Research in our lab is in the area of plant-bacteria interactions. Plants are our main suppliers of food and fibers. In their environment, plants interact with other organisms, including bacteria. The outcome can be beneficial or detrimental. The basic understanding of both kinds of interactions is of fundamental importance for agriculture, to manage conditions for coping with disease and promoting higher crop yields, while minimizing negative impacts on the environment.
We aim at enlarging our understanding of the mechanisms and traits required by plant-associated bacteria in their interactions with plants. Major emphasis is being put on the investigation of virulence and adaptation determinants of plant pathogenic bacteria.