 species per day through human activities. Weber therefore motivated and encouraged all participants of the conference with the motto “Growing Solutions for Growing Challenges” to become proactive, leave the academic ivory tower and to translate research results into societal benefits. Our interdisciplinary Botanik-Tagung provides a space to bring together plants, people and societal benefits.

The Young Session of the Second European Congress on Photosynthesis Research was held in Padua, Italy, on June 24 and 25, 2024. More than 120 early-career scientists from over 20 countries actively participated in this event. The program featured over 20 talks covering a diverse range of topics including biophysics, molecular biology, ecophysiology, and new technologies, along with a poster session showcasing over 100 research posters. The DBG sponsored the attendance of three young scientists selected by the organizers, whose insights are highlighted in this conference report.

During the Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on mitochondria and chloroplasts more than 150 participants from botany, zoology, mycology and medicine discussed recent advances as well as unpublished research results. Co-chair, Professor Andreas Weber summarizes current topics in this research area, about which established as well as early career scientists discussed during an intensive and the participant’s enriching week near Barcelona in July.

During the International Conference of our German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) the Botanik-Tagung, plant geneticist Dr. Henryk Straube received the Wilhelm Pfeffer Pize, microbe scientist Dr. Eliza Loo got the Eduard Strasburger Prize, and bioinformatician Dr. Martin Lewinski’s work was awarded with the Horst Wiehe Prize. The three awardees were invited to present their research in a plenary lecture. Also cell biologist Dr. Pratibha Kumari was handed over the certificate for the best plant science paper, awarded in 2023, during DBG’s biannual science conference. Their excellent plant research results will help future research in measuring rare DNA nucleotids, improving plant health, analyzing RNA binding proteins, or looking into plant cell division.
Details about this year’s science awards can be retrieved from the press release published beforehand: “Roots are like human guts, new enzyme discovered, and new lab method established”.

The symposium has a long tradition and took place in 1957 in Wageningen (The Netherlands) for the first time. It is held every three years and was held in Germany for the second time from 4th until 8th August in Haus Neuland in Bielefeld as SIP18. About 170 participants from at least 19 countries discussed recent research on insect-plant interactions, extending also to other interaction partners. Exciting keynote talks were given by Renee M. Borges (India), Rieta Gols (The Netherlands), Scott Johnson (Australia), Meredith Schuman (Switzerland), Anurag A. Agrawal (USA), Beata Gabryś (Poland), Georg Petschenka (Germany), Sharon E. Zytynska (UK) and Robert R. Junker (Germany). Additional research was presented and discussed in selected scientific talks as well as in form of numerous scientific posters. The organising committee – Caroline Müller, Rabea Schweiger and Christine Fiebig (Chemical Ecology, Bielefeld University) – report on a fruitful scientific exchange in a great network, accompanied by exciting excursions, a workshop and a productive get-together in a very green environment.

The 19^th Plant Science Student Conference (PSSC 2024) took place at the Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) from June 17th to 20th in 2024. The conference represents almost two decades of tradition between the IPB and the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK), in which students at the institutes invite other students of the plant sciences to share their knowledge, build connections and experience an academic conference in a student-friendly atmosphere. Approximately 60 PhD students participated this year, joining not only from IPB and IPK, but also from the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). In addition, the conference invited Prof. Dr. Gabriel Schaaf from the Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelms University Bonn, Dr. Marie Barberon from the University of Geneva and Prof. Dr. Stefanie Ranf-Zipproth from the University of Fribourg as keynote speakers. As part of the organizing team Max Jonas Paulmann, Lilly Eger, and Jolina Marx from IPB report participants spent four exciting days full of inspiring science, fruitful interaction and – of course – delicious food.

Wie die Wurzel die Blüte triggert, was die Ausbreitung eingeschleppter Pflanzen fördert, wie Aminosäuren transportiert werden, und wie Tomaten verhindern, bei Stress zu überreagieren, steht in unserer Forschungsrubrik.
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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Der Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin (VBIO) blickt zurück auf seine Aktivitäten im August, etwa der Verleihung der Karl von Frisch-Preis für Abiturient*innen und verweist auf anstehende Termine, wie etwa einem englischsprachigen Softskill-Seminar zur Karriereplanung, zum Vortrag "Von riechenden Vögeln und Vögeln, die riechen" sowie dem Online-Event für Schulen zum Thema „Biologische Vielfalt im Wandel: Artensterben heute und in der Erdgeschichte“. Terminhinweise und Nachrichten aus Hochschul- und Forschungspolitik ergänzen den Rückblick auf den Monat August.

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Im vergangenen Monat nahm der Biologie-Dachverband VBIO (Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin e.V.) Stellung zur Life-Science Stategy der EU und fordert zum Gelingen insbesondere die aktive Einbindung der Grundlagenforschung sowie die nachhaltige Sicherung wissenschaftlicher Dateninfrastrukturen. In diesem Zusammenhang motivierte er dazu, einen offenen Brief zur nachhaltigen Finanzierung wissenschaftlicher Datenbanken mit zu zeichnen. Wie immer runden Hinweise aus Wissenschafts- und Hochschulpolitik den Rückblick ab. 

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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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Bildung, Forschung und Innovation seien der Schlüssel für die Zukunft unseres Landes, steht im Vertrag der zukünftigen Koalitionspartner aus CDU, CSU und SPD. Diese Einschätzung teilen die im Bündnis „Wissenschaft verbindet“ zusammengeschlossenen großen mathematisch-naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaften (VBIO, GdCh, DVGeo und DMV) in ihrem Statement. Die vier Fachverbände fragen sich auch, ob sich die Maßnahmen und deren finanzielle Ausstattung als ausreichend erweisen werden, um den Wissenschaftsstandort zukunftssicher zu gestalten. Dies werde sich erst in der Praxis zeigen müssen. Darauf und auf den Gewinner des Ars-Legendi-Fakultäten-Preises berichtet der Biologie-Dachverband Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin (VBIO) in seiner Aktivitäten-Rückschau auf den Monat April, in dem unsere DBG Mitglied ist.

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Am 16. April lädt der Verband Biologie, Biowissenschaften und Biomedizin (VBIO) ein zum Berufsfeld Infoabend "Careers in Academia" mit Max Fürst, PhD (Assistant Professor University of Gronin-gen) und Prof. Dr. Markus Diefenbacher (LMU München) auf englisch, ab 18:00 Uhr (Anmeldung https://www.master-bio.de). In seinem Rückblick auf die Aktivitäten des vergangenen Monats erinnert der Verband an die von ihm mitgestaltete Verleihung des Ars-Legendi-Fakultätenpreises, der dieses Jahr im Fach Biologie an den Didaktiker Prof. Dr. Benedikt Heuckmann von der Universität Münster ging. Nachrichten aus der Hochschul- und Wissenschaftspolitik runden wie immer das Schreiben ab. 

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Auch seit hundert Jahren bekannten Strukturen kann man noch neue Funktionen entlocken. Welche Wellen  das Immunsystem triggern, was artenreiche Wälder besser können als artenarme, welcher Signalweg die Samenkeimung regelt und 600 Millionen Jahre Stress sind weitere Themen in den Forschungsnachrichten. 
DBG invites all members to nominate early career researchers to be awarded with the Best Paper Prize. One of our Sections invites to its conference and has recently opened its website for registration. Two Sections are preparing their first joint meeting, especially for early career scientists (ECR). And one Section has elected new board members.
The Editor of our journal Plant Biology suggests to read a review summarizing 20 years of research uncovering the hidden codes of epigenetics in wild potato.
Please be aware that several (early bird) registrations for congresses and meetings will end on March 31^st.

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This issue is the first to reach you from our new Secretary General, Iris Finkemeier (Münster), who has taken her office early in 2025 together with three other board members. She is assisted by her secretary, Teresa Kühlkamp.
Eine zentrale Schaltstelle in der Immunantwort, die frühe Entwicklung von Pflanzen, wie sich Dürre, Wärme und CO₂ auf Grasökosysteme auswirken, und neue Biosensoren, die das Verhältnis von NADPH zu NADP+ erstmals in lebenden Zellen in Echtzeit messen lassen sowie eine interdisziplinäre Broschüre zur Genomeditierung bei Pflanzen sind einige der Themen in den beiden ersten Newsletter-Rubriken.
DBG informs about its recent move away from X (Twitter) to another platform and about the awarded 19 master theses. Two out of our six Sections invite to their conferences in February and March, which offer stages and networking not only for established but also for early career researchers.

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Registration is open for DBG's second Eduard Strasburger Hot Topic Workshop. It focusses on "Co- and posttranslational control in chloroplasts" (#DBGHotTop2024) and will be organized in Münster, Germany, from 18 – 20 November 2024. Attendance to the workshop is free for early career researchers (ECRs) and made possible through DBG's funding. The workshop will be organised by Dr Jürgen Eirich and Jens Mühlenbeck from the Institute for Plant Biology and Biotechnology at Münster University.

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

Research Scientist / PostDoc (m/f/d) 

Genomics and Bioinformatics

Georg-August-University of Göttingen, Department of Forest Genetics and Forest Tree Breeding, Göttingen, Germany

Start: at the earliest possible date

Deadline: 22 October 2025

Details (pdf) 

2 PhD positions (m/f/d)

Plant Cell Biology: Role of vacuole in amplification of long-distance Ca²⁺ Signals

University of Würzburg, department of Molecular Plant Physiology and Biophysics, Würzburg, Germany

Details (pdf)

PhD position (m/f/d)

Transcriptome analyses 

Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institute for Bioinformatics (IBG-4), Jülich, Germany

Start: next possible date

Deadline: 24 October 2025

Details (pdf)

W2-Professorship (m/f/d)

Plant Genetics

Kiel University, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Botanical Institute, Kiel, Germany

Start: 1 October 2026

Deadline: 19 October 2025 

Details: Kiel University

Group Leader position (m/f/d)

Molecular Plant Sciences: Cell biology and biochemistry to unravel fundamental processes in plant development and biology

Technische Universität München in Freising-Weihenstephan, School of Life Sciences, Plant Systems Biology, Freising, Germany

Deadline: will remain open until filled

Details (pdf)

PhD position (m/f/d)

Plant Cell and Molecular Biology: Polarity regulation by protein kinases

Technische Universität München in Freising-Weihenstephan, School of Life Sciences, Plant Systems Biology, Freising, Germany

Details (pdf)

Group Leader position (m/f/d)

Molecular Plant Sciences: Crop plant biology, development, and/or physiology, ideally leveraging genome editing approaches

Technische Universität München in Freising-Weihenstephan, School of Life Sciences, Plant Systems Biology, Freising, Germany

Deadline: will remain open until filled

Details (pdf)

W3-Professorship (m/f/d)

Functional Ecology

Tübingen University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Institute for Evolution and Ecology, Tübingen, Germany

Start: October 2026

Deadline: 31 October 2025 

Details (pdf)

University Professorship W3 (m/f/d)

Plant Genetics 

Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg, Faculty of Biology, Würzburg, Germany

Deadline: 13 October 2025

Details (pdf) 

5 PhD positions (m/f/d) 

Plant Science “From Molecules to Systems” → Projects

Graduate School Life Science Munich (LSM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany 

Start: in 2026

Deadline: 24 October 2025

Details: LSM

2 international PhD scholarships (m/f/d) 

Plant Science → Projects

Joint DAAD Graduate School Scholarship Programme (GSSP) and Graduate School Life Science Munich (LSM), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich, Munich, Germany 

Start: in 2026

Deadline: 24 October 2025

Details: LSM

Host offer for PostDoc (m/f/d) in Ethiopia 

Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship / Humboldt Foundation: For a Plant Scientist affiliated with the German academic system

Debre Berhan University in Ethiopia, Department of Biology, Plant Ecology, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia

Start: 1 November 2025

Details (pdf) 

PhD position (m/f/d)

Algal heat adaptation: Balic Fucus meadows

GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research, Division Marine Ecology, Kiel, Germany

Start: 1 October 2025

Deadline: 31 August 2025 

Details: GEOMAR

Junior Group Leader (m/f/d) 

Digital Collectomics: Developing modern technologies for collection-based research

Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, Senckenberg Institute for Plant Form and Function (SIP), Jena, Germany 

Start: at the earliest possible date

Deadline: 15 August 2025

Details (pdf) 

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

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

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) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70080

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) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70074 

(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) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70067 

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

Since the parasitic processes in Cuscuta are closely linked to their cell wall structures and functions, authors M. Takagawa and R. Yokoyama have put together current knowledge in a review. In the paper "Current understanding of the role of the cell wall in Cuscuta parasitism", they summarise each of the processes: 

• the beginings with tight coiling around the host stem by the strong tensile force of the thickened inner cell wall layers
• attachment to the host surface using secretory cell wall components
• invasion of a feeding structure (haustorium), facilitated by degradation and modification of host cell walls
• haustoria-derived search hyphae transdifferentiation into tracheary elements of the secondary cell walls
• since secondary cell walls provide mechanical strength and hydrophobicity to the tracheary element, Cuscuta can draw fluids from the host through the tracheary element.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (20xx) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70059 

The paper summarizes transposon chromosomal niches, and the functional consequences of their specific chromosomal localization in plants. The authors E. Kejnovsky, P. Jedlicka, M. Lexa and Z. Kubat review specific chromosomal niches where transposable elements (TEs) are often localized including 

• centromeres
• (sub)telomeres
• genes
• sex chromosomes.

They also focus on the processes standing behind non-equal distribution of various TEs in genomes including 

• purifying selection
• insertion site preference or targeting of TEs
• post-insertion ectopic recombination between TEs
• spatiotemporal regulation of TE jumping.

They explain the distribution of TEs on sex chromosomes, describe the phenomena of mutual nesting of TEs, epigenetic mark silencing in TEs, and TE interactions in the 3D interphase nucleus concerning TE localization and summarize the functional consequences of TE distribution and relate them to cell functioning and genome evolution.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70057 

Special issue “Ecology and Evolution of Plant Chemodiversity” in our Journal Plant Biology is edited by C. Müller, B. Fuchs,  J.-P. Schnitzler,  S. B. Unsicker,  and S. R. Whitehead. 

This compilation of current research systematically explores dimensions of phytochemical diversity, plant metabolites, fine-tunings, as well as about interactions among mutualists, antagonists, and plants. Why this results are of crucial importance for plant sciences is explained in the editorial DOI: 10.1111/plb.13667 

Read issue information under DOI: 10.1111/plb.13667 

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

In their research paper "Root water uptake depth in temperate forest trees: species-specific patterns shaped by neighbourhood and environment" authors Hackmann, Paligi, Mund, Hölscher, Leuschner, Pietig and Ammer used stable water isotopes to compare water uptake in pure and mixed stands of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Norway spruce (Picea abies). Beech and Douglas fir had access to water from deeper soil layers, unlike spruce. Beech used deeper water in mixtures with both conifers, while spruce shifted to shallower layers in mixture with beech. Douglas fir showed no significant difference between pure and mixed stand. They emphasize the importance of species-specific traits and mixture effects in forest water cycles, and how they are mediated by site and environmental conditions. Conclusion: Douglas fir appears more drought resistant than Norway spruce, by accessing deeper water sources. Beech and Douglas fir may equally coexist, while beech presence exacerbates the drought exposure of spruce. 

Read early view of whole paper Open Access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70058 

The authors Katharina Wolff and Boas Pucker summarize current knowledge about anthocyanin pigmentation variation, several different regulatory mechanisms, three potential ecological functions and promising industrial applications in their review "dark side of anthocyanin pigmentation". They conclude: Understanding the genetic basis of dark pigment accumulation would facilitate biotechnological and agricultural applications.

Read whole paper Open Access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70047 

Human-invisible but bee-visible UV-patterns in flowers aid pollination by signalling pollinators and protecting vulnerable DNA in pollen. In their review the authors Lunau, Camargo, and Ren summarize functions of UV pigments and UV reflection patterns in flowers, including visual signalling by reflectance, fluorescence, and gloss, as well as protection against UV radiation. Advantages and limits of spectrophotometry, UV photography and false colour photography in bee view are discussed. Authors briefly touch how flower UV patterns may change in response to increasing global UV radiation, potentially influencing plant pollination.

Read whole paper Open Access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70050 

The primary medicinal components in G. biloba, flavonoids, have antiinflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant effects, and are promising in treating Alzheimer’s disease and hypertension. In their review "Ginkgo biloba flavonoids: Analysis of functions, regulatory mechanisms, and extraction" authors Wang, Zhang, Liao, Ye, Xu, and Wang highlight structural genes and regulatory factors involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, explore how abiotic factors influence flavonoid accumulation, and outline optimal extraction methods for increasing the flavonoid content in G. biloba. They address insights for future production practices and scientific research that will enhance the medicinal and commercial value of G. biloba. 

Read whole paper Open Access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: DOI: 10.1111/plb.70054 

MicroRNAs are more difficult to study than other RNAs. Therefore, the authors Hernández, Sierra-Sarabia, Díaz-Camino and Reyes summarize functions of non-conserved microRNAs in the legumes known so far. They address their potential role in regulating important processes, such as stress responses and communication with other organisms, including bacteria and fungi. Their review "Non-conserved microRNAs and their roles in plants: the case for legumes" comes to the conclusion that non-conserved microRNAs are likely to contribute to more gene regulation circuits than currently appreciated, and in a wider range of plant species.

Read whole paper Open Access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70027 

In the article author Trinh introduces the modified version of the tubulin kinase PROPYZAMID-HYPERSENSITIVE 1 (PHS1), named PHS1ΔP, and describes it as a tool to study microtubules. Traditionally, research involving microtubules relies on analysing mutants with altered microtubule properties or treating plant tissues with drugs that interfere with microtubule behaviours and unfortunately are not specific. In this article "PHS1ΔP as a promising tool to study microtubule-related processes in plant sciences" microtubules could be manipulated with high spatial and temporal accuracy and several microtubule-related research questions could be addressed. The author therefore suggests that also other researchers could adopt the technique in the future. 

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70019 

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

This review summarizes more than 20 years of research and focusses on the role of hybridization, polyploidization, and environmental factors in shaping the phenotypic diversity of the more than 100 existing wild potato species. In their article "Unveiling the hidden codes: a review of variability and ecological epigenetics after 20 years of studies on potato" authors Masuelli, Cara and Kozub address the ecological implications of epigenetic variation, emphasizing its role in plant adaptation to changing environments. The authors also propose a model that integrates epigenetic variability into the evolution of natural potato populations, highlighting its potential for rapid adaptation and phenotypic differentiation.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: 10.1111/plb.70003

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

In their review "the branched-chain amino acid-related isoleucic acid: recent research advances" authors Mekonnen, Ghirardo, Zhang, and Schäffner review recent progress in the characterization of isoleucic acid (ILA) biosynthesis and function in plants and discuss current knowledge gaps and future directions in ILA research. ILA plays a positive role in plant signalling for defence responses against bacterial pathogens by increasing the abundance of salicylic acid aglycone through competitive inhibition of SA deactivation by glucosylation. ILA is also important for humans with maple syrup urine disease who are defective in the catabolism of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), that is, isoleucine, leucine, and valine and accumulate BCAA breakdown products like 2-keto acid derivatives. They also summarize the differences in ILA biosynthesis, regulation, and functional roles in plants vs. mammals.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2025) DOI: 10.1111/plb.13771

Melatonin (MT) application not only maintains quality but also delays senescence in horticultural products, which is important for their nutritional quality, shelf life, commercial value, and marketability. The review "The role of melatonin in delaying senescence and maintaining quality in postharvest horticultural products" by Liu et al. summarizes significant effects of exogenous MT application on postharvest horticultural products, examines regulatory mechanisms of MT-mediated effects, and provides an integrated review for understanding the positive role of MT in senescence delay and quality maintenance. Also its role as multifunctional molecule and its coordinating functions are put together. The authors conclude that MT could become an emerging and eco-friendly preservative to extend shelf life and maintain postharvest quality of horticultural products.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2024) DOI: 10.1111/plb.13706

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

In their review authors Pittman and Hirschi summarize recent findings on the significance of CAX transporters (Cation/H⁺ Exchangers) in plant signal transduction and element partitioning. This may open future ways of strategically manipulating the temporal loss of CAX function in agriculturally important crops that may bolster plant immunity, enhance cold tolerance, and fortify resilience against one of agriculture’s most significant challenges, namely flooding. In their review entitled "CAX control: multiple roles of vacuolar cation/H⁺ exchangers in metal tolerance, mineral nutrition and environmental signalling" the authors also address the use of genetically encoded Ca²⁺ sensors, the loss of CAX functions and specific stress conditions, as well as the determination of optimal timing and approach for modulating the expression of CAX.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2024) DOI: 10.1111/plb.13698

Since the precise mechanisms through which nitrogen influences lignin biosynthesis have not been fully elucidated, the authors Peng, Shrestha, Zhang, Fan, Yu and Wang summarize a systematic search of the literature. Among the selected studies, 64.52% refer to lignin content found a negative correlation between nitrogen availability and lignin content. High nitrogen decreases the lignin content, delays cell lignification, increases p-hydroxyphenyl propane monomer content, and regulates lignin synthesis through the expression of key genes. Nitrogen deficiency enhances lignin synthesis through the accumulation of phenylpropanoids, phenolics, and soluble carbohydrates, and indirect changes in phytohormones, secondary metabolites, etc. The paper "How lignin biosynthesis responds to nitrogen in plants: a scoping review" provides new insights and important references for future studies on the regulation of lignin biosynthesis.

Read whole paper in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2024) DOI: 10.1111/plb.13627

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

In their review "The modelling of flower colour: spectral purity or colour contrast as biologically relevant descriptors of flower colour signals for bees depending upon the perceptual task" authors Lunau and Dyer ask whether quantitative modelling of flower signals should strive for repeatable consistency enabled by parameter simplification, or whether modelling should reflect the dynamic way in which bees are known to process signals. They also touch why colour is an interpretation of spectral information by the animal's brain, and how bee's colour perception is based on physiological, neuroanatomical and behavioural evidence to provide a pathway for modelling flower colours. They ask, whether flower petals and floral guides as viewed against spectrally different backgrounds should be considered as a simple colour contrast problem or require a more dynamic consideration of how bees make perceptual decisions. The authors also discuss exploitative vs. honest signalling.

Read whole paper open access in our scientific journal Plant Biology (2024) DOI: 10.1111/plb.13682 

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

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

----

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

International Symposium on Cereal Meristems and Stem Cell Systems 

28 September - 1 October 2025
Regensburg, Germany
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Thomas Dresselhaus
also see congress poster with invited speakers and organizing committee (pdf) 
Website: https://www.cscs2025.de   

13^th International Plant Sulphur Workshop

Heidelberg, Germany
21 - 25 September 2025
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Hell
Website: https://conferencecentral.org/40

Symposium of the International Society of Endocytobiology 2025 (ISE-G 2025)

Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
16 – 19 September 2025 
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Margarete Baier 
also see: Invitation Poster (pdf) 
Website: http://www.chromera.org/konference/ise-symposium-2025/about-2/ 

The Numbers Matter: Exploring Photoautotrophic Organisms through Quantitative Biology (Summer School)

Rostock, Germany
15 - 19 September 2025
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Andreas Richter
read conference report incl. image in our Actualia 

Workshop for Early Career Researchers of our Sections Natural Products and Applied Botany

Hildesheim, Germany
1 - 3 September 2025
Antragstellend: Prof. Dr. Dietrich Ober
read conference report incl. images in our Actualia 

Frontiers in Plant Systematics and Evolution

Symposium of our Section Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology
27 - 30 August 2025
Centre for Organismal Studies at Heidelberg University, Germany
27 to 30 August 2025 
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Elvira Hörandl
read conference report in our Actualia 

21^st International Conference on the Cell and Molecular Biology of Chlamydomonas

Münster, Germany
24 - 29 August 2025
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Michael Schroda
Website: https://www.uni-muenster.de/CHLAMY2025

16^th International Conference on Tetrapyrrole Photoreceptors of Photosynthetic Organisms (ICTPPO)

Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau (RPTU), Kaiserslautern, Germany
24 - 27 August 2025 
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Nicole Frankenberg-Dinkel 
Website: https://bio.rptu.de/fgs/mikrobiologie/ictppo  

International Symposium "Evolution of Plant Reproduction"

Berlin, Germany 
25 - 28 March 2025
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Annette Becker
read conference report incl. several images in our Actualia 

21^st Scientific Conference of our Phycology Section

Tagungshaus "Alte Mensa" in Göttingen, Germany
25 - 28 March 2025 
Applicant: Dr. Maike Lorenz
read conference report incl. several images in our Actualia 

23. Mitteldeutsche Pflanzenphysiologie-Tagung

Leucorea, Halle-Wittenberg
14 - 15 Februar 2025
Antragstellend: Prof. Dr. Ralf Bernd Klösgen
read conference report in our Actualia

38^th Molecular Biology of Plants

of our Section Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology
Sportschule Hennef, Germany 
10 - 13 February 2025
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Christopher Grefen
read conference report in our Actualia

Plant Proteolysis: Integration and Regulation of Plant Proteolytic Pathways (Gordon Research Conference)

Gordon Research Conference
Lucca (Barga), Lucca, Italy
19 - 24 January 2025
Applicant: Prof. Dr. Andreas Schaller
read conference report in our Actualia

The German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) awards Dr Eliza Loo (Düsseldorf), Dr Henryk Straube (Hannover/Copenhagen) and Dr Martin Lewinski (Bielefeld) for their excellent research. According to Loo’s research, colonization of root microbes can be separated into different parts along the root, which resembles the human gut. Tiny amounts of rare nucleotides can now be measured thanks to Straube’s research, with which he also discovered a nucleotide-degrading enzyme. Lewinski established a lab protocol to analyse RNA-binding proteins in living plants, which now allows the study of their regulation network. The three scientists will present their results at the Botanik-Tagung, International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences, in Halle (Saale) in September, where more than 600 plant scientists are expected to participate.

How climate change influences growing seasons length in woody plants and survival of flowers, the substances that influence shape changes of plastids, and the proteins that spur phloem differentiation are in the research focus of the four plant scientists who will receive the science prices of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) this year. Dr. Constantin Mario Zohner, Dr. Jessica Lee Erickson, Dr. Moisés Expósito Alonso and Dr. Eva-Sophie Wallner will get their awards during the Botanikertagung, the International Plant Science Conference in Rostock, Germany. From 16^th to 18^th September, the four will present their research results to the more than 420 conference participants.

The algal researchers of the DBG nominated the Blue-Green Rock Dweller Chroococcidiopsis for the alga of the year 2017. The single celled organism lives inside rocks and lichens, survives extreme climatic conditions and makes hostile environments accessible – today and most likely thousands of millions of years ago as well. While doing so, it paved the way for plants and animals. The blue-green rock dweller, belonging to the cyanobacteria lives like all algae, from sunlight, and is of great interest to ecologists, biotechnologists, and desert- and space researchers. It is the favorite research subject of Prof. Dr. Burkhard Büdel from the University of Kaiserslautern, who has been investigating it for more than 30 years. He is a member of the Phycology Section of the German Society for Plant Sciences, DBG, in which the algal researches are organized and who nominate this year an alga of the year for the tenth time this year.

Wilhelm Pfeffer-Preis der DBG geht an Dr. Manuel Steinbauer

Sorry, in German only

Weil er herausfand, wo auf Inseln besonders viele, nur dort lebende, endemische Pflanzen vorkommen und ökologische Theorien weiterentwickelte, erhält der Biogeograph Dr. Manuel Steinbauer von der Universität Bayreuth den diesjährigen, mit 2.500 Euro dotierten Wilhelm Pfeffer-Preis der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft (DBG).

Sorry in German only

Weil er Pflanzen der Gattung Genlisea (Reusenfallen) so gründlich untersuchte, dass diese sich zu neuen Modellorganismen für Genomstudien mausern können, erhält Dr. Andreas Fleischmann den diesjährigen Strasburger-Preis der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft (DBG). Diese fleischfressenden Pflanzen eignen sich besonders dafür zu erforschen, wie und warum es einige Organismen schaffen, ihren gesamten Bauplan und ihre gesamte Erbinformation auf sehr wenig „Speicherplatz“ unterzubringen, während andere − oft sogar nahe verwandte Arten − dafür ein Vielfaches mehr benötigen. Diese Frage beschäftigt Evolutionsbiologen schon lange. Fleischmann erhält den mit 2.500 Euro dotierten, von Springer Spektrum gestifteten Strasburger-Preis, am Montag, den 31. August 2015 während der diesjährigen Botanikertagung in Freising aus den Händen des Präsidenten der DBG, Prof. Dr. Karl-Josef Dietz.

Sorry, in German only

Jonas Zimmermann erhält Horst Wiehe-Preis der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft

Weil er das DNA-Barcoding als neue Methode für Gewässergüteanalysen mit Kieselalgen etablierte, erhält Dr. Jonas Zimmermann den diesjährigen Horst Wiehe-Förderpreis der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft (DBG). In seiner Dissertation identifizierte Zimmermann diejenigen Abschnitte auf der Erbsubstanz, die sich als zuverlässige Marker für das DNA-Barcoding eignen, einer mit den Strichcodes auf Waren im Supermarkt vergleichbaren Erkennungsmethode. Dabei entdeckte er auch vier neue Arten von Kieselalgen in Berliner Gewässern, die der Wissenschaft bis dato völlig unbekannt waren. Die neue Methode wird in Zukunft Umweltanalysen erleichtern, die zur Überwachung von Gewässern in der Europäischen Wasserrahmenrichtlinie (WRRL) vorgeschrieben sind. Da er gleichzeitig bestehende Referenz-Datenbanken verbesserte, profitieren nicht nur Umweltbiologen sondern auch alle Kieselalgenforscher von seiner Arbeit. Zimmermann, der inzwischen am Botanischen Garten und Botanischen Museum in Berlin (BGBM) arbeitet, erhält den mit 2.000 Euro dotierten Nachwuchspreis während der Botanikertagung am Montag, den 31. August 2015, in München aus den Händen von Prof. Dr. Karl-Josef Dietz, dem Präsidenten der DBG.

Ulva, a sea lettuce found in all oceans of the world, became ‘Alga of the Year 2015’. This marine green alga either grows in form of ribbons or of blades but only if the right bacteria induce certain developmental programs. How the alga ensures this is described on the Section's website.

Phycologists of the Botanical Society of Germany have selected Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as alga of the year 2014. This unicellular green alga is distributed throughout the world, is able to sense light, is a fast swimmer and is highly appreciated by algal and plant researchers as well as medical scientists as a model organism. Chlamydomonas even provides the basis for the establishment of novel scientific areas in neurobiology and medicine, such as optogenetics where genetically modified cells are applied as ‘light switches’. The Phycology Section introduces the model organism on its website.

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Dr. Dominik Großkinsky erhält den Wilhelm Pfeffer-Preis der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft für die Entdeckung, dass das Hormon Cytokinin die Abwehrkraft von Pflanzen steigert. Unter dem Einfluss von körpereigenen Cytokininen bildeten die Pflanzen sog. Phytoalexine, steigerten ihre Abwehrkraft also mit körpereigenen Antibiotika und überwanden eine Infektion mit dem Bakterium Pseudomonas syringae. Erstaunlicher Weise wirkte Cytokinin aber auch, wenn es von anderen Bakterien abgegeben wurde und gar nicht von der Pflanze selbst stammte. Das eröffnet neue Wege in der Resistenzforschung und in der biologischen Kontrolle des Erregers Pseudomonas syringae. Dieses Bakterium führt bei Nutzpflanzen wie Äpfeln, Kartoffeln oder Tomaten zu Ernteeinbußen und ist nur schwer zu bekämpfen. Großkinsky wird den mit 2.500 Euro dotierten Preis während der diesjährigen Botanikertagung am 30. September vom Präsident der Wilhelm-Pfeffer-Stiftung, Prof. Dr. Christian Wilhelm, entgegen nehmen.

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Für seine Entdeckung, wie Pflanzen das Hormon Strigolacton herstellen, erhält der Dr. Adrian Alder den Strasburger-Preis der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft (DBG). An der Universität Freiburg hat der 31jährige bisherige Annahmen widerlegt, wie das Hormon entsteht, den korrekten Weg herausgefunden und das Zwischenprodukt Carlacton identifiziert, das ähnliche Wirkungen wie das fertige Hormon entfaltet. Mit Strigolactonen locken Pflanzen symbiontische Pilze zum beiderseitigen Vorteil an. Der pflanzliche Botenstoff wird aber auch von Schmarotzerpflanzen missbraucht. Das einfacher aufgebaute Carlacton eröffnet neue Perspektiven im biologischen Pflanzenschutz, indem es bislang kaum zu bekämpfende Parasiten, die ganze Ernten vernichten, in den Selbstmord treiben kann. Für diese Arbeiten wird Alder am 30. September 2013 mit dem mit 2.500 Euro dotieren und von Springer Spektrum gestifteten Strasburger-Preis ausgezeichnet, den er während der diesjährigen Botanikertagung in Tübingen aus den Händen des Präsidenten der DBG, Prof. Dr. Karl-Josef Dietz, entgegen nehmen wird.

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Dr. Martin Bringmann erhält den Horst Wiehe-Preis der Deutschen Botanischen Gesellschaft (DBG) 2013. Der ehemalige Doktorand am Max-Planck-Institut für molekulare Pflanzenphysiologie in Potsdam identifizierte ein seit den 1960er Jahren postuliertes Bindeglied und klärte den Mechanismus auf, der Pflanzen hilft, Zellulose korrekt in ihren Zellwänden anzuordnen. Die richtige Anordnung verleiht den Zellen nicht nur eine Hülle mit der Reißfestigkeit von Stahl, sondern ist auch für das Richtungswachstum verantwortlich, wenn sich Pflanzen etwa dem Sonnenlicht entgegenstrecken. Wie Pflanzen Zellulose synthetisieren, interessiert nicht nur Pflanzenwissenschaftler, sondern auch die Papier- und Textilindustrie sowie die Hersteller von Bioethanol. Bringmann, der nun in Kalifornien forscht, wird den mit 1.500 Euro dotierten Preis am 30. September 2013 während der Botanikertagung von Prof. Dr. Karl-Josef Dietz, dem Präsidenten der DBG, entgegen nehmen.

Single photos of the three awardees and an additional graph of the SWEET transporters along the plant root can be downloaded here:

Dr Eliza Loo will receive this year’s Eduard Strasburger Award from the German Society of Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG). Microbiologist and plant scientist Loo discovered that root microbes are distributed non-homogenously along the longitudinal axis of the root. Similar to the root itself, the root microbiota are therefore divided into different zones despite not being identifiable by looking at the Arabidopsis plant root. As Loo and Prof. Dr Wolf Frommer describe in the journal Cell Host & Microbe root microbes influence three SWEET sugar transporters to maintain the balance of metabolite levels in the root. Changes in the root metabolite balance also change the colonization pattern of the root microbes. Different sections along plant roots resemble those sections in the guts of human and fruit flies. Similar to those in human intestines, microbiota help plants retrieve and make soil nutrients available, cope with stressors, and defend plants against diseases. Loo’s result will change the perspective in plant science, since the plant root microbiome from now on has to be considered as an organ with distinct microbial communities. This must be taken into account if microbiota are to be optimized, e.g. for improving plant health. Now Loo, as a group leader of the rice team at the Institute for Molecular Physiology at the University of Düsseldorf, investigates whether her findings are transferable to improve crops. Dr Loo will receive the Eduard Strasburger Award, which is endowed with 2,500 Euros from a foundation of the publisher Springer-Spektrum, from DBG’s president, Professor Dr Andreas Weber, on 17^th September. She is invited to present her research results as a plenary lecture at this year’s Botanik-Tagung, International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG). 

Dr Henryk Straube will be awarded with the Wilhelm Pfeffer Award 2024 of the German Society of Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG). In his outstanding PhD thesis, Henryk Straube successfully combined several methods that now allow to analyse tiny amounts of rare nucleotides, that are the building blocks for genetic information storage, in plant cells for the first time. Moreover, Straube also was able to measure tiny amounts of damaged metabolites such as inosine triphosphate. At the Institute of Molecular Nutrition and Biochemistry of Plants at Leibniz University of Hannover and supervised by Dr. Marco Herde and Prof. Dr Claus-Peter Witte, Germany, Straube has discovered a new enzyme, the inosine triphosphate pyrophosphatase, which coordinates the degradation of damaged nucleotides. His results will improve basic research in the plant nucleotide metabolism. Now, being a postdoc at University of Copenhagen in Denmark, Straube investigates the biosynthesis of vicine und convicine, two toxic alkaloids in faba beans, a promising source of plant protein in Europe. Interestingly these two alkaloids are not derived from amino acids - like most plant alkaloids - but from nucleotides and are thus produced via a different biosynthesis pathway. Dr Straube will receive the award, endowed with 2,500 Euros, on 16^th September from the president of DBG’s Wilhelm Pfeffer Foundation, Professor Dr Severin Sasso. Straube is invited to present the results of his outstanding dissertation in an oral presentation in a plenary session.

Dr Martin Lewinski will receive the Horst Wiehe Award 2024 of the German Society of Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG) for his development of a new experimental protocol to determine binding sites of proteins binding to their target RNA. He succeeded to establish a lab method called iCLIP2 (individual nucleotide resolution crosslinking and immunoprecipitation) to determine binding sites of RNA binding proteins in live plant tissue (in vivo) at high resolution. The method offers the complete step by step instructions for the wet-lab part and bioinformatic analysis to determine the exact spots where a specific protein interacts with RNAs. The method was published in Nature Protocols, and the identification of binding sites on target RNAs now allows insights in the regulatory function of the protein. With this knowledge, developed in Prof. Dr Dorothee Staiger’s lab at Bielefeld University, current paradigms of protein-RNA interaction can now be tested or extended. Lewinski will receive the prize for promising early career plant scientists endowed with 2,000 Euros on 18^th September from DBG’s General Secretary, Prof. Dr Caroline Müller. He will present his method in a plenary talk.

Eduard Strasburger winner: Dr Eliza Loo (Düsseldorf)

Group Leader: Rice team
Building: 26.14
Floor/Room: 00.104
Phone: +49 211 81-41608
E-mail: loo[at]uni-duesseldorf.de 
Website: https://www.molecular-physiology.hhu.de/team-rice/mitglieder-team-rice

Laudatory speech:

Prof. Dr Andreas Weber, President of the German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG)
Institute for Plant Biochemistry, Heinrich-Heine-University, Universitaetsstrasse 1, 40225 Düsseldorf
Phone: +49-211-81-12347
E-Mail: andreas.weber[at]uni-duesseldorf.de
Web: www.plant-biochemistry.hhu.de 

Wilhelm Pfeffer Award winner: Dr Hendryk Straube (Hannover/Copenhagen)

Currently:
University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
Phone: ++45 35328955
E-Mail: henryk[at]plen.ku.dk   

Laudatory speech:

Prof. Dr Severin Sasso,
President of the Wilhelm Pfeffer Foundation of the of the German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG)
Leipzig University, Institute of Biology, Department of Plant Physiology, Johannisallee 21-23, 04103 Leipzig
Tel.: ++49 (0) 341-9736893
E-Mail: severin.sasso[at]uni-leipzig.de
Web: https://www.lw.uni-leipzig.de/en/institut-fuer-biologie/abteilungen/plant-physiology

Horst Wiehe Award winner: Dr Martin Lewinski (Bielefeld)

Universität Bielefeld, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld
Phone: ++49 (0) 521 106-5639  
E-Mail: martin.lewinski[at]uni-bielefeld.de

Laudatory speech:

Prof. Dr Caroline Müller
Secretary General of the German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG)
Lehrstuhl für Chemische Ökologie, Universität Bielefeld, Fakultät für Biologie, W1-142, Universitätsstraße 25, 33615 Bielefeld
Phone: +49 521 106-5524
E-mail: caroline.mueller[at]uni-bielefeld.de 
Web: https://www.uni-bielefeld.de/fakultaeten/biologie/forschung/arbeitsgruppen/chem_eco/

Loo E.P.I., Durán P, Pang TP, Westhoff P, Deng C, Durán C, Lercher M., Garido-Oter, R. & Frommer W.B. (2024) Sugar transporters spatially organize microbiota colonization along the longitudinal root axis of Arabidopsis. Cell Host Microbe 32, 543-556.e6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chom.2024.02.014

Straube, Henryk (2023): Investigation of the metabolism of rare nucleotides in plants. Dissertation. Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover, 241 S., Referent: Prof. Dr Claus-Peter Witte. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15488/13270

Lewinski M., Brüggemann M., Köster T., Reichel, M., Bergelt, T., Meyer, K., König, J., Zarnack, K., Staiger, D. (2024): Mapping protein-RNA binding in plants with individual-nucleotide-resolution UV cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (plant iCLIP2). Nature Protocols 19, 1183–1234. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41596-023-00935-3    

Since 1994 the German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG) awards the Eduard Strasburger Prize for exceptional and original research results. Springer Spektrum (www.springer-spektrum.de) provides the endowment of 2,500 Euros biannually. The Foundation was initiated on the occasion of the centennial anniversary of the first edition of "Lehrbuch der Botanik für Hochschulen" written by Eduard Strasburger, Fritz Noll, Heinrich Schenck and A. F. Wilhelm Schimper in the year 1894. The election of the winner is reviewed by a jury consisting of the authors of the next circulation of now „Strasburger Lehrbuch der Pflanzenwissenschaften", DBG’s president and the biology planner from Springer Spektrum. See details: https://www.deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de/en/about-us-0/promoting-early-career-scientists/strasburger-prize

The German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG) awards the Wilhelm Pfeffer Prize for an outstanding PhD thesis (dissertation) in the field of plant sciences. The prize endowment of 2,500 Euros and the award from DBG’s own Wilhelm Pfeffer Foundation is intended to promote the careers of young scientists. The prize is awarded by the foundation’s board members. Details: https://www.deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de/en/about-us-0/promoting-early-career-scientists/pfeffer-prize  

The German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG) awards the Horst Wiehe Prize every other year for outstanding research results exclusively in the plant sciences. The prize, endowed with 2,000 Euros, is given solely to early career scientists upon receiving a doctorate or before becoming a lecturer. The prize is named after Horst Wiehe who provided an amount of money to initiate this foundation. Details: https://www.deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de/en/about-us-0/promoting-early-career-scientists/wiehe-prize  

The German Society for Plant Sciences (Deutsche Botanische Gesellschaft, DBG) is the largest organisation for plant scientists in the German speaking area. The non-profit organisation represents plant scientists, promotes plant sciences nationally and internationally and was founded more than 140 years ago. The DBG furthers early career plant scientists and unites plant scientists of all career stages. DBG supports the scientific exchange among its more than 1,000 members. More: https://www.deutsche-botanische-gesellschaft.de/en/ 

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.