Project information
Project manager
Daniel Knapp
Other project members
Johanna Witzell
Participating organisations
Linnaeus University
Funder
The Royal Swedish Academy of Agriculture and Forestry
Timetable
2024–2026
Subjects
Forestry and wood technology (Department of Forestry and Wood Technolog, Faculty of Technology), environmental science (Department of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences)
Research group
The Bridge
More about the project
This project explores the fungal diversity associated with Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in southern Sweden to improve the assessment of disease risks, particularly Diplodia tip blight caused by Diplodia sapinea. Scots pine is a key species for Swedish forestry, and its increasing dominance in forest stands highlights the importance of understanding emerging health threats.
The main aims are to characterize the diversity and dynamics of fungal communities in Scots pine saplings and to track the occurrence and dominance of certain fungal taxa throughout the growing season. Information is crucial on widespread but unseen pathogens and particular fungi that may become dominant under specific conditions without causing immediate visible symptoms.
To address these questions, field sampling will be conducted at a plantation site in southern Sweden. Plant material will be collected from selected saplings and analyzed using a combination of classical microbiological and modern molecular techniques. These complementary approaches will allow both culturable fungi and the broader fungal community to be detected and characterized. Community structures, patterns, and dynamics will be assessed, and the expected outcome is a comprehensive overview of fungal communities associated with Scots pine, along with new insights into the hidden distribution of D. sapinea and other important fungal players.
This knowledge will support early disease detection and risk assessment, providing valuable guidance for forest managers. In addition, the project will generate reference material that may support further applied research, including the development of biological control approaches.
The project is part of the research group The Bridge.
