INRES - Plant Breeding | Universität Bonn

Prof. Dr. Annaliese Mason

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Research topics and profile (related to bioeconomy)

Our major research focus is on polyploidy and interspecific hybridisation, or in other words, how two different species can come together to form a new, hybrid species or to swap genetic material. We aim to use these common evolutionary processes for crop improvement in the Brassica genus, which contains important oilseed (canola, rapeseed) and vegetable (cabbage, turnip, cauliflower and broccoli) crops

Contributions to BioSC

Current research projects involve development of novel crop types, with a particular focus on hybrid vigour, and the incorporation of resistances to biotic and abiotic stresses from wild relatives into crops. Breeding for resistances offers a sustainable alternative to management practices such as use of sprays (insecticides, fungicides) and high levels of fertiliser application. Resistances to drought, heat and other environmental stresses are also critical for sustaining crop yields under climate change conditions. Our established research techniques include molecular genetics and genomics (bioinformatics) and molecular and classical cytogenetics as well as classical plant breeding methods.