I’m a
Turku University graduate (plant) ecologist. My main research interest are
plants, plant associated microbes (endophytic and epiphytic microbes,
mycorrhizal fungi, pathogens) and herbivores and their interactions. For over
twenty years, our model system has been grasses (genus Festuca) and their systemic seed transmitted endophytes (Epichloë sp.). During last decade my research
has focused more on agricultural systems and the effects of agrochemicals (glyphosate)
on non-target organisms. To answer our research questions we use long-term
common-garden and field experiments from where we get material and data for
laboratory analyses and modelling.

I have conducted
most of my research projects together with my husband Kari Saikkonen (Prof.,
Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku). Our research questions have taken us
to Arizona (Arizona State University, 1995-1997) and to the center of
grass-endophyte studies in Kentucky (2014) as well as to collect grass samples circumpolarly
(e.g. Greenland, Canada, Faroe Islands). We are actively collaborating with
several grass-endophyte research groups in Europe and North and South America.

I’m leading an Academy of Finland funded
research project (2017-2021) ‘Effects of glyphosate on non-target organisms’.

Glyphosate
is the most used pesticide globally. Its herbicidal activity is based on
inactivation of an enzyme of the shikimate metabolic pathway, and it thus kills
non-selectively herbaceous plants. It has been regarded harmless to animals and
humans, because the shikimate pathway does not occur in animals. However, it
can be found in many microbes. Thus, glyphosate may affect the microbial
activity and modify microbial community of the soil, plants and other
interacting organisms. In our project we take advantage of novel technologies
to examine microbiota in plants and animals, their interactions in plants via
phytohormone signaling pathways, and the effects of glyphosate on secondary
plant defense chemicals, plant performance, and performance and well-being of
both invertebrate and vertebrate animal model species. The
project leans on experimental field site (founded in 2014) simulating the
till/no-till cultivation using replicated plots with and without glyphosate
application in University of Turku Botanical Garden. We have chosen important
Finnish crops (broad horse bean, potato, meadow fescue, oat, strawberry) as
model plants in the field experiment to study indirect plant associated microbe
responses to glyphosate application. Direct glyphosate effects on herbivores
via food on life history traits and physiological responses and gut microflora
are studied on mealworms and Japanese quails. Indirect effects of glyphosate
via soil on herbivores are studied using Colorado potato beetles as model
organism. Our project is aiming to gain a holistic view of possible glyphosate
effects in the agroecosystem.

My teaching includes courses on plant-microbe-herbivore interactions, and agroecology and -evolution. Most of my teaching is, however, supervising bachelor's, master's and PhD thesis, which are usually part of our ongoing research projects.