Tolerant Tree
The Tolerant Tree project supports development and implementation of good practices for use and management of forest genetic resources to the benefit of the Nordic societies.
Gushing in beer production
Here, researchers study causes of pink kernels in malting barley and how various factors correlate with gushing in beer.
Making soil biodiversity visible in EU policy
SOB4ES is a large project with 19 partners on a mission to make soil biodiversity visible to society and integrate it into EU policies. Within SOB4ES, we analyze soil biodiversity under various intensities of major land uses in different EU regions.
Improve soil health and biodiversity in agricultural soils
In the EU project MultiSoil, we develop strategies to improve soil health and biodiversity. Our aim is to study cropping practices to reduce the reliance on chemical pest control, enhance soil functions and resilience, and support climate-smart farming.
Biological control of root rot
The fungus Heterobasidion annosum is the most destructive pathogen in northern conifer forests, affecting up to 15% of Norway spruce in Sweden. A biological control using Phlebiopsis gigantea spores is now applied to felling stumps to prevent the spread of decay.
The role of mountain birch forests in conserving insects and fungi
What role do mountain birch forests play in preserving species that live in and on dead wood and are disadvantaged by forestry? In this project, researchers are seeking answers by mapping which wood-dwelling insects and fungi live in mountain birch forests.
More research projects
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Ecological restoration of boreal low-productive pine forests
The project aim to assess the potential of ecological restoration of low-productive pine forests for the conservation of biodiversity associated with Scots pine. -
Pink kernels in malting barley - causes and correlations to gushing in beer production
Malting barley grown for the beer brewing industry must fulfill a quality criterion of less than 0.1% pink kernels in the seed lot. This criterion is used to avoid presence of Fusarium fungi and problems with gushing later in the process. Here, we will study causes of pink kernels in malting barley and how various factors correlate with gushing. -
Thresholds and tipping points in ecosystem responses to global warming
Thresholds and tipping points in ecosystem responses to global warming, THRESHOLD, uses a novel cross-disciplinary approach to advance our fundamental knowledge of how non-linear temperature responses transcend different levels of ecological organization. -
The role of Swedish mountain birch forests in preserving insects and fungi
What role do mountain birch forests play in preserving species that live in and on dead wood and are disadvantaged by forestry? In this project, researchers are seeking answers by mapping which wood-dwelling insects and fungi live in mountain birch forests. -
Tolerant Tree
We support development and implementation of good practices for use and management of forest genetic resources to the benefit of the Nordic societies.
Research areas
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Soil Microbiology
Microorganisms play a key role in nature’s cycles, controlling how essential nutrients like nitrogen move through ecosystems. By understanding their functions, we can find solutions to environmental challenges such as eutrophication, climate change, and unsustainable agriculture. -
Forest Pathology
Our research in forest pathology concentrates on pathogenic fungi causing diseases in forests. We study the interactions between the pathogen, the host tree and the environment from molecular to ecosystem level. -
Agricultural Plant Pathology
We conduct research within plant pathology and plant-microbe interactions with relevance for plant health. This includes pathogenic interactions in agricultural systems, but also beneficial interactions used for biological disease control and plant growth promotion. -
Forest microbiology
We focus on the role of soil biota in plant performance and ecosystem functioning. -
Plant disease epidemiology
Diseases in crops result in economic losses and account for a significant proportion of pesticide use in agriculture. We study the epidemiology of plant diseases to inform and support the implementation of sustainable management strategies.
News
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Bolivian students dive into the world of bioinformatics
How do you identify an organism at the molecular level – and how can that contribute to sustainable agriculture? These were some of the questions explored by Bolivian students during an international course in La Paz, led by researchers from SLU. -
Gene-silencing spray to combat cereal disease is safe for the environment
Great hopes are placed on a new way to combat plant diseases, using RNA to turn off genes that the pathogen needs to initiate the attack. Now, researchers from SLU and the James Hutton Institute have for the first time investigated how spray-induced gene silencing affects other microorganisms. -
Healthy forests in a changing climate – the path to resilient conifers
In her doctoral thesis, Matilda Stein Åslund has studied genetic and environmental factors that affect diseases in conifers. This is an important step toward preserving our forests in the ongoing climate change. -
SLU and the forest sector in new collaboration to train future experts
SLU is now announcing eight new PhD positions as part of a collaboration with the forest sector. The positions are part of the research programme Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research (WIFORCE), aimed at meeting future knowledge needs for the sustainable management and conservation of forests. -
12 new PhD projects approved within the WIFORCE research school
To strengthen research on sustainable silviculture, the Wallenberg Initiatives in Forest Research (WIFORCE) has been launched. A key part is the research school, where 50 PhD students will be trained. Twelve PhD projects within SLU’s Faculty of Forest Sciences are now approved.