Publications
NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.
2025
Authors
Monica Sanden Eirill Ager-Wick Johanna Eva Bodin Nur Duale Kristian Prydz Volha Shapaval Tage ThorstensenAbstract
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has assessed an application for approval of soy leghemoglobin produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii for food uses in the EU. In accordance with an assignment specified by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA), VKM assesses whether genetically modified organisms (GMOs) intended for the European market can pose risks to human or animal health, or the environment in Norway. VKM assesses the scientific documentation regarding GMO applications seeking approval for use of GMOs as food and feed, processing, or cultivation. The EU Regulation 1829/2003/EC (Regulation) covers living GMOs that fall under the Norwegian Gene Technology Act, as well as processed food and feed from GMOs (dead material) that fall under the Norwegian Food Act. The regulation is currently not part of the EEA agreement or implemented in Norwegian law. Norway conducts its own assessments of GMO applications in preparation for the possible implementation of the Regulation. In accordance with the assignment by NFSA and NEA, VKM assesses GMO applications during scientific hearings initiated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as after EFSA has published its own risk assessment of a GMO, up until EU member countries vote for or against approval in the EU Commission. The assignment is divided into three stages. Soy leghemoglobin produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii This application is submitted to gain authorisation for the use of soy leghemoglobin (the liquid preparation is referred to as “LegH Prep”) produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii (yeast) as a flavouring (“meaty taste”) in meat analogue products that will be marketed in the European Union (EU). Soy leghemoglobin is intended for addition to meat analogue products that are for use in foods such as burgers, meatballs, and sausages. Komagataella phaffii-strain employed in the production of soy leghemoglobin contains genetic modifications which allow it to express this protein. Following fermentation, the cells are lysed, and the soy leghemoglobin is concentrated by physical means. The soy leghemoglobin is delivered in a liquid preparation (LegH Prep) that is standardised to contain up to 9% soy leghemoglobin on a wet weight basis and a soy leghemoglobin protein purity of at least 65%. The remainder of the protein fraction in the LegH Prep is accounted for by residual proteins from the Komagataella phaffii production strain. These residual proteins are all endogenous to Komagataella phaffii as the gene coding for the expression of soy leghemoglobin is the only gene from a different organism. VKM has assessed the documentation in application EFSA-GMO- NL-2019-162 and EFSA's scientific opinion for the use of soy leghemoglobin produced from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii. The scientific documentation provided in the application is adequate for risk assessment, and in accordance with the EFSA guidance on risk assessment of genetically modified microorganisms for use in food or feed. The VKM GMO Panel does not consider leghemoglobin from genetically modified Komagataella phaffii to imply potential specific health risks in Norway, compared to EU-countries. The EFSA opinion is adequate also for Norwegian considerations. Therefore, a full risk assessment was not performed by VKM. About the assignment: (...)
Authors
Monica Sanden Eirill Ager-Wick Johanna Eva Bodin Nur Duale Anne-Marthe Ganes Jevnaker Kristian Prydz Volha Shapaval Ville Erling Sipinen Tage ThorstensenAbstract
The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) has assessed an application for approval of the genetically modified maize DP51291 for food and feed uses, import and processing in the EU. In accordance with an assignment specified by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA) and the Norwegian Environment Agency (NEA), VKM assesses whether genetically modified organisms (GMOs) intended for the European market can pose risks to human or animal health, or the environment in Norway. VKM assesses the scientific documentation regarding GMO applications seeking approval for use of GMOs as food and feed, processing, or cultivation. The EU Regulation 1829/2003/EC (Regulation) covers living GMOs that fall under the Norwegian Gene Technology Act, as well as processed food and feed from GMOs (dead material) that fall under the Norwegian Food Act. The regulation is currently not part of the EEA agreement or implemented in Norwegian law. Norway conducts its own assessments of GMO applications in preparation for the possible implementation of the Regulation. In accordance with the assignment by NFSA and NEA, VKM assesses GMO applications during scientific hearings initiated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), as well as after EFSA has published its own risk assessment of a GMO, up until EU member countries vote for or against approval in the EU Commission. The assignment is divided into three stages. Genetically modified maize DP51291 Genetically modified maize DP51291 (application GMFF-2021-0071) was developed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. DP51291 plants contain the transgenes ipd072Aa and pat which encode the proteins IPD072Aa and PAT (phosphinothricin acetyltransferase). IPD072Aa confers protection against susceptible corn rootworm pests, and the PAT protein confers tolerance to glufosinate herbicide. The phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) protein that was used as a selectable marker. VKM has assessed the documentation in application GMFF-2021-0071 and EFSA's scientific opinion on genetically modified maize DP51291. VKM concludes that the applicant's scientific documentation for the genetically modified maize DP51291 is satisfactory for risk assessment, and in accordance with EFSA guidelines for risk assessment of genetically modified plants for food or feed uses. The genetic modifications in maize DP51291 do not indicate an increased health or environmental risk in Norway compared with EU countries. EFSA's risk assessment is therefore sufficient also for Norwegian conditions. As no specific Norwegian conditions have been identified regarding properties of the genetically modified maize DP51291, VKM's GMO panel has not performed a complete risk assessment of the maize. (...)
Authors
Johan A. Stenberg Daniel Flø Lawrence Richard Kirkendall Anders Nielsen Selamawit Tekle Gobena Beatrix Alsanius Jorunn Børve Paal Krokene Christer Magnusson Mogens Nicolaisen Line Nybakken Iben Magrete Thomsen May-Guri Sæthre Sandra A.I. WrightAbstract
Citripar, a biological plant protection product containing the parasitic wasp Anagyrus vladimiri, is requested to be approved for use in Norway. The product is intended to be used against mealybugs, particularly Planococcus citri (citrus mealybug) and Planococcus ficus (vine mealybug) feeding on fruits, berries, vegetables and herbs in greenhouses and plastic tunnels, and on indoor plants. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority, therefore, asked the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment to perform a risk assessment of the product. Occurrence and distribution in Norway: No observations of Anagyrus vladimiri have been reported from Norway. Potential for establishment and spread: VKM assesses that Anagyrus vladimiri will not be able to establish and spread in Norway under current conditions due to the absence of host organisms and too low winter temperatures, even in the warmest parts of the country. Potential effects on biodiversity: VKM assesses that Anagyrus vladimiri will not affect biodiversity in Norway, as there are currently no known native hosts for the wasp to parasitize. Taxonomic challenges that may affect the risk assessment: Anagyrus vladimiri belongs to the wasp family Encyrtidae, a family that includes the genus Anagyrus, many of which have quite tangled taxonomic histories. Individuals of what is now known as Anagyrus vladimiri were for many years identified as belonging to Anagyrus pseudococci. Anagyrus pseudococci and A. vladimiri are members of a complex of nearly indistinguishable species that are informally referred to as the Anagyrus pseudococci complex: A. pseudococci, A. vladimiri, A. kamali, A. dactylopii, A. kivuensis, and A. callidus. These species have been used for biological control of various mealybug species. Should incorrectly identified Anagyrus be imported to Norway, there would be no consequences for biological diversity, since the other species in the Anagyrus pseudococci complex are also host specific to mealybug genera that are not found in the Norwegian fauna, and they are physiologically unfit for the current Norwegian climate.
Authors
Arti Rai Magne Nordang Skårn Abdelhameed Elameen Torstein Tengs Mathias Amundsen Oskar Schnedler Bjorå Lisa Karine Haugland Igor A. Yakovlev May Bente Brurberg Tage ThorstensenAbstract
The phenylpropanoid pathway, regulated by transcription factors of the MYB family, produces secondary metabolites that play important roles in fertilization and early phase of fruit development. The MYB46 transcription factor is a key regulator of secondary cell wall structure, lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis in many plants, but little is known about its activity in flowers and berries in F. vesca. For functional analysis of FvMYB46, we designed a CRISPR-Cas9 construct with an endogenous F. vesca-specific U6 promoter for efficient and specific expression of two gRNAs targeting the first exon of FvMYB46. This generated mutants with an in-frame 81-bp deletion of the first conserved MYB domain or an out-of-frame 82-bp deletion potentially knocking out gene function. In both types of mutant plants, pollen germination and fruit set were significantly reduced compared to wild type. Transcriptomic analysis of flowers revealed that FvMYB46 positively regulates the expression of genes involved in processes like xylan biosynthesis and metabolism, homeostasis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the phenylpropanoid pathway, including secondary cell wall biosynthesis and flavonoid biosynthesis. Genes regulating carbohydrate metabolism and signalling were also deregulated, suggesting that FvMYB46 might regulate the crosstalk between carbohydrate metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. In the FvMYB46-mutant flowers, the flavanol and flavan-3-ol contents, especially epicatechin, quercetin-glucoside and kaempferol-3-coumaroylhexoside, were reduced, and we observed a local reduction in the lignin content in the anthers. Together, these results suggest that FvMYB46 controls fertility and efficient fruit set by regulating the cell wall structure, flavonoid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and sugar and ROS signalling in flowers and early fruit development in F. vesca.
Authors
Daniel James Sargent Matteo Buti Stefan Martens Claudio Pugliesi Kjersti Aaby Dag Røen Chandra Bhan Yadav Felicidad Fernández Fernández Muath K Alsheikh Jahn Davik R. Jordan PriceAbstract
Cultivated raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) most commonly bear small, red, highly aromatic fruits. Their colour is derived predominantly from anthocyanins, water soluble polyphenolic pigments, but as well as red forms, there exist cultivars that display yellow- and apricot-coloured fruits. In this investigation, we used a multi-omics approach to elucidate the genetic basis of the apricot fruit colour in raspberry. Using metabolomics, we quantified anthocyanins in red and apricot raspberry fruits and demonstrated that, in contrast to red-fruited raspberries, fruits of the apricot cultivar ‘Varnes’ contain low concentrations of only a small number of anthocyanin compounds. By performing RNASeq, we revealed differential expression patterns in the apricot-fruited ‘Varnes’ for genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway and following whole genome sequencing using long-read Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing, we identified a CACTA-like transposable element (TE) in the second exon of the Anthocyanidin synthase (Ans) gene that caused a truncated predicted ANS protein. PCR confirmed the presence in heterozygous form of the transposon in an unrelated, red-fruited cultivar ‘Veten’, indicating apricot fruit colour is recessive to red and that it may be widespread in raspberry germplasm, potentially explaining why apricot forms appear at regular intervals in modern raspberry breeding populations.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
2024
Authors
Veronica Quynh Thi PhanAbstract
Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) is a beneficial conifer species in Europe, especially in forestry. The increasing demand of Norway spruce has led to high production of seedlings in growth facilities. Growth conditions in these facilities contribute to fungal outbreaks, and the continuous use of fungicides to combat fungal infections will eventually develop resistance in the fungi. Applying chemical compounds directly to the seeds to prime inducible defences may be a simpler and safer method to protect the seedlings. In this study, seeds were treated with the chemicals methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and chitosan (Chi) to determine if seed priming is possible in Norway spruce. Furthermore, seeds were also treated with JAR, and a combination of JAR and MeJA or Chi, to investigate the hormone signalling pathways involved in MeJA and Chi induced defence responses. To establish the effects of these chemicals, the germination percentage and phenotypes of 4-week-old seedlings were evaluated. Additionally, 4-week-old seedlings were challenged with mechanical wounding and MeJA to determine if the seed treatments had an influence on defence responses. Gene expression levels of seven defence-related genes (CHI4, CHI2, NRPE1, ROS1, JAR1, LAR3, LOX) were quantified at two time points after challenge. In addition, chitinase enzyme activity was measured. The findings of this study indicates that the chemicals MeJA and Chi can possibly penetrate the seed coats of Norway spruce, making seed priming possible. However, this study did not include all defence responses and most genes did not reveal any priming effect, thus it was difficult to determine the signalling pathways involved in defence responses. Overall, the ontogeny of Norway spruce may play a major role in the activation of various defence mechanisms.
Authors
May Bente BrurbergAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Paal KrokeneAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Tomáš Hlásny Roman Modlinger Nick Schafstall Iris Bernardinelli Eckehard G. Brockerhoff György Csóka; Maarten de Groot Mihai-Leonard Duduman Massimo Faccoli Jostein Gohli Wojciech Grodzki Anikó Hirka Gernot Hoch Tomasz Jabłoński Marija Kolšek Paal Krokene Andrew Liebhold Markus Melin Slobodan Milanovic Milan Pernek Martin Schroeder Gottfried Steyrer Jozef Vakula Tiina YliojaAbstract
No abstract has been registered