Bruno M. Moerschbacher – WWU Münster University – Germany

Molecular Phytopathology and Renewable Resources

Arthur F.J. Ram – Leiden University – Netherlands

Leiden University

Johannes de Bie – WeissBioTech – Germany

WeissBioTech

WeissBioTech GmbH (WBT) is a SME, located in Ascheberg, Germany, that is active in the development, production and market of industrial enzymes mainly, but not solely, for food application. Our products are used in starch processing, production of bioethanol and beverages (such as potable alcohol, beer, fruit-juices and wine) as well as dairy-industry and meat processing.

Recently we joined in a strategic partnership with BRAIN AG, one of Europe’s leading technology companies in the field of industrial biotechnology. An opportunity from this association is WBT’s increased focus on research and innovation.

Parts of our research activities are performed within subsidy projects, such as the FunChi-project. As our name already implies, the products WBT offer are biotechnology-derived. From several of these processes, fungal fermentation waste accumulates and has to be disposed. In respect to economical and ecological sustainability we work on possibilities to valorize the incurred waste that can also be well regarded as interesting feedstock for further usage.

Peter J. Punt – Dutch DNA Biotech – Netherlands

Dutch DNA Biotech

Antonio Molina – Universidad Politecnica de Madrid – Spain

Plant Innate Immunity and Resistance to Necrotrophic Fungi

The group interest is the characterization of the molecular and genetic bases of plant resistance to necrotrophic fungi, a type of pathogens causing devastating diseases in crops. We use as model patho-system the interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana and the ascomycete fungus Plectosphaerella cucumerina, a pathogen that colonizes Arabidopsis plants in their natural habitats. The main goal of our group is to understand how plants sense this type of pathogens and activate immune responses to confer enhanced disease resistance. Among these immune responses are those activated by signals derived from plant cell walls. The characterization of cell wall contribution to plant disease resistance and to the modulation of defensive responses are also studied by our group.

In parallel, we are deciphering the molecular mechanisms determining the different lifestyle in Arabidopsis (e.g. pathogenic, non-pathogenic and endophytic) of several P. cucumerina isolates, whose genomes have been sequenced and annotated. Using comparative and evolutionary genomic studies we have identified fungal determinants explaining the differential interactions of these isolates with Arabidopsis plants. The group also studies how plants shape their fungal endophytic microbiota in natural habitats and whether this type of fungi positively regulates plant physiology and fitness Natural Endophytes.

Marisé Borja – Plant Response Biotech – Spain

Plant Response Biotech