Connectivity – Plant interactions reloaded

Symposium of the Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center

This conference was held online

Despite the physical distance imposed by the pandemic, the PSC symposium 2020 brought the international plant science community together.

The symposium highlighted the manifold interactions plants are engaged in. The interactions range from the molecular to the environmental level and are indispensable for development, reproduction, nutrient exploitation and disease resistance against pathogens. Interactions drive evolution and shape natural communities. Studying plant connectivity at different levels, in a more contextual way and combining different disciplines is key to move forward in our understanding of the plant systems. This multidisciplinary research can be integrated in an ecological framework where optimal management of nature’s ecological functions and biodiversity may improve agricultural system performance, efficiency and farmers’ livelihoods.

PSC junior scientists were invited to present posters and flash talks, and three poster awards were given to the best presenters.

Session 1: Plant-plant interactions

• Jiří Friml, professor at the Institute of Science and Technology (IST) in Austria

• Susann Wicke, professor for Plant Evolutionary Biology, HU in Berlin

• Christa Testerink, professor of Plant Physiology, Wageningen University

Session 2: Plant-microbe interactions

• Julia Vorholt, professor, Dept of Biology, ETH Zürich

• Anna-Liisa Laine, professor, Dept of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Studies,
University of Zurich

• Heribert Hirt, professor in plant science, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)

Session 3: Plant-animal interactions

• Jordi Bascompte, professor, Dept of Evolutionary Biology & Environmental Studies. University of Zurich

• Vivian Irish, professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Yale University

• Rebecca E Irwin, professor, Dept of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University