The regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis.
The crosstalk between nucleus and plastids during chloroplast development.
The role of singlet oxygen as an elicitor of stress responses and cell death.

A major part of our work is directed towards the isolation and identification of mutants that define genetically key components of these processes. In a second step mutated genes are being identified and isolated either by reverse genetics or by map-based cloning strategies. The possible significance of these genes for the improvement of crop plants is being tested in close cooperation with agronomists and breeders. Thus, our group forms part of a link between basic research in plant biology and the applied research done by other groups at the Institute of Plant Sciences.