Pages from pki raamat 196x199mm 5mmbleed 2014 sisu

INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

“We care about Nature. We seek to promote a caring and sustainable approach to human activity in Nature.

Our role is to recognize that cultural and natural values are often interrelated and they should be considered in an integrated manner to grant the quality of habitat and natural values.�

Aret Vooremäe Director of IAES

inStitute of aGricultural anD enVironmental ScienceS

General info

The mission of the Estonian University of Life Sciences is to guarantee sustainable use of natural resources and enhance rural development.

The Estonian University of Life Sciences (IAES) is the only university in Estonia whose priorities in academic and research activities provide the sustainable development of natural resources necessary for the existence of Human Society as well as the preservation of heritage and habitat.

The Estonian University of Life Sciences undertakes internationally acknowledged science research, carries out innovative activities, provides science based academic education and promotes life-long learning.

The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the Estonian University of Life Sciences is responsible for research and development, and university level education in plant cultivation and plant biology, horticulture, plant health, soil science and agrochemistry, landscape ecology and management, landscape architecture, biological diversity and applied hydrobiology in Estonia.

SHort HiStorY The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences was established in 2005 by merging six of the ten research and education institutions, which comprised the Estonian University of Life Sciences: I. The Faculty of Agronomy (which consisted of five Institutes - Horticulture, Plant Cultivation, Plant Protection, Soil Science and Agrochemistry, and Grassland Science),

II. The Institute of Environmental Protection, III. The Institute of Experimental Biology, IV. The Institute of Zoology and Botany, V. Polli Horticultural Research Centre and VI. The Plant Biotechnology Research Centre EVIKA (which

at the time of the merger belonged to the Faculty of Agronomy).

The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is the largest of the five institutes, which comprise the Estonian University of Life Science, and attracts 74% of the research financing at the University and approximately 5% of Estonian research financing.

Currently the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has 11 departments, two research centres and one experimental station. IAES is also involved in the activities of several interdisciplinary centres in the University.

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Structure

Estonian University of Life Sciences

General info

College of Technology

Centre of Renewable Energy

Institute of Economics and Social Sciences

Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering

Institute of Technology

Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences

Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences

Research Centre of Organic Farming SMEAR Estonia Station

Dep. of Botany

Dep. of Mycology

Lake V천rtsj채rv Centre

Dep. of Field Crop and Grassland Husbandry

Dep. of Plant Physiology

Polli Horticultural Research Centre

Dep. of Environmental Protection

Dep. of Plant Protection

R천hu Experimental Station

Dep. of Horticulture

Dep. of Soil Science and Agrochemistry

Dep. of Landscape Architecture

Dep. of Zoology

Centre of Excellence ENVIRON

Centre for Limnology

Dep. of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation

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international relationS anD collaBoration international relationS anD collaBoration

General info

The Estonian University of Life Science University (EMU) has set as an objective active participation in international networks. Since 1995, EMU has been part of the NOVA-BOVA network that unites agricultural universities and faculties of the Nordic (www.nova-university.org) and Baltic (www.bovauniversity.org) countries. The aim of NOVA-BOVA has been to enable Master’s degree students from the Baltic States to participate in MSc courses in neighbouring countries. Every year EMU arranges at least two intensive courses in English, as do all the other agricultural universities representing each of the Baltic countries.

In 1997, EMU joined the Interuniversity Conference of Agricultural and Related Sciences in Europe (ICA) network of European agricultural universities and faculties, which serves as a forum to discuss innovative practice and concerns. It acts as a clearinghouse for information exchange and updates on strategic issues. The members build confidence in each other’s capabilities, which hopefully lead to new initiatives.

EMU has participated in the SOCRATES/ERASMUS Programme since 1999 and was granted the University Charter also for the beginning period (2014-2020). EMU has at present more than 200 ERASMUS agreements with 110 European Universities.

Over the years almost 500 EMU students have benefitted from the student exchanges and internship possibilities in Europe.

In recent years the EMU has also participated in ERASMUS MUNDUS projects.

EMU is involved in two Erasmus Mundus Action II partnerships called INFINITY and EFFORT. They are scholarship mobility schemes directed towards citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. With a focus on urban agriculture, sustainable development, environmental protection, smart growth and urban design, the projects offer the students from the above-mentioned countries the opportunity to study at EMU. Our two-year Master program “Landscape architecture” is very popular among our incoming exchange students.

There are many European and global networks for the exchange of information and provision of teaching opportunities etc.

EMU has been involved with the following:

NOVA-BOVA University Network - MSc courses for students at Nordic-Baltic agriculture related universities BSRUN- Baltic Sea Region University Network – courses

for students, librarians, language teachers, university officials, etc

SILVA - European Forest Science Academic Network ERABEE- Network for Education and Research in Agricutlural and Biosystems Engineering in Europe

AGRIMBA -International Network for the MBA

Agribusiness and Commerce

IROICA -the International Relations Officers’ Network of the Association for European Life Science Universities AGRINATURA - The European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development CEDIA - the European Confederation of Agronomists Associations

GCHERA – the Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations for the Agricultural and Life Sciences

Research groups at the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences participate in a number of projects funded by the European Union, i.e. TEMPUS, Structural Funds; Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) and Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and other international programmes (see page 6). Participation has resulted in fruitful collaboration with other groups in most European countries as well in the USA.

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international relationS anD collaBoration

General info

The main partners are institutions in the UK (e.g. University College London, Natural Environment Research Council Centre for Ecology and Hydrology), Germany (e.g. Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, University of Kassel, University of Duisburg-Essen), Finland (MTT Agrifood Research Finland), France (L’Institut National de la recherché Agronomique INRA) as well as institutions in Denmark, Poland, Sweden, Ireland, Netherlands, USA, etc. the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences also actively promotes organizational co-operations with local entrepreneurs and business institutions in any area where mutual cooperation is possible. One of the aims of IAES is to make research know-how and inventions / innovations more publicly accessible.

Society oriented knowledge and technology in strategic areas enables the Institute to be a key partner for the Ministry of Education and Research, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of the Environment, Estonian Biofuels Association, Estonian Berry Growers Union, etc. We also work closely with most of Estonian largest companies like AS Estonian Cell, Ramboll Eesti AS, Eesti Energia, Agrochema Eesti OÜ, etc. We also contribute to active co-operation with small and mediumsize enterprises.

Examples of development projects in co-operation with Estonian businesses: • Storage possibilities of Estonian fruits and vegetables in a controlled and modified atmosphere

• Developing the Organic Plant Production Centre at EMU to optimize organic cropping systems with suitable cultures, varieties and cropping systems • Developing the Competence Centre of Food Production Chain • Collection and conservation of Plant Genetic Resources of agricultural plants

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inStitute of aGricultural anD enVironmental ScienceS

General info

The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has 11 Research and Teaching Departments, two research centres and one experimental station.

Administration Director: Aret Vooremäe Director of Studies: Endla Reintam Secretary: Alvi Rõigas • Department of Botany • Department of Environmental Protection • Department of Field Crop and Grassland Husbandry • Department of Horticulture • Department of Landscape Architecture • Department of Landscape Management and • • • • •

Nature Conservation Department of Mycology Department of Plant Physiology Department of Plant Protection Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry Department of Zoology

Centres • Polli Horticultural Research Centre • Centre for Limnology • Rõhu Experimental Station

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The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Fr.R. Kreutzwaldi 5 51014 Tartu Estonia http://pk.emu.ee/en/

Contact: Phone (+372) 731 3820 alvi.roigas@emu.ee Fax: (+372) 731 3988

Division of academic staff of Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (January 2014) (persons) Curators Professors

Associated Professors Lecturers

16

6

63

Researchers

10

25

42

Senior Researchers

improVeD infraStructure / BuDGet improVeD infraStructure 2007 – Acquisition of a system for interactive visualisation 2007 – Establishment of measurement and forecast competence for volatile organic compounds 2007 – Refurbishment of the Laboratory of Biofuels 2007-2008 – Experimental technology for experimental

stations

2007-2008 – The construction of Polli Centre for Product

Development

2007-2008 – The pleasure garden and healing garden at

Rõhu

The annual budget in 2014 of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is 7.9 million Euros. The chart illustrates the major funding sources.

The annual budget in 2014 of the Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (%) Studies 28.2%

Other 2.5%

Structural Funds

Institutional Research Grants

17.6%

12.7%

2007-2009 – Intensive modernization and development of laboratories

2008 – Development of technology and management of biogas production in Estonia with pilot equipment 2008 – Improvement of the efficiency of Laboratory of Soil

General info

of landscape

tHe BuDGet

Personal Grants 1.3%

Research International

10.1%

ESF grants 2.6% Research Infrastructures 3.5%

Research (Estonian Funds) 21.4%

Science and Agrochemistry

2008 – Improvement of the Laboratory of IAES at EMU with a system for determining fibre characteristics

2008 – Refurbishment of the Laboratory of Soil Physics 2008 – The design process of the new main building of Rõhu Experimental Station

2008-2010 – Pilot installation of biogas Instrumentation, Control and Automation 2009 – Development of the Centre for Limnology 2009 – Development of the GoodFruit Project within the Estonian-Latvian programme

2009-2013 – Development of Science Centre of Renewable Resources (Green Building) 2010-2014 – Development of the Competence Centre for Knowledge-based Health Goods and Natural Products 2011-2013 – Estonian Science Roadmap projects Estonian Environmental Observations and Plant Biology

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tHe Green uniVerSitY initiatiVe / tHe Green BuilDinG tHe Green uniVerSitY initiatiVe

General info

https://www.emu.ee/en/about-the-university/greenuniversity-initiative/ The mission of our university is to foster sustainable use of natural resources through knowledge based education. In order to support this concept we have created the Green University Initiative.

The initiative involves all the students and staff in EMU. We believe that EMU should be open to new ideas and focus on new environmentally friendly solutions in our everyday life.

Developing The Green University is a long term process that also needs to be integrated with our educational and scientific activities.

The maina reas in which were are developing green universtiy:

• Research - promote sustainable development through research and development activities;

• Education - integrate the principles of sustainable development into teaching process and study outcomes;

• Campus - create a healthy learning, working and recreational envioronment, considering the principles of reducing the ecological footprint; • Society – raise the environmental awareness of the employees and students of the university and the society and enhance collaboration with the society in the course of performing the aims related with sustainable development.

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tHe Green BuilDinG The University aims at creating a high-quality, motivational working environment for research and studies and continues to develop the Tähtvere campus (see the map on page 61).

The general principle of the spatial development is that structural units requiring similar infrastructure are located within the same building. EMU has decided to concentrate all so called “green” specialties (agriculture, forestry and environmental sciences) into one building, thus calling it the Green Building. To achieve that, we have built additional blocks of lecture rooms and Science Centre of Renewable Resources.

Environmentally friendly materials and techniques are used when constructing new buildings in the campus.

Department of BotanY Department of BotanY

Structure

Department of Botany focuses on Estonian flora, we aspire to having full knowledge on our local species, habitats and their dynamics. Special attention is paid on rare species and habitats, but also to invasive foreigners.

Research and studies • Evolution, phylogeography, taxonomy and population biology.

Isozyme diversity in various agriculturally important plant species and their wild relatives belonging to the grass legume genera are studied. DNA markers are used to understand the diversity and evolution of Orchidaceae and other rare and protected species in Estonia. Long-term population dynamics is studied in several species of Orchidaceae and Ophioglossaceae (Botrychium). Reproduction biology is studied in several threatened Carex species as well in Ligularia sibirica, Swertia perennis, Coeloglossum viride, etc.

• Plant communities Dynamics, diversity and conservation of plant communities; vegetation change in species rich meadows in response to abandonment; restoration, and management of habitats are the key words of our studies.

• Clonal growth • Bioenergy Research in experimental willow plantations with former clones; analysis of biomass of semi-natural grasslands.

• Nature tourism

Recent publications Ilves, A.; Lanno, K.; Sammul, M.; Tali, K. 2013. Genetic variability, population size and reproduction potential in Ligularia sibirica (L.) populations in Estonia. Conservation Genetics, 14, 661 - 669.

Kaljund, K.; Leht, M.; Jaaska, V. 2013. Highly variable clonal diversity and spatial structure in populations of sickle medic. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology, 47, 93 – 100.

Melts, I.; Heinsoo, K.; Nurk, L.; Pärn, L. 2013. Comparison of two different bioenergy production options from late harvested biomass of Estonian semi-natural grasslands. Energy, xx - xx. [in press] Meltsov, V.; Poska, A,; Reitalu, T.; Sammul, M.; Kull, Tiiu. 2013. The role of landscape structure in determining palynological and floristic richness. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 22, 39 - 49.

Pecoraro, L.; Girlanda, M.; Kull, T.; Perini, C.; Perotto, S. 2012. Analysis of fungal diversity in Orchis tridentata Scopoli. Central European Journal of Biology, 7(5), 850 - 857.

Zhang, Y.; Zhang, Q.; Sammul, M. 2012. Physiological integration ameliorates negative effects of drought stress in the clonal herb Fragaria orientalis. PLoS ONE, 7(9), e44221.

Kull, Thea; Kull, Tiiu; Sammul, M. 2011. Reduced light availability and increased competition diminish the reproductive success of wet forest sedge Carex loliacea L. Plant Species Biology, 26, 84 - 92.

Sammul, M.; Kauer, K.; Köster, T. 2011. Biomass accumulation during reed encroachment reduces efficiency of restoration of Baltic coastal grasslands. Applied Vegetation Science, 15(2), 219 - 230.

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Department of BotanY

Staff Tiiu Kull – Professor, PhD, Head of Department, Botany and

Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 51014 Tartu Estonia

Structure

ecology, distribution and population biology of threatened species, biodiversity conservation Vello Jaaska – Senior Researcher, DSc, Genetic diversity and phylogenetic affinities among different Fabaceae and Poaceae by isozyme markers.

Malle Leht – Senior Researcher, PhD, Taxonomy (especially Rosaceae and Fabaceae) Marek Sammul – Senior Researcher, PhD, Plant ecology – clonal propagation in plants, interspecific interactions in plant communities, ecology and diversity of semi-natural communities, restoration ecology.

Katrin Heinsoo – Senior Researcher, PhD, Sustainable biomass production for bioenergy, bioenergy in semi-natural meadows, short rotation coppice, vegetation filter Kadri Tali – Senior Researcher, PhD, Reproduction and survival of Estonian orchids Merit Otsus – Senior Researcher, PhD, Floristic changes of Estonian species-rich plant communities Lauri Laanisto – Researcher, PhD, Plant ecology – macroecological biodiversity patterns, intraspecific variability and climate change effects, evolutionary formation of plant communities, global patterns of plant stresses and trade-offs, the effects of heterogeneity and fragmentation on diversity.

Department of Botany

http://pk.emu.ee/en/structure/botany

Contact: Prof. Tiiu Kull

tiiu.kull@emu.ee (+372) 731 1883

Roger Evans – Specialist in nature tourism, PhD Thea Kull – Researcher, PhD, plant distribution and ecology,

herbarium database

Toomas Kukk – Senior curator, MSc, Vascular plants Mare Leis – Curator, Bryophytes Lea Sudakova – Lecturer, MSc, Nature tourism Aivar Ruukel – Lecturer, MSc, Nature tourism Mihkel Kunnus – Lecturer, MSc, environmental philosophy

and ethics

Vivika Väli – Researcher, PhD, Palaeoecology - quantitative vegetation reconstructions using pollen analysis.

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Department of ZooloGY Department of ZooloGY

Structure

The department is devoted to study and teach different aspects of animal biota: from systematics to ecology and conservation.

Research and studies The aim of the Department is to combine laboratory experiments with extensive studies of real processes in nature of the following:

• Ecology and conservation of bird species (Spotted Eagle, Great Snipe, Southern Dunlin, Common Crane, waders etc.)

• Conservation genetics including analysis of historical samples of birds and molluscs

• Long-term population studies of Common Gull • Systematics, phylogeny and biodiversity of Diptera and

Lepidoptera The Department maintains an extensive zoological collection, mainly of insects, with more than 300 primary type specimens.

Recent publications Hausmann, A. & Viidalepp, J. (2012). The Geometrid Moths of Europe vol. 3. Apollo Books. 743 pp.

Hippa, H. & Kurina, O. (2013). New species and new records of Manota Williston (Diptera: Mycetophilidae) in the Neotropical region.

Zootaxa, 3686(2), 101 - 139.

Kahlert, Johnny; Leito, Aivar; Laubek, Bjarke; Luigujõe, Leho; Kuresoo, Andres; Aen, Kim (2012). Factors affecting flight altitude of migrating waterbirds in a migration hot-spot in Estonia. Ornis Fennica, 89(4), 241 - 253.

Kurina, O. (2012). Description of four new species of Zygomyia Winnertz, from Ethiopia and Uganda (Diptera: Mycetophilidae).

African Invertebrates, 53(1), 205 - 220.

Krams, I.; Suraka, V.; Rattiste, K.; Aboliņš-Abols, M.; Krama, T.; Rantala, M.J.; Mierauskas, P.; Cirule, D. & Saks, L. (2012). Comparative analysis reveals a possible immunity-related absence of blood parasites in Common Gulls (Larus canus) and Black-headed Gulls (Chroicocephalus ridibundus). Journal of Ornithology, 153(4), 1245 - 1252.

Langguth, T., Honnen, A.-C., Hailer, F., Mizera, T., Skoric, S., Väli, Ü. & Zachos, F. E. (2013). Genetic structure and phylogeography of a European flagship species, the white-tailed sea eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla). Journal of Avian Biology, 44, 263 - 271.

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Department of ZooloGY

Staff Olavi Kurina – Senior Researcher, PhD, Head of Department,

Systematics and faunistics of Diptera (Sciaroidea)

Jaan Viidalepp – Senior Researcher, PhD, Systematics of Lepidoptera (Geometridae) Kalev Rattiste – Researcher, PhD, Long-term population studies of the Common Gull Andres Kuresoo – Researcher, MSc, Ecology and conservation

Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 51014 Tartu Estonia

Structure

Ülo Väli – Professor/ Senior Researcher, PhD, Population ecology and conservation of Spotted Eagles

Department of Zoology

http://pk.emu.ee/en/structure/zoology

Contact: Olavi Kurina

olavi.kurina@emu.ee (+372) 731 1887

of the Great Snipe and water-birds, migration of birds

Katrin Kaldma – Head of laboratory, MSc, Genetic analysis of black stork populations

Leho Luigujõe – Specialist, Ecology and conservation of

Great Snipe and waterbirds, migration of birds.

Erki Õunap – Specialist, PhD, Systematics and faunistics of

Lepidoptera

Hannes Pehlak – Senior laboratory assistant, MSc, Ecology of waders

Rein Karulaas – Senior laboratory assistant, technical work in inscet collection Tõnu Kesküla – Curator, databasing, technical work in insect collection

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Department of fielD cropS anD GraSSlanD HuSBanDrY Department of fielD cropS anD GraSSlanD HuSBanDrY

Structure

We are a research intensive department dedicated to teaching, research and service related to plant production and grasslands. We conduct fundamental and applied research at multiple scales to ensure the sustainable and efficient management of arable and grassland systems.

The department also offers undergraduate and graduate programs that will train tomorrow’s agronomists.

Research and studies • Long term impacts of different land use systems – conventional versus organic farming

• Nutrient cycling in field and grassland systems • Effects of biochar application to soils and plant productivity, • Liquid manure (slurry), sewage sludge, and biomass ash • • • •

to fertilize grassland, arable and energy crops and their impacts on yield quality and the environment Food, feed and energy crops cultivation, environmental impact of agro technologies, yield quality Green manure crops in conventional and organic farming systems, regulating humus status, nutrient balance in soil Internet based Decision Support System for plant protection Agricultural advisory systems and delivery of scientific knowledge

Recent publications Tein, B., Kauer, K., Eremeev, V., Luik, A., Selge, A., Loit, E. 2014. Farming systems affect potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuber and soil quality. Field Crops Research, 1 – 8.

Raave, H., Keres, I., Kauer, K., Nõges, M., Rebane,J., Tampere, M, Loit, E. 2013. The impact of activated carbon on NO3−-N, NH4+-N, P and K leaching in relation to fertilizer use. European Journal of Soil Science.

Alaru, M., Kukk, L., Astover, A., Lauk, R., Shanskiy, M., Loit, E. 2013. An agro-economic analysis of briquette production from fibre hemp and energy sunflower. Industrial Crops and Products, 51.

Kauer, K., Kõlli, K., Viiralt, R., Köster, T., Noormets, M., Laidna, T., Keres, I., Parol, A., Varul. T., Selge, A., Raave, H. 2012. The Effect of Cut Plant Residues Management and Fertilization on the Dry Matter Yield of Swards and on Carbon Content of Soil. Communication in Soil Science and Plant Analysis 44(1-4), 205 - 218.

Talgre, L., Lauringson, E., Roostalu, H., Astover, A., Makke, A. 2012.

Green manure as a nutrient source for succeeding crops. Plant, Soil and Environment, 58, 275 - 281.

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Department of fielD cropS anD GraSSlanD HuSBanDrY

Staff Evelin Loit – Senior Researcher, PhD, Head of Department,

Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 51014 Tartu Estonia

Structure

Plant genetics, plant biotechnology Juhan Jõudu – Prof. Emeritus, PhD, Field crop husbandry, potato, oilseed rape Rein Viiralt – Prof. Emeritus, PhD, Grassland technologies and forage production, grassland science, grassland nutrition and fertilizer application; irrigation of grasslands Are Selge – Assoc. Prof. DSc, Estonian agriculture, state regulation of the agricultural sector, advisory service and systems, grassland science Enn Lauringson – Assoc. Prof., DSc, Land cultivation, soil management, green manures, weed management Henn Raave – Researcher, DSc, Lawns, grassland science, bioenergy, biochar Karin Kauer – Researcher, PhD, Nutrient cycling in plant-soil systems, organic matter decomposition Liina Talgre – Researcher, PhD, Soil management, green manures, Internet based Decision Support System for plant protection Maarika Alaru – Researcher, DSc, Winter crops, triticale, bioenergy, field crop husbandry Vyacheslav Eremeev – Researcher, PhD, Field crop husbandry, crop rotation, organic and conventional farming, potato cultivation Erkki Mäeorg – Lecturer, MSc, Seed quality, oil quality, rape seed cultivation Argaadi Parol – Lecturer, PhD, Botany with fundamentals of agronomy, forage plants, grass intake experiments with dairy and beef cattle.

Toomas Laidna – Lecturer, MSc, Agricultural botany, grassland science Indrek Keres – Lecturer and Researcher, MSc, Lawns, Estonian agriculture, regulation of agriculture and environment in European Union Peeter Lääniste – Lecturer, MSc, Plant breeding, seed science, seed production, field crop husbandry Anu Nemvalts – Lecturer, MSc, Plant production, seed quality.

Jaan Kuht – Senior specialist, PhD, Sustainable crop husbandry, soil compaction, soil tillage and treatment

Department of Field Crops and Grassland Husbandry

http://pk.emu.ee/en/structure/fieldcrophusbandry

Contact: Evelin Loit

evelin.loit@emu.ee (+372) 731 3502; (+372) 5912 5549

Berit Tein – Specialist, MSc, Organic and conventional farming, potato cultivation Mailiis Tampere – Specialist, MSc, Organic fertilizer, leaching Seyed Mahyar Mirmajlessi - Specialist, MSc, Molecular markers in plant pathogen diagnostics, nuclear agriculture

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Department of mYcoloGY Department of mYcoloGY

Structure

The department is devoted to study and teach different aspects of mycology: from systematics to ecology and conservation. Special attention is paid on endophytic fungi.

Research and studies Study of endophytic mycobiota Plants and fungi commonly have a mutualistic relationship.

Endophytic fungi which, for all or part of their life cycle, invade the tissues of living plants and cause unapparent and asymptomatic infections entirely within plant tissues but cause no symptoms of disease. They can be found in all plant. Endophytic fungi of agronomic grasses increase host resistance to herbivores and have been termed ‘‘acquired plant defenses’’. The research at the Department is currently focused on endophyte isolation and identification using morphological and molecular methods to study of grass endophytes and medical plant endophytes with purpose to find novel bioactive compounds and biological control agent. We are joined to COST Action FA1103 “Endophytes in Biotechnolgy and Agriculture”.

Study of fungal genome size Nuclear DNA amount and genome size are important biodiversity characters, the study of which has both practical and theoretical uses in biology. We are using quantitative evaluation of DNA content of fungi by flow cytometry as well as by fluorescence microscopy combined with image analysis.

Fungal Genome Size Database with NAR Molecular Biology Database Collection entry number 955 compiled by us is available online http://www.zbi.ee/fungal-genomesize/.

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The Department administers several specimen collections for the purposes of research and teaching:

• TAAM, Estonia’s largest and most important collection of fungi, established in 1950 (185,000 specimens);

• EEA, collection of parasitic microfungi and species growing

on cultivated plants established in 1922 (23,000 specimens) and • TFC, fungal pure culture collection, established in 1970 (400 species and over 2,000 strains).

Mycological collection – TAAM – The herbarium is one of the most important collections of macromycetes of the northern part of Eurasia. There are about 500 type specimens.

Lending and exchange of specimens with some 25-30 foreign institutions and universities take place. More than 700 mycological studies based on TAAM collections have been published. 167 fungal species on the Estonian Red Data List (2008) are based mainly on this herbarium collection. For taxonomy and identification of fungi, a molecular biology laboratory has been established for DNA analysis. Correctly identified specimens (especially type specimens) are important etalons to identify plant diseases, food pollutants, etc. The preservation of reference specimens is one of our main goals.

In cooperation with the Museum of Natural History of the Tartu University, about over 95,000 specimen records have been included into the joint database of the Estonian biological collections (http://elurikkus.ut.ee/index.php?lang=eng).

Mycological collection – EAA – about 100 research papers and almost 300 booklets on plant protection have been completed on the basis of this herbarium material.

Collection of fungal living cultures – TFC – besides the maintenance of cultures, the collection has served as a basis for research for scientists as well for students. Presently the collection contains over 2,000 fungal strains representing ca 400 fungal species from almost the whole world, including both saprobiotic and biotrophic fungi, especially wood-rotting fungi and endophytes. Data about the isolates in the culture collection are available from an online database (http://erast. ut.ee/temp/cfungi).

Department of mYcoloGY

Recent publications

Department of Mycology Estonian University of Life Sciences Kreutzwaldi 5 51014 Tartu Estonia

Structure

Kullman, B., Tamm, H., Kullman, K. 2011. Fungal Genome Size Database. NAR Molecular Biology Database Collection entry number 955. Nucleic Acids Research, 39 (November), 955.

Parmasto, E; Saar, I; Larsson, E; Rummo, S. 2013. Phylogenetic taxonomy of Hymenochaete and related genera (Hymenochaetales).

Mycological Progress, 1 - 10.

Pärtel, K.; Põldmaa, K. 2011. A new species of Hyphodiscus (Helotiales) on Stereum. Mycotaxon, 115, 11 - 17.

Tamm, H. Põldmaa, K. Kullman, B. 2010. Phylogenetic relationships in genus Geopora (Pyronemataceae, Pezizales). Mycological Progress, 9(4), 509–522.

Varvas, T.; Kasekamp, K.; Kullman, B. 2013. Preliminary study of endophytic fungi in timothy (Phleum pratense) in Estonia. Acta Mycologica, 48(1), 41 - 49.

http://pk.emu.ee/en/structure/mycology

Contact: Bellis Kullman

bellis.kullman@emu.ee (+372) 731 1894

Staff Bellis Kullman – Senior Researcher, PhD, Head of

Markers indicate mycological expeditions to gather new collectibles

Mycological collections recieved contemporary rooms in 2013

Department, Biosystematics (Ascomycetes, Pezizales, taxonomy, speciation, genomics, fungal endophytes) Kuulo Kalamees – Specialist, DSc, Biosystematics and biophysiology Kadri Pärtel – Curator, MSc, Biosystematics Ilmi Parmasto – Curator, PhD, Biosystematics and biophysiology Anu Kollom – Curator of TFC Triin Varvas – MSc, Specialit, fungal endophytes Irma Zettur – MSc, specialist, biosystematics

Sarcosoma globosum is protected and may not be gathered

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Department of plant pHYSioloGY Department of plant pHYSioloGY

Structure

The department is responsible for research and PhD-studies in plant physiology, and also acts as the leading institution in the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Adaptation (ENVIRON). It is also involved in establishing the Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR Estonia).

Research and studies The key research areas of the department are plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses, and emission of plant-generated biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC). Global change leads to simultaneous modification of multiple environmental drivers and is expected to result in enhanced frequency and severity of environmental and biotic stresses, and stress interactions worldwide. Interdisciplinary experimental, monitoring and modelling approaches are used to analyze stress effects at the molecular, physiological, whole plant and ecosystem levels. Data obtained from these efforts will be used to determine the limits of adaptation to multiple sequential and interacting stresses and to develop new knowledge and models of BVOC dynamics under changing climatic conditions.

The department conducts interdisciplinary research and PhDstudies in the following fields of plant science:

• • • • •

Plant physiology and anatomy Plant stress ecophysiology Modelling of biosphere-atmosphere processes Biotechnology and genetics Molecular biology

phytotron

Laboratory and field facilities During the last few years the lab has become one of the bestequipped plant physiology laboratories in Europe. To grow plants for lab experiments the phytotron is used - the room with regulated temperature and light conditions. Among the major available equipment is proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer for online monitoring of BVOCs in ambient air in ppt range, which makes it possible to track plant responses to environmental factors such as light, drought stress, herbivory, exposure to ozone, etc.

The gas-exchange chamber with gas cromatograph MS is used for the measurements of trace gases (BVOCs) emitted by stressed plants.

The research group has been highly productive with more than 15 – 20 international peer-reviewed papers produced each year. The research group is involved in 13 current projects funded from national (Estonian Research Council, Archimedes Foundation in cooperation with European Structural Funds) and international (EU 7th framework, ERC, EUROCORES/ EUROVOL) sources.

Proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Photo: T. Kazantsev

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Gas-exchange chamber