Communications

Under bright sunshine and midsummer temperatures, the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ) opened its doors to the public and was rewarded with great interest: More than 650 guests took the opportunity to gain a behind-the-scenes look at plant research and engage in conversations with our scientists.
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The Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and the University of Cologne agree on permanent interdisciplinary graduate training / Predominantly international researchers complete a structured doctoral programme in a forward-looking field of research.
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At the outset of 2026, Prof. Dr. Paul Schulze-Lefert, long-standing Director of the Department of Plant-Microbe, will enter retirement. Over more than 25 years at the helm of his department, he made significant contributions to plant immunity, microbiota research, and molecular plant–microbe interactions, shaping both the Institute and his field of research.
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Paul Schulze-Lefert, Jane Parker, Stéphane Hacquard, and Ruben Garrido-Oter “have demonstrated significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research”. more

Mercier is awarded together with four other researchers for introducing asexual reproduction through seeds into rice, an innovation that could hugely simplify efforts to propagate elite plant varieties, thus revolutionizing agriculture and contributing significantly to food security.
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Professor Paul Schulze-Lefert has been elected as a Fellow of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei. In 2025, 46 researchers from around the world received this accolade in recognition of their outstanding scientific achievements. more