Field of expertise and research topics:

• Plant Pathology, Microbiology, Plant-Microbe interactions
• BMBF funded research project „RhizoWheat“
• Rhizosphere processes and yield decline in wheat crop rotations
• Investigating the influence of pre-crop, location (soil parameters) and plant developmental stage on the microbial diversity of the wheat rhizosphere using DNA-based methods (Metabarcoding via Amplicon Sequencing)
• Molecular analysis of structure and composition of microbial communities in the wheat rhizosphere
• Culture- and DNA-based isolation, identification and quantification of fungal soil-borne pathogens involved in yield decline and root senescence and of potential antagonists (selective plating and real-time PCR)
• DNA-based characterization of rhizosphere isolates (bacteria) with antagonistic potential and/or plant health or plant growth promoting properties

Cooperations & Membership:

• Member of the American Phytopathological Society (APS)
• Membership “Friends of the Institute of Plant Health e.V.” of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Unitversität in Bonn

Publications on ResearchGate

Publications in the Julius Kühn-Institut