Understanding adaptation, promoting biodiversity

Our main research interests include characterization, utilization and conservation of plant genetic resources, DNA barcoding, population genetics of plant invasion, conservation genetics and plant adaptation mechanisms.

Examples of on-going projects are (1) DNA barcoding and its applications: methodological development and production of DNA barcodes and biodiversity analyses via DNA metabarcoding. (2) Crop wild relatives and their potential for plant breeding. (3) Genotypic identification, relationships and dispersal routes of ornamental plants, including also invasive ones. (4) Conservation genetics of the endangered palm Medemia argun from the Nubian Desert. (5) Forest tree ecophysiology. Research based on long-lasting Finnish-Chinese collaboration with large-scale experimental work taking place in China.