Ingo Ensminger
Associate Professor
Campus
UTM
CSB Appointment
Full
Research Areas
Bioinformatics / Computational Biology, Biotechnology, Genetics / Genomics, Molecular Biology, Physiology, Plant Biology
Education
Ph.D. University of Jena, Germany 2000
Diploma University of Giessen, Germany 1996
Primary Undergraduate Department
Biology, UTM
Graduate Programs
Cell & Systems Biology
Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Genome Biology & Bioinformatics
Research Description
We investigate the physiological, biochemical and molecular mechanisms that contribute to acclimation and adaptation of photosynthesis, growth and resilience of trees to changing environmental conditions. Our goal is to further the understanding of tree acclimation and adaption. We also develop tools for forestry, horticulture and digital agriculture to address the challenges of global environmental change. Changing climate already impacts carbon sequestration and productivity of trees, and causes increased tree mortality, with large effects on species distribution and the global carbon cycle. However, we currently lack a detailed understanding of how future climate will affect the physiological and molecular responses of northern trees and forests. Our research not only reveals how trees cope with changing climate. We also develop innovative drone-based high-throughput phenotyping tools for monitoring and quantifying change. Beyond the value of these tools for basic research, they also provide opportunities for practical applications in the forestry sector. Using drone-based phenotyping tools, we can assess growth, fitness and health of trees in the field faster and more reliably than conventional approaches. High-throughput phenotyping accelerates the process of identifying, selecting and breeding trees that are better adapted to future climate. Our research helps to sustain ecologically and economically important tree species in a future climate with benefits to the environment and the Canadian forestry sector.
Contact Information
Office Phone: 905-569-4599
Office: DV3050
Lab: DV4033
Lab Phone: 905-569-4235
Email
Mailing Address
Department of Biology
University of Toronto
3359 Mississauga Road
Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6
Canada
Publications
Ensminger I, Chang CYY, Bräutigam K (2015) Tree Responses to environmental cues. In Adam-Blondon A-F & Plomion C (Eds), Land Plants – Trees (pp. 229-263). ISBN: 9780123985484. Elsevier Ltd. (Request Author Copy)
2020
Tracking the phenology of photosynthesis using carotenoid‐sensitive and near‐infrared reflectance vegetation indices in a temperate evergreen and mixed deciduous forest
Wong CY, D’Odorico P, Arain MA, Ensminger I
2020, New Phytologist, 10.1111/nph.16479
Evidence for convergent sensing of multiple abiotic stresses in cyanobacteria
Ritter SP, Lewis AC, Vincent SL, Lo LL, Cunha APA, Chamot D, Ensminger I, Espie GS, Owttrim GW
2020, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects, 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.129462
A comparative gene co-expression analysis using self-organizing maps on two congener filmy ferns identifies specific desiccation tolerance mechanisms associated to their microhabitat preference
Ostria-Gallardo E, Larama G, Berríos G, Fallard A, Gutiérrez-Moraga A, Ensminger I, Bravo LA
2020, BMC Plant Biology, 10.1186/s12870-019-2182-3
High‐throughput drone‐based remote sensing reliably tracks phenology in thousands of conifer seedlings
D\'Odorico P, Besik A, Wong CYS, Isabel N, Ensminger I
2020, New Phytologist, 10.1111/nph.16488
Variation in the phenology of photosynthesis among eastern white pine provenances in response to warming
Fréchette E, Chang CY, Ensminger I
2020, Global Change Biology, 10.1111/gcb.15150
Decoding Gene Networks Modules That Explain the Recovery of Hymenoglossum cruentum Cav. After Extreme Desiccation
Ostria-Gallardo E, Larama G, Berríos G, Fallard A, Gutiérrez-Moraga A, Ensminger I, Manque P, Bascuñán-Godoy L, Bravo LA
2020, Frontiers in Plant Science, 10.3389/fpls.2020.00574
Champions of winter survival: cold acclimation and molecular regulation of cold hardiness in evergreen conifers
Chang CY, Bräutigam K, Hüner NPA, Ensminger I
2020, New Phytologist, 10.1111/nph.16904
2019
Effects of elevated growth temperature and enhanced atmospheric vapour pressure deficit on needle and root terpenoid contents of two Douglas fir provenances
Duan Q, Kleiber A, Jansen K, Junker-Frohn LV, Kammerer B, Han G, Zimmer I, Rennenberg H, Schnitzler J, Ensminger I, Gessler A, Kreuzwieser J
2019, Environmental and Experimental Botany, 10.1016/j.envexpbot.2019.103819
Carotenoid based vegetation indices for accurate monitoring of the phenology of photosynthesis at the leaf-scale in deciduous and evergreen trees
Wong CY, D\'Odorico P, Bhathena Y, Arain MA, Ensminger I
2019, Remote Sensing of Environment, 10.1016/j.rse.2019.111407
2018
Foliar nitrogen metabolism of adult Douglas-fir trees is affected by soil water availability and varies little among provenances
Heinze B, Du B, Kreuzwieser J, Dannenmann M, Junker LV, Kleiber A, Hess M, Jansen K, Eiblmeier M, Gessler A, Kohnle U, Ensminger I, Rennenberg H, Wildhagen H
2018, PLOS ONE, 10.1371/journal.pone.0194684
2017
Variation in short-term and long-term responses of photosynthesis and isoprenoid-mediated photoprotection to soil water availability in four Douglas-fir provenances
Junker LV, Kleiber A, Jansen K, Wildhagen H, Hess M, Kayler Z, Kammerer B, Schnitzler J, Kreuzwieser J, Gessler A, Ensminger I
2017, Scientific Reports, 10.1038/srep40145
Drought effects on root and needle terpenoid content of a coastal and an interior Douglas fir provenance
Kleiber A, Duan Q, Jansen K, Verena Junker L, Kammerer B, Rennenberg H, Ensminger I, Gessler A, Kreuzwieser J
2017, Tree Physiology, 10.1093/treephys/tpx113
2016
Relationship between leaf optical properties, chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment changes in senescing Acer saccharum leaves.
Junker LV, Ensminger I
2016, Tree physiology, 36, 694-711, 26928514
Photoperiod and temperature constraints on the relationship between the photochemical reflectance index and the light use efficiency of photosynthesis in Pinus strobus.
Fréchette E, Chang CY, Ensminger I
2016, Tree physiology, 36, 311-24, 26846980
Assessing the relationship between height growth and molecular genetic variation in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) provenances
Neophytou C, Weisser A, Landwehr D, Šeho M, Kohnle U, Ensminger I, Wildhagen H
2016, European Journal of Forest Research, 10.1007/s10342-016-0946-y
Transcriptome responses to temperature, water availability and photoperiod are conserved among mature trees of two divergent Douglas-fir provenances from a coastal and an interior habitat
Hess M, Wildhagen H, Junker LV, Ensminger I
2016, BMC Genomics, 10.1186/s12864-016-3022-6
Fast detection of leaf pigments and isoprenoids for ecophysiological studies, plant phenotyping and validating remote-sensing of vegetation
Junker LV, Ensminger I
2016, Physiologia Plantarum, 10.1111/ppl.12512
A remotely sensed pigment index reveals photosynthetic phenology in evergreen conifers
Gamon JA, Huemmrich KF, Wong CYS, Ensminger I, Garrity S, Hollinger DY, Noormets A, Peñuelas J
2016, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 10.1073/pnas.1606162113
Coordination between growth, phenology and carbon storage in three coexisting deciduous tree species in a temperate forest
Klein T, Vitasse Y, Hoch G, Tognetti R
2016, Tree Physiology, 10.1093/treephys/tpw030
2015
Sensitivity of cold acclimation to elevated autumn temperature in field-grown Pinus strobus seedlings
Chang CY, Unda F, Zubilewich A, Mansfield SD, Ensminger I
2015, Frontiers in plant science, 6, 165, 25852717
A coastal and an interior Douglas fir provenance exhibit different metabolic strategies to deal with drought stress
Du B, Jansen K, Kleiber A, Eiblmeier M, Kammerer B, Ensminger I, Gessler A, Rennenberg H, Kreuzwieser J, Millard P
2015, Tree Physiology, 10.1093/treephys/tpv105
Zeaxanthin-independent energy quenching and alternative electron sinks cause a decoupling of the relationship between the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and photosynthesis in an evergreen conifer during spring
Fréchette E, Wong CYS, Junker LV, Chang CY, Ensminger I
2015, Journal of Experimental Botany, 10.1093/jxb/erv427
2014
Douglas-fir seedlings exhibit metabolic responses to increased temperature and atmospheric drought
Jansen K, Du B, Kayler Z, Siegwolf R, Ensminger I, Rennenberg H, Kammerer B, Jaeger C, Schaub M, Kreuzwieser J, Gessler A
2014, PloS one, 9, e114165, 25436455
Elevated temperature differently affects foliar nitrogen partitioning in seedlings of diverse Douglas fir provenances
Du B, Jansen K, Junker LV, Eiblmeier M, Kreuzwieser J, Gessler A, Ensminger I, Rennenberg H
2014, Tree physiology, 34, 1090-101, 25240727
2012
A catalogue of putative unique transcripts from Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) based on 454 transcriptome sequencing of genetically diverse, drought stressed seedlings
Müller T, Ensminger I, Schmid KJ
2012, BMC genomics, 13, 673, 23190494
2011
Will changes in root-zone temperature in boreal spring affect recovery of photosynthesis in Picea mariana and Populus tremuloides in a future climate?
Fréchette E, Ensminger I, Bergeron Y, Gessler A, Berninger F
2011, Tree physiology, 31, 1204-16, 22021010
2010
Over-expression of bacterial gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GSH1) in plastids affects photosynthesis, growth and sulphur metabolism in poplar (Populus tremula x Populus alba) dependent on the resulting gamma-glutamylcysteine and glutathione levels
Herschbach C, Rizzini L, Mult S, Hartmann T, Busch F, Peuke AD, Kopriva S, Ensminger I
2010, Plant, cell & environment, 33, 1138-51, 20199621
2008
Seasonal acclimation of photosystem II in Pinus sylvestris. II. Using the rate constants of sustained thermal energy dissipation and photochemistry to study the effect of the light environment
Porcar-Castell A, Juurola E, Ensminger I, Berninger F, Hari P, Nikinmaa E
2008, Tree physiology, 28, 1483-91, 18708330
Seasonal acclimation of photosystem II in Pinus sylvestris. I. Estimating the rate constants of sustained thermal energy dissipation and photochemistry
Porcar-Castell A, Juurola E, Nikinmaa E, Berninger F, Ensminger I, Hari P
2008, Tree physiology, 28, 1475-82, 18708329
Increased air temperature during simulated autumn conditions impairs photosynthetic electron transport between photosystem II and photosystem I
Busch F, Hüner NP, Ensminger I
2008, Plant physiology, 147, 402-14, 18375598
Soil temperature and intermittent frost modulate the rate of recovery of photosynthesis in Scots pine under simulated spring conditions
Ensminger I, Schmidt L, Lloyd J
2008, The New phytologist, 177, 428-42, 18181961
2007
Increased air temperature during simulated autumn conditions does not increase photosynthetic carbon gain but affects the dissipation of excess energy in seedlings of the evergreen conifer Jack pine
Busch F, Hüner NP, Ensminger I
2007, Plant physiology, 143, 1242-51, 17259287
2006
Excitation energy partitioning and quenching during cold acclimation in Scots pine
Sveshnikov D, Ensminger I, Ivanov AG, Campbell D, Lloyd J, Funk C, Hüner NP, Oquist G
2006, Tree physiology, 26, 325-36, 16356904
2005
Regeneration patterns in boreal Scots pine glades linked to cold-induced photoinhibition
Slot M, Wirth C, Schumacher J, Mohren GM, Shibistova O, Lloyd J, Ensminger I
2005, Tree physiology, 25, 1139-50, 15996957