Research Group: Plant Ecophysiology

Vores forskning sigter på at forstå den molekylære regulering og evolution af planters metaboliske veje samt at tilvejebringe grundlæggende viden, der kan anvendes inden for miljømæssige, landbrugsmæssige og bioteknologiske platforme. Dette opnår vi ved at anvende en fuld "omik"-værktøjskasse – fra drivhus til mark.

Planter udviser en utrolig plasticitet i deres respons på et foranderligt miljø. Under forskellige miljømæssige stimuli varierer planter deres ressourcefordeling mellem generel og specialiseret metabolisme. Interaktionen mellem generel og specialiseret metabolisme påvirker planternes ydeevne og har også indvirkning på fordøjelighed og toksicitet. I en tidsalder, hvor temperaturer og atmosfæriske forhold ændrer sig i hidtil uset tempo, er vi nødt til bedre at forstådenne interaktion for at forbedre afgrøders ydeevne og bevare dyrelivet.

Forskningstemaer

Pathway discovery of genes involved in general and specialized metabolism, with a focus on the role of cytochromes P450 and flavin containing monooxygenases
Integrated “omics” approach to understand the role and regulation of specialized metabolites in trees (Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Betula) in response to biotic and abiotic stress
Drought tolerance and recovery in cereal crops by redirection of nitrogen between specialized and general metabolism
Biosynthesis and role of oximes in plant metabolism
Evolution of general and specialized metabolite pathways in ferns

For students wishing to work within these topics,. M.Sc. and B.Sc. projects are currently available. Please contact en@plen.ku.dk

Forskningsprojekter

Novo Nordisk Emerging Investigator “liftOFF! Optimizing Plant FMOs for Future Production” 2019-2024

VILLUM Foundation Young Investigator Program “How does climate change impact plants and their herbivores?” - 2016-2021
Danish Council for Independent Research “Improved drought tolerance and recovery via redirection of nitrogen between specialized and general metabolism” - 2016-2021

Videnskabelige højdepunkter

Using a multi-disciplinary approach, our research has established an intricate interplay between plant general and specialized metabolism. We have demonstrated that plants exhibit a metabolic shift in chemistry in response to developmental and environmental change; in the glasshouse and in the field. The redirection of resources between general and specialized metabolism can improve plant growth and performance under adverse conditions. This metabolic shift, however, has significant consequences for plant toxicity and nutritional content, and downstream consequences on different trophic levels.

We have optimized analytical methods to separate and analyze complex plant mixtures. We are currently identifying key biosynthetic pathway members involved in the biosynthesis of different specialized metabolite classes, combining transcriptomic and proteomic analyses.