Higher plants posses multiple modes of reproduction that are the basis for yield and breeding. The molecular genetic and genomic dissection of sexual and asexual reproduction with a focus on epigenetics as well as seed quality are important areas of research of the division. Key methods are transcriptomics of coding and non-coding RNAs, as well as biotechnological techniques.

Primarily with maize and rapeseed the topics addressed include:

• seed development and seed quality
• hybridization and heterosis
• in vivo haloid induction and androgenesis
• prediction of hybrid performance