Training structure
Faculty of Science
Language(s) of instruction
French
Presentation
Plants are directly and indirectly the basis of our food chain. In their environment, plants are constantly associated with microorganisms that make up their microbiota. Some of these microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) seriously damage crops, while others improve their overall health (nutrition, development, or disease resistance). Therefore, one strategy for meeting the challenges of both production and animal and human food safety is to understand how plants react, adapt, and potentially benefit from the presence of microorganisms in their environment.
For more information about this course and its content, visit https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/biologie-des-plantes/interactions-plantes-microorganimes/.
Objectives
Through a balanced combination of classroom learning and practical training (10 months of laboratory internships spread across the M1 and M2 years), our goal is to train students to describe and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying plant interactions with their biotic environment. To achieve this, we will draw on the wealth of scientific expertise in this field within the Muse network (University of Montpellier, CIRAD, IRD, INRAE, Montpellier Supagro).
Know-how and skills
Knowledge and understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the relationships between a plant and its biotic environment
In addition, although focused on the study of biotic interactions, at the end of this course, students will also have acquired skills in key subject areas ranging from physiology to genetics, epigenetics, and plant breeding.
Skills in the use of current research tools will also be acquired (statistics, modeling, database management, etc.).
Organization
Internships, supervised projects
Internship | Mandatory |
|---|---|
Duration of the internship | 4 months (M1) and 6 months (M2) |
Internship abroad | Possible |
Duration of the internship abroad | 4 months (M1) and 6 months (M2) |
Our teaching team has an extensive network offering internship opportunities (4 months in M1 and 6 months in M2) that match your scientific or professional goals, whether locally in Montpellier, in France, or abroad. Each internship is evaluated in writing (internship report) and orally (presentation before a panel of experts).
The program also offers two courses entirely dedicated to science-related project management, with the aim of developing skills in organizing work around a project carried out alone or in a team.
Program
The Plant-Microorganism Interactions (IPM) program comprises four semesters (120 ECTS credits) consisting of specific teaching units (UE) and others shared with the three other Plant programs (BiPa, BPT, MEV). The list of teaching units for the program can be found on the Master's website https://bioagro.edu.umontpellier.fr/master-biologie-agrosciences/biologie-des-plantes/
The first semesters of the M1 and M2 are devoted to academic teaching. The second semesters are mainly dedicated to internships (in laboratories or companies) in the thematic fields of the program and in line with the student's professional project. It should be noted that all the practical work from the disciplinary teaching units in semester 1 are grouped together in a dedicated teaching unit at the very beginning 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 are directly and indirectly the basis of our food chain. In their environment, plants are constantly associated with microorganisms that make up their microbiota. Some of these microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc.) seriously damage crops, while others improve their overall health (nutrition, development, or disease resistance). Therefore, one strategy for meeting the challenges of both production and animal and human food safety is to understand how plants react, adapt, and potentially benefit from the presence of microorganisms in their environment.
Biostatistics with R
5 creditsElements of plant pathology
3 creditsPlant Cellular and Molecular Biology
3 creditsPlant development
5 creditsPlant-Microorganism Interactions
5 creditsFundamentals of ecophysiology
2 creditsPlant molecular genetics
5 creditsPlant nutrition
2 credits
Bioinformatics: Data and Databases
2 creditsBibliographic summary
2 creditsOPTION 1
3 creditsChoose one of two options:
Gene Networks—Modeling
3 creditsImprovement of tropical and Mediterranean plants
3 credits
4-month internship
15 creditsExperimental approaches to plant biology
5 creditsProject management
3 credits
M2 - Plant-Microorganism Interactions (PMI)
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 signaling
3 creditsOPTION 1
3 creditsChoose 1 out of 4
Adaptation of tropical field crops to climate change
3 creditsPlants and Humans, a shared history
3 creditsModel plants, modeling
3 creditsVirology
3 credits
Project management
3 creditsCrop protection
3 credits
Admission
Admission requirements
Applications can be submitted on the following platforms:
French & European students:
- For the M1, follow the "My Master's Degree" procedure on the website: https://www.monmaster.gouv.fr/
- For M2 students, applicants must submit their application via the e-candidat application: https://candidature.umontpellier.fr/candidature
Applications are reviewed by an academic committee comprising the main teachers on the Master's program.
Successful applicants must complete their administrative registration as soon as possible, then proceed with their academic registration, indicating the nature of the teaching modules chosen.
Target audience
Students with a bachelor's degree in biology who are interested in the field of biotic interactions.
Admission to the Master's program is based on the quality of the application, which is evaluated by the teaching team.
Mandatory prerequisites
Basic knowledge (bachelor's degree level) in plant physiology, genetics, cellular and molecular biology
Recommended prerequisites
Concepts and interest in the biology of biotic interactions, beneficial and/or pathogenic
And after
Continuing education
Logical continuation in doctoral studies in the LMD context.