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Department of
Environmental Sciences

Swiss Plant Science Web

Early seed development imaged by mPS-PI staining, image by Sara Simonini

Canonical and non-canonical epigenetic regulation of embryogenesis – Sara Simonini group, Zurich University

cress plant cells attacked by Globisporangium ultimum. Image by Pascale Flury Uni Basel

Plant-beneficial rhizobacteria – Pascale Flury group, Basel University

The “breathing” pore (=stoma) of grasses. Image by Michael Raissig UniBern

Form, development, and function of grass stomata – Michael Raissig group, Bern University

root tip

Functional interactomics of auxin transport – Markus Geisler group, Fribourg University

mouse eating maize

Infochemicals that shape interactions between organisms – Christelle Robert group, Bern University

The future of humanity and plants is entangled. image by Wikimedia Commons

Adaptation to warm ambient temperature via posttranscriptional regulation – Rodrigo Reis group, Bern University

Suberin staining in Arabidopsis roots, Marie Barberon Uni Geneva

Nutrition and development of plants – Marie Barberon group, Geneva University

GUS exprimierende Blätter, E. Truernit

Phloem development and function – Elisabeth Truernit group, ETH Zurich

Root cross section @Hardtke

The molecular basis of plant growth & development – Christian Hardtke lab, Lausanne University

A newly-formed lateral root (magenta) emerges through the endodermis (green). Joop Vermeer

Understanding spatial accommodating responses during plant development – Joop Vermeer group, Neuchâtel University

A western corn rootworm larvae feeding on a maize plant. credit: Cyril Hertz

Secondary metabolites in plant-herbivore interactions – Matthias Erb group, Bern University

Trial fields from above. Raffael Wittwer agroscope

Symbiosis and soil biodiversity as a driver of plant growth and ecosystem functioning – Marcel van der Heijden group, Zurich University

Model for the evolution of powdery mildew isolates

Genomics and bioinformatics in plants and fungi – Thomas Wicker group, Zurich University

Language extinction triggers the loss of unique medicinal knowledge. Copyright: Cámara-Leret & Bascompte (2021) PNAS 118 (24): e2103683118.

Biocultural conservation – Rodrigo Camara Leret group, Zurich University

Lab work. Image by Astrid Eckert, TUM, Munich

Sensing and adaptation of bacteria in plants – Stefanie Ranf group, Fribourg University

Arabidopsis Pseudomonas

Molecular aspects of symbiosis and pathogenesis in plants – Thomas Boller group, Basel University

Dual-colour live imaging of receptor kinase nanoclusters at the plasma membrane Cyril Zipfel

Receptor kinase-mediated plant sensing – Cyril Zipfel group, University of Zurich

field experiment

Evolutionary ecology of above-belowground plant-animal interaction – Sergio Rasmann group, Neuchâtel University

Carex firma in the Alps. Carex are the best studied and highly diverse holocentric plant group. Image by H. Berger

Holocentric chromosomes and their impact on speciation – Kay Lucek group, Neuchâtel University

SEM Germinating seed ©Sylvain Loubery Uni Geneva

Molecular genetic control of seed germination in Arabidopsis thaliana – Luis Lopez-Molina group, Geneva University

Botrychium lunaria Jason Grant

Plant systematics and taxonomy – Jason Grant group, Neuchâtel University

Alp Weissenstein Messungen Buchmann

Biogeochemistry and biodiversity of agro- and forest ecosystems – Nina Buchmann group, ETH Zurich

Arabidopsis thalliana

How genomic changes promote adaptation and speciation in Arabidopsis relatives and in tropical trees – Kentaro Shimizu group, Zurich University

UVR8 photoreceptor

UV-B perception and signalling in plants – Roman Ulm group, Geneva University

Meristem maturation Soyk

Genetic control of plant architecture – Sebastian Soyk lab, Lausanne University

Cartoon representation of a nucleus Stefan Grob

3D-omics – Stefan Grob group, University of Zurich

Ratovoson field Yamama Naciri CJBG

Understanding plant speciation and diversification patterns – Yamama Naciri group, Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève CJBG

Clime cab experiment Alessio Maccagni

Limits to the adaptive evolution process – Yvonne Willi group, Basel University

Canavalia brasiliensis Nicaragua

Improve nutrient-use efficiency in agro-ecosystems – Emmanuel Frossard group, ETH Zurich

Reduced antenna system

Dynamics of the light harvesting complex – Fiamma Paolo Longoni group, Neuchâtel University

root emergence

Developmental cell biology of plants – Niko Geldner group, Lausanne University

Open top chambers, image by Laura Mekarni

Heat and drought impact on trees and forest ecosystems – Charlotte Grossiord group, EPFL Lausanne

Figure 1 Croll

Evolutionary genomics of plant-pathogen interactions – Daniel Croll group, Neuchâtel University

seedlings

Signaling Peptides in Plant Adaptation to Abiotic Stresses – Ora Hazak lab, Fribourg University

Remote sensing of plant water relations

Remote sensing of plant-water relations – Alexander Damm group, Zurich University

Genetic and epigenetic control of plant reproduction – Ueli Grossniklaus group, Zurich University

Krabbenspinne Schiestl ©Annina Knauer

Ecological interactions and plant evolution – Florian Schiestl group, Zurich University

Risk of non-adaptedness Quercus Felix Gugerli

Landscape Genomics of Forest Trees and Alpine Plants – Felix Gugerli group, Swiss Federal Research Institute

Sediment Moossee Tinner group

Ecosystem and vegetation responses to climatic change, disturbance and land use – Willy Tinner group, Bern University

Dryas octopetala in the Arctic Archipelago Svalbard. Sabine Rumpf Univ Basel

Alpine and arctic plant ecology – Sabine Rumpf
group, Basel University

Cardamine Urnerboden

Polyploidization and stress response in plants – Rie Shimizu-Inatsugi group, Zurich University

chn Beat Keller

The cereal genomes: hidden treasures for evolutionary genomics and agronomy – Beat Keller group, Zurich University

Cucumber beetle

Biocommunication & ecology – Consuelo De Moraes group, ETH Zurich

Medusagyne oppositifolia

Plant-animal interactions and ecosystem function – Jaboury Ghazoul group, ETH Zurich

Electrical activity in plants

Plant molecular biology – Ted Farmer group, Lausanne University

Lewisia rediviva in the Cascade Range, WA, USA

Plant reproductive diversity across lineages and environments – Jurriaan de Vos group, Basel University

population Parisod

Plant ecological genomics – Christian Parisod group, Fribourg University

Hölstein Kran Waldprojekt

Responses of plants and ecosystems to global environmental change – Ansgar Kahmen group, Basel University

Interaction Loïc Pellissier ETHZ

Understanding the dynamic of biological landscapes – Loïc Pellissier group, ETH Zurich

Tef production lodging

Crop breeding and genomics – Zerihun Tadele group, Bern University

Tomato leaves @simon aeschbacher UZH

Plant adaptation and speciation in the face of gene flow – Simon Aeschbacher group, Zurich University

Soil fertility trial Johan Six ETH Zurich

Elucidating and promoting sustainable agriculture across the world – Johan Six group, ETH Zurich

Feldflächen oberhalb Zermatt, Alex Widmer ETHZ

Understanding the genetic basis of ecological and evolutionary processes – Alex Widmer group, ETH Zurich

Forest canopy Clara Zemp Uni Neuchatel

Protecting biodiversity in a changing world – Clara Zemp group, Neuchâtel University

Mycorrhiza Jan Sanders Uni Lausanne

Genetics and evolution of the mycorrhizal symbiosis – Jan Sanders group, Lausanne University

rosette Arabidopsis thaliana

Molecular mechanisms of light-regulated growth and development in plants – Christian Fankhauser group, Lausanne University

Volatiles influence potato plants

Volatile-mediated impact of bacteria on plants – Laure Weisskopf group, Fribourg University

concept Joelle Schläpfer

Root-microbe interactions – Joëlle Schläpfer group, Zurich University

Oil palm field Kalimantan Claude Garcia

Human-forest interface in subtropical and tropical regions – Claude Garcia group, ETH Zurich

Arabidopsis arenosa tetraploid meiocytes in pachytene stage

Adaptive evolution in response to genome duplication and climate – Kirsten Bomblies group, ETH Zurich

Eschscholzia californica in Chile

Experimental Plant Ecology – Jake Alexander group, ETH Zurich

Bioluminescent insects

Bioluminescence as a regulator of multitrophic interactions belowground – Ricardo Machado group, Neuchâtel University

Seed dispersal network

Networks of species interactions and biodiversity – Jordi Bascompte group, Zurich University

Experimental garden Markus Fischer

Plant ecology – Markus Fischer group, Bern University

Baroux_proj1_2560x1080

Chromatin and transcriptome dynamics during sexual plant reproduction – Celia Baroux group, Zurich University

Welcome

Welcome to the website of the Swiss Society of Plant Biology. This website is the Swiss Portal for Plant Sciences that offers information on plant science research, events and education at universities in Switzerland.

News

Brachypodium

11 Mar 2025

International Brachypodium Research Conference 2025

The Brachypodium Research Conference takes place from July 6- 10 in Monte Verità, Switzerland

21 Oct 2024

How a bacterium becomes a permanent resident in a fungus

An organism as a tenant in another - in biology, this often works quite well. ETH researchers have now shed light on how such a partnership of a cell in a cell can establish.

Herbarium Bauhin

15 Oct 2024

A botanical collection as the culmination of a life’s work

Caspar Bauhin was probably the most famous botanist of his time. The Basel-based professor collected plants from all over the world and set new standards in botany that continue to have an impact today. Now, he is the subject of an…

Tansley Medal

25 Sep 2024

The New Phytologist Tansley Medal

The New Phytologist Tansley Medal

16 Jul 2024

Programme available online | Botanik-Tagung 2024

We are excited to announce that the main programme for the Botanik-Tagung 2024 – International Conference of the German Society for Plant Sciences (DBG) – is now available online!

16 Jul 2024

Waging a war for land and soil

The war in Ukraine is also a war for soil. Sebastian Dötterl, Professor for Soil Resources at ETH Zurich explains what makes Ukrainian soil so valuable and why it will become even more geopolitically significant.

lab work

Open positions

Career opportunities in plant sciences

Events

16 Jun 2025 – 20 Jun 2025

ICAR 2025 – International Conferences on Arabidopsis Research

29 Jun 2025 – 03 Jul 2025

25th Conference of the International Plant Growth Substances Association (IPGSA2025)

06 Jul 2025 – 10 Jul 2025

International Brachypodium Research Conference 2025 (IBRC2025)

26 Jul 2025 – 30 Jul 2025

Botany 2025 conference

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