Research Subjects

Page reviewed:  21/10/2025

Research at the Department of Plant Biology is focused around six official research subjects.

Molecular Plant Cell Biology

In this subject area, we study how plants adapt to their environment by uncovering the cellular, molecular, and genetic mechanisms regulating gene expression in time and space. Our research combines advanced cell biology, biochemical, genetic, and genomic approaches.

Research groups

Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions

Plants are surrounded and frequently challenged by a multitude of microbes that influence plant health and fitness. Pathogens can cause major diseases and yield losses while beneficial microbes can improve plant growth and boost immune responses. In this research area, we aim at uncovering the molecular and genetic mechanisms as well as the cellular processes that govern the interactions between plants and microbes. By combining advanced genetic, biochemical and cell biological approaches with multi-omics techniques, we study key aspects of the plant immune system and identify microbial strategies for host colonization. Our ultimate goal is to leverage fundamental knowledge to improve plant resilience and disease resistance and enhance agricultural sustainability in a changing climate.

Research groups

Plant Genetics

We investigate how genomes shape plant diversity, mediate function, and drive evolutionary change. Our groups work across diverse levels: genome, epigenome, ploidy, population, and mating system. By combining genomics with functional and mechanistic approaches, we gain insight into the origins and maintenance of variation. This knowledge advances both our understanding of fundamental biology and the development of new opportunities for crop and trait improvement.

Research groups

Plant Genomics and Breeding

Advances in genomics have revolutionised our ability to study plant diversity, adaptation, and trait architecture at the molecular level and thereby provide powerful tools to accelerate modern plant breeding programs. By integrating genomic information with traditional and modern breeding approaches, our research is aimed at identifying genes underlying key agronomic traits, improving crop resilience to biotic and abiotic stresses, and enhancing yield, quality, and sustainability. This area bridges the gap between fundamental and applied plant biology and breeding, aiming to develop improved plant varieties that address challenges such as food security and climate change.

Research groups

Plant  Physiology

How plants grow and develop is critical for sustainable food production, coping with changing climate, and understanding the natural environment. By integrating modern techniques in plant physiology such as advanced imaging and transcriptomic analyses, our research aims to understand the physiological processes controlling plant growth and understanding plant interactions with their surrounding environments. This research area provides fundamental knowledge of developmental biology, metabolism, symbioses, plant evolution and adaptations to biotic and abiotic stresses, with the goal of improving agriculture and forestry.

Research groups

Plant Virology

Virus infections are common in plants and may cause extensive damage on crops. Our research in plant virology attempts to reveal the diversity of selected plant viruses, understand the mechanisms leading to this diversity and how plant viruses are transmitted. We also study the molecular mechanisms for virus infections of plants and how the plants defend themselves. An important aim with our research is to generate knowledge, which can be used for virus management.

Research groups

 

Professor emeriti

  • Christina Dixelius
  • Johan Meijer
  • Eva Sundberg
  • Sara von Arnold
  • Gösta Eriksson