The “Old Plant Breeding Institute” was founded in 1906/07 by Carl Fruwirth for the Royal Plant Breeding Institute he started in 1905, known today as the State Plant Breeding Institute. It became the “headquarters” plant breeding in Württemberg. Originally from Vienna, Fruwirth was a professor of plant production in Hohenheim from 1897 to 1907 and founded the science of plant breeding here.
With varieties improved by breeding, Fruwirth created the basis for sustainable improvement of plant production. This occurred during a time in which agriculture had little access to other production methods for increasing yields such as commercial manure and plant protection agents. The variety attempts and seed recognition he introduced were the start of a type of plant breeding that was successful far beyond the state’s borders, practical, and scientific.
Today, the Old Plant Breeding Institute is used as a business building for the Competency Center for Plant Breeding Hohenheim, in which the Institute of Plant Breeding, Seed Science and Population Genetics, the State Plant Breeding Institute, and the Experimental Station for Plant Breeding work together.
Print version of the complete historical tour (German)
Print version of Stop 25 (German)
Flyer Historical Tour (English)
