Press Releases

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research have discovered how to access large regions of the plant genome that have been effectively locked away from breeders for generations. 
Scientists in the group of Angela Hay at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne are uncovering how a small weed uses exploding seed pods to disperse its seeds.

Diversity through repression

December 15, 2025
Using the crucifer Cardamine hirsuta researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research (MPIPZ) uncovered how enhancer evolution contributed to differences in leaf shape within this plant family.
A collaborative effort by the Formosa-Jordan lab from the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research in Cologne, Germany, the Fox lab from Duke University, USA, and the Roeder lab from Cornell University, USA, developed a new computational pipeline

News

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.
 
Prof. Dr. Michael Melkonian, Senior Guest Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding…
The Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research and the University of Cologne agree on…
At the outset of 2026, Prof. Dr. Paul Schulze-Lefert, long-standing Director of the Department of…

Events & Seminars

Wednesday Seminar Summer Break

Jul 22, 2026 11:30 AM (Local Time Germany) - Sep 2, 2026 12:30 PM
MPIPZ

Join our webinar: Your PhD @ Max Planck – Exploring Doctoral Programs

Aug 7, 2026 01:00 PM - 03:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
Virtual

Anna Backhaus

Aug 13, 2026 02:30 PM - 03:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
Max Planck Instititute for Plant Breeding Research, Room: SR II

Career

Together with our University partners in Cologne and Düsseldorf we train about 90 mostly international doctoral students and are inviting talented young researchers to apply for individual open positions and to our structured IMPRS programme.
Since 2019, all MPIPZ postdocs take part of a Career Development Program. This program aims to support them success in their careers.
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