- Genetics and Plant Breeding
Currently I work mainly in the following areas:
Traits, genetics and breeding of legumes
Forage and seed legumes (plants in the Fabaceae) have symbiosis with nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots, and thus supply nitrogen to agricultural systems as well as protein-rich food and feed. I am interested in 1) strategies that legumes use to cope with abiotic and biotic stresses, 2) how they are adapted to seasonal variations in climate (phenology and acclimation), and how this is affected by climate change, 3) plant-plant interactions in species mixtures, 4) genetic and environmental control of traits, and 5) genomics and phenomics in breeding of legumes.
Genetics and breeding of sugar kelp
There is an enormous potential for value creation based on production of macroalgae along the Norwegian coast. Macroalgae cultivation can yield large amounts of biomass in an environmentally friendly manner, and this biomass has a multitude of different uses (e.g. food, feed, biochemicals, agricultural fertilizers, bioenergy). There is a strong interest in developing cultivars with improved traits, but also a concern that such cultivars should not spread and hybridize with natural populations. I am interested in everything related to genetics and breeding of macroalgae, including the development of sterile (non-reproducing) production plants (limiting the possibility for spread to natural populations). I am also interested in stress responses and uptake and release of iodine and other elements in kelps.
Diversification of agriculture
A higher level of diversity, at the level of species, plant community or crop rotations, can contribute to better utilization of resources and ecosystem functions, reduced environmental footprint, higher yields and yield stability and more sustainable food production. I have activities where I study 1) mixtures of grassland forage species and 2) genotype mixtures of winter wheat.
List of publications from my research. (Cristin)
Peer-reviewed original research papers and review papers/opinions:
Ergon Å, Amdahl H. 2024. Winter survival in red clover: experimental evidence for interactions among stresses. BMC Plant Biology 24:467. doi:10.1186/s12870-024-05167-5
Mohammadi S, Uhlen AK, Lillemo M, Ergon Å, Shafiee S. 2024. Enhancing phenotyping efficiency in faba bean breeding: integrating UAV imaging and machine learning. Precision Agr doi: 10.1007/s1119-24-10121-4
Guo Y, Lundebye A-K, Li N, Ergon Å, Pang S, Jiang Y, Zhu W, Zhao Y, Li X, Yao L, Wang L, Aakre I. 2023. Comparative assessment of food safety regulations and standards for arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury and iodine in macroalgae used as food and feed in China and Europe. Trends Food Sci Technol. 141: 104204. doi: 10.1016/j.tifs.2023.104204
Zanotto S, Bertrand A, Purves RW, Olsen JE, Elessawy FM, Ergon Å. 2023. Biochemical changes after cold acclimation in Nordic red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) accessions with contrasting levels of freezing tolerance. Physiol. Plant. 175:e13953. doi: 10.1111/ppl.13953
Zanotto S, Ruttink T, Pégard M, Skøt L, Grieder C, Kölliker R, Ergon Å. 2023. A genome-wide association study of freezing tolerance in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) germplasm of European origin. Front. Plant Sci. 14:1189662. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1189662
Stang FL, Bjerregaard R, Müller CE, Ergon Å, Halling M, Thorringer NW, Kidane A and Jensen RB. 2023. The effect of harvest time of forage on carbohydrate digestion in horses quantified by in vitro and mobile bag techniques. Journal of Animal Science 101: 1-11. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac422
Ergon Å, Milvang ØW, Skøt L, Ruttink T. 2022. Identification of loci controlling timing of stem elongation in red clover using genotyping by sequencing of pooled phenotypic extremes. Mol. Genet. Genom. 297: 1587–1600. doi: 10.1007/s00438-022-01942-x
Goecke F, Gómez Garreta A, Martín–Martín R, Lluch JR, Skjermo J, Ergon Å. 2022. Nuclear DNA content variation in different life cycle stages of sugar kelp, Saccharina latissima. Marine Biotechnology. doi: 10.1007/s10126-022-10137-9
Ergon Å, Bakken AK. 2022. Breeding for intercropping: the case of red clover persistence in grasslands. Euphytica 218:98. doi: 10.1007/s10681-022-03051-7
Zanotto S, Palmé A, Helgadóttir Á, Daugstad K, Isolahti M, Öhlund L, Marum P, Moen MA, Veteläinen M, Rognli OA, Ergon Å. 2021. Trait characterization of genetic resources reveals useful variation for the improvement of cultivated Nordic red clover. J. Agro. Crop Sci. 207:492-503. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jac.12487
Pathak R, Ergon Å, Stensvand A, Gislerød HR, Solhaug KA, Cadle-Davidson L, Suthaparan A. 2020. Functional characterization of Pseudoidium neolycopersici photolyase reveals mechanisms behind the efficacy of nighttime UV on powdery mildew suppression. Front. Microbiol. 11:1091. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01091
Goecke F, Klemetsdal G, Ergon Å. 2020. Cultivar development of kelps for commercial cultivation—past lessons and future prospects. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:110. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2020.00110
Ergon Å, Skøt L, Sæther VE, Rognli OA. 2019. Allele frequency changes provide evidence for selection and identification of candidate loci for survival in red clover (Trifolium pratense L.). Front Plant Sci 10:718. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00718
Ergon Å, Seddaiu G, Korhonen P, Virkajärvi P, Bellocchi G, Jørgensen M, Østrem L, Reheul D, Volaire F. 2018. How can forage production in Nordic and Mediterranean Europe adapt to the challenges and opportunities arising from climate change? Eur J Agron, 92:97-106. doi:10.1016/j.eja.2017.09.016
Ergon Å. 2017. Optimal regulation of the balance between productivity and overwintering of perennial grasses in a warmer climate. Agronomy, 7,19. doi:10.3390/agronomy7010019
Amdahl H, Aamlid TS, Marum P, Ergon Å, Alsheikh M, Rognli OA. 2017. Seed yield components in single plants of diverse Scandinavian tetraploid red clover populations (Trifolium pratense L.). Crop Sci, 57:108-117. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2016.05.0321
Ergon Å, Kirwan L, Fystro G, Bleken M, Collins RP, Rognli OA. 2017. Species interactions in a grassland mixture under low nitrogen fertilization and two cutting frequencies: II. Nutritional quality. Grass Forage Sci, 72, 333-342 doi:10.1111/gfs.12257
Kovi MR, Ergon Å, Rognli OA. 2016. Freezing tolerance revisited — effects of variable temperatures on gene regulation in temperate grasses and legumes. Curr Opin Plant Biol, 33:140–146. doi: 10.1016/j.pbi.2016.07.006
Ergon Å, Kirwan L, Bleken M, Skjelvåg AO, Collins RP, Rognli OA. 2016. Species interactions in a grassland mixture under low nitrogen fertilization and two cutting frequencies: I. Dry matter yield and dynamics of species composition. Grass Forage Sci 71, 667–682 doi:10.1111/gfs.12250
Kovi MR, Abdelhalim M, Kunapareddy A, Ergon Å, Tronsmo AM, Brurberg MB, Hofgaard IS, Asp T, Rognli OA. 2016. Global transcriptome changes in perennial ryegrass during early infection by pink snow mould. Sci Rep 6:28702. doi:10.1038/srep28702
Ergon Å, Melby TI, Höglind M, Rognli OA. 2016. Vernalization requirement and the chromosomal VRN1-region can affect freezing tolerance and expression of cold-regulated genes in Festuca pratensis. Front Plant Sci 207: 1-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2016.00207
Amdahl H, Aamlid TS, Ergon Å, Kovi MR, Marum P, Alsheikh MK, Rognli OA. 2016. Seed yield of Norwegian and Swedish tetraploid red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) populations. Crop Sci 56: 2: 603-612. doi:10.2135/cropsci2015.07.0441
De Vega JJ, Ayling S, Hegarty M, Kudrna D, Goicoechea JL, Ergon Å, Rognli OA, Jones C, Swain M, Geurts R, Lang C, Mayer KFX, Rössner S, Yates S, Webb KJ, Donnison I, Oldroy GED, Wing RA, Caccamo M, Powell W, Abberton MT, Skøt L. 2015. Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) draft genome provides a platform for trait improvement, Sci Rep 5:17394. http://www.nature.com/articles/srep17394
Rapacz M, Ergon Å, Höglind M, Jørgensen M, Jurczyk B, Østrem L, Rognli OA, Tronsmo AM. 2014. Overwintering of herbaceous plants in a changing climate. Still more questions than answers. Plant Sci 225:34-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2014.05.009
Ergon Å, Hamland H, Rognli OA. 2013. Differential expression of VRN1 and other MADS-box genes in Festuca pratensis selections with different vernalization requirements. Biol Plantarum 57:245-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10535-012-0283-z
Alm V, Busso CS, Ergon Å, Rudi H, Larsen A, Humphreys MW, Rognli OA. 2011. QTL analyses and comparative mapping of frost tolerance, winter survival and drought tolerance in meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). Theor Appl Gen 123:369-382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00122-011-1590-z
Hofgaard IS, Ergon Å, Henriksen B, Tronsmo AM. 2010. The effect of potential resistance inducers on development of Microdochium majus and Fusarium culmorum in winter wheat. Eur J Plant Pathol 128:269-281. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10658-010-9662-5
Ergon Å, Fang C, Jørgensen Ø, Aamlid TS, Rognli OA. 2006. Quantitative trait loci controlling vernalisation requirement, heading time and number of panicles in meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). Theor Appl Gen 112:232-242. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00122-005-0115-z
Ergon Å, Tronsmo AM. 2006. Components of pink snow mould resistance in winter wheat are expressed prior to cold hardening and in detached leaves. J Phytopathol 154:134-142. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0434.2006.01071.x
Hofgaard IS, Ergon Å, Wanner L, Tronsmo AM. 2005. The effect of chitosan and Bion on resistance to pink snow mould in perennial ryegrass and winter wheat. J Phytopathol 153:108-119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0434.2005.00937.x
Ergon Å, Skinnes H, Tronsmo AM. 2003. Testing snow mould resistance of winter wheat: inoculation experiments with Microdochium nivale in the field. Acta Agric Scand, Sect B, Soil Plant Sci 53:110-117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09064710310009055
Gaudet DA, Laroche A, Ergon Å, Mullin J. 2000. Association between plant age and simple and complex carbohydrate accumulation among winter wheat cultivars differing in resistance to snow moulds during acclimation at low temperatures. Acta Agrono Hung 48: 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1556/AAgr.48.2000.1.3
Gaudet DA, Laroche A, Frick M, Davoren J, Puchalski B, Ergon Å. 2000. Expression of plant defence-related (PR-protein) transcripts during hardening and dehardening of winter wheat. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 57:15-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/pmpp.2000.0275
Nordal I, Haraldsen KB, Ergon Å, Eriksen AB. 1999. Copper resistance and genetic diversity in Lychnis alpina (Caryophyllacea) populations on mining sites. Folia Geobot 34:471-481. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02914923
Ergon Å, Klemsdal SS, Tronsmo AM. 1998. Interactions between cold hardening and Microdochium nivale infection on expression of pathogenesis-related genes in winter wheat. Physiol Mol Plant Pathol 53:301-310. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/pmpp.1998.0182
Peer-reviewed chapters in conference proceedings:
Ergon Å. 2023. Combined adaptation to climate and mixed cropping in perennial forages. In: Kadžiulienė et al. (Eds.): The future role of ley-farming in cropping systems. Proceedings of the 22nd Symposium of the European Grassland Federation, Vilnius, Lithuania 11-14 June 2023. Grassl. Sci. Eur. 28: 185-191. The future role of ley-farming in cropping systems (europeangrassland.org)
O’Malley J, Finn JA, Malisch CS, Adler PR, Bezemer M, Black A, Ergon A, Eriksen J, Filley S, Fiorini A, Golinski P, Grange G, Hakl J, He Y, Hoekstra N, Högy P, Huguenin-Elie O, Ibanez M, Jiaxin R, Jing J, Jungers J, Kadžiulienė Z, Krol D, Lajeunesse J, Louarn G, Meyer S, Moloney T, Peratoner G, Porqueddu C, Reynolds C, Sturite I, Thivierge M.N, Zhu F and Brophy C. LegacyNet: introducing an international multi-site experiment investigating potential benefits of increasing the species diversity of grassland leys within crop rotations. In: Kadžiulienė et al. (Eds.): The future role of ley-farming in cropping systems. Proceedings of the 22nd Symposium of the European Grassland Federation Vilnius, Lithuania 11-14 June 2023. Grassl. Sci. Eur. 28: 249-251. The future role of ley-farming in cropping systems (europeangrassland.org)
Ergon Å. Can we define a persistent red clover ideotype for mixtures with grasses? In: Hartmann S et al.: Exploiting genetic diversity of forages to fulfill their economic and environmental roles. Proceedings of the 34th Meeting of the EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section in cooperation with the EUCARPIA Festulolium Working Group, Freising, 6-8 September 2021. doi:10.5507/vup.21.24459677.22
Ergon Å, Gao Y, Schmaucks T, Frostegård Å. 2021. Potential for developing improved rhizobium inoculants and lucerne varieties for efficient symbiosis in sustainable agriculture. In: Hartmann S et al.: Exploiting genetic diversity of forages to fulfill their economic and environmental roles. Proceedings of the 34th Meeting of the EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section in cooperation with the EUCARPIA Festulolium Working Group, Freising, 6-8 September 2021. doi:10.5507/vup.21.24459677.22
Zanotto S, Amdahl H, Ergon Å. Red clover adaptation to a Nordic climate. 2021. In: Hartmann S et al.: Exploiting genetic diversity of forages to fulfill their economic and environmental roles. Proceedings of the 34th Meeting of the EUCARPIA Fodder Crops and Amenity Grasses Section in cooperation with the EUCARPIA Festulolium Working Group, Freising, 6-8 September 2021. doi:10.5507/vup.21.24459677.22
Jørgensen M, Leraand MK, Ergon Å, Bakken AK. 2019. Effects of including perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in different species mixtures on yield, feed quality and botanical composition in first year of ley. Grassl Sci Eur 24: 152-154.
Ergon Å, Milvang ØW, Milvang O, Kovi MR. Identification of loci controlling timing of stem elongation in red clover using GBS of pooled phenotypic extremes. In: Brazauskas et al. (eds.) Breeding grasses and protein crops in the era of genomics. Proceedings of the 2017 meeting of the section “Forage crops and amenity grasses” of Eucarpia. Springer, ISBN 978-3-319-89577-2, p. 109-112.
Ergon Å, Volaire F, Korhonen P, Virkajärvi P, Seddaiu G, Jørgensen M, Bellocchi G, Østrem L, Reheul D, Baert J. 2016. Climate challenges and opportunities in northern and southern Europe - role of management and exploitation of plant traits in the adaptation of grasslands. Grassl Sci Eur 21:746-758.
Ergon Å, Bakken AK. 2016. Red clover traits under selection in mixtures with grasses versus pure stands. Grassl Sci Eur 21:811-813.
Kovi MR, Byrne S, Østrem L, Ergon Å, Marum P, Asp T, Rognli OA. 2016. Genome-wide allelic shifts in forage crops when grown at five diverse locations across Norway. Grassl Sci Eur 21:811-813.
Ergon Å, Solem S, Uhlen AK, Bakken AK. 2016. Generative development in red clover in response to temperature and photoperiod. In: Roldan-Ruiz et al. (eds.) Breeding in a world of scarcity. Proceedings of the 2015 meeting of the section “Forage crops and amenity grasses” of Eucarpia. Springer, ISBN 978-3-319-28932-8, p. 243-247.
Ergon Å, Rognli OA. 2014. Genomic characterization of survivor populations of red clover by GBS. Grassl Sci Eur 19: 823-825.
Ergon Å, Bleken MA, Lunnan T, Skjelvåg AO and Rognli OA. 2013. Species mixtures – dry matter yield and herbage quality as affected by harvesting frequency under low N supply. Grassl Sci Eur 18:204-206.
Bleken MA, Ergon Å, Rognli OA. 2013. Species mixtures – nitrous oxide emissions after application of synthetic urine. Grassl Sci Eur 18:162-164.
Fang C, Ergon Å, Jørgensen Ø, Aamlid TS, Rognli OA. 2007. Quantitative trait loci for seed production characters and vernalization response in meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). In: Rosselini D, Veronesi F (eds.) Breeding and seed production for conventional and organic agriculture. European Association for Research on Plant Breeding (EUCARPIA), pp.265-269. ISBN 978-88-87652-12-3.
Hofgaard I, Ergon Å, Henriksen B, Kolstad H, Skinnes H, Tarkegne Y, Tronsmo AM. 2006. Induced resistance to Fusarium head blight in winter wheat. IOBC/wprs Bulletin 29:49-53. http://www.iobc-wprs.org/pub/bulletins/iobc-wprs_bulletin_2006_29_08.pdf#page=63
Ergon Å, Fang C, Aamlid T, Rognli OA. 2005. QTL analysis of vernalisation requirement and heading traits in Festuca pratensis Huds.. In: Humphreys MW (ed.) Locating, and utilising Festuca pratensis genes for winter hardiness for the future development of more persistent high quality Lolium cultivars. Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands, p.161.
Ergon Å, Hofgaard I, Tronsmo AM. 2002. Induction of defence responses and snow mould resistance in cereals and perennial ryegrass. IOBC/wprs Bulletin 26:173-176.
Ergon Å, Klemsdal SS, Gaudet DA, Laroche A, Nakajima T and Tronsmo AM. 1997. Expression of genes in winter wheat affected by cold hardening and snow mould infection. Proceedings of the International Workshop on ”Plant-Microbe Interactions at Low temperature under Snow”. Sapporo, Japan.
Books:
Laroche A, Wanner L, Ergon Å, Shimosaka E. 2001. Molecular characterization of freezing tolerance and snow mold resistance. In: Iriki N, Gaudet DA, Tronsmo AM, Matsumoto N, Yoshida M, Nishimune A (eds.) Low Temperature Plant Microbe Interactions Under Snow. Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station, Sapporo, pp.125-141.
Research projects with a website outside NMBU