Tag Archives: horticulture

Tomato plants: New antagonist ensures balance in the plant immune system

By | August 25, 2025
0 comment
Credits: s-ms_1989, pixabay

Tomato plants have a sophisticated defense system against predators, controlled by the signaling molecule systemin. When attacked by pests, this peptide triggers a cascade of defense reactions that disrupt the digestion of insects. A research team from the Universities of Tübingen and Hohenheim has now discovered a natural antagonist called AntiSys, which prevents the immune system from overreacting and inhibits growth and reproduction. Continue reading

Tomato plant: Poltergeist-like phosphatase directs natural defense against predators

By | July 7, 2025
0 comment
Caterpillar of the tobacco hawk moth. Credits: Andreas Schaller

Like all plants, tomato plants can defend themselves against herbivores: When wounded by predators, they release the signal peptide systemin, which is central to their defense mechanisms. Researchers at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart have now discovered how the systemin signal is processed within the cell. A key role is played by an enzyme with the remarkable name "Poltergeist-like phosphatase" (PLL2). It is produced by… Read more »

Green genetic engineering: Novel active ingredient protects against cucumber mosaic virus

By | March 19, 2025
0 comment
Credits: Heiko Rebsch, University of Halle

A novel active ingredient reliably protects plants against the most common virus in agriculture and horticulture: cucumber mosaic virus. Developed by researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU), the active ingredient consists of RNA building blocks that support the plants' immune system in fighting the virus. Even with a high viral load, 80 to 100 percent of treated plants survived infection… Read more »

AI-equipped drones can efficiently detect weeds in crop production

By | February 11, 2025
0 comment
Credits: Tobias Hase, StMELF

Scientists at the Technology and Support Center (TFZ) in Straubing have researched how artificial intelligence and drones can be used to control weeds in crop production. The data for an AI model consisted of 121.000 drone images of the energy crop sorghum, which had to be manually labeled. Currently, herbicides are the most common method used to reduce weeds in crop production. With the help of… Read more »

Substrates made from sheep’s wool are intended to replace peat in horticulture

By | December 17, 2024
0 comment
Credits: Trinity Kubassek/pexels

Hof University of Applied Sciences is working on a new research project to develop sustainable substrates for plant production. Led by Dr. Harvey Harbach, a research group, together with regional and industrial partners, is investigating how sheep's wool, as a natural material, can replace peat and plastic in the production of vegetable seedlings. The project, "Sustainable Growth Media for Hydroponics Based on Needled Natural Materials,"... Read more »