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.
2007
Authors
Sanna Koutaniemi Tino Warinowski Anna Kärkönen Edward Alatalo Carl Gunnar Fossdal Pekka Saranpää Tapio Laakso Kurt V. Fagerstedt Liisa K. Simola Lars Paulin Stephen Rudd Teemu H. TeeriAbstract
Abstract Lignin biosynthesis is a major carbon sink in gymnosperms and woody angiosperms. Many of the enzymes involved are encoded for by several genes, some of which are also related to the biosynthesis of other phenylpropanoids. In this study, we aimed at the identification of those gene family members that are responsible for developmental lignification in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). Gene expression across the whole lignin biosynthetic pathway was profiled using EST sequencing and quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Stress-induced lignification during bending stress and Heterobasidion annosum infection was also studied. Altogether 7,189 ESTs were sequenced from a lignin forming tissue culture and developing xylem of spruce, and clustered into 3,831 unigenes. Several paralogous genes were found for both monolignol biosynthetic and polymerisation-related enzymes. Realtime RT-PCR results highlighted the set of monolignol biosynthetic genes that are likely to be responsible for developmental lignification in Norway spruce. Potential genes for monolignol polymerisation were also identified. In compression wood, mostly the same monolignol biosynthetic gene set was expressed, but peroxidase expression differed from the vertically grown control. Pathogen infection in phloem resulted in a general upregulation of the monolignol biosynthetic pathway, and in an induction of a few new gene family members. Based on the up-regulation under both pathogen attack and in compression wood, PaPAL2, PaPX2 and PaPX3 appeared to have a general stress-induced function.
Abstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Urbanization and an increasingly globalized food system cause growing physical and psychological distances between producers and customers. Alternative distribution initiatives with direct sale to local customers are emerging. This paper reports results of two surveys, one from producers and one from customers, in the newly introduced Norwegian farmers market system. The main aim of the research was to examine attitudes toward local foods and evaluate the potential of this new marketing channel to reduce the distances between farmers and consumers. Results show that producers were more concerned than customers regarding knowledge on how food was produced, and locally marketed, although customers were also interested in these issues. Both groups regarded as to how food was produced to be more important than where it was produced. Producers were more interested in giving customers information on agriculture than customers were in receiving this information. The attitudes toward food differed between respondents of larger urban cities and smaller cities in Norway. Producers traveled a longer distance (average 79 km) than customers (average 14 km) to come to the markets, but traveling distance differed substantially among the sites owing to market location, number of local farmers and small-scale local processors, and product diversity. Results suggest that the farmers markets have potential to reduce both physical and social distances between producers and consumers, and thereby contribute to the sustainability of local food production. Understanding farmer and consumer attitudes can contribute to organization and promotion of farmers markets in Norway and elsewhere. doi:10.1300/J064v30n04_06.
Abstract
We present results from early tests and field trials of offspring from two Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seed orchards containing clones that have been transferred from high altitudes to sea level and from northern to southern latitudes. Seedlings from seeds produced in the low-altitude seed orchard developed frost hardiness later at the end of the growth season, flushed later in field trials, and grew taller than seedlings from seeds produced in natural stands. They had the lowest mortality rate and the lowest frequency of injuries in the field trials. Similar results were observed in seedlings from seeds produced in the southern seed orchard. We found no adverse effects of the changed growth rhythm. Seedlings from two seed crops in the southern orchard, produced in years with a warm and a cold summer, had different annual growth rhythms. The results are explained mainly by the effects of the climatic conditions during the reproductive phase. Seed crops from different years in the same seed orchard may produce seedlings that perform as if they were from different provenances. It is argued that the effects of the climatic conditions during seed production must contribute to the variation among provenances of Norway spruce.
Authors
Mensur Vegara Thor S. Larsen Hans Magnus Gjøen Anders Kiessling Roger K. Abrahamsen Ole Hofstad Lars Helge Frivold Bal Ram Singh Roberto Garcia Geir-Harald Strand dag-ragnar blystad Åsmund AsdalAbstract
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has been funding an NORWEGIAN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE (SEE) PROGRAMME IN AGRICULTURE; ?Competence transfer and institutional contact and co-operation between faculties of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine in South Eastern Europe?, (2002 ?2005). The main objectives under this programme were: - To improve organising, content and quality of academic education and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine and forestry to meet with needs for qualified people in ongoing rebuilding after wars and to reach the general European level and standards. - Create functional and sustainable networks of regional institutions and professionals to support each other and cooperate for optimal use of limited available resources in the SEE region in a difficult rebuilding situation. The main activities were: - Research and development projects in the areas of animal sciences, crop and fodder production and use of GIS-methods in forestry and agriculture. - Support to development of staff and institutions in form of study stays, study material, covering of costs for laboratory analysis etc. related to M.Sc. and Ph.D. thesis work, guest lecturing and some equipment. - Support to reorientation of academic education in agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine. - Support to regional networks, professional meetings, further development and use of the Programme web site and web-based teaching. The most important strategy in this Programme was to facilitate for institutional cooperation and network building between partners in the SEE area. Therefore a broad approach was chosen with a large number of partners (16) from all actual geographical areas in SEE - West Balkan - (Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia and Serbia & Montenegro) and representing most of the different ethnical groups in the region. In 2004, Norway?s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) invited the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Noragric to present plans for a new, targeted programme on agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine in the SEE/WB region. Noragric is UMB?s Department for International Environment and Development Studies. With its professional staff from several nations, Noragric plays active roles in national and international committees and networks, in advisory roles for NORAD and MFA, and in institutional collaboration with many partners throughout the world. Noragric brings together research, education and development-related assignments with a focus on developing countries and countries with economies in transition. Besides its role as the international gateway for UMB, Noragric also acts on behalf of the Norwegian College of Veterinary Medicine (NVH) and Norwegian Agricultural Research International (NARI), which form alliances with UMB. With more than 40 years of collaboration between UMB and academic and professional institutions in developing countries and in Eastern Europe, Noragric has established a broad network of worldwide contacts.
Authors
Mensur Vegara Thor S. Larsen Hans Magnus Gjøen Anders Kiessling Roger K. Abrahamsen Ole Hofstad Lars Helge Frivold Bal Ram Singh Roberto Garcia Geir-Harald Strand dag-ragnar blystad Åsmund AsdalAbstract
The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has been funding an NORWEGIAN SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE (SEE) PROGRAMME IN AGRICULTURE; Competence transfer and institutional contact and co-operation between faculties of Agriculture, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine in South Eastern Europe, (2002 ?2005). The main objectives under this programme were: - To improve organising, content and quality of academic education and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine and forestry to meet with needs for qualified people in ongoing rebuilding after wars and to reach the general European level and standards. - Create functional and sustainable networks of regional institutions and professionals to support each other and cooperate for optimal use of limited available resources in the SEE region in a difficult rebuilding situation. The main activities were: - Research and development projects in the areas of animal sciences, crop and fodder production and use of GIS-methods in forestry and agriculture. - Support to development of staff and institutions in form of study stays, study material, covering of costs for laboratory analysis etc. related to M.Sc. and Ph.D. thesis work, guest lecturing and some equipment. - Support to reorientation of academic education in agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine. - Support to regional networks, professional meetings, further development and use of the Programme web site and web-based teaching. The most important strategy in this Programme was to facilitate for institutional cooperation and network building between partners in the SEE area. Origin application (05/420-3, 07.12.06) to MFA, for budget of activities for the secon year 2007, was NOK 4.830.000. The MFA reduced applied budget approximately by 18%. Funding of NOK 4.000.000 was granted by the MFA for this program?s second year 2007. See UD bevilgningsbrev, 05/00396-12, from 19. April 2007, Appendix 1, page 48-51. According to the UD bevilgningsbrev budget and activities for the secon year 2007 wear redused, see NORAGRIC?s letter 05/420-3, 07.05.2007, e-mail 07.05.2007, page 45 and UD letter 05/00396-16, from 19 November 2007, page 46. See also e-mail Status report for UD Project nr. 2070061, 25.06.2007, page 47. The Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), through Noragric, UMB?s Department for International Environment and Development Studies, has been responsible for the overall preparations, coordination and implementation of this programme. The programme?s Coordinator has also been part time active with scientific and education in several projects and activities. UMB/Noragric has been responsible for accounting and reporting for the programme. Programme activities include: ? Programme budgets for each projects and activities have been prepared. ? There have been preparations of agreements (54 agreements) between SEE/WB partners and Norwegian partners for the implementation of planned programme activities and transfer of funds for 2007. ? FINAL reports for the second year of the programme activities (2007) have been prepared ? for each of the 9 projects according to MFA?s template for project reporting.
Authors
Pavel Cudlín Barbara Kieliszewska-Rokicka Maria Rudawska Tine Grebenc Odair Alberton Tarja Lehto Mark R. Bakker Isabella Børja Bohdan Konôpka Tomasz Leski Hojka Kraigher Thomas W. KuyperAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Pavel Cudlin Barbara Kielisziewska - Rokicka Maria Rudawska Tine Grebenc O Alberton Tarja Lehto Mark R. Bakker Isabella Børja Bohdan Konôpka T Leski Hojka Kraigher Thomas W. KuyperAbstract
Human-induced and natural stress factors can affect fine roots and ectomycorrhizas. Therefore they have potential utility as indicators of environmental change. We evaluated, through meta-analysis, the magnitude of the effects of acidic deposition, nitrogen deposition, increased ozone levels, elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide, and drought on fine roots and ectomycorrhizal (ECM) characteristics. Ectomycorrhizal colonization was an unsuitable parameter for environmental change, but fine root length and biomass could be useful. Acidic deposition had a significantly negative impact on fine roots, root length being more sensitive than root biomass. There were no significant effects of nitrogen deposition or elevated tropospheric ozone on the quantitative root parameters. Elevated CO2 had a significant positive effect. Drought had a significantly negative effect on fine root biomass. The negative effect of acidic deposition and the positive effect of elevated CO2 increased over time, indicating that effects were persistent contrary the other factors. The meta-analysis also showed that experimental conditions, including both laboratory and field experiments, were a major source of variation. In addition to quantitative changes, environmental changes affect the species composition of the ectomycorrhizal fungal community.
Authors
Arild Sletten Trond RafossAbstract
This report assesses the plant health risk for the bacterial plant disease fire blight for the Pest Risk Assessment area of Norway. In addition to providing an updated pest categorisation for fire blight in relation to Norway, the report provide new results on fruit tree blossom infection risk based on examination of historical climate and phenology data. The report conclude that if E. amylovora is introduced into the main fruit growing districts of Norway, it is expected that the damage and losses to commercial fruit production and nurseries will be minor, under the current phytosanitary regime in Norway. Relaxation of the regulations in force for fighting fire blight in Norway will increase the expected damage and losses to commercial fruit production and nurseries to a moderate level.
Authors
Katrin Knoth George Scholer Yves DudalAbstract
No abstract has been registered