Carsten Külheim

"Forestry will become a major provider of key materials; from construction to high-tech to biofuels. It is our job to ensure trees thrive."

Contact

ckulheim@mtu.edu
906-487-1615
Noblet 167

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Associate Professor

Ph.D. Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University
B.S. Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå University

Finding thriving trees for future needs

In my laboratory, we investigate the interactions between trees and their environment – both abiotic interactions such as heat, drought and cold stress; and biotic interactions such as insect pests or fungal pathogens. We use diverse methods including whole genome sequence analysis, plant physiology, chemical ecology and functional genomics. Our studies will produce vital information for the selection of resilient trees which will provide valuable resources such as construction and high-tech materials, and biofuels in the future.

Links of Interest

Kuelheim Laboratory

Areas of Expertise

Genetic basis of trait variation
Plant adaptation to local environment
Plant secondary metabolism
Chemical ecology including plant –herbivore interactions
Functional genomics of plant defences

Recent Publications

Rauschendorfer J, Rooney R, Külheim C (2022) Strategies to mitigate shifts in red oak (Quercus sect. Lobatae) distribution under a climate change. Tree Physiology (in print)
Rauschendorfer J, Lindback E, Rooney R, Frantti S, Peck V, Cavaleri M, Külheim C (2022) Seed source climatic variables determine Quercus rubra provenance growth and environmental responses. In review: Northern Hardwood Conference (in print)
Ghirado A, Blande J, Ruehr NK, Balestrini RM, Külheim C (2022) Adaptation of Trees to Climate Change: Mechanisms Behind Physiological and Ecological Resilience and Vulnerability Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4: 831701
Mhoswa L, Slipper B, Myburg AA, Külheim C, Naidoo S (2022) Genome-wide association study identifies SNP markers and putative candidate genes for terpene profiles in Eucalyptus grandis. Resubmission in preparation after major revision requested by G3: Genes Genome Genetics 12: jkac004
Hsieh S, Krause S, Kainer D, Degenhardt J, Foley WJ, Külheim C (2021) Terpene profiling and functional characterization of terpene synthases responsive to myrtle rust in Melaleuca quinquenervia. Plant Environment Interactions 2: 177-193
Li T, Kainer D*, Foley WJ, Rodrigo AG, Külheim C (2021) The draft genome sequence of Eucalyptus polybractea based on hybrid assembly with Oxford Nanopore and Illumina reads. bioRxiv: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.05.18.444652
Orr AJ, Padovan A, Kainer D, Külheim C, Bromham L, Bustos-Segura C, Foley WJ, Haff T, Hsieh J-F, Morales-Suarez A, Cartwright RA, Lanfear R (2020) A phylogenomic approach reveals a low somatic mutation rate in a long-lived plant. Proceeding of the Royal Society B 287: 20192364
Rauschendorfer J, Yordanov Y, Dobrev P, Vankova R, Sykes R, Külheim C, Busov V (2020) Overexpression of a developing xylem cDNA library in transgenic poplar generates high mutation rate specific to wood formation. Plant Biotechnology Journal 18: 1434-1443 https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.13309
Marsh KJ, Wallis IR, Külheim C, Clark R, Nicolle D, Foley WJ, Salminen J-P (2020) New approaches to tannin analysis of leaves explain biological activity associated with herbivore defence. New Phytologist 225: 488-498 https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.16117
Naidoo S, Oates C, Mhoswa L, O’ Neil M, Acosta J, Christie N, Mphahlele M, Payn K, Myburg A, Slippers B, Külheim C (2020) Factors underpinning resistance against the galling pest, Leptocybe invasa in Eucalyptus grandis. Proceedings of the Sixth International Workshop on the Genetics of Host-Parasite Interactions in Forestry
Choi B, Crisp MD, Cook LG, Edwards BD, Toon A, Külheim C (2019) Identifying genetic markers for a range of phylogenetic utility – from species to family level. PLoS One 14: e0218995
Kainer D, Padovan A, Degenhardt J, Krause S, Mondal P, Foley WJ, Külheim C (2019) High marker density GWAS provides novel insights into the genomic architecture of terpene oil yield in Eucalyptus. New Phytologist 223: 1489-1504
Thornhill AH, Crisp MD, Külheim C, Lam KE, Nelson LA, Yeates DK, Miller JT (2019) A dated molecular perspective of eucalypt taxonomy, evolution, and diversification. Australian Systematic Botany 32: 29-48
Kanagendran A, Pazouki L, Bichele R, Külheim C, Niinemets Ü (2018) Temporal regulation of terpene synthase gene expression in Eucalyptus globulus leaves upon ozone and wounding stresses: relationships with stomatal ozone uptake and emission responses. Environmental and Experimental Botany 155: 552-565
Kainer D, Stone E, Padovan A, Foley WJ, Külheim C (2018) High accuracy genomic prediction for foliar terpene traits in Eucalyptus polybractea. G3 – Genes, Genomes, Genetics 8: 2573-2583 doi.org/10.1534/g3.118.200443