Forest Phytopathobiomes

Welcome to the Forest Phytopathobiomes Lab!

Our work explores the complex interactions between forest trees and their associated microbial communities – from pathogens to mutualists – and how these relationships shape forest health and resilience in changing environments.

The Department of Forest Phytopathobiomes is involved in research and teaching on plant-microbe interactions. Our research bridges forest pathology, microbial ecology, chemical ecology, plant biochemsistry and molecular biology to better understand the mechanisms of plant defense and pathogen’s counter defense under natural and anthropogenically influenced environments.

Key publications

  • Lahari Z, van Boerdonk S, Omoboye OO, Reichelt M, Höfte M, Gershenzon J, Gheysen G, Ullah C* (2024). Strigolactone deficiency induces jasmonate, sugar and flavonoid phytoalexin accumulation enhancing rice defense against the blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae. New Phytologist 241: 827-844. [*corresponding author].

  • Ullah C, Chen Y-H, Ortega MA, Tsai CJ. (2023). The diversity of salicylic acid biosynthesis and defense signaling in plants: Knowledge gaps and future opportunities. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 72: 102349.

  • Ullah C*, Schmidt A, Reichelt M, Tsai CJ, Gershenzon J (2022). Lack of antagonism between salicylic acid and jasmonate signalling pathways in poplar. New Phytologist 235: 701-717. [*corresponding author].

  • Chen J, Ullah C, Reichelt M, Beran F, Yang Z-L, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A, Vassão DG (2020). The phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum detoxifies plant glucosinolate hydrolysis products via an isothiocyanate hydrolase. Nature Communications 11: 3090.

  • Ullah C, Tsai CJ, Unsicker SB, Xue L, Reichelt M, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2019). Salicylic acid activates poplar defense against the biotrophic rust fungus Melampsora larici-populina via increased biosynthesis of catechin and proanthocyanidins. New Phytologist 221: 960-975.

  • Ullah C, Unsicker SB, Fellenberg C, Constabel CP, Schmidt A, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2017). Flavan-3-ols are an effective chemical defense against rust infection. Plant Physiology 175: 1560-1578.