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Currently counting slightly over 150 staff members including non-permanent personnel, UMR 1332 BFP is a partnership between INRAE [Divisions of Biology and Plant Breeding (BAP) and Plant Health and Environment (SPE)] and the University of Bordeaux. It constitutes the major pillar of plant biology research in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Alongside its research activities, UMR BFP is heavily involved in teaching and training through research in plant sciences, microbiology and biochemistry.

UMR BFP's research falls within the broad field of plant sciences, with three main thrusts: (i) development and metabolism of reproduction in fleshy fruits (tomato and strawberry, FDFE and Meta teams), (ii) adaptation of plants (FDFE and Meta teams) and fruit trees (A3C team) to climate change, and (iii) non-cultivable plant pathogens (viruses and phytoplasmas) and their interactions with host plants and vectors (Viro and Molli teams).
UMR BFP has established solid national and international partnerships and enjoys a high international profile, as demonstrated by the coordination of several EU-funded collaborative projects or networks, the creation of an associated international laboratory with the University of Tsukuba (LIA FReQUenCE: FRuit QUality in Changing Environment) and participation in numerous international projects. UMR BFP also has strong partnerships in several fields with industry, technical institutes and producer organizations (CTIFL, INVENIO, ASTRHEDOR, CIVB, etc.).
UMR BFP is home to two technology platforms [Métabolome and Imagerie du Végétal], which contribute to systems accredited by the GIS IBiSA and by INRAE's CNOC. It also manages an Experimental Facility dedicated to plant experimentation under controlled or confinement conditions, including a high-level confinement greenhouse (BSL3 / 4 level). It also houses a service platform for viral indexing by high-throughput sequencing.

Axis 1. Explore frontiers of life

At the frontiers of life, viruses and bacteria of the Mollicutes class are among the simplest biological entities described to date. However, they are responsible for considerable agronomic damage. The Mollicutes and Plant Virology teams seek to understand the fundamental processes of their functioning in order, in the long term, to better protect plants and animals against these pathogens.

Axis 2. Towards an integrated view of plant development

To better understand how plants function and how they respond and adapt to environmental constraints, the MéTA, FDFE and A3C teams study the modalities of their development and that of their organs, in particular the bud, the flower and the fruit. Using approaches combining quantitative genetics, functional genomics and/or modeling, they seek to identify and predict the levers and markers of performance and resistance.

Axis 3. Understanding the response and adaptation of plants to climate change and pathogens

In the context of climate change and the increase in the emergence and impact of diseases on plants, it is crucial to develop cropping systems that are more resilient and less dependent on the use of pesticides. Our teams focus on understanding plant responses to abiotic (mainly heat stress) and biotic (viral and bacterial infections) stress in order to better control the impact of these stresses. They are also interested in the functioning of pathogens, their diversity, molecular interactions with their hosts, their mechanisms of adaptation, virulence and transmission by insects.

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