Wild and cultivated plants 

During my PhD, I investigated differences in volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and responses to environmental stressors between wild Brassicaceae species and their cultivated relatives.

Among the results, I found that wild and cultivated plants produced similar overall quantities of VOCs, but wild species released a greater diversity of compounds, particularly sulphur- and nitrogen-containing molecules. These compounds play important roles in plant defence against insects and are also associated with the characteristic mustard flavour and the chemical properties as medicinal plants. 

How plants respond to their environment

Plants are sessile organisms but they are far from passive. They continuously perceive and respond to their surroundings. They can detect changes in their environment, sense insects and microorganisms, and interact with neighbouring plants and other organisms. They must also cope with a wide range of environmental challenges, including cold, heat, drought, intense sunlight and pollution.

When attacked by insects, plants trigger the emissions of VOCs. Some of these compounds repel herbivores, while others attract the natural enemies of the insects attacking them. Environmental changes, including climate change, can also influence these chemical interactions and affect how plants defend themselves.

Interestingly, plants can also detect the chemical signals released by neighbouring plants. When a nearby plant is attacked, neighbouring plants can perceive the changes in VOC emissions and prepare their own defences, allowing them to respond faster and sometimes more strongly if they are attacked later. My research explores not only how these chemical signals influence plant defence, but also how they affect plant physiology, growth and fitness. 

More recently, research showed that plants can detect volatile signals released directly by insects, such as pheromones. I am now investigating how plants perceive and respond to these insect-derived signals, and what consequences this may have for their interactions with insects.

Nordic medicinal plants

RESEARCH to come 

Climate change, habitat fragmentation and increasing demand for medicinal plants are putting pressure on wild plant populations. Developing sustainable cultivation systems is therefore essential to reduce pressure on wild populations while meeting the growing demand for medicinal plants.

Nordic countries have considerable potential to become important regions for medicinal plant cultivation in the future. Their temperate summers, relatively abundant water resources, agricultural land and rich native flora offer interesting opportunities for developing local and sustainable production.

An emerging research direction is exploring the cultivation and value of medicinal plants in northern climates. I am particularly interested in their sustainable production, differences between wild and cultivated medicinal plants, and how northern growing conditions influence their chemistry and medicinal properties.