Subject area Plants and the Environment

We investigate how genotype and environment affect crop performance

We investigate how plants sense and respond to environmental cues, and how these signals shape growth, yield, and resilience. By translating this knowledge into breeding strategies, we aim to develop new cultivars that maintain strong performance under variable and unpredictable environmental conditions.

Our research focuses on five subthemes:

Genotype × Environment (G × E) Interactions 

Why do some cultivars perform well across large environmental ranges, while others only perform well at specific places in specific years? Our research unravels this question by uncovering how genetics and environment interact to shape resilience, yield, and adaptation. Using advanced genotype-to-phenotype modelling, we identify traits that ensure stable performance and stress tolerance under changing and extreme conditions—supporting the development of cultivars suited for Nordic and global agroecological systems.

Traits and Mechanisms of Adaptation 

What makes a plant resilient in an unpredictable climate? Our research focuses on traits that allow plants to both survive and thrive under pressure. We study adaptive traits such as disease resistance, tolerance to drought and heat, resilience to flooding, and frost tolerance during critical growth stages. By examining responses shaped by past selection pressures, we gain insight into how plants adapt over time and predict their performance in future climates. Using advanced research tools, we uncover the genetic, physiological, and epigenetic mechanisms behind these traits. A key focus is stress-induced plasticity and long-term memory in both perennial and annual plants, paving the way for selection strategies tailored to future climate conditions.

Molecular Regulation and RNA Biology 

Central to this subject is RNA biology and the regulation of plant traits via transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and epigenetic control. We study regulatory RNAs, signaling proteins, and environmental cues that modulate gene expression. Special emphasis is placed on cross-kingdom RNA and protein communication between plants and microbes or pathogens, which plays a crucial role in development, immunity, and resilience. 

Innovative Tools and Green Technologies 

The subject area leads research on sustainable, non-GMO molecular technologies such as Spray-Induced Gene Silencing (SIGS). SIGS enables targeted and reversible trait control, allowing precise regulation of plant defense, productivity, and environmental responses. Together with nanoformulations and emerging delivery technologies, SIGS offers new avenues for environmentally safe crop protection and trait enhancement. 

Microbiome Interactions and Agrobiologicals 

Microbial communities are key environmental components that shape plant phenotype. We explore how beneficial microbes and microbiomes influence plant regulatory networks, support nutrient acquisition, and enhance stress resilience. This knowledge feeds into microbiome-assisted breeding and the development of agrobiological products like biostimulants, biocontrol agents, and RNA/protein-based treatments.