Klaus Schlaeppi

Localized glutamine leakage drives the spatial structure of root microbial colonization Plant roots release exudates to encourage microbiome assembly, which influences the function and stress resilience of plants. How specific exudates drive spatial colonization patterns remains largely ...

A long road to the Cover of Science!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Charlotte Joller successfully defended her PhD thesis. Coolness, commitment and talent > very good PhD. Congratulations Charlotte! #proudPI

Katja Stengele successfully defended her PhD thesis. Rational thinking, logic, commitment and talent >>> very good PhD. Congratulations Katja! #proudPI

✨🌙 ¡La Noche Europea de los Investigadores ya ha comenzado!

Desde la EEZ-CSIC compartimos nuestra ciencia con tres talleres: plantas y bichos, microbiomas y nutrición animal y el mundo oculto visto con microscopía. ¡Visítanos en el stand de la @eezcsic.bsky.social!
🔬🌱🐄

Katja Stengele successfully defended her PhD thesis. Rational thinking, logic, commitment and talent >>> very good PhD. Congratulations Katja! #proudPI

Charlotte Joller successfully defended her PhD thesis. Coolness, commitment and talent > very good PhD. Congratulations Charlotte! #proudPI

Six years ago, I started at the MPIPZ with a head full of ideas. What a journey. I’m thrilled to share that, from Jan 2026, I will be moving to Zurich as a chaired associate professor at the University of Zurich.
A new chapter, and plenty of roots still to grow. Can’t wait for the adventure ahead!

Congratulations Tonni🍻 Gonna miss you

Benzoxazinoid-mediated microbiome feedbacks enhance Arabidopsis growth and defense Plants modulate their surrounding microbiome via root exudates and this conditioned soil microbiome feeds back on the performance of the next generation of plants. How plants can perceive this altered...

updated preprint: Intriguingly, Arabidopsis responded with both, improved growth and enhanced defence to a maize-conditioned soil microbiome, and this dual microbiome feedbacks were mediated by priming of the defences. Credits to Katja Stengele et al.!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Synthetic communities of maize root bacteria interact and redirect benzoxazinoid metabolization | mSphere We investigated how maize root bacteria—alone or in community—tolerate and metabolize antimicrobial compounds of their host plant. We found that the capacity to metabolize such a compound impacts bact...

SynCom of maize root bacteria: in team work, they detox differently. Interacting they redirect the metabolisation to an alternative degradation product.

Credits: @lisathoenen.bsky.social, Dr. Christine Pestalozzi & teams @unibas.ch and @unibe.ch.

journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/...

How Plants communicate with the Soil Microbiome Bacteria and fungi in the soil have a major influence on plant growth. Plant researcher Klaus Schläppi is working to understand the biological mechanisms behind this interaction − knowledge that could...

www.unibas.ch/en/Research/... [some self-promo 🙈]

A TNL receptor mediates microbiome feedbacks in Arabidopsis Plant performance depends on the soil microbiome. While microbiome feedbacks are well documented, the mechanisms by which plants perceive and mediate these feedbacks remain unclear. We established a f...

📜 A TNL receptor mediates microbiome feedbacks in Arabidopsis

🧑‍🔬 @henryjvr.bsky.social, @schandry.bsky.social, Claude Becker, Hiroaki Adachi, @kschlaeppi.bsky.social, et al.

📔 @biorxiv-plants.bsky.social

🔗 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

#️⃣ #PlantScience #PlantImmunity #PlantMicrobiome

A TNL receptor mediates microbiome feedbacks in Arabidopsis Plant performance depends on the soil microbiome. While microbiome feedbacks are well documented, the mechanisms by which plants perceive and mediate these feedbacks remain unclear. We established a f...

Updated preprint: MMF1 is "a microbiota receptor” through which Arabidopsis plants perceive their soil microbiome. Perception optimises root microbiome composition, immune status and ultimately leads to better growth. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

🎯EPSO Contributions from plant research and innovation to EU circular regenerative and competitive #Bioeconomy – position paper from #PlantFactories, #Plants&Microbiomes and #Horticulture Working Groups. bit.ly/449vwSd. #PlantScience #SDG #HorizonEU

PCR Primer Design | Notion Prerequisite Protocols

Here's a tutorial I wrote on how I design detection and cloning primers using Primer3. Hopefully it's helpful for students. 💚

binomicalabs.notion.site/PCR-Primer-D...

We are recruiting a tenure-track assistant professor in molecular microbiology in our department in Lausanne! Do consider appyling!!

This is built on the foundation of one of the most compelling long-term forest studies in Europe. This will be one very lucky postdoc...

Universität Basel: Postdoctoral researcher: Ecology of deep soil forest fungi The research group 'Plant Microbe Interactions' at the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel (https://duw.unibas.ch/en/pmi/) is welcoming applications for a postdoctoral researcher...

Are you interested in the ecology of deep soil forest fungi?

We are hiring a postdoc (3y).

More information here: jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...

Growth before photosynthesis: how trees regulate their water balance In order for trees to grow, they need to control their water balance meticulously. A study by the University of Basel shows how trees react to drought – and revises previous perceptions.

In order for trees to grow, they need to control their water balance meticulously. A study by researchers @unibas.ch & @tum.de shows how trees react to drought – and revises previous perceptions.

We will put forward a 500 million package for 2025-2027 to make Europe a magnet for researchers.

As well as ambitious proposals for R&I in the next EU budget.

We will also offer the best and brightest the right incentives to come to Europe ↓

Join our group (www.luginbuehllab.com) at @camplantsci.bsky.social! Are you excited about mycorrhiza, (single-cell) transcriptomics, carbon physiology, and the model crop rice? We have a 2-year postdoc position available, starting ASAP. Closing date 23rd May 2025!

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/51214/

Productivity of supplementary data 😂

Marchantia polymorpha Defense Against Snail Herbivory Ancestral liverwort species were already equipped with the jasmonate pathway to fend off herbivores. However, insect appearance on earth does not fit with the estimated age of bryophytes, as they pro...

📜 Marchantia polymorpha Defense Against Snail Herbivory

🧑‍🔬 Fabian Schweizer, @isabelmonte.bsky.social, Roberto Solano, Philippe Reymond

📔 Plant-Environment Interactions

🔗 onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

#️⃣ #PlantScience #PlantImmunity #PlantEvoMPMI #Marchantia #Herbivory

Swiss Alps seen from Neuchatel

Excited to do a postdoc in beautiful Neuchatel / Switzerland🇨🇭?

We have several postdoc positions open at the moment!

Check our website for the full ads here: pathogen-genomics.org/jobs

Happy to answer any question and please spread the word to anyone who might be interested!

Deterministic colonization arises early during the transition of soil bacteria to the phyllosphere and is shaped by plant–microbe interactions - Microbiome Background Upon seed germination, soil bacteria are activated to transition to the plant and eventually colonize mature tissues like leaves. These bacteria are poised to significantly influence plant ...

New paper in Microbiome (with fancy summary video): doi.org/10.1186/s401...

1. Many bacteria can realistically transition from soil to mature leaves.
2. Early stages post-germination shape colonization processes and diversity.
3. P-M-M interactions affect mostly deterministic colonzers.

Enjoy!

Junior Research Group Plant Microbiosis Dr Matthew T. Agler

PhD project offer: Plant secondary metabolites and the barley microbiome
Supervisors: Dr. Matthew Agler, FSU www.bio.uni-jena.de/en/18304/pla...; Dr. John D'Auria, IPK Gatersleben
More information: www.ice.mpg.de/402506/Proje...
Apply now: jobs.ice.mpg.de/en/jobpostin...

Tracing evolution in Plants’ Transition to Land

Tracing evolution in Plants’ Transition to Land www.mpipz.mpg.de/5683322/pr-n...

@mpipz.bsky.social

Universität Basel: Administrative Assistenz Für das Departement Umweltwissenschaften (DUW) der Universität Basel suchen wir eine administrative Assistenz für das Sekretariatsteam mit Schwerpunkt der Tätigkeit in der Forschungsgruppe «Pflanzen M...

Gesucht: Administrative Assistenz für die Forschungsgruppe «Pflanzen Mikroben Interaktionen»

jobs.unibas.ch/offene-stell...

A fungal transcription factor converts a beneficial root endophyte into an anthracnose leaf pathogen Endophytic fungi colonize healthy plant tissues without disease. Ujimatsu et al. reveal that the fungal transcription factor CtBOT6 triggers the virulence of a root-associated beneficial endophyte by ...

Thrilled to share my first paper published at Current biology!!
We found that the expression level of one single transcription factor converts beneficial root endophyte into pathogenic guy😈 (1/8) www.cell.com/current-biol...