Plant Viruses
Head of Department: Dr. Stephan Winter
The purpose of the Plant Virus Department is to promote “Plant Health” by

- supporting the production of healthy plants and seeds free of viruses,
- safeguarding the exchange of germplasm across borders and continents,
- providing the best expert knowledge to guide disease interventions and virus control.
To this effect, we
- monitor the “emerging” virus diseases of world crops,
- characterize the viruses,
- develop diagnostic reagents and methods for early warning and prevention,
- study the etiology of the virus diseases,
- seek control options.
Research activities
Systematics of Plant Viruses
- Yellowing viruses of sugarbeet
- International networks (Q-bank, PHBN)
- International collection research projects (EVA-GLOBAL, Virus Curate)
Molecular Plant Virology
- Cassava brown streak viruses
- Virus and vector elements governing circulative and non-circulative transmission of plant viruses
Resistance Mechanisms