We make knowledge about developmental processes and defence in plants available to breeders and conservation geneticists, enabling its application in agriculture and forestry. A significant proportion of our efforts are dedicated to the support of a sustainable agriculture in developing countries.

The department focuses on genetic, cellular and molecular research addressing questions fundamental for the biology of whole plants, and of interactions between plants and other organisms. A defining strength of the department is its considerable expertise in the analysis and exploitation of genetic diversity. Departmental researchers specialising in different fields closely cooperate to approach complex questions in an interdisciplinary manner.