Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics

The Institute of Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics studies the etiology of pest and disease symptoms on agricultural and horticultural crop plants. It investigates the properties including epidemiology and pathogenesis) of plant viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematodes that are of economic importance or potentially pose a threat to crop plants. The institute develops and improves methods for the diagnosis of pests and diseases as well as for the identification, differentiation and detection of pathogens and nematodes. It is also responsible for the production of immunoreagents (antibodies) and for the pathogen collections at JKI.

Research topics

Epidemiology of viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematodes attacking crop plants

• Monitoring the occurrence of economically significant pathogens and nematodes in collaboration with the Plant Protection Service and other partners
• Investigating the interactions between pathogens / nematodes and their host plants
• Studying the interactions between plant pathogens and microorganisms in their habitats
• Analyzing the effects of climate change and crop production system modifications on the occurrence and incidence of pathogens and nematodes, on their population build-up and on disease cycles in economically important crops

Pathogen diagnostics: Detection, identification, differentiation and characterization

• Elucidation of the etiology of new types of disease symptoms and pest damage
• Characterization of the morphological and biological properties as well as of the structural and functional genetics of pathogens and nematodes
• Determination of the species-specific, genetic diversity of pathogens and nematodes forming strains, races, pathotypes, etc.
• Development and fit-to-purpose adaptation of biological, morphological, serological, and molecular methods for reliable, sensitive and specific detection of pathogens and nematodes as well as for their characterization
• Development of computer-aided systems for the identification of pathogens and nematodes
• Test standardizations and quality management systems for the certification and accreditation of plant pest diagnostic activities