Plant breeding aims at improving the genetic makeup of plants for specific desirable traits such as increased yield, disease resistance, stress tolerance, and nutritional content. Plant breeding represents one key avenue to improving the efficiency and sustainability of agriculture in the future. In 2024, we have launched our new Department of Plant Breeding at HGU, a consolidation of the former departments of grapevine breeding and molecular plant sciences, significantly supported by the LOEWE program of the state of Hesse.

Our key research areas include genomics, phenotyping, quantitative genetics and biotechnology with an emphasis viticultural and horticultural species. Our focal crop is grapevine for which we breed and release improved rootstock cultivars, clones of traditional varieties and new cross-bred cultivars with improved resistances against fungal diseases.

Our department manages eleven hectares of experimental vineyards, an experimental wine cellar, greenhouse facilities and various labs and growth chambers for molecular biological and cell culture applications. The department currently employs almost 40 staff members comprising researchers, engineers, PhD students, technicians and BSc and MSc students. Our main aim is to develop and implement cutting-edge tools and approaches that can help to accelerate the crop genetic improvement process.