News
How grasses avoid inbreeding
ETH Zurich researchers have been able to show which genes inhibit self-fertilisation in grasses. Plant scientists can now use this mechanism in a more targeted way to breed new varieties of forage grasses as well as rice or barley.
ChromaX: a fast and scalable breeding program simulator
The Python library ChromaX offers breeders and scientists new opportunities to simulate genetic gain and optimize resource allocation in breeding programs.
Michaela Jung honoured for contribution to fruit culture
Michaela Jung, a postdoc in a joint project of the Fruit Breeding Group at Agroscope and the Molecular Plant Breeding Group at ETH Zurich, has been awarded the Professor Albert Soenen Prize for her doctoral thesis. She developed genomic approaches that make apple breeding more efficient. The award ceremony will take place on 12 June 2024 in Belgium.
Kyuss v2.0 – THE reference genome sequence for perennial ryegrass
Ultra-long ONT reads with Hi-C enabled the generation of a nearly perfect genome assembly of Kyuss, a doubled haploid perennial ryegrass genotype.
Candidate genes for bacterial wilt resistance in Italian ryegrass
High-resolution bulked segregant analysis revealed a ~300 kb region associated with resistance to Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis.
High genomic plasticity and unique features of Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis
Complete genome sequences revealed a high level of chromosomal rearrangements and to identify features potentially involved in pathogenicity.
Perspectives for reducing seed shattering in ryegrasses
A review of the mechanisms of seed shattering in the grass family reveals strategies and candidate genes to improve this important trait in ryegrasses.
Exploring limits and potential of new genomic techniques
Welcome to Sophie Watts!
Development and application of molecular genetic tools for sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and other (minor) legume species
Welcome to Alexander Pettersson!
MPB on show at the OLMA Trade Fair in St. Gallen
Showcasing bean and grass breeding research.
DNA-based analysis of species composition and genetic diversity in multispecies swards
Welcome to Linn Zetterberg Huser!
Supporting buckwheat phenotyping and field trial management
Welcome to Shuyo Nodasaka!
Doctoral thesis "Resistance gene identification through advanced host-pathogen genomics in the Xanthomonas-ryegrass pathosystem"
Congratulations to Florian Goettelmann for successfully passing the examination of his doctoral thesis!
Harvesting and phenotyping the Swiss Apple Core Collection
Welcome to Robin Wagner!
Nachtaktiv
An exhibition on “Plant Dating” in the Botanical Garden of Zurich.
From the EU COST Action “PlantEd”
New review article outlines the challenges after a decade of genome editing.
Speeding up bean breeding
Research highlights of the World Food System Center
Field evaluation of the cisgenic fire blight resistant apple line C44.4.146
A cisgenic modification in ‘Gala Galaxy’ conferred resistance to floral fire blight and maintained the cultivar-specific characteristics.
Boosting recombination in apple
Welcome to Selina Ilchmann!
Cell-penetrating peptide-mediated enzymatic mutagenesis in apple
Welcome to Jonathan Ohnmacht!
Understanding grass reproduction to improve breeding - unravelling self-incompatibility
Welcome to Daniela Kupper!
Disease resistance in a worldwide red clover germplasm collection
High variability for and candidate loci associated with resistance to southern anthracnose and clover rot in a worldwide collection of red clover provide the basis for genomics-assisted breeding.
Resistance to an emerging viral disease of common bean in Latin America
A candidate gene associated with resistance to the novel bean leaf crumple virus sheds light in the breeding efforts against this and other viral diseases threatening bean production.
Advancing climbing bean breeding
The inclusion of data from bush type beans can improve genomic predictions for climbing beans, a new study reveals.
Strengthening technical support in Eschikon
Welcome to Nadine Eggenberger!
Characterisation of bacterial wilt resistance in experimental germplasm of Italian ryegrass
Welcome to Rahel Lenz!
Predicting the performance of apple across environments
Insights into the genetic architecture and genomic predictive ability of quantitative traits can contribute to an increase in the efficiency of apple breeding.
When does wheat close its stomata in response to water deficit?
Welcome to Kevin Kaufmann!
Genetic structure and host specificity of diverse Colletotrichum spp. pathovars
Welcome to Sandra Wickart!
Establishment of a detached-leaf segment assay for stem rust in Italian ryegrass
Welcome to Maria Wiederkehr!
First complete genome sequences of representative strains of all Xanthomonas translucens pathovars
We assembled complete genome sequences for relevant strains of these important pathogens of cereal crops and forage grasses.
Accelerating genetic diversity monitoring in grassland plants
A new approach to assess genetic diversity in grassland plants can make large-scale, multispecies monitoring a reality.
Towards gene identification for self-compatibility
A fine-mapping approach further elucidates the genetics underlying self-compatibility in perennial ryegrass.
Machine learning-based data analysis for crop improvement
Welcome to Carles Quesada Traver!
Assessing the effect of grassland management on plant genetic diversity
Welcome to Damian Käch!
Ask the Expert
In the video series "Ask the Expert", Professor Bruno Studer talks about molecular plant breeding.
Self-compatibility for research and breeding
A comprehensive scientific review about self-compatibility in grasses and its implication for breeding.
Training the next generation of lab technician
Welcome to Sophia Hedinger!
A highly complete perennial ryegrass genome assembly
Ultralong Oxford Nanopore reads enable the assembly of large and complex plant genomes.
Strengthening genomic selection in crop breeding
Welcome to Daniel Ariza!
Spotlight on molecular plant breeding
The Swiss Journal of Horticulture and Viticulture (SZOW) is featuring research projects of our group.
Bringing buckwheat back into our fields and kitchens
Research highlights of the World Food System Center
Red clover for sustainable livestock production
Research highlights of the World Food System Center
Give peas a chance!
Research highlights of the World Food System Center
150 Years of Agricultural Sciences at ETH Zurich
Great echo from our anniversary event!
Doctoral thesis “Understanding the role of stomatal traits in tree crop productivity and climate resilience”
A warm welcome to our new Doctoral student Francesca Zuffa!
New doctoral student exploring opportunities to diversify Swiss agriculture and food systems with buckwheat
A warm welcome to our new Doctoral student Fabian Hess!
Bachelor thesis “Spatiotemporal changes in stomatal development and function of apple trees”
A warm welcome to our new Bachelor student Lena Caminada!
Breeding for drought tolerant grasses
Genome-wide association study identifies candidate genes for biomass formation under water deficit in perennial ryegrass.
Genomics-assisted detection of cultivar-composition shifts in managed grassland
A warm welcome to our new Master student Damian Käch!
New plant breeding techniques applied to forage grasses
A warm welcome to our new Bachelor student Stefan Vasiljevic!
Project “Swiss Apple Core Collection"
A warm welcome to Laura Kuonen!
Transcriptomic analyses of the Lolium multiflorum – Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis interaction
A warm welcome to our new Master student Fabienne Bürki!
Multiplying and managing buckwheat seed collections
A warm welcome to Lukas Kronenberg!
Roland Kölliker appointed editor for BMC Genomics
Per January 1, 2021, Roland Kölliker has been appointed a senior editorial board member for BMC Genomics, an open access, peer-reviewed journal that considers articles on all aspects of genome-scale analysis, functional genomics, and proteomics.
Michelle Nay honoured with SFIAR-Award 2020
ETH Doctoral Scholarship fellow Michelle Nay has won the SFIAR PhD Award for her project "Improving smallholder farmers’ food security through disease resistant common beans".
Orphan Crops: Breeding and Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture, Food and Nutrition
New Research Topic hosted in Frontiers in Plant Sciences.
Master thesis "Biological control of anthracnose disease in white lupin"
Welcome to Christa Hirschvogel!
The apple REFPOP – a reference population for genomics-assisted breeding in apple
In a large collaborative effort of the apple REFPOP consortium, we proved that the apple REFPOP experimental design and associated genotypic resources are suitable for the development and application of genomics-assisted breeding strategies in apple.
New doctoral student to advance forage grass genomics
A warm welcome to Yutang Chen!
High energy red clover
A non-destructive method to select for high leaf starch content in red clover.
Polycross breeding of tall fescue profits from molecular marker-based paternity identification
Microsatellite markers allow to identify unique polycross parents and to estimate specific combining ability in a tall fescue breeding program.
Xanthomonas theicola harbours a novel type 3 secretion system
The complete genome sequence of Xanthomonas theicola, the causal agent of canker on tea plants, reveals novel secretion systems in clade-1 xanthomonas.
Powerful grass hybrids
Genomics-assisted development of heterotic groups for successful hybrid breeding in perennial ryegrass.
Teaching innovation at ETH Zurich
The course "Current Challenges in Plant Breeding" among the nominated projects for the KITE Award 2020.
Advancing pesticide policies
About the role of modern plant breeding in a multi-disciplinary policy approach to reduce potential risks of agricultural pesticide use.
New source of self-compatibility in perennial ryegrass
A new locus was found to overcome the inability of perennial ryegrass to pollinate and fertilize itself.
Dr. Michelle Nay wins the SFIAR Award 2020
Congratulations!
Master thesis “Identification of structural variants in the genome of apple varieties”
Welcome back, Linus Stillhart!
Large-scale phenotyping of seed yield in Italian ryegrass
Collaborative project between Agroscope and MPB to improve seed yield in Italian ryegrass through phenotypic and genomics-assisted selection.
Genomic prediction of agronomic traits in common bean under environmental stress
In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of genomic predictions for agronomic traits in different environments using data of the bean breeding program of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).
Genome-wide allele frequencies to reliably and accurately genotype buckwheat accessions
Using an adapted genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) protocol, we show that buckwheat accessions are highly heterozygous and investigate the genetic similarity between accessions.
Bachelor thesis "Improving Seed Yield in Italian Ryegrass through Selection"
Welcome to Maria Wiederkehr!
Oxford Nanopore sequencing workshop
MPB hosts a Oxford Nanopore sequencing workshop.
Doctoral examination of Lukas Wille
Congratulation to Lukas Wille!
Genetic characterisation of buckwheat accessions through genome-wide allele frequency fingerprints
Nay et al. describe an approach to genotype buckwheat accessions by reporting population-specific allele-frequencies instead of bi-allelic SNPs. This technique allowed to precisely describe buckwheat breeding material and is an important step to implement molecular plant breeding tools in allogamous buckwheat.
A warm welcome to Andrea Knauf
Andrea Knauf is joining the Molecular Plant Breeding group as a technical collaborator.
Rigi Workshop 2020
Michaela Jung participated at the Rigi Workshop 2020.
ETH Medal 2020
Congratulations to Marius Hodel for his Master thesis work on "Identification and characterization of long terminal repeat retrotransposons in Lolium multiflorum”!
"Reviving plant genetic resources for our future crops"
Article by Dr. Michelle Nay
Semester Project "A phased diploid assembly of Lolium multiflorum"
Welcome to Linus Stillhart!
Master thesis "Rapid flowering introduction in common bean"
Lotta Köppel started her Master thesis.
Academic Guest from Aarhus University
Welcome to Mattia Fois!
Research presentation by Dr. Michelle Nay at HAFL
The role of plant health in sustainable food production.