Kiel scientists join forces for sustainable plant protection!

Kiel scientists join forces for sustainable plant protection!

On March 20, 2025, Eva Stukenbrock laid the foundation for a new era of plant research at Kiel University. She founded the “Kiel Plant Center” (KPC) to bring together and support researchers from the region. With this initiative, Stukenbrock aims to strengthen collaboration in plant research and develop innovative approaches to combat plant diseases. The DFG-funded research group “PlantsCoChallenge”, of which she is the spokesperson, plays a central role in her efforts.

Stukenbrock's impressive international network as a fellow of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) as well as her membership in the Académie de Sciences in Paris and her professorship at the University of Pretoria testify to her expertise. Her group at the Plön Institute, the Max Planck Fellow Group “Environmental Genomics”, will focus on the adaptations of microorganisms, plant host organisms and their environment. The plant-damaging fungus serves as a model systemZymoseptoria tritici.

The acquisition of the Zymoseptoria collection

Stukenbrock has been with us for over 15 yearsZymoseptoria triticifamiliar and has now taken over an important collection of the pathogen. Prof. Gert Kema from Wageningen University, who has collected almost 8,000 accessions of the fungus over 30 years, handed this collection over to Stukenbrock. The last part of the collection was ceremoniously handed over on September 5, 2023 during the Kiel Plant Center's summer event. Kema emphasizes the ongoing threat thatZymoseptoria triticifor global wheat production and the need to involve affected farmers.

The disease, known as Septoria tritici spot, has the ability to significantly reduce wheat yields and poses a serious threat to global food security. Climate change is making regions such as northern Germany increasingly suitable for fungal growth, further exacerbating the problems. The increasing resistance of fungi to fungicides requires new strategies to protect wheat cultivation.

Sustainable crop protection strategies

Stukenbrock's research group has the overarching goal of developing sustainable crop protection strategies that are based on knowledge of the evolutionary adaptation of pests and plants. Their comprehensive collection provides valuable resources for understanding the pathogen's evolution in relation to fungicide use and the challenges of climate change. Stukenbrock sees this collection as an opportunity to make progress in the area of ​​plant safety.

Furthermore, the context of climate change is becoming increasingly important. The challenges it poses to global food security — be it rising temperatures, extreme weather events or dwindling resources — are obvious. Experts like Dr. Seung Y. Rhee warn tirelessly about the risks such as hunger, mass migration and global conflicts that could arise without climate-adapted crops. The need for resilient plants and international cooperation in research is becoming clearer than ever.

To meet the challenges of climate change, intensive collaboration between scientists, farmers and consumers is crucial. The white paper in the specialist journalTrends in Plant Sciencehighlights that new technologies, in particular CRISPR/Cas, are essential to improve plant resilience. Regulatory hurdles must be overcome and it is important to increase trust in new technologies through education.

The establishment of global research initiatives is also on the agenda to pool resources and expert knowledge. Kema and Stukenbrock both recognize the urgency of developing practical solutions that move quickly from the laboratory to the fields. Their collaboration will make a significant contribution to future crop security and create the basis for more resilient agricultural systems.