The science behind our services

Holobiont-based genetic analysis reveals new plant and microbial markers for resistance against a root rot pathogen complex in pea

Shared genetic loci for plant phenotypes and microbial taxa abundance, shown in paired Manhattan plots.

Breeding2022-2026

Plant and microbial genetics. Stronger together.

Connect genetic variation, microbial traits and genomic prediction.

Studies and author roles (3)

Schneider et al. · 2025 · BMC Plant Biology

Pierre · co-corresponding author

Genome-wide association study reveals white lupin candidate gene involved in anthracnose resistance

Alkemade et al. · 2022 · Theoretical and Applied Genetics

Pierre · senior author

Association genetics and genomic prediction for resistance to root rot in a diverse collection of Pisum sativum L.

Ariza-Suarez et al. · 2026 · BMC Plant Biology

Pierre · co-author

Understanding Trichoderma in the root system of Pinus radiata: associations between rhizosphere colonisation and growth promotion for commercially grown seedlings

Biologicals2010-2012

From nursery to plantation.

Connect isolate selection, establishment and application with product development.

Studies and author roles (3)

Hohmann et al. · 2011 · Fungal Biology

Pierre · first and corresponding author

Ecological studies of the bio-inoculant Trichoderma hamatum LU592 in the root system of Pinus radiata

Hohmann et al. · 2012 · FEMS Microbiology Ecology

Pierre · first and corresponding author

Enhancing Growth and Health of Pinus radiata in New Zealand and Acacia mangium in Malaysia with Selected Trichoderma Isolates

Hill, Stewart, Hohmann, Braithwaite, Clouston & Minchin · 2010 · Trichoderma workshop, Haifa - conference abstract, p. 28

Pierre · co-author

The potential of alternative seed treatments to control anthracnose disease in white lupin

Biologicals2016-2022

Better treatments. Better crop fit.

Evaluate seed treatments and alternatives to conventional crop-protection inputs.

Studies and author roles (2)

Alkemade et al. · 2022 · Crop Protection

Pierre · senior and corresponding author

Efficacy of copper alternatives applied as stop-sprays against Plasmopara viticola in grapevine

Lukas et al. · 2016 · Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection

Pierre · senior and corresponding author

From fungal detection to crop disease intelligence

Disease intelligence2026

From detection to disease intelligence.

Connect fungal signals with crop context to identify what matters.

Studies and author roles (1)

Hohmann · 2026 · Trends in Plant Science

Pierre · sole and corresponding author

A qPCR assay for the fast detection and quantification of Colletotrichum lupini

Disease intelligence2021-2022

Measure the signal that matters.

Targeted molecular assays support detection and quantification.

Studies and author roles (2)

Kamber et al. · 2021 · Plants

Pierre · senior and corresponding author

A novel real time PCR method for the detection and quantification of Didymella pinodella in symptomatic and asymptomatic plant hosts

Šišić et al. · 2022 · Journal of Fungi

Pierre · co-author

Genetic diversity of Colletotrichum lupini and its virulence on white and Andean lupin

Unequal pathogen lineages and variable population structure.

Disease intelligence2021-2024

Know the population genetics behind the disease.

Pathogen genomics reveals variation that matters for screening.

Studies and author roles (3)

Alkemade et al. · 2021 · Scientific Reports

Pierre · senior and corresponding author

Attack of the clones: population genetics reveals clonality of Colletotrichum lupini, the causal agent of lupin anthracnose

Alkemade et al. · 2023 · Molecular Plant Pathology

Pierre · senior author

Comparative genomics reveals sources of genetic variability in the asexual fungal plant pathogen Colletotrichum lupini

Alkemade et al. · 2024 · Molecular Plant Pathology

Pierre · co-author

Insights to plant-microbe interactions provide opportunities to improve resistance breeding against root diseases in grain legumes

Breeding2019-2021

Screen smarter. Select with confidence.

Combine scalable phenotyping with heritable variation and plant–microbe insight.

Studies and author roles (3)

Wille et al. · 2019 · Plant, Cell & Environment

Pierre · senior and corresponding author

Heritable variation in pea for resistance against a root rot complex and its characterization by amplicon sequencing

Wille et al. · 2020 · Frontiers in Plant Science

Pierre · senior and co-corresponding author

A high-throughput phenotyping tool to identify field-relevant anthracnose resistance in white lupin

Alkemade et al. · 2021 · Plant Disease

Pierre · senior and corresponding author

Breeding for mycorrhizal symbiosis: focus on disease resistance

Breeding2017-2019

Make more of microbial partnerships.

Bring beneficial symbioses into breeding and crop management.

Studies and author roles (2)

Hohmann & Messmer · 2017 · Euphytica

Pierre · first and corresponding author

Why farmers should manage the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis

Rillig et al. · 2019 · New Phytologist

Pierre · co-author

At the roots of chocolate: understanding and optimizing the cacao root-associated microbiome for ecosystem services. A review

Biologicals2020-2022

Connect the microbiome with the crop.

Put microbial opportunities and disease management in production context.

Studies and author roles (2)

Schmidt et al. · 2022 · Agronomy for Sustainable Development

Pierre · senior author

Cacao agroforestry systems do not increase pest and disease incidence compared with monocultures under good cultural management practices

Armengot et al. · 2020 · Crop Protection

Pierre · co-author

Fungal microbiome indicators are associated with genotypic variation in pea root rot susceptibility when intercropped with barley

Breeding2022-2024

Context changes the outcome.

Understand how crop combinations shape microbial functions and crop responses.

Studies and author roles (2)

Cadot et al. · 2024 · Phytobiomes Journal

Pierre · corresponding author

Biological N fixation but not mineral N fertilization enhances the accumulation of N in peanut soil in maize/peanut intercropping system

Zhao et al. · 2022 · Journal of Agriculture and Food Research

Pierre · senior author

miCROPe 2019 - emerging research priorities towards microbe-assisted crop production

Biologicals2019-2020

Turn microbial science into use.

Connect microbial ecology, product development and agricultural performance.

Studies and author roles (1)

Hohmann et al. · 2020 · FEMS Microbiology Ecology

Pierre · first and corresponding author

Shifts in the elemental composition of plants during a very severe drought

Impact assessments2015-2021

Read biological responses in context.

Connect plant nutrition, environmental conditions and microbial functions.

Studies and author roles (4)

Urbina et al. · 2015 · Environmental and Experimental Botany

Ifigenia · first and corresponding author

Encroachment of shrubs into subalpine grasslands in the Pyrenees changes the plant-soil stoichiometry spectrum

Urbina et al. · 2020 · Plant and Soil

Ifigenia · first and corresponding author

High foliar K and P resorption efficiencies in old-growth tropical forests growing on nutrient-poor soils

Urbina et al. · 2021 · Ecology and Evolution

Ifigenia · first and corresponding author

Impact of nutrient additions on free-living nitrogen fixation in litter and soil of two French-Guianese lowland tropical forests

Van Langenhove et al. · 2021 · JGR: Biogeosciences

Ifigenia · co-author