Forest Microbiology: Volume 2: Forest Tree Health - Softcover

Über die Autorinnen und Autoren

Dr Asiegbu has been the professor of forest pathology at the University of Helsinki since 2007. He has a master’s degree in applied microbiology and plant pathology, and a PhD in biotechnology. His major research focus has been the application of biotechnology knowledge and tools for the determination of ecological, molecular and biochemical pathways required by emerging fungal and forest pathogens to spread, infect and cause disease to trees worldwide. He has been a member of the faculty interdisciplinary Master's Programme in Biotechnology and is also an invited professor at Nanjing Forestry University in China.

Dr Kovalchuk is a researcher at the University of Helsinki. He has a PhD in molecular biology and has over 30 peer-reviewed journal publications on forest microbiomes.

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Forest trees play crucial roles as an alternative bioenergy source and are key to pollution abatement and the maintenance of biodiversity. However, major threats to the sustainable supply of forest tree products are adverse climate, pests and diseases, despite the extensive efforts to control them. Today, the need to increase and safeguard those resources of renewable materials and bioenergy present major challenges for tree health biotechnology and bioeconomy programs. Ecologically, forest trees share overlapping habitat to diverse range of microbes and maintain a dynamic balanced relationship. Many of these microbes have been found to have important impacts on tree health/forest ecology and their evolution and are key components in maintaining vital ecosystem processes.

Forest Microbiology, Volume 2: Forest Tree Health highlights a range of emerging microbial phytopathogens of forest trees as well as novel approaches to managing tree pests and diseases in a changing climate. An overview of selected microbial pathogens of forest trees, with an emphasis on their biology, life cycle, spreading mechanisms, impact on affected tree species and current and prospective control strategies is covered in detail. At the same time, the impact of tree microbiomes on host fitness is discussed. Beneficial components of tree microbiota are presented, and their functional role in tree nutrition, immunity and disease resistance are outlined. Possible implications of antagonism within tree microbial communities for disease control and prevention is also discussed.

Furthermore, this volume addresses the many functions of microbial disease agents of trees including fungi, bacteria, viruses and phytoplasma. Strong emphasis is placed on the genetics, biochemistry, physiology, evolutionary biology and population dynamics of the microorganisms involved.

This title is a key resource for foresters and forest pathology practitioners, as well as plant biologists and pathologists, researchers and academics studying plant science.