Plant Pathology and Crop Protection

Research:

Our research interests are focusing on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and integrated control of fungal diseases in oilseed rape, cereals and other crops (phytopathology, phytomedicine). We are also addressing abiotic disorders of plants induced by environmental stress and physiological effects of fungicides on plants. Our specific interests are on the disease epidemics of fungal pathogens in plant stands and crop production systems, resistance mechanisms in plants and phenotyping methods for resistance screening.

Teaching:

In the frame of lectures, practial courses, seminars and excursions comprehensive knowledge in the diverse subdiciplines of plant pathology and crop protection is transfered. Students of both BSc and MSc programs may choose 3 mandatory and 11 elective modules intended for providing solid knowlege in plant pathology and crop protection. Modules on concepts of integrated crop production, biology of plant pathogens, control mechanisms of pesticides and their use (including development and registration procedures) are treated. Concepts of biological control and examples are presented. Furthermore, host-parasite-interactions are in addressed in some modules, in order to deepen the understanding of phenomena of crop plant resistance and susceptibility.
Lectures, practical courses etc. are presented in German the BSc and regular MSc study programmes of Agricultural Sciences and in English language for the Crop Protection master study program which was established in winter term 2010/2011. Since 2016, we also offer a European joint master programme in "Plant Health in Sustainable Cropping Systems" which is integrated in the regular MSc Crop Protection.

Further details of these study programmes are available by the following hyperlinks:

Recently accepted or published papers

Pfordt A, von Tiedemann A (2025) Commentary: Is Trichoderma ear rot on maize really a new dangerous plant disease? Response to the opinion paper "Is Trichoderma ear rot on maize really a new dangerous plant disease?" by Isabel Trillas, Guillem Segarra & Manuel Avilés, Frontiers Agronomy 6:1386568, 2024, https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2025.1544363.

Pfordt A, Douanla-Meli C, Schäfer BC, Schrader G, Tannen E, Chandarana M , von Tiedemann A (2025) Phylogenetic analysis of plant-pathogenic and non-pathogenic Trichoderma isolates on maize from plants, soil and commercial bio products, Applied and Environmental Microbiology (accepted for publication).

Pfordt A, Paulus S (2024). A review on detection and differentiation of maize diseases and pests by imaging sensors, Precision Agriculture, Journal of Plant Disease and Protection, 132 (1), https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-024-01019-4.

Fernandes AFD, Stilgenbauer S, Brahm L, Stammler G, von Tiedemann A (2025). Identification of Cercospora species associated with Cercospora Leaf Blight of soybean in Brazil. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection 132, 37. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-024-01008-7.

Vega-Marin M, Obermeier C, Koopmann B, Zheng X, Snowdon R & von Tiedemann A. (2024). Phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis of Verticillium longisporum strains from European and Canadian oilseed rape fields. Plant Pathology, 74, 196–209. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.14009.

Koopmann B & von Tiedemann A (2024). Research on oilseed rape diseases in Göttingen - highlights from more than twenty years. (2024). IOBC-WPRS Bulletin, Vol 172, 7-12. Ed. Cook SM, Diederichsen E, Jedryczka M, King K, Ludwig-Müller J & Wiewiora M. Working Group Integrated Control in Oilseed Crops - Proceedings of the 19th meeting in Dresden, Germany 10-11 September 2024. ISBN 978-92-9067-359-0.

Pfordt A, Steffens LÄ, Raz T and Naumann M (2024). Impact of Trichoderma afroharzianum infection on fresh matter content and grain quality in maize. Frontiers in Plant Science 15:1436201. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1436201.

Maghrebi E, Koopmann B, Sander J, Chaabane H, Bahri BA (2024). Frequency of avirulence genes and race structure in a Leptosphaeria maculans population in Tunisia. Plant Pathology, 00, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13958

Sarenqimuge S, Wang Y, Alhussein M, Koopmann B, von Tiedemann A (2024). The interplay of suppressive soil bacteria and plant root exudates determines germination of microsclerotia of Verticillium longisporum. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00589-24

Jacott C, Schoonbeek HJ, Steuernagel B, Kirby R, Zheng X, von Tiedemann A, Macioszek V, Kononowicz A, Fell H, Fitt B, Mitrousia G, Stotz H, Ridout C, Wells R (2024). Pathogen lifestyle defines host genetic signature of quantitative disease resistance in oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 137:65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-024-04569-1

Weitere Publikationen

		Neuerscheinung der Nova Acta Leopoldina zum Thema "Pflanzenproduktion in Deutschland - Bestandsaufnahme und Perspektiven für die Zukunft". Editoren: Prof. Jung (Kiel), Prof. Kage (Kiel), Prof Niggli (Bern, CH) und Prof. von Tiedemann (Göttingen). ISBN: 978-3-8047-4248-2.

		Die 3. Ausgabe des Lehrbuches "Phytomedizin" (Hallmann J & von Tiedemann A) ist im Dezember 2019 im UTB-Verlag erschienen. Das Buch umfasst 380 Seiten, wurde didaktisch überarbeitet und hat ein neues Design. ISBN: 9783825252618 .

Miscellaneous

If you are interested in open topics for Master's but also Bachelor's theses from our division, please contact our scientific staff directly.
Topics of the Plant Pathology and Plant Protection Seminar are announced on a separate web page. The listing of topics for the current semester can be accessed via the following parent page: Plant Pathology and Plant Protection Seminar.
The contents of the Kolloquium Phytomedizin offered in the winter semester are also announced on a separate page. Here, too, the list of topics for the respective semester can be navigated via the superordinate website "Kolloquium Phytomedizin".