Choong-Min Ryu is the head of the Infectious Disease Research Center at KRIBB, South Korea, and a Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science. He graduated from Auburn University, USA, under Joseph W. Kloepper. He discovered bacterial volatile compound-mediated plant immune activation and growth promotion as well as inter-/intra-specific interactions. He joined KRIBB in 2004 after a post-doctoral experience at The S. R. Noble Foundation. He is also interested how PGPR employ to improve plant resiliance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In his research field including plant-microbe interactions and antimicrobial resistance, he has published over 240 papers that have been cited more than 29,000 times (according to Google Scholar).
Choong-Min Ryu is the head of the Infectious Disease Research Center at KRIBB, South Korea, and a Specialty Chief Editor of Frontiers in Plant Science. He graduated from Auburn University, USA, under Joseph W. Kloepper. He discovered bacterial volatile compound-mediated plant immune activation and growth promotion as well as inter-/intra-specific interactions. He joined KRIBB in 2004 after a post-doctoral experience at The S. R. Noble Foundation. He is also interested how PGPR employ to improve plant resiliance against biotic and abiotic stresses. In his research field including plant-microbe interactions and antimicrobial resistance, he has published over 240 papers that have been cited more than 29,000 times (according to Google Scholar).
Prof. Berg studied biology, ecology, and biotechnology at the Universities of Rostock and Greifswald in Germany and received her doctorate in microbiology in 1995. In 2005, she became a professor of environmental biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (Austria), and in 2021 she received an additional professorship in Potsdam along with a position at Leibniz ATB (Germany). She has been a Max Planck Fellow since 2025. Her interests focus on microbiome research and the translation of findings into new biotechnological concepts for health issues. She has been Vice-President of the ISME Society since 2025.
Prof. Berg studied biology, ecology, and biotechnology at the Universities of Rostock and Greifswald in Germany and received her doctorate in microbiology in 1995. In 2005, she became a professor of environmental biotechnology at Graz University of Technology (Austria), and in 2021 she received an additional professorship in Potsdam along with a position at Leibniz ATB (Germany). She has been a Max Planck Fellow since 2025. Her interests focus on microbiome research and the translation of findings into new biotechnological concepts for health issues. She has been Vice-President of the ISME Society since 2025.
Saskia van Wees leads the ‘Hormonal regulation of plant defense’ group at Utrecht University. Her team investigates how plant hormones orchestrate complex gene regulatory networks that fine tune immune outcomes. Using a systems biology approach combined with whole-plant assays involving microbes and insects, her team links molecular mechanisms to functional immune traits. Their work reveals how plants dynamically balance defense to both pathogenic and cooperation with beneficial organisms, across leaves and roots, and at both local and systemic levels.
She will speak about (plant) mechanisms that are involved in establishment of soil borne legacy, occurring when pathogen infection (of Arabidopsis leaves) leads to enrichment of beneficial microbes (PGPR) in the rhizosphere, which increases plant disease resistance in the next generation of plants growing on that soil.
Saskia van Wees leads the ‘Hormonal regulation of plant defense’ group at Utrecht University. Her team investigates how plant hormones orchestrate complex gene regulatory networks that fine tune immune outcomes. Using a systems biology approach combined with whole-plant assays involving microbes and insects, her team links molecular mechanisms to functional immune traits. Their work reveals how plants dynamically balance defense to both pathogenic and cooperation with beneficial organisms, across leaves and roots, and at both local and systemic levels.
She will speak about (plant) mechanisms that are involved in establishment of soil borne legacy, occurring when pathogen infection (of Arabidopsis leaves) leads to enrichment of beneficial microbes (PGPR) in the rhizosphere, which increases plant disease resistance in the next generation of plants growing on that soil.
Serves as the head of the Department of Plants and Crops. She is a plant pathologist with a broad expertise in both fundamental and applied aspects of plant-pathogen interactions. Her work focuses on the biological and integrated management of fungal and bacterial pathogens affecting a wide range of tropical and temperate crops. Her research group specializes in studying fungal and bacterial rice pathogens and their interactions with rice plants, as well as soilborne pathogens such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Verticillium, and Rhizoctonia. She has 40 years of experience in Pseudomonas-based biocontrol. In the field of biocontrol, the current focus in her lab is on cyclic lipopeptides produced by Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains with an emphasis on their natural function, regulation by abiotic and biotic factors, and fate in the environment
Serves as the head of the Department of Plants and Crops. She is a plant pathologist with a broad expertise in both fundamental and applied aspects of plant-pathogen interactions. Her work focuses on the biological and integrated management of fungal and bacterial pathogens affecting a wide range of tropical and temperate crops. Her research group specializes in studying fungal and bacterial rice pathogens and their interactions with rice plants, as well as soilborne pathogens such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Verticillium, and Rhizoctonia. She has 40 years of experience in Pseudomonas-based biocontrol. In the field of biocontrol, the current focus in her lab is on cyclic lipopeptides produced by Pseudomonas and Bacillus strains with an emphasis on their natural function, regulation by abiotic and biotic factors, and fate in the environment
His research primarily focuses on PGPRs and microbial fertilizers. He has published over 160 papers in internationally renowned journals such as Nature Plants, Nature Microbiology, PNAS, Nature Communications, Cell Reports, eLife, ISME Journal, New Phytologist, and Plant Physiology. He has also been invited to write review articles for journals including FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Trends in Microbiology, Trends in Plant Science, and Current Opinion in Microbiology. His publications have been cited more than 16,000, and he has been the Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher from 2022 to 2024.
His research primarily focuses on PGPRs and microbial fertilizers. He has published over 160 papers in internationally renowned journals such as Nature Plants, Nature Microbiology, PNAS, Nature Communications, Cell Reports, eLife, ISME Journal, New Phytologist, and Plant Physiology. He has also been invited to write review articles for journals including FEMS Microbiology Reviews, Trends in Microbiology, Trends in Plant Science, and Current Opinion in Microbiology. His publications have been cited more than 16,000, and he has been the Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher from 2022 to 2024.