Press release: Maize under multiple stress

• DFG funds new research unit in agricultural sciences at the University of Göttingen
  
  No. 200 - 12.12.2025
  
  The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding a new research unit (RU) in agricultural sciences at the University of Göttingen. Under the title “Concurrent multiple abiotic and biotic stress interactions in maize: impacts and mechanisms,” the participating scientists are investigating the impact of combined (abi-otic+biotic) stresses on crop physiology and productivity. The RU consists of the University of Göttingen, University of Tübingen, University of Cologne, University of Hohenheim, Technical University of Munich, IPK Gatersleben and international partners in Africa, i.e. the JOOUST University in Siaya, Kenya. AGRA and CIMMYT in Nairobi and Addis Ababa and University of Milano, Italy. The new findings are intended to sup-port the breeding of multi-stress-resistant maize varieties in the long term. The funding requested amounts to around 5.4 million euros for an initial period of four years.
  Multiple stresses in crop, especially combinations of abiotic and biotic stressors, pose enormous challeng-es for agriculture in view of advancing climate change and with regard to food security. Plant-stress interac-tions are commonly subdivided into abiotic and biotic stresses and studied separately, however, under field conditions, these stress interactions are usually multiple and interactive in character. For most crops, the underlying mechanisms determining interactions and their effects on crop performance under are unknown for most stress combinations under field conditions. The research initiative aims to investigate the effects of multiple stress on the physiology and performance of maize, particularly with regard to grain yield, bio-mass quality, and resource use efficiency. The central experiments are being conducted in Germany and Kenya under field conditions and combine the stress factors of drought and nitrogen deficiency with the leaf disease S. turcica and insect pest corn borer.
  “The overarching goal of our research group is to revolutionize the mechanistic understanding of multiple abiotic and biotic stress interactions in maize —with the crop stand as the target scale,” says Prof. Dr. Reimund Rötter, head of the Department of Tropical Crop Production and Agrosystem Modeling and spokesperson for the research unit. The focus in the first phase of the research unit is on the development and application of a novel, process-based model for simulating plant growth and yield of different maize varieties. “The aim and task of this MultiStress Model is to integrate the experimental results across different scales, from the genome to the crop stand, and to extrapolate the interdisciplinary findings obtained in this way spatially and temporally,” says Rötter.
  
  
  
  
  Field experiments with rain-out shelters in MultiStress
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Examination of drought and nitrogen deficiency with the leaf disease S. turcica and insect pest corn borer.
  

  UPCOMING EVENTS

  
  
  
  
  • International Conference iCROP2026
    We are (co-)organizing the upcoming iCROPM2026, scheduled for 2-4 February 2026, in Florence (Italy). The symposium will have five main thematic sessions, which will bring together scientists from all continents to discuss the latest advances in crop models and their applications under the theme "Crop modelling for Agriculture and Food Security under Global Change".
    
    Rationale and Scope: Crop modelling has been a cornerstone of agricultural research and decision-making for decades. As global challenges such as climate change, resource degradation, loss of biodiversity, and food security intensify, the need for more advanced, integrated, and adaptable crop models becomes more critical. iCROPM2026 aims to bring together the international research community to discuss recent advancements, foster collaboration, and chart the future of crop modelling. The symposium will focus on scientific breakthroughs, technological innovations, and interdisciplinary approaches to enhance the accuracy, applicability, and impact of crop models in addressing global agricultural challenges.
    Find more information here: https://icropm2026.org/
    
    

  
  
  
  
  

  NEWS

• TV interview HR television, show alle wetter!
  Interview with Prof. Dr. Reimund Paul Rötter about the DFG project Cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana managed by Dr. Issaka Abdulai https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/alle-wetter/alle-wetter-vom-06-02-2025/hr/NWJhZDAzMGEtMWMyMi00NjAzLTliMGYtM2Q0NGI2NTQwNTc2
  The interview can be seen from minute 7.32.