We are a young research group studying the genetic diversity of crops and their wild relatives. Of particular interest are traits that make our crops more resistant against plant pathogens. Our research focuses on investigating the genetic basis underlying plant disease resistance in a comparative manner. We explore natural and agricultural diversity in diverse crop species, and deploy comparative evolutionary genomics and functional studies to identify novel resistance genes. With this approach we bridge two different scientific disciplines, i.e. evolutionary genomics and molecular plant immunology. Understanding how wild relatives deal with pathogen attack is key to create crops with broad-spectrum resistance.
25 April 2023
New publication
Now online @ThePlantJournal! "The genome of Lactuca saligna, a wild relative of lettuce, provides insight into non-host resistance to the downy mildew Bremia lactucae". Great cowork by Wei Xiong and many others! @WURplant #cropwildrelatives #plantimmunity https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.16212
Wild relatives of crops,
an important natural
source for
resistance breeding.