Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, SLU

Hem
Sverige
Uppsala
Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, SLU

The department is part of Uppsala BioCenter at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

03/09/2026

Vilka svampar finns egentligen i skogen – och hur påverkas de av skogsbruk?
🍄‍🟫 🍄 🌲
Nu lanserar vi Svampskog, ett nytt interaktivt webbverktyg där du kan utforska vilka mykorrhizasvampar som kan finnas i olika skogsmiljöer och hur de påverkas av olika sätt att bruka skogen.

Verktyget bygger bland annat på DNA-analyser från 2 500 svenska skogar, där över 800 arter av mykorrhizasvampar har identifierats.

"Vi hoppas att både skogsägare och andra som är intresserade av skog och svamp ska ha stor glädje av verktyget. Mykorrhizasvampars mångfald och symbios med träd är centrala för näringsomsättningen i skog och mark och nästan alla matsvampar är mykorrhizasvampar", säger professor Anders Dahlberg, projektledare för Svampskog och svampforskare vid institutionen.

👉 Utforska Svampskog: https://svampskog.se/

Foton: Michael Krikorev

31/08/2026

How do fungi deal with proteins that don’t fold properly?

Proteins need to fold correctly to work. When they don’t, cells need to identify and break down these misfolded proteins before they cause problems.

In a new study, Georgios Tzelepis, Magnus Karlsson and colleagues have identified an enzyme called that plays a key role in this quality-control process in filamentous fungi. Interestingly, these fungi seem to use a different solution than yeasts and animals.

The discovery give us new insights into how fungi cope with stress and keep their cells in balance, and may help us better understand these important organisms, both in nature and in biotechnology.

Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/key-enzyme-helps-fungi-deal-with-misfolded-proteins/

Photo: Julio Gonzalez, SLU

28/08/2026

Despite an exceptionally dry summer across large parts of Sweden, there are still plenty of fungi to be found!

The participants in SLU’s popular course “Fungal Knowledge – an Introduction to Mycology” have discovered a surprising diversity of species during their field course on Billingen.

Together with SLU’s Petra Fransson and Johan Wredh, and mushroom consultant Lotta Ekberg, the group has been out exploring the fungi of Billingen, and despite the dry conditions, they have found plenty of species along the way 🍄

20/08/2026

Can beneficial bacteria help quinoa withstand drought?

Quinoa is well adapted to the harsh conditions of the Bolivian Altiplano, but climate change is making growing conditions increasingly challenging.

In her doctoral thesis, Virginia Gonzales investigated quinoa’s microbial partners and identified bacteria that can promote plant growth under drought.

Her research explores how beneficial microorganisms could contribute to more climate-resilient quinoa production.

Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/08/beneficial-bacteria-can-help-quinoa-withstand-drought/

11/06/2026

What should we call a plant disease when the scientific name of the pathogen keeps changing?
Many diseases affecting crops and forest trees have lacked established Swedish names. Instead, people have often used the scientific name of the fungus, bacterium or virus causing the disease. But scientific names can change as researchers learn more about how organisms are related.

To make communication clearer, the Swedish Society for Plant Pathology has now recommended new Swedish names for a number of diseases affecting forest trees, sugar beet, cereals, oilseed crops and legumes.

Professor Magnus Karlsson at SLU is a former member of the naming committee behind the initiative:
“Pathogens and the diseases they cause are not the same thing. Clear disease names make it easier to communicate across research, advisory services and practice".

Read more about the Swedish Society for Plant Pathology: https://www.svpat.se/

27/05/2026

A PCR-loving mallard nests every year outside our PCR lab. This year’s ducklings were carefully rescued and relocated. Their mother was guided through the building to rejoin them. Together, they waddled off towards the river :)

18/05/2026

What determines which harmful fungi thrive in our soils? 🌍🍄

A new global study published in Nature Communications reveals that the structure of the surrounding landscape plays a key role in shaping soil-borne pathogenic fungi — organisms that can affect both crop production and ecosystem health.

“Our study shows that landscape structure can be just as important as local soil conditions in explaining how plant pathogenic fungi spread and establish in the soil,” says Petra Fransson, referring to results based on soil samples from more than 500 sites across six continents.

The research shows that landscape complexity and surrounding land use influence fungal communities worldwide, and that these effects vary depending on ecosystem type and spatial scale.

Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/05/landscape-structure-influences-soil-borne-pathogenic-fungi-worldwide/

12/05/2026

Today, on the International Day of Plant Health we want to celebrate the amazing PhD students at the Department 🌱
This day, initiated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, highlights the importance of protecting plant health for food security, biodiversity, sustainable forestry, and resilient ecosystems worldwide. Healthy plants are essential for both people and the planet. Our PhD students contribute with research ranging from forest and agricultural plant pathology to microbiology and disease epidemiology

Together, they are helping to build knowledge for healthier forests, sustainable agriculture, and more resilient ecosystems for the future. 💚

Read more about Isak Ingerholt, and his work to lay the foundation for tomorrow’s resistant spruce trees:
https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/02/he-wants-to-lay-the-foundation-for-tomorrows-resistant-spruce-trees/

Read an interview with Laura Müller on her work with microorganisms, healty soils and ecosystems
https://www.slu.se/en/about-slu/organisation/future-platforms/slu-future-one-health/one-health-updates/interviews/new-phds/laura-muller/

Read about Noomi Lodenius and her research to produce stress-tolerant trees for the future climate:
https://www.slu.se/en/research/research-catalogue/projekt/s/stress-tolerant-trees-for-the-future-climate/

07/05/2026

What happens beneath our forests may be just as important as what we see above ground 🌲

In a new article in Nature, Professor Paul Kardol and colleagues highlight how different tree communities shape hidden energy flows underground through complex interactions between roots, fungi, and soil microbes. These unseen networks influence carbon cycling, nutrient exchange, and ultimately forest resilience in a changing climate.

"We were surprised to see that mixed forests didn’t lead to more functional soils. Instead, they showed slightly poorer results than some of the forests with a single tree species", says Paul.

Read more: https://www.slu.se/en/news/2026/05/Tree-communities-shape-hidden-energy-flows-beneath-European-forests/

Picture: The researchers compared 64 different forested areas in Europe; In Finland, Italy, Poland and pictured here, Romania. Photo: Paul Kardol.

04/05/2026

Join us for a meeting on Integrated Control in Oilseed Crops, taking place 29 September – 1 October 2026 at SLU Campus Alnarp, Sweden.

⏰ Deadline approaching: 15 May

The conference brings together researchers and professionals to share the latest advances in biological control, integrated pest management, and sustainable oilseed crop production. 🌱

📢 Secure your spot and submit your abstract: https://www.slu.se/ICOC20

Adress

Almas Allé 5
Uppsala
75651

Telefon

+4618671000

Webbplats

https://www.slu.se/mycopat

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