Accepted as a PhD student in June 2009. My research is carried out both in the Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology and in the Department of Animal Nutrition and Management.

Fungi in haylage

Research

The use of forage with dry matter (DM) content between 500 and 800 g/kg, also known as haylage, has increased during the latest 10 years. However, the microbiology of haylage during conservation and storage is still unclear. Haylage contains less fermentation products and more residual sugars, and it has a higher pH compared to silage, as lactic acid fermentation is restricted in haylage. These factors may favour fungal growth, but the fungal flora of haylage is not well-known at present. Since moulds can act as allergens and produce mycotoxins, more knowledge is needed. Good hygienic quality of feeds fed to horses and farm animals is absolutely necessary to maintain good animal management and safe foods. The general aim of the project is to map the fungal flora in Swedish grass haylage using a combination of microbiological methods and molecular analytical methods.

Pictures of Petri dishes conatining Mucor, Aspergillus, Penicillium and a microscopic picture of Penicillium.

Methods

DNA extraction
PCR
454 sequencing
Microscope

Fungal species

Fusarium spp.
Mucor spp.
Penicillium spp.
Aspergillus spp.
Cladosporium spp.
Alternaria spp.
…

Supervisors

Cecilia Müller (Department of Animal Nutrition and Management)
Rolf Spröndly (Department of Animal Nutrition and Management)
Annika Djurle (Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology) 
Dan Funck Jensen (Department of Forest Mycology and Pathology)