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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MultiSoil
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. The project runs from 2025 to 2030. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
SOB4ES
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 pedoclimatic regions representative for the EU.
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. -
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. -
Forest microbiology
We focus on the role of soil biota in plant performance and ecosystem functioning.
News
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Interdisciplinary approaches to ecosystem restoration
As Europe works to restore its natural environments, researchers at SLU are exploring new ways to reconnect ecosystems and people. By linking ecology, society and culture, they aim to create landscapes that are both resilient and meaningful. -
13 new PhD projects granted in WIFORCE’s final call
A total of 13 new PhD projects have been granted within the WIFORCE Research School at SLU’s Faculty of Forest Sciences. -
Spruce’s genes determine the spread of the root rot
The spruce tree’s own genes determine how well it resists root rot – and the outcome of the battle against the fungus is decided already in the early stages of infection. -
Pollution and drought disrupt soil microbes that support crops
Laura J. Müller’s doctoral thesis shows how pollution and drought disrupt the soil microbes that control nitrogen cycling. Combined stressors can weaken these hidden ecosystems, threatening both crop growth and environmental health. -
Beneath the pines: how fungi drive forest nutrient cycles
In her new doctoral thesis, Katharine King shows how ectomycorrhizal fungi drive nutrient cycling in the forest by linking mineral weathering and nitrogen mobilisation, which supports tree growth and keeps the ecosystem healthy.