Small things big: Photo exhibition “Friends and Foes – Interactions between mikrobes and plants”

Duration of the exhibition: 4 November to 13 December 2023

Plants interact with countless microorganisms in their environment. Besides harmful pathogens, many microbes are beneficial for plant health. In the exhibition “Friends and Foes”, scientists from the TRR356 research network provide insights into these diverse communities.

Many microorganisms, such as fungi and bacteria, live in and around plants. Even though they are not visible to the human eye, they have a great influence on plant health and thus on our food security.

The interplay between plants and microbes can be both: friendly and antagonistic. On the one hand, plants form symbiotic communities with microscopic organisms that improve the plant’s nutrient supply and protect it from pathogens. On the other hand, pathogenic microorganisms can cause massive damage and prove to be deadly enemies.

The exhibition “Friends and Foes” presents both sides of plant-microbe interactions in a fascinating way. With their photographs, researchers from the TRR356 PlantMicrobe network provide a microscopic view of biological processes that are normally hidden from the human eye. What may initially look like abstract art due to bizarre shapes, structures and flamboyant colours, shows cellular changes, for example through defence mechanisms of plants or infection strategies of microorganisms, in large format.

“Our ambition with this exhibition is that a spark of our fascination for the multifaceted interactions between plants and microbes will spread to visitors and that we can thus raise awareness for this important research topic.”

– Dr. Dagmar Hann, scientist of TRR356 at Biocampus Martinsried (LMU) and co-organiser of the exhibition

“Plants are surrounded by an unbelievable variety of microorganisms and must permanently defend themselves, compromise and adapt. The ability to constantly readjust their immune system helps them to do so. The TRR PlantMicrobe is also researching what role genetic diversity plays in sustainable plant health.”

– Prof. Dr. Gudrun Kadereit, Director of the Botanic Garden Munich-Nymphenburg

The photographs were taken by students, scientific employees and professors from various renowned research institutions, including LMU, TUM, the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen and the University of Tübingen.

More information about TRR356 PlantMicrobe

Admission

The entry to the exhibition is included in the regular ticket for the Botanical Garden. More information about the admission: Entrance fees & discounts

Press contact

Leonie Hinderhofer
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Fakultät für Biologie
Menzinger Str. 67

80638 München
Tel.: +49 (0) 89 17861 – 354
E-Mail: l.hinderhofer@bio.lmu.de