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Welcome to the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research

At our institute we wish to determine whether and how a detailed understanding of molecular mechanisms defined in model plant species can be used to rationally manipulate selected traits in crop plants.

CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences enters third funding round

There has been much rejoicing in Düsseldorf, Gatersleben, Jülich and Cologne today: the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the German Science and Humanities Council (WR) announced that the joint CEPLAS Cluster of Excellence (“SMART Plants in Dynamic Environments”) has also been successful in the current funding round of the Excellence Strategy.

For an Open and Tolerant Society

Statement by the Max Planck Institutes in Cologne

Press Releases

Tracing evolution in Plants’ Transition to Land

April 17, 2025

A study from the group of Hirofumi Nagakami at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research has shown how a versatile protein family may have helped plants colonize land. We sat down with Dr. Nagakami to learn more about this study and the work of his group in general. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

European potato genome decoded: small gene pool with large differences

April 16, 2025

Researchers from LMU and the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research have reconstructed the genomes of ten historic potato cultivars and show that they already cover 85 percent of the total variability of modern European potatoes.

A New Tool for Parsing the ‘Metabolic Dialogue’ Between Microorganisms

April 10, 2025

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research have developed an innovative system – called MetaFlowTrain – that allows the study of metabolic exchange and interactions within microbial communities under different environmental conditions. The study is now published in Nature Communications.

Natural Gatekeeper: How plants use barriers to maintain healthy relationships

March 20, 2025

Scientists revealed new insights on the Casparian strip, a specialised structure within the roots of plants, and its involvement in balancing nitrogen level in legumes and their nodules.

More press releases