Professorship for Crop Protection in Viticulture & Horticulture

A research focus of this professorship is in the area of applied entomology, in particular regarding significance and management of insects as pests on grapevine and horticultural crops.

We work on interactions between insects and entomopathogenic fungi with the aim of applying these microorganisms in innovative plant protection strategies, e.g. using them as endophytes in grapevines and other crops.

Modified interactions between insects and grapevine plants under future climatic conditions are assessed in the Geisenheim Vineyard FACE. Moreover, we work on the development of tools for diagnosis of phytoplasmas both in infected plants and in vector insects as well as on the development of sustainable control strategies for invasive pest insects like the spotted wing Drosophila.