{tab=Research}Portrait photo of Kathryn Robinson

Aspen (Populus tremula) is a pioneer tree, distributed in cool climatic zones throughout northern Eurasia. The species exhibits vast natural genetic variation in growth, morphology, phenology, phytochemistry and biotic interactions, and is an ideal tool to examine the genetic basis of ecological traits and their genotype x environment interactions.

The genus Populus, to which aspen belongs, is a model in forest tree research with a mature genome sequence and rich genetic resources. High heritability in morphological, biochemical and herbivore community traits has been identified in aspen. Together with my colleagues at UPSC, I am researching the genetic basis of variation in a wide range of complex traits, i.e. those that are controlled by multiple genetic loci, and a small number of traits controlled by few, major effect loci.

Aspen is a common tree on the Swedish landsape. Its leaves have a characteristic tremble owing to biomechanical traits including flattened petioles that enable them to flutter in the slightest breeze. In terms of reproductive mechanisms, aspen is able to self-propagate vegetatively by means of root suckers, enabling the formation of genetically identical clonal stands. Aspen also reproduces sexually; pollen can travel hundreds of kilometers and gives rise to high genetic diversity within the species. The seeds have a cotton-like appearance and are transported by wind and have a short viability. Aspen has desirable properties for wood products, including potential as a bioenergy crop. Aspen has further potential in phytoremediation and landscape restoration projects. 

Larvae of the lesser willow sawfly, Nematus pavidus, feeding on aspen leavesThe lesser willow sawfly, Nematus pavidus, can cause extensive damage to aspen plantations. Here is it pictured feeding on aspen at Våxtorp, Halland. (Photo: K. Robinson.)

As a keystone species, aspen forms part of the diet of large and small herbivores alike, from moose to mites. Its decaying wood is host to a diverse fauna and fungi/epiflora, and its living canopy sustains many morphs of herbivorous arthropods. The leaves and bark contain high concentrations of specialised metabolites including salicinoid phenolic glycosides (SPGs) and condensed tannins. Although these chemicals deter many generalist herbivores from ovipositing on and consuming the foliage, some specialist herbivores have evolved tolerance of these compounds and are able, instead of finding the SPGs toxic, to use them in their own defence against predators. Other aspen defences against herbivores include leaf trichomes and extra-floral nectaries at the leaf-petiole junction that exude nectar to encourage ants to guard the tree against herbivores such as aphids.

Arthropods feeding on aspen have devised different uses of the leaf tissue as camouflage, shelters for larvae and safe homes for eggs; thus it is common to see single or multiple leaves rolled into cigar-shapes or cone-shapes, toughened gall structures on the leaf or petiole, or serpentine mines formed under the epidermis by insect larvae. Larger herbivores feeding on aspen include voles, hares, and numerous cervids. It is understood that SPGs are also involved in resistance to other biotic stressors (e.g. fungi, bacterial cankers), and may act as protection against UV radiation or other abiotic stresses. Identifying patterns of evolutionary selection shaping the high diversity and varied composition of these metabolites is central to our investigations. In the first instance we are working to identify possible selective pressures.

Flushing aspen budsSpring bud flush date is a highly heritable trait in aspen (Photo: N. Street).
Ants and aphids on a contorted aspen leaf Ants and aphids on a leaf contorted by aphid damage (Photo: K. Robinson).
Galls on the petiole of an aspen treeThe midge larva Contarinia petioli induces characteristic galls on the petiole (Photo: K. Robinson).

Our primary study tool is the Swedish Aspen (SwAsp) Collection, a collection of 116 aspen genotypes collected from 12 populations across Sweden from latitudes between approximately 56°N and 66°N. We have collected data from the original wild trees comprising this collection but the main focus is to study these genotypes in two common gardens, where each genotype has been clonally replicated. Using genome-wide association mapping, phenotype data, metabolomics and detailed greenhouse experiments, we seek to examine genetic loci underlying major or complex phenotypic traits ranging from spring phenology to leaf anatomy, from stem growth to specialised metabolism, from interactions with individual arthropod herbivores to the herbivore community, and fungal diseases such as leaf rust and stem blight. 

A further tool is the Umeå Aspen collection (UmAsp), a collection of wild aspens growing within an hour's drive of Umeå, now cloned and growing in two replicated field trials, one near the coast and one inland, in addition to an F1 population produced from two UmAsp parent trees. Through the study of UmAsp using GWAS and the F1 using quantitative trait loci (QTL) we aim to identify causal variants for many phenotypes occurring in wild trees without the constraints of geographic influences, particularly the latitudinal gradients driving important traits such as growth rates, seasonal canopy duration and autumn senescence.

Further to studying Swedish accessions, we are investigating biogeographical variation in aspen leaf morphology and specialised metabolites, using a new collection of samples from northern Europe and Asia.  Additional projects include selection and field testing (together with collaborators at SLU Alnarp) of the highest-yielding 'elite' genotypes from the SwAsp collection, and assessments of genetically modified aspens in the context of natural variation. In addition to research, I curate our aspen collections/data in the field, in vitro, and in silico. Contact me for additional information about the SwAsp and UmAsp collections. 

The larva of notodontid moth Cerura vinula on an aspen tree.The larva of notodontid moth Cerura vinula is a voracious feeder on aspen (Photo: K. Robinson). 


{tab=CV K. Robinson}

Education

  • 2003: PhD, "Biomass determinants and their use as yield predictors in Salicaceae" (ISNI 0000 0000 3954 7143), University of Southampton, UK
  • 1999: BSc Hons (First Class), Plant and Environmental Biology, University of St Andrews, UK

Employment

  • 2015 - present: Researcher, Umeå University, Sweden
  • 2013 - 2015: Research Engineer, SLU, Umeå, Sweden
  • 2011 - 2013: Senior Research Engineer, Umeå University, Sweden
  • 2008 - 2010: Postdoctoral fellow, Umeå University, Sweden
  • 2007 - 2008: Environmental Learning Officer, University of Reading, UK
  • 2004 - 2007: Education and Leisure project coordinator, Enrych, UK
  • 1999 - 2003: PhD studentship, Unviversity of Southampton and Forest Research, UK
{tab=Publications}
  2023 (2)
Genetic markers and tree properties predicting wood biorefining potential in aspen (Populus tremula) bioenergy feedstock. Escamez, S., Robinson, K. M., Luomaranta, M., Gandla, M. L., Mähler, N., Yassin, Z., Grahn, T., Scheepers, G., Stener, L., Jansson, S., Jönsson, L. J., Street, N. R., & Tuominen, H. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts, 16(1): 65. April 2023.
Genetic markers and tree properties predicting wood biorefining potential in aspen (Populus tremula) bioenergy feedstock [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract  
Salicylic acid metabolism and signalling coordinate senescence initiation in aspen in nature. Lihavainen, J., Šimura, J., Bag, P., Fataftah, N., Robinson, K. M., Delhomme, N., Novák, O., Ljung, K., & Jansson, S. Nature Communications, 14(1): 4288. July 2023. Number: 1 Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
Salicylic acid metabolism and signalling coordinate senescence initiation in aspen in nature [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract  
  2021 (5)
Adaptive introgression facilitate adaptation to high latitudes in European aspen (Populus tremula L.). Rendón-Anaya, M., Wilson, J., Sveinsson, S., Fedorkov, A., Cottrell, J., Bailey, M. E. S., Ruņģis, D., Lexer, C., Jansson, S., Robinson, K. M., Street, N. R., & Ingvarsson, P. K. Molecular Biology and Evolution, 38(11): 5034–5050. July 2021.
Adaptive introgression facilitate adaptation to high latitudes in European aspen (Populus tremula L.) [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract   9 downloads  
An atlas of the Norway spruce needle seasonal transcriptome. Bag, P., Lihavainen, J., Delhomme, N., Riquelme, T., Robinson, K. M, & Jansson, S. The Plant Journal, 108(6). October 2021.
An atlas of the Norway spruce needle seasonal transcriptome [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract   7 downloads  
European aspen with high compared to low constitutive tannin defenses grow taller in response to anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment. Bandau, F., Albrectsen, B. R., Robinson, K. M., & Gundale, M. J. Forest Ecology and Management, 487: 118985. May 2021.
European aspen with high compared to low constitutive tannin defenses grow taller in response to anthropogenic nitrogen enrichment [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   9 downloads  
Stem girdling affects the onset of autumn senescence in aspen in interaction with metabolic signals. Lihavainen, J., Edlund, E., Björkén, L., Bag, P., Robinson, K. M., & Jansson, S. Physiologia Plantarum, 172(1): 201–217. May 2021.
Stem girdling affects the onset of autumn senescence in aspen in interaction with metabolic signals [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   5 downloads  
Variation in non-target traits in genetically modified hybrid aspens does not exceed natural variation. Robinson, K. M., Möller, L., Bhalerao, R. P., Hertzberg, M., Nilsson, O., & Jansson, S. New Biotechnology, 64: 27–36. September 2021.
Variation in non-target traits in genetically modified hybrid aspens does not exceed natural variation [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract   11 downloads  
  2020 (3)
A single gene underlies the dynamic evolution of poplar sex determination. Müller, N. A., Kersten, B., Leite Montalvão, A. P., Mähler, N., Bernhardsson, C., Bräutigam, K., Carracedo Lorenzo, Z., Hoenicka, H., Kumar, V., Mader, M., Pakull, B., Robinson, K. M., Sabatti, M., Vettori, C., Ingvarsson, P. K., Cronk, Q., Street, N. R., & Fladung, M. Nature Plants, 6(6): 630–637. June 2020.
A single gene underlies the dynamic evolution of poplar sex determination [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   3 downloads  
Inferring the Genomic Landscape of Recombination Rate Variation in European Aspen ( Populus tremula ). Apuli, R., Bernhardsson, C., Schiffthaler, B., Robinson, K. M, Jansson, S., Street, N. R, & Ingvarsson, P. K G3 Genes\textbarGenomes\textbarGenetics, 10(1): 299–309. January 2020.
Inferring the Genomic Landscape of Recombination Rate Variation in European Aspen ( Populus tremula ) [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract  
Leaf shape in Populus tremula is a complex, omnigenic trait. Mähler, N., Schiffthaler, B., Robinson, K. M., Terebieniec, B. K., Vučak, M., Mannapperuma, C., Bailey, M. E. S., Jansson, S., Hvidsten, T. R., & Street, N. R. Ecology and Evolution, 10(21): 11922–11940. November 2020.
Leaf shape in Populus tremula is a complex, omnigenic trait [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   15 downloads  
  2018 (5)
A major locus controls local adaptation and adaptive life history variation in a perennial plant. Wang, J., Ding, J., Tan, B., Robinson, K. M., Michelson, I. H., Johansson, A., Nystedt, B., Scofield, D. G., Nilsson, O., Jansson, S., Street, N. R., & Ingvarsson, P. K. Genome Biology, 19(1): 72. December 2018.
A major locus controls local adaptation and adaptive life history variation in a perennial plant [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   4 downloads  
Autumn senescence in aspen is not triggered by day length. Michelson, I. H., Ingvarsson, P. K., Robinson, K. M., Edlund, E., Eriksson, M. E., Nilsson, O., & Jansson, S. Physiologia Plantarum, 162(1): 123–134. January 2018.
Autumn senescence in aspen is not triggered by day length [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   5 downloads  
Both plant genotype and herbivory shape aspen endophyte communities. Albrectsen, B. R., Siddique, A. B., Decker, V. H. G., Unterseher, M., & Robinson, K. M. Oecologia, 187(2): 535–545. June 2018.
Both plant genotype and herbivory shape aspen endophyte communities [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   1 download  
Functional and evolutionary genomic inferences in Populus through genome and population sequencing of American and European aspen. Lin, Y., Wang, J., Delhomme, N., Schiffthaler, B., Sundström, G., Zuccolo, A., Nystedt, B., Hvidsten, T. R., de la Torre, A., Cossu, R. M., Hoeppner, M. P., Lantz, H., Scofield, D. G., Zamani, N., Johansson, A., Mannapperuma, C., Robinson, K. M., Mähler, N., Leitch, I. J., Pellicer, J., Park, E., Van Montagu, M., Van de Peer, Y., Grabherr, M., Jansson, S., Ingvarsson, P. K., & Street, N. R. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(46): E10970–E10978. November 2018.
Functional and evolutionary genomic inferences in <i>Populus</i> through genome and population sequencing of American and European aspen [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract   3 downloads  
Storage lipid accumulation is controlled by photoperiodic signal acting via regulators of growth cessation and dormancy in hybrid aspen. Grimberg, Å., Lager, I., Street, N. R., Robinson, K. M., Marttila, S., Mähler, N., Ingvarsson, P. K., & Bhalerao, R. P. New Phytologist, 219(2): 619–630. July 2018.
Storage lipid accumulation is controlled by photoperiodic signal acting via regulators of growth cessation and dormancy in hybrid aspen [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   2 downloads  
  2015 (2)
Comparative physiology of allopatric Populus species: geographic clines in photosynthesis, height growth, and carbon isotope discrimination in common gardens. Soolanayakanahally, R. Y., Guy, R. D., Street, N. R., Robinson, K. M., Silim, S. N., Albrectsen, B. R., & Jansson, S. Front Plant Sci, 6: 528. 2015. Edition: 2015/08/04
Comparative physiology of allopatric Populus species: geographic clines in photosynthesis, height growth, and carbon isotope discrimination in common gardens [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract  
Relative impacts of environmental variation and evolutionary history on the nestedness and modularity of tree-herbivore networks. Robinson, K. M., Hauzy, C., Loeuille, N., & Albrectsen, B. R. Ecol Evol, 5(14): 2898–915. July 2015. Edition: 2015/08/26
Relative impacts of environmental variation and evolutionary history on the nestedness and modularity of tree-herbivore networks [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract  
  2014 (1)
Populus tremula (European aspen) shows no evidence of sexual dimorphism. Robinson, K. M, Delhomme, N., Mähler, N., Schiffthaler, B., Önskog, J., Albrectsen, B. R, Ingvarsson, P. K, Hvidsten, T. R, Jansson, S., & Street, N. R BMC Plant Biology, 14(1): 276. December 2014.
Populus tremula (European aspen) shows no evidence of sexual dimorphism [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   2 downloads  
  2013 (1)
Geographic structure in metabolome and herbivore community co-occurs with genetic structure in plant defence genes. Bernhardsson, C., Robinson, K. M., Abreu, I. N., Jansson, S., Albrectsen, B. R., & Ingvarsson, P. K. Ecology Letters, 16(6): 791–798. June 2013.
Geographic structure in metabolome and herbivore community co-occurs with genetic structure in plant defence genes [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex  
  2012 (1)
Genetic Variation in Functional Traits Influences Arthropod Community Composition in Aspen (Populus tremula L.). Robinson, K. M., Ingvarsson, P. K., Jansson, S., & Albrectsen, B. R. PLoS ONE, 7(5): e37679. May 2012.
Genetic Variation in Functional Traits Influences Arthropod Community Composition in Aspen (Populus tremula L.) [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex  
  2009 (2)
Five QTL hotspots for yield in short rotation coppice bioenergy poplar: The Poplar Biomass Loci. Rae, A. M., Street, N. R., Robinson, K. M., Harris, N., & Taylor, G. BMC Plant Biology, 9(1): 1–13. December 2009. Number: 1 Publisher: BioMed Central
Five QTL hotspots for yield in short rotation coppice bioenergy poplar: The Poplar Biomass Loci [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract  
Large scale geographic clines of parasite damage to Populus tremula L. Albrectsen, B. R., Witzell, J., Robinson, K. M., Wulff, S., Luquez, V. M. C., Ågren, R., & Jansson, S. Ecography. October 2009.
Large scale geographic clines of parasite damage to <i>Populus tremula</i> L [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex  
  2004 (2)
Defining leaf traits linked to yield in short-rotation coppice Salix. Robinson, K. M, Karp, A, & Taylor, G. Biomass and Bioenergy, 26(5): 417–431. May 2004.
Defining leaf traits linked to yield in short-rotation coppice Salix [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract  
Morphological and physiological traits influencing biomass productivity in short-rotation coppice poplar. Rae, A M, Robinson, K M, Street, N R, & Taylor, G Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 34(7): 1488–1498. July 2004. Publisher: NRC Research Press
Morphological and physiological traits influencing biomass productivity in short-rotation coppice poplar [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   1 download  
  2002 (1)
Leaf stomatal and epidermal cell development: identification of putative quantitative trait loci in relation to elevated carbon dioxide concentration in poplar. Ferris, R., Long, L., Bunn, S. M., Robinson, K. M., Bradshaw, H. D., Rae, A. M., & Taylor, G. Tree Physiology, 22(9): 633–640. June 2002.
Leaf stomatal and epidermal cell development: identification of putative quantitative trait loci in relation to elevated carbon dioxide concentration in poplar [link]Paper   doi   link   bibtex   abstract  

{tab=More about aspen} Poplar longhorn beetle Saperda carcharias on an aspen leafPoplar longhorn beetle Saperda carcharias on aspen in the SwAsp Collection (Photo: K. Robinson).

Interesting aspen links

  • Aspen descriptions (in Swedish) at the VisaSkogen, SkogsSverige, and Skogskunskap, and a particularly informative and well-illustrated factsheet from Länstyrelsen, and a highly-recommended, beautifully made interactive film about aspen's biodiversity value. 
  • Aspen is a focal species of Trees for Life, a charity restoring the Caledonian Forest in Scotland.
  • Eadha's projects in Scotland actively promote aspen use and woodland restoration. 
  • A very nice suite of descriptions of insects on aspen from Tommi Nyman, at Joensuu University, Finland.

 

Non-peer reviewed publications/ Popular science

  • Robinson KM, Closset M, Albrectsen BR (2009) Young Chrysomela larvae prefer lower phenolics in their diet (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Skörvnöpparn: Insekter I Norr 1: 32-34, Closset M, Albrectsen BR (2009) Young Chrysomela larvae prefer lower phenolics in their diet (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Skörvnöpparn: Insekter I Norr 1: 32-34
  • Taylor G, Beckett KP, Robinson KM, Stiles K, Rae AM (2001) Identifying QTL for yield in biomass poplar. Aspects of Applied Biology 65, Biomass and energy crops II: 173-182 
{tab=Contact}

Portrait of Kathryn Robinson Kathryn Robinson
Researcher
Department of Plant Physiology
Umeå University
Phone: +46 (0)90 786 5494
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.