Associative interactions

Since 1983  Azospirilum has been intensively studied in our group because of its capacity to live in a close beneficial association with the most important non-legume food  crops (e.g. rice, wheat, maize). The best documented beneficial traits of this plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR), comprise the production of plant growth-promoting substances, nitrogen transformations, increasing bioavailability of phosphate and micronutrients, and biological control.  Our aim is to understand and improve the Azospirillum –plant interaction in particular with respect to the colonization and the production of plant growth-promoting substances.  Other PGPR organisms and chemical substances are also being tested for their effect on commercial crops.

Recently additional focus has been put on microbial biotechnology. Technologies  useful for investigating the bacterial colonization and survival (fluorescent proteins and qPCR) are being optimized as well as the use of bacterial proteins in interesting technological applications (e.g. use of cell surface displayed enzymes in water treatment).