Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French
Presentation
Plants directly and indirectly form the basis of our food chain. In their environment, plants are constantly in association with the micro-organisms that make up their microbiota. Some of these micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) cause serious damage to crops, while others improve their overall health (nutrition, development or resistance to disease). Understanding how plants react to, adapt to and eventually benefit from the presence of micro-organisms in their environment is therefore a key strategy for meeting the challenges of both food production and food and feed safety.
For more information on this course and its content, visit https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/biologie-des-plantes/interactions-plantes-microorganimes/
Objectives
Thanks to a balanced combination of education and practical training (10-month laboratory internships divided between M1 and M2), our aim is to train students capable of describing and understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions of plants with their biotic environment. To achieve this, we will draw on the wealth of scientific expertise in this field at Muse (Université de Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, INRAE, Montpellier Supagro).
Know-how and skills
Knowledge and understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between a plant and its biotic environment
In addition, although oriented towards the study of biotic interactions, by the end of this course students will also have acquired skills in the main thematic fields ranging from physiology to genetics, epigenetics and plant improvement.
Skills in the use of current research tools (statistics, modeling, database management, etc.) will also be acquired.
Organization
Internships, tutored projects
Internship | Mandatory |
|---|---|
Length of internship | 4 months (M1) and 6 months (M2) |
Internship abroad | Possible |
Duration of internship abroad | 4 months (M1) and 6 months (M2) |
Our pedagogical team has an extensive network of internship opportunities (4 months in M1 and 6 months in M2) to suit your scientific or professional project, whether locally in Montpellier, in France or abroad. Each internship is assessed both in writing (internship report) and orally (presentation to a panel of experts).
The course also offers 2 units entirely dedicated to science-related project management, with the aim of developing the ability to organize work on a project, either alone or as part of a team.
Program
The Plant Microorganism Interactions (PMI) pathway comprises 4 semesters (120 ECTS), with specific teaching units and others shared with the 3 other Plant pathways (BiPa, BPT, MEV). The list of course units can be consulted on the Master's website https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/master-biologie-agrosciences/biologie-des-plantes/
The first semesters of M1 and M2 are devoted to academic courses. The second semesters are mainly devoted to internships (in laboratories or companies) in the thematic fields of the course and in line with the student's career plan. It should be noted that all the practical work of semester 1's disciplinary units is grouped together in a dedicated unit at the very start of semester 2.
Study or internship mobility (ERASMUS), for one or two semesters, is greatly facilitated by the extensive network of partnerships between the University of Montpellier and European universities.
Select a program
M1 - Plant-Microorganism Interactions (PMI)
Plants directly and indirectly form the basis of our food chain. In their environment, plants are constantly in association with the micro-organisms that make up their microbiota. Some of these micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) cause serious damage to crops, while others improve their overall health (nutrition, development or resistance to disease). Understanding how plants react to, adapt to and eventually benefit from the presence of micro-organisms in their environment is therefore a key strategy for meeting the challenges of both food production and food and feed safety.
Biostatistics with R
5 creditsElements of plant pathology
3 creditsPlant Cellular and Molecular Biology
3 creditsPlant development
5 creditsPlant-Microorganism Interactions
5 creditsBasics of ecophysiology
2 creditsPlant molecular genetics
5 creditsPlant nutrition
2 credits
BioInformatics: Data and Databases
2 creditsLiterature review
2 creditsCHOICE 1
3 creditsYour choice: 1 of 2
Gene networks-Modeling
3 creditsTropical and Mediterranean plant breeding
3 credits
4-month internship
15 creditsExperimental approaches to plant biology
5 creditsProject management
3 credits
M2 - Plant-Microorganism Interactions (PMI)
Laboratory or company internship
28 creditsCritical analysis of scientific information
2 credits
Epigenetics in plants
3 creditsBigOmics, comparative genomics
2 creditsEcophysiology: from phenotype to ideotype
2 creditsQuantitative genetics
3 creditsData processing
3 creditsBioInformatics: building queries
2 creditsPhytobiome school
3 creditsInteractions and signalling
3 creditsCHOICE 1
3 creditsYour choice: 1 of 4
Adapting tropical field crops to climate change
3 creditsPlants and people, a shared history
3 creditsModel plants, modeling
3 creditsVirology
3 credits
Project management
3 creditsCrop protection
3 credits
Admission
Access conditions
Applications can be submitted on the following platforms:
French & European students :
- For M1, follow the "My Master" procedure on the website: https: //www.monmaster.gouv.fr/
- For M2, students must submit their application via the e-candidat application: https: //candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature
Applications are examined by a pedagogical committee made up of the Master's main lecturers.
Successful applicants must complete their administrative registration as soon as possible, and then proceed to a pedagogical registration indicating the nature of the teaching modules chosen.
Target audience
Students with a bachelor's degree in biology, interested in the field of biotic interactions.
Acceptance into the Master's program is based on the quality of the application assessed by the teaching staff.
Necessary prerequisites
Basic knowledge (bachelor's level) of plant physiology, genetics, cell and molecular biology
Recommended prerequisites
Notions and interest in the biology of biotic, beneficial and/or pathogenic interactions
And then
Further studies
Logical continuation into a doctorate in the LMD context.