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Publications

NIBIOs employees contribute to several hundred scientific articles and research reports every year. You can browse or search in our collection which contains references and links to these publications as well as other research and dissemination activities. The collection is continously updated with new and historical material.

2025

Abstract

Community supported agriculture (CSA) is a format for provisioning food, usually vegetables, where consumers are involved, to various degrees, in the production process. In this study of survey data, we explore differences between CSAs in Norway and the UK in terms of organisational models and member characteristics, particularly the factors that contribute to increase member contentment with CSAs, and their perceptions of their own mental health and vegetable consumption. Results show that compared to the British, Norwegian CSA members participate far more actively in the cultivation and harvesting of the vegetables, and more often prepay subscrip‑ tions for the whole season. In both countries, CSA membership was perceived to have caused improvements in members’ life quality, vegetable intake and physical and mental health. Members who participated more actively in the CSA and who received more of their vegetables through the CSA, were also more satisfied with their CSA and had a stronger perception that their vegetable consumption level and their mental health were positively affected by membership. Members with lower educational attain‑ ment levels were more likely to have discovered new vegetables through the CSA. Environmentally friendly production methods were also found to be important for CSA members. Vegetable quality and affordability were associated with higher content‑ment, and learning how to cook and grow vegetables through the CSA was associated with higher consumption of, and interest in, new vegetables. Overall, the results indicate that CSAs can stimulate contentment due to their members’ perceptions of social and environmental benefits.

Abstract

The most common and harmful disease affecting the grass on golf courses in the Nordic countries is microdochium patch. The early diagnosis of the Microdochium nivale can help prevent the spread of infection through targeted treatment. The aim of the work was to develop an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test system for Microdochium fungi detection. We have prepared specific rabbit affinity antibodies against Microdochium genus by antigen adsorption and exhaustion on wide range of fungal species. These specific antibodies were used to construct sandwich ELISA showing genus specificity and capable to detect the antigen on early stage of infection on different grass substrates. In field study, the ELISA has shown good correlation to microbiological diagnostics and was able to detect the latent infection in the absence of visual signs. We suggest that Microdochium ELISA can be used for regular testing of grass specimens for prediction and early diagnosis of latent infection. Further studies are required to determine the antigen level, which indicates the degree of infection at which steps to prevent the disease need to be applied.

Abstract

European fruit research institute network (EUFRIN) has started coordinated apple rootstock trials across the Europe in 2017. Until now, nineteen research institutions from 14 countries established 6 apple rootstock trials where 33 apple rootstocks of different vigour are in tests. Introduction of new apple orchard designs, multileader canopies usually require more vigorous rootstocks. Investigations of semi-dwarfing apple rootstocks ‘PFR1’ and ‘PFR3’ (New Zealand), ‘G.935’ and ‘G.202’ (US), ‘EM_01’ (UK) and ‘G.11’ as control were performed with apple ‘Galaval’ in Spain, France, and Lithuania during 2017-2023. On the average of five trial sites, the most vigorous trees were on ‘EM_01’, ‘PFR1’ and ‘PFR3’, exceeding vigour of trees on ‘G.11’ by 61 – 84%. Apple trees on rootstocks ‘PFR1’, ‘PFR3’ and ‘G.935’ produced higher cumulative yields, ‘G.202’ similar and ‘EM_01’ significantly lower yield comparing with ‘G.11’. Fertility index of ‘G.935’ equalled fertility of dwarfing ‘G.11’. Fertility index of ‘PFR3’ was similar to ‘G.202’, and the lowest was recorded for ‘EM_01’. Average fruit size did not depend on rootstocks. Rootstock – site interaction was not significant for tree vigour, fruit size, however significant interactions were recorded for cumulative yield and fertility index.

Abstract

European fruit research institute network (EUFRIN) has started coordinated apple and pear rootstock trials across the Europe in 2017. First pear rootstock trial was established in 2019 where quince rootstocks from NIAB (UK) breeding program ‘QR196-9’ and ‘QR530-11’ were compared with rootstocks ‘Adams’ and ‘Sydo’. Investigations were conducted with pear cultivar ‘Conference’ in Spain, Romania, Poland and Norway during 2019-2023. In all sites the most vigorous pear trees grew on ‘QR196-9’ rootstock. On the average of four trial sites, the weakest growth was recorded on ‘QR530-11’, except the Spanish site. Pear trees on rootstock ‘Adams’ produced the highest cumulative yields. Cumulative yields on other rootstocks were significantly lower by 16-23% without significant differences between them. However, site geographical position, climate and soil properties had a significant effect on rootstock performance. Similar to trees on ‘Adams’ high pear yield in Spain was harvested from trees on ‘QR196-9’; on ‘QR530-11’ rootstock in Poland, but ‘Sydo’ and ‘QR530-11’ rootstocks gave the highest yield in Romania. On the average of all sites, the least cumulative fertility index was recorded on ‘QR196-9’. Significant rootstock site interactions were revealed: rootstock ‘Adams’ had the highest cumulative fertility index in Spain and Norway, while rootstock ‘QR530-11’ in Poland and Romania.

To document

Abstract

Cultivated raspberries (Rubus idaeus L.) most commonly bear small, red, highly aromatic fruits. Their colour is derived predominantly from anthocyanins, water soluble polyphenolic pigments, but as well as red forms, there exist cultivars that display yellow- and apricot-coloured fruits. In this investigation, we used a multi-omics approach to elucidate the genetic basis of the apricot fruit colour in raspberry. Using metabolomics, we quantified anthocyanins in red and apricot raspberry fruits and demonstrated that, in contrast to red-fruited raspberries, fruits of the apricot cultivar ‘Varnes’ contain low concentrations of only a small number of anthocyanin compounds. By performing RNASeq, we revealed differential expression patterns in the apricot-fruited ‘Varnes’ for genes in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway and following whole genome sequencing using long-read Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing, we identified a CACTA-like transposable element (TE) in the second exon of the Anthocyanidin synthase (Ans) gene that caused a truncated predicted ANS protein. PCR confirmed the presence in heterozygous form of the transposon in an unrelated, red-fruited cultivar ‘Veten’, indicating apricot fruit colour is recessive to red and that it may be widespread in raspberry germplasm, potentially explaining why apricot forms appear at regular intervals in modern raspberry breeding populations.