Fimbulwinter Wheat
– creating a team with a plan to adapt winter wheat for difficult winters
Coordinator: Sofia Marmon, Lund University,
Winter hardiness is a complex trait involving freezing tolerance, which is developed through cold acclimation. Despite global warming, subzero temperatures can still cause significant yield losses due to winterkill. Warmer and longer autumns delay cold acclimation, leading to lower accumulation of essential metabolites needed for freezing tolerance. Temperature fluctuations and insufficient snow cover during winter pose significant risks to crop survival, making winter wheat cultivation in these regions highly vulnerable to freeze-induced damage.
The complexity of winter hardiness as a trait needs to be more investigated, to develop a more complete understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved, and to identify possible targets that can be improved through breeding.
Network goals and activities
The network has the aims to deepen the understanding of winter hardiness traits to enhance the stability of winter wheat cultivation in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The network will bring together scientists with a shared interest in the winter hardiness of winter wheat, to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing, and further to formulate ideas for a large-scale project.
In 2025, the network will hold an online kick-off meeting in early April and initiate the drafting of an opinion or review paper. An in-person meeting will be organized during the autumn to share knowledge and identify common challenges for winter wheat survival. This meeting will also include an open online workshop. Please contact project leader Dr Sofia Marmon if you are not already a part of the network and have an interest in joining.
Partners
The Fimbulwinter Wheat Research Network consists of partners from
• Lund University (LU, Sweden)
• Agricultural University of Iceland (LBHI)
• Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC)
• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
• Lantmännen (Sweden)
• Boreal Plant Breeding Ltd. (Finland)
• Graminor (Norway)