DETECTION OF FUNGI
Using both classical taxonomy and molecular identification methods, we study fungal communities at different scales in a range of different substrates. Community structure is considered a key determinant of ecosystem functioning.
Dothistroma needle blight infecting pine in the UK (photo by Hanna Millberg).
Our expertise includes fungal pathogens and fungal communities in forests, trees, woody debris, litter and harvest residues. Traditionally, morphological taxonomy has been used to identify species and describe fungal communities. While our department has strong capacity in this area, morphological taxonomy relies upon the production and detection of fungal fruit-bodies and may provide an incomplete picture of the entire diversity. Increasingly, high throughput molecular methods are being used to detect and identify fungi. Our department has been at the forefront of developing these methods and the newest technique, 454-pyrosequencing, offers a means of undertaking extensive sampling of fungal communities as well as detecting taxa present in low abundance or not fruiting.
People involved:
Jan Stenlid (Professor)
Rimvydas Vasaitis (Researcher)
Elna Stenström (Researcher)
Pia Barklund (Researcher)
Katarina Irhmark (Researcher)
Ariana Kubartova (Post doc)
Cécile Monard (Post doc)
Johanna Boberg (Post doc)
Anna Hopkins (Post doc)
Elisabet Eriksson (PhD student)
Hanna Millberg (PhD student)
Ylva Persson (PhD student)
Our projects
Microbial diversity and chitin degradation function along a terrestrial-aquatic continuumContact:
Cécile Monard and
Jan Stenlid
Fungal diversity and activity in decaying wood
Contact:
Ariana Kubartova and
Jan Stenlid
Succession of wood-inhabiting fungal communities in decaying Norway spruce logs
Contact: Elisabet Eriksson and Anders Dahlberg
Detection of fungi in Scots pine needles
Contact: Hanna Millberg, Johanna Boberg and Jan Stenlid
Fungi in association with bark beetle
Contact:Ylva Persson, Rimvydas Vasaitis and Jan Stenlid
Species specific detection of forest pathogens
Contact: Elna Stenström & Katarina Irhmark
Molecular detection and forecasting of disease
Contact: Rimvydas Vasaitis