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.
Authors
Jo Jorem AarsethAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Yuri Lebedin Anna Antropova Valentina Maygurova Marina Usoltseva Tatiana Gagkaeva Tatsiana EspevigAbstract
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.
Authors
Darius KviklysAbstract
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.
Authors
Darius KviklysAbstract
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.
Authors
Daniel James Sargent Matteo Buti Stefan Martens Claudio Pugliesi Kjersti Aaby Dag Røen Chandra Bhan Yadav Felicidad Fernández Fernández Muath K Alsheikh Jahn Davik R. Jordan PriceAbstract
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.
Authors
Felix Seidel Heide Spiegel Alice Budai Brieuc Hardy Carlos Sierra Cathal Buckley Cesar Plaza Chiara Piccini Claudia Di Bene Claudio Mondini Daniel Rasse Daria Seitz Eugenio Diaz-Pines Felix Herzog Florent Levavasseur Florian Schneider Gianni Bellocchi Greet Ruysschaert Irene Criscuoli Jan Peter Lesschen Jens Leifeld Jonathan Holland Jorge Álvaro-Fuentes Katharina Keiblinger Katja Klumpp Lars Elsgaard Lauric Cecillon Manuel Martin Mariangela Diacono Marjetka Suhadolc Martin A. Bolinder Oyinlola Ogunpaimo Roberta Farina Silvia Vanino Simon Weldon Thomas Kätterer Valerie Viaud Axel DonAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Abstract
Intensification of forest management is seen as one important measure to increase carbon sequestration and contribute to balance CO2 emissions and mitigate climate change. Potential measures for forest management intensification include increasing the percentage of the area that is actively reforested after felling, planting at higher densities and with genetically improved material, nitrogen fertilization, and pre-commercial thinning. Here we assessed the mitigation potential of these practices in Norwegian forests from 2018 until the end of the 21st century. As a result, when these management practices were intensified, separately and simultaneously, carbon sequestration over the 80-year simulation period was larger than under current practices. Pre-commercial thinning gave the largest additional 80-year carbon dioxide removal increment and fertilization the smallest. The largest accumulated carbon dioxide removal potential occurred when intensifying all the proposed measures in one scenario and was estimated to be around 329.9 Tg CO2 by the end of the century, corresponding to offset more than six times Norway's total GHG emissions in 2022. If the intensification of these practices is considered separately, our results suggested that pre-commercial thinning and active reforestation after felling, in that order, should be prioritized as climate change mitigation measures, followed by genetic improvement, planting density and fertilization.
Abstract
Chocolate spot (CS), caused by Botrytis fabae, is one of the most destructive fungaldiseases affecting faba bean (Vicia faba L.) globally. This study evaluated 33 fababean cultivars across two locations and over 2 years to assess genetic resistance andthe effect of fungicide application on CS progression. The utility of unmanned aerialvehicle–mounted multispectral camera for disease monitoring was examined. Signif-icant variability was observed in cultivar susceptibility, with Bolivia exhibiting thehighest level of resistance and Louhi, Sampo, Vire, Merlin, Mistral, and GL Sunriseproving highly susceptible. Fungicide application significantly reduced CS severityand improved yield. Analysis of canopy spectral signatures revealed the near-infraredand red edge bands, along with enhanced vegetation index (EVI) and soil adjustedvegetation index, as most sensitive to CS infection, and they had a strong negativecorrelation with CS severity ranging from −0.51 to −0.71. In addition, EVI enabledearly disease detection in the field. Support vector machine accurately classified CSseverity into four classes (resistant, moderately resistant, moderately susceptible, andsusceptible) based on spectral data with higher accuracy after the onset of diseasecompared to later in the season (accuracy 0.75–0.90). This research underscores thevalue of integrating resistant germplasm, sound agronomic practices, and spectralmonitoring for effectively identification and managing CS disease in faba bean
Authors
Luiz C. Garcia Carlos H. Rocha Nátali M. de Souza Pedro H. Weirich Neto Jaime A. Gomes Thiago InagakiAbstract
The aim was to verify the viability of foliar fertilisation of calcium(Ca) and boron (B) in soybeans (Glycine max) in soils with variousfertility levels. The experiment was carried out in four agriculturalseasons and designed in randomised blocks, with threetreatments and seven replications. The treatments were asfollows: control, and Ca and B spraying on soybean plantswithout and with amino acids. Spraying was carried out at theflowering of the crop one time. It was concluded that there weresignificant differences in the yield components in the two crops,when the experiment was installed in soils with lower fertility, inwhich the foliar fertiliser with amino acid stood out. When therewas a significant difference in productivity, the B content wasaltered; the value in the grains that received the product withamino acids was greater than the treatment without amino acidsand above the treatment in which the plants were not sprayedwith foliar fertilisers. Therefore, we highlight that Ca and B foliarfertilisation is especially required for soils with low CEC and Cacontents. However, this technique will likely not improve soybeanperformance for soils with no nutrient deficiency.