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
Maxime Eeraerts Julia Osterman Péter Batáry Alexandra Maria Klein Matthias Albrecht Georg K.S. Andersson András Báldi Olivia M. Bernauer Leah Blechschmidt Eleanor J. Blitzer Paulo A.V. Borges Jordi Bosch Katherine L.W. Burns Alistair J. Campbell Sílvia Castro James M. Cook Robin Daelemans Bryan N. Danforth Arjen G. de Groot Kinley Dorji Rita Földesi Hannah R. Gaines Day Daniel García Lucas A. Garibaldi Michael P.D. Garratt Andrew Gonzalez Heather Grab Claudio Gratton Maren Kristine Koffeld Halvorsen Peter A. Hambäck Bjørn Arild Hatteland Olivier Honnay Eva Hulsmans Sandra Kaasen Vestheim David Kleijn Anikó Kovács-Hostyánszki Martin J. Lechowicz Nicolas Leclercq Yunhui Liu João Loureiro Rachel E. Mallinger Leon Marshall Ivan Meeus Marcos Miñarro Diego N. Nabaes Jodar Adara Pardo Mia G. Park Robert J. Paxton Néstor Pérez-Méndez Rafael A. Pincante De Carvalho Paavo Pirttilehto Matti Pisman Simon G. Potts Nigel E. Raine James R. Reilly Laura Roquer-Beni Ulrika Samnegård Dara A. Stanley Louis Sutter Kyle Teixeira-Martins Simon M. Tierney Ruan Veldtman Nicolas J. Vereecken Felix Wäckers Timothy Weekers Julianna K. Wilson Panlong Wu Kris VerheyenAbstract
1. Apple is one of the most important pollinator-dependent fruit crops worldwide. To secure high-quality yields, it is crucial to know which, and to what extent, pollinating insects contribute to its pollination success as measured by fruit set, fruit weight and seed set. 2. We perform a meta-analysis of field studies conducted across multiple orchards on insect-mediated pollination in apple cultivation, using raw data from 29 studies, totalling 532 orchard replicates. We assessed the extent of pollen limitation on different pollination outcomes and assessed the contribution of honeybees, wild bees and bee species richness to apple pollination. 3. Across all studies, we detected strong evidence of pollen limitation for fruit set and seed set, but not for fruit weight. Honeybees were the most abundant flower visitors (average relative visitation of 71.9%) compared to wild bees; but when correcting for their pollination efficiency, the relative pollination contribution of honeybees was lower compared to their relative visitation (vice versa for solitary bees). 4. We conclude that honeybee visitation rate did not influence fruit or seed set; yet increasing honeybee visitation had a small, negative effect on fruit weight. Fruit set was not influenced by wild bee visitation rate, whereas wild bee visitation had a small, but clear positive effect on fruit weight and seed set. Bee species richness had a small, positive effect on seed set; whereas it did not affect fruit set and fruit weight. 5. Syntheses and applications. Our study highlights that pollen limitation is common in this global crop. While managed honeybees are dominant pollinators, a diverse community of wild bees contributes significantly to apple pollination and high-quality yield. The positive effect of wild bees and species richness on fruit weight and seed set demonstrates that wild bee pollination results in better-quality fruit production (increased weight & seed set). Therefore, our synthesis highlights the importance of conserving pollinator diversity to maintain pollination services. The absence of a clear effect of honeybee visitation rate on fruit and seed set, coupled with its negative impact on fruit weight, suggests a need for further optimisation of honeybee management to improve the cost-efficiency of pollination management.
Authors
Benedicte Riber Albrectsen Kristiina Mäkinen Lovely Mahawar Arti Mishra Isaac Kwesi Abuley Isalyne Veillon Apsara Indhu Gopan Radha Sivarajan Sajeevan Svante Resjö Erik Andreasson Erland Liljeroth Peter Marhavý Simeon Rossmann Jens Grønbech HansenAbstract
Based on discussions within the Northern Tubers of Potato network (N’TOP-net), this review highlights northern Scandinavia’s potential for sustainable, low pest seed potato production. While long transport distances currently limit large-scale supply for consumption or processing, low pest pressure and stricter EU plant protection regulations increase its value for seed production. Climate change is expected to extend the growing season, driving renewed interest in Northern Scandinavia’s role in European food security. Finland exemplifies this potential, and parts of northern and central Sweden—historically suppliers of disease-free seed potatoes, even exported to Brazil—offer expansion opportunities. Nordic potato production, key biotic stressors, and opportunities for regional cooperation are examined, with a focus on novel farming practices, breeding innovations, and disease surveillance to improve resilience and sustainability. Despite shared values in cultivar selection, certification, and potato preferences, Nordic production strategies remain uncoordinated for long-term sustainability. We advocate for transnational, interdisciplinary collaboration to enhance Europe’s food security through joint efforts in three key areas: (1) soil-conserving farming, (2) breeding for adaptation to longer day length and resistance traits, and (3) transnational pest and disease surveillance. A Nordic potato initiative can strengthen European cooperation on sustainable production amid climate change. However, as policies must balance the benefits of longer growing seasons with emerging risks such as pests, droughts, and flooding, coordinated research, regulatory adaptation, and climate resilience investments are essential for safeguarding seed potato quality, food security, and supply chain stability.
Authors
Kristiina Matilda Maria Visakorpi Zafar A. Reshi Oriol Grau Anne Muola Anna Orczewska Koenraad Van Meerbeek Bente Jessen GraaeAbstract
Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to biodiversity. However, our understanding of how these species persist and spread in novel environments remains limited. Specifically, the relative importance of species interactions versus environmental conditions and the role of rapid evolutionary adaptation are not fully understood. Here, we investigate the impact of these factors on the distribution of the invasive Himalayan balsam ( Impatiens glandulifera ). We examined whether the climatic niche of the species is pre-adapted to the environmental conditions in the introduced range through niche modeling. Field surveys were conducted to assess the importance of herbivory and competition, and greenhouse treatments were used to investigate local adaptation. We found that the species has not yet fully occupied the suitable climatic space in its introduced range in Europe. Our results suggest that the species may have experienced enemy release while also facing increased biotic pressure at the northern range edge. We identified adaptive differentiation in flowering time, which enhances reproductive success when plants grow in climates similar to their origin. Our results indicate that Himalayan balsam has rapidly adapted to differences in growing season length in its introduced range, with trait plasticity providing an adaptive advantage. Together, these findings suggest that the species may continue to spread across its introduced range in Europe.
Authors
Theresa Weigl Jorunn Børve Emily Follett Melissa Magerøy Hanne Larsen Carl Gunnar Fossdal Siv Fagertun RembergAbstract
The effect of harvest timing on postharvest ripening was investigated by changes in ethylene production, expression of ethylene biosynthesis genes MdACS1, MdACS6, (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase 1 and 6) and the ACS degradation promoting gene MdETO1 (Ethylene overproducer 1). Apple fruit of two cultivars, ‘Red Aroma’ and ‘Rubinstep’, were harvested at three time points, early, middle, and late, at two-week intervals. Fruit were either treated with 1 ppm 1-Methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) or remained untreated, and stored at 4 °C in regular atmosphere. Late harvested, untreated apples reached peak ethylene production after the shortest time in cold storage ('Red Aroma' in week five, 'Rubinstep' in weeks nine and ten), while early harvested, untreated fruit reached their peak after a longer time ('Red Aroma' in week eight, 'Rubinstep' in weeks 13 and 14). Early harvested fruit experienced greater firmness loss and a higher increase in SCC/TA ratio during cold storage. Senescence in late harvested, untreated fruit was evident from low ethylene production after simulated shelf-life and increased physiological disorders in ‘Rubinstep’. In 1-MCP-treated fruit, ethylene production increased toward the end of storage, particularly in early harvested fruit, indicating a decline in 1-MCP efficacy over time. Gene expression analysis showed strong induction of MdACS1 during climacteric ripening. MdETO1 positively correlated with MdACS1 gene expression, suggesting positive co-regulation. The expression of MdACS6 was negatively correlated with simulated shelf-life and with 1-MCP treatment, suggesting regulation by temperature and metabolic state. Overall, harvest timing and 1-MCP strongly influenced the changes in fruit physiology during postharvest storage.
Abstract
We report the successful cryopreservation of three economically important Rubus viruses: raspberry bushy dwarf virus (RBDV), black raspberry necrosis virus (BRNV), and Rubus yellow net virus (RYNV), using shoot tip cryopreservation in four raspberry cultivars. Virus-infected shoot tips (approximately 1.0 mm in length) containing 3–4 leaf primordia (LPs) were cryopreserved using the droplet-vitrification technique. In the cultivars ‘Zlatá Královna (ZK)’ and ‘Tulameen (TUM)’, over 90% of shoot tips survived, and more than 90% regenerated into whole shoots. All three viruses were successfully preserved in the cryopreserved tissues, with recovery rates varying depending on virus type and cultivar: RBDV was recovered at rates of 86% in ‘ZK’ and 87% in ‘TUM’; BRNV at 66% in ‘ZK’ and 45% in ‘TUM’; and RYNV at 96%, 94%, and 86% in ‘Fairview’, ‘Stiora’, and ‘ZK’, respectively. To investigate viral localization in shoot tips, in situ hybridization was used. RBDV and RYNV infected a broad range of meristematic tissues, including the apical dome and LPs, whereas BRNV showed a more limited distribution. Virus distribution varied not only among virus species but also across raspberry cultivars, suggesting genotype-specific patterns of virus localization. Post-cryopreservation viral activity was verified using micrografting and aphid transmission assays. RBDV, BRNV, and RYNV were all successfully transmitted to healthy plants via micrografting, indicating the preservation of viral infectivity. Furthermore, BRNV was effectively transmitted by large raspberry aphids from cryopreserved materials, confirming vector-mediated transmission capacity post-thaw. Overall, this study demonstrates that shoot tip cryopreservation via droplet-vitrification is a reliable and effective strategy for preservation of biologically active Rubus viruses. This approach offers a valuable biotechnological tool for virus maintenance in support of diagnostic, breeding, and virology research.
Authors
Kirsten TørresenAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Facchin, G. Šoštarčić, V. Royo-Esnal, A. Kirsten Tørresen Necajeva, J. Synowiec, A. Jensen, P. Binder, J. Reinhardt Piskáčková, T.A. Chachalis, D. Adeux, G. Ulber, L. Pannacci, E. Calha, I. Osuna, M.D. Uremis, I. Uludag, A. Konstantinović, B. Abu-Nassar, J. Menegat, A. Taab, A. Nikolić, N.Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Badilla, N.A. Nikolić, N. Šoštarčić, V. Kirsten Tørresen Necajeva, J. Synowiec, A. Jensen, P.K. Binder, J. Piškáčková, T. Chachalis, D. Adeux, G. Ulber, L. Pannacci, E. Calha, I. Osuna, M.D. Üremis, I. Uludag, A. Konstantinović, B. Abu-Nassar, J. Menegat, A. Taab, A. Royo-Esnal, A.Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Özgün Candan Onarman Umu Knut Espevig Simeon Rossmann Inger-Lise Akselsen Carl-Henrik Lensjø Alvin Marit Larssen SekseAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Özgün Candan Onarman UmuAbstract
No abstract has been registered