International Network of Plant Abiotic Stress

Company
Estonian University of Life Sciences

Address
Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Kreutzwaldi 1
51014 Tartu

E-mail
ylo.niinemets@emu.ee

1. Summary of work to be allocated into a specific WG

This partner is using physiological and genetic tools to characterize abiotic stress resistance in signaling pathway mutants and the interactions between stress tolerance and elicitation of stress response mainly in Arabidopsis and poplar. The work is mostly associated with WG4.3-WG4.5.

2. Links with other WG and/or Subgroups

Example: The partner is also very interested in the functional relationships between abiotic stress tolerance as present in most natural long-living plants and fast stress response that is induced at different stress thresholds as well as the extent of stress response in plants with varying longevity. This is planned to be studied for a variety of abiotic stress used by the consortium (drought, cold, salt).

3. Specific activities to be integrated into WG and/or Subgroups

WG4.3-4.5. Physiological characterization of mutant plants. High time-resolution characterization of elicitation of major signaling pathways by volatile intermediates (methylsalicylate, LOX products etc., i.e. headspace metabolomics). Microarray analyses in stressed plants.

Characterization of stress elicitation responses across a variety of plants with differing longevity (as suggested in the scientific programme “New members will be welcome to join these studies...”

4. Qualification for the role and current grants

Ülo Niinemets is Full Professor at the Department of Plant Physiology at the Estonian University of Life Sciences. He has studied plant acclimation to environment for more than 15 years. Current work specifically focuses on elicitation of signaling responses in plants with varying longevity and stress resistance. The group has unique tools for fast resolution investigation of elicitation of signaling responses. The work is currently financed by several national and international grants. The group collaborates with more than 20 institutions all across the world.

5. Technical expertise and facilities

This partner’s lab is equipped with brand new proton-transfer mass spectrometer (PTR-MS), and GC-MS, GC-FID systems for real-time metabolomics in gas-phase. This partner further has unique expertise in plant physiological characterization (modern gas-exchange systems, imaging fluorometers, microscopy). Has also basic molecular biology equipment (quantitative real-time RT-PCR etc.).