Research Interests

I am a forest pathologist interested in studying tree fungal diseases, host-pathogen interactions and control of plant diseases. I have a keen interest in invasive pathogens and ways to obviate their impact. I have interest in fungal endophytes (i.e. fungi that live inside plants) and how they vary in different ecosystems, their relation to host physiology and how they influence plant disease. 

Twitter, ResearchGate, ORCID

Microbiome and their role in tree health. Funded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA) (PI). The microbiome of a plant influence ecologically important characteristics of the host, such as stress, disease tolerance. The goal of the project is to gain new information about the role of microbiome in early stages of Phytophthora infection at different time points of infection using microbiome study. The hypothesis is that the microbiome community differ in healthy vs. diseased plants, and that certain groups of microbes can act as barrier for the colonization of the pathogen.

Who lives inside? How fungal endophytes can protect ash from dieback. Funded by The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry (KSLA) (PI). The project aims to find out whether resistant and susceptible ash genotypes harbour different communities of fungal endophytes when exposed to a natural inoculum of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus and whether these assemblages are dynamic and have a relationship with the "ash dieback disease". Finally, we aim to investigate if certain endophytic fungi (individual species or groups) limit the in vitro growth of H. fraxineus through different mechanisms (e.g., chemical antagonism).

RESISTREE. Identification of Phytophthora resistant beech trees by the composition of endophyte communities, lesion formation and phenomics approaches. Funded by the EU's 2020 programme under the MSCA grant agreement No 845419. RESISTREE will deliver in-depth information about the host phenotypic traits and associated mycobiome that can suppress the establishment of the invasive Phytophthora-species (Oomycetes) on one of the keystone species of European forests, the European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.).

Natural regeneration of beech on Phytophthora-infested soils. Funded by The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry. (PI) The aim of the project is to develop a basis for the regeneration of beech on woodlands which is affected by introduced fungal-like, oomycetes of the genus Phytophthora. The project seeks to systematically study whether natural regeneration or seed traits (germination/growth) influence early development and survival of beech in Phytophthora-infested soils. 

Consequences of tree decline for seedling performance via maternal effects. Funded by Carl Tryggers Foundation (PI: Johanna Witzell). The goal of the project is to test whether the offspring of declining trees deviates from the offspring of vital trees in terms of growth, chemical traits (defensive and stress chemistry), resistance to pathogen infections and biodiversity of potentially mutualistic endophytic fungi. The project will deliver new scientific information about the maternal effects in tree populations and practically relevant information about the quality of seed crops and seedling performance. 

Preventing the spread of new pathogens in Nordic forests to secure sustainable forestry in growing bioeconomy. Funded by the Nordic Forest Research (SNS).  PI: Johanna Witzell. The aims of the proposed project are to support development of early detection solutions to stop introduction of pathogens, to improve science-based knowledge about the mechanisms of forest pathogen invasions, to contribute to formation of guidelines for sustainable forest management strategies, to mitigate the effects of introduced pathogens and to improve the awareness of different actors in society about the risks of pathogen invasions, and strength the science-society interaction in questions related to forest health.