Institute of Plant Biology

The main research aims of the Plant Biology institute are the identification of genes and molecular mechanisms, which determine light perception and utilization, development and stress responses, as well as symbiotic interactions in model and agriculturally important plants, algae and cyanobacteria.
The main research areas are:

• Molecular level characterization of plant photoreceptors and signal transduction processes. 
• Structure-based understanding of the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus.
• Cellular level characterization of the regulation of cell division, differentiation and ontogenesis as well as the influence of environmental stress factors on these processes in plants and microalgae.
• Identification and characterization of genes and their protein products, which are involved in the abiotic stress responses of plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. 
• Exploration of the molecular mechanism of root nodule formation in the nitrogen fixing symbiosis of Sinorhizobium meliloti/medicae–Medicago truncatula. Clarification of the mode of action of small plant peptides, which are involved in the regulation of symbiosis and root nodule formation, as well as utilization  of their biomedical potential in the development of new antibiotics. 
• Development of high throughput plant phenotyping methods and platforms, and their utilization for complex characterization of the development and physiological status of plants and microalgae. 
• Utilization of microalgae in renewable bio-energy production, animal feeding and wastewater cleaning. Exploration of the molecular background of algae-bacteria interactions and their application potential. 
• Development of biotechnological methods and approaches for the creation and production of plants and microalgae with increased biomass production and stress resistance.