Ascomycete systematics and evolution

  Basidiomycete systematics and evolution

  Conservation biology of fungi

  Mycorrhizal research

  Mycotoxines

  Population genetics

  Population biology and phylogeography of Serpula lacrymans, the dry rot fungus

Ascomycete systematics and evolution:
The research group of Professor Trond Schumacher (ARON) works on taxonomy, phylogeny and evolution of the ascomycetes; in particular of the orders Pezizales and Helotiales (Sclerotiniaceae, Rutstroemiaceae), and the insect pathogenic genus Cordyceps (Hypocreales). Dr. Arne Holst-Jensen, a former member of ARON, obtained his Dr. scient. degree on "Phylogeny and taxonomy in the family Sclerotiniaceae" (see publication list). Dr. Sara Landvik, also a former member of Aron, worked on ascomycetous molecular phylogeny (PhD-thesis abstract), Pezizales phylogeny (Landvik et al. 1997), and the taxonomy of the basal ascomycetes (Archiascomycetes) (Landvik et al. 1998). Marianne Vaage (M. Sc. 1997) and Truls Oftedal (M. Sc.1998) studied the phylogeny of Myriosclerotinia (Sclerotiniaceae) (thesis abstract) and Ciboria (Sclerotiniaceae) (thesis abstract), respectively.  Dr. Alfred Granmo ( PhD 1998) focused on the taxonomy and phylogeny of Nemania (Xylariales) (Granmo et al. 1998). Ingeborg Engh (M. Sc 1999) studied the ITSnrDNA phylogeny of a restricted group of Cordyceps (Clavicipitaceae) (thesis abstract), a study which now is continued by M. Sc. student Øyvind Stensrud. He is aiming at a combined phylogenetic analysis (morphology and DNA-data) of this comprehensive genus.
A recent work of the ARON-group focuses on possible horizontal transfer of ribosomal group I introns among Sclerotiniaceae.

Basidiomycete systematics and ecology:
Professor Leif Ryvarden works on the taxonomy of wood-inhabiting fungi world-wide, with emphasis on Africa, Europe and tropical South America. He is currently involved in biodiversity studies in the Greater Antilles, Costa Rica and Venezuela. PhD student Irene Lindblad works on the "diversity of poroid and steroid wood-inhabiting fungi in neotropical forests of Costa Rica", under supervision by Prof. Ryvarden. M. Sc. student Kristine Haugerud studies the morphology and taxonomy of the neotropic genera Hymenochaete under supervision of Prof. Ryvarden. M. Sc. student Tage Rolen studies the taxonomy and phylogeny of the genera Lentinus and Panus from the neotropics, mainly from Costa Rica, using morphological and molecular data. He is supervised by Prof. Ryvarden and Prof. Schumacher. Curator Maria Nunez, a former PhD student of Ryvarden, studied the taxonomy of Polyporus ss. lato.

Professor Klaus Høiland, in collaboration with Arne Holst-Jensen, works with the nrDNA ITS  phylogeny of Cortinarius (Agaricales).

Håvard Kauserud runs, together with Professor Gro Gulden and Øyvind Stensrud, a project dealing with phylogeny and evolution within Galerina (Cortinariaceae).

Conservation biology of fungi

In his master project, Tom Hellik Hofton focuses on the conservation biology of fungi occurring in pine forests. The aim in this project is to analyse which effects logging activity has on the presence of fungi in various forest types. Both molecular targeting and traditional fruit body sampling is done. The project is run together with Professor Klaus Høiland, Professor Rune Økland and Håvard Kauserud.

Mycorrhizal research:
The research group of Professor Trond Schumacher (ARON) focuses on host - fungus interactions of discomycetes of the orders Pezizales and Helotiales, in particular mycorrhizal ascomycete symbionts of boreal and arctic alpine environments. These studies include field work, study of morphotypes, isolation and study of axenic culture isolates, morphotaxonomy,  and molecular approaches.

Studies by Trude Vrålstad (M. Sc. 1996; Vrålstad et al. 1998) ) and Hanne Weidemann (M. Sc. thesis abstract 1998; Weidemann et al. 1998 ), strongly suggest the ectomycorrhizal states of the pezizalean taxa Geopyxis carbonaria and Helvella aestivalis, respectively. Former PhD student Trude Vrålstad and former M.Sc. student Elin Myhre attended Prof. Schumacher's project on "Molecular ecology of mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal ascomycetes", supported by the Research Council of Norway. They focused on molecular detection and identification of ectomycorrhizal and endophytic ascomycetes in boreal ecosystems. A recent study has shown that the mycobionts of the specific black-and-white ectomycorrhizal morphotype Piceirhiza bicolorata belongs to an aggregate of Helotialean fungi very closely related to the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Hymenoscyphus ericae (Vrålstad et al., 2000). Trude Vrålstad and Elin Myhre studied currently the host-range and molecular diversity of the ecological important group of helotialean fungi of the "Hymenoscuphus ericae-aggregate". Their investigations were in both disturbed and undisturbed boreal ecosystem, including post-fire and metal contaminated habitats.

Mycorrhizal studies in alpine ecosystems are conducted by M. Sc. students Tor Arne Carlsen and Jørn Henrik Sønsteby under supervision of Prof. Klaus Høiland and Prof. Trond Schumacher. They study the ectomycorrhizae of in Salix herbacea thickets and especially the host Bistorta vivipara, in mountaineous areas of South Norway. Robert Sørlie is studying alpine ectomykorrhizas on Salix herbacea in snowbeds under supervision of Prof. Klaus Høiland and Lars Erikstad (NINA).

Klaus Høiland works on ectomycorrhiza in boreal and in arctic alpine ecosystems.

Mycotoxins:
Professor Klaus Høiland has performed analyses on fungal tolerance to toxic elements. He has supervised M. Sc. Jan Olav Ryan and is presently supervising M. Sc. student Gry Koller.

Prof. Schumacher has academic interests in the fields of toxinology and mycotoxicology, and gives lectures on the topics at the institute (see Courses). 

Population biology:
In his PhD project Haavard Kauserud studied the population genetics of wood-inhabiting basidiomycetes using DNA-fingerprinting and DNA sequencing techniques (under supervision of Professor Trond Schumacher).

Professor Klaus Høiland , in collaboration with Gustavo Caetano-Anolles performs population studies of the saprotrophic fungus (Marasmius oreades) which forms fairy rings. Høiland is also involved in population biological studies of ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes in boreal and arctic-alpine habitats. Here is a link to Gustavo's DNA-kaffe.