History of the Institute

In the history of GSF (from January 1, 2008, our center will be known as Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen. German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH) research activities in the “green” area have a long tradition. Until 1982 the “Institut für Strahlenbotanik” and the working group “Pflanzengenetik” held up environmental research. The phenomenon of forest decline was the historical reason of the reintroduction of plant research in GSF. This became the main environmental task at the end of the 70s and the beginning of the 80s. The first step was done in 1983 by the foundation of the “Münchener Arbeitsgemeinschaft Luftschadstoffe (MAGL)”. This initial step was then followed by the construction of a large environmental simulation facility in 1984. On 01.01.1986 the “Institute for Biochemical Plant Pathology” was founded. Besides research on air pollutants and forest decline, research in the area of xenobiotics and plant pathology was getting more important. Main results of the 80s and 90s were the characterization of ozone as an important abiotic elicitor of defence mechanisms of the plants as well as the discovery of the “memory-effect” of ozone. Today, the institute focuses on plant innate immunity and plant responses to environmental cues at the molecular level.


The Institute of Biochemical Plant Pathology focuses nowadays on the analysis of the role of plants in stressed terrestrial ecosystems and in human nutrition. Environmental stress and infection by pathogens leads to a network of stress responses, depending on the type, genotype, and developmental status of the plants. This can lead to resistance, but may also result in susceptibility and damage. The research conducted at the Institute is based on the recognition of the wide variety of harmful environmental factors. It helps clarify the mechanisms and ecological importance of the response to these environmental factors at the molecular and physiological levels.
Investigations focus on the impacts of atmospheric pollutants, UV-B radiation and pathogens with a focus on plant health. The molecular mechanisms of damage and induction of resistance by ozone, NO, pathogens and rhizobacteria are unraveled by genomic and proteomic techniques. The long-term goals are to understand the mechanisms of plant resistance or susceptibility, and to provide a basis for molecular breeding and the utilization of natural defense mechanisms of plants in sustained agriculture. Most importantly, securing a healthy diet and the prevention of environmental diseases are a prerequisite for human health.