Melissa Magerøy
Forsker
Biografi
Jeg er molekylærbiolog og biokjemiker med fokus på planter. Under bachelorgraden forsket jeg på lysrespons hos agurk og Arabidopsis. Doktorgraden tok jeg ved University of Florida, der jeg studerte smaksmolekyler i tomat. Deretter jobbet jeg som postdoktor ved University of British Columbia med forsvarsmekanismer mot insekter hos gran. Nå fortsetter jeg dette arbeidet ved NIBIO, hvor jeg studerer epigenetiske mekanismer bak forsvarspriming og hvordan priming kan brukes i integrert skadedyrbekjempelse. Jeg er en engasjert veileder og har stor glede av å jobbe med og utvikle unge forskere. Mine fagområder er planteforsvar, molekylærbiologi, plantebiokjemi, epigenetikk og funksjonell genomikk.
Sammendrag
Abstract Defence priming enhances plant responsiveness to future stress following prior exposure, and has been extensively characterised in annual model species as a reversible state associated with faster or stronger defence activation. However, studies in long-lived plants indicate that priming responses can be elicitor-specific, developmentally variable and closely linked to environmental history. In trees, priming is often strongest in early life stages, while in mature individuals defence responses are more frequently associated with direct activation and stabilised regulatory states. Evidence across systems shows that priming can operate over multiple timescales, from short-term reversible responses to longer-lasting effects that influence response thresholds and activation kinetics. Epigenetic mechanisms, including DNA methylation and chromatin modification, contribute to these processes and may persist across cell divisions or developmental transitions. Together, these findings highlight the importance of developmental stage and temporal context in shaping plant defence responses.
Forfattere
Melissa MagerøySammendrag
Showet får barna oppleve hvor fantastiske planter egentlig er! Vi utforsker skjulte fargene som finnes inne i plantene rundt oss, og lager magiske “rødkål regnbuer” som skifter farge rett foran øynene deres. Barna får se hvordan planter kan være fulle av overraskelser, hemmeligheter og fantastiske farger – akkurat som små natur-tryllekunstnere.
Sammendrag
In this chapter, we outline what is known about climatic and stress memory in trees, with examples covering different groups and species of trees (conifers, poplar, oak, ash, and eucalypts). We focus on two broad types of memory: (1) immune memory involved in inducible defenses (defense priming) and (2) climatic memory, whereby trees maintain certain phenological phenotypes in response to environmental conditions experienced during embryogenesis. We outline the epigenetic mechanisms that are thought to be involved in the creation and maintenance of climatic and stress memory in trees. We also give examples of how to study such memories in trees. In these examples, we focus on research protocols that have been proven useful to characterize memories and their mechanistic basis, with an emphasis on molecular techniques that can be used to dissect epigenetic mechanisms.
Divisjon for bioteknologi og plantehelse
Weeds vs. Crops: the winner of climate change
This project investigates the effects of climate change on competition between weeds and crops and will provide essential knowledge for developing adaptation strategies in the face of a changing climate.
Divisjon for bioteknologi og plantehelse
Ugras eller kulturplanter -vinneren av klimaendringene
Dette prosjekt undersøker effektene av klimaendring på konkurranse mellom ugras- og kulturplanter og vil gi oss viktig kunnskap for å kunne utvikle tilpassede strategier i møte med et klima i endring.