Exploring viroid research at the University of Hohenheim

ViroiDoc MSCA Fellow Lara Palatinus reports on the opportunity to learn more about viroid research in hop plants during her study visit in October 2025 to the University of Hohenheim.

I recently had the opportunity to visit Michael Hagemann, Ute Born, and Swati Jagani at the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany. The visit provided an excellent opportunity to learn more about viroid research in hop plants and to gain valuable hands-on experience in both the laboratory and greenhouse.

During the visit, we collected hop leaf samples infected with Citrus bark cracking viroid (CBCVd), Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd), and Hop latent viroid (HLVd). These samples will be used for further analyses in my PhD project, which focuses on RNA-based plant protection strategies against viroids.

I also had the chance to learn more about viroid inoculation techniques, infection monitoring, and the practical aspects of experimental hop research. Seeing the workflows established at Hohenheim University and exchanging ideas with the team was both inspiring and instructive.

The visit deepened my understanding of experimental viroid work and highlighted the importance of collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Many thanks to the Hohenheim team for their hospitality, time, and willingness to share their expertise!

Lara Palatinus, MSCA Fellow

Lara is one of the 10 ViroiDoc  MSCA Doctoral Fellows who joined the international effort to unravel how viroids - the smallest known infectious agents - cause diseases in plants and threaten agricultural production worldwide.
Dr. Michael Hagemann is also ViroiDoc External Adviosry Board member.