Vera Holland
As a plant ecophysiologist, I study specific properties of plants that enable them to establish and survive in stressful habitats. Methodologically, I use a wide range of biochemical, biophysical, and physiological techniques, both in common garden or field experimental setups and in climate chambers and greenhouses. I focus on physiological acclimation and genetic adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to stressful abiotic conditions.
Projects
· 'FutureOaks' – Investigates the performance of three different oak species from two provenances in a Mediterranean and a central European common garden
'SHOP' - South Hesse Oak Project; Project of assisted range expansion of Mediterranean oaks
'FunDivEurope' - Functional significance of Forest Biodiversity
CV
2014 Research assistant of the Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg in the Biodiversity–Ecosystem Functioning Experiment China (BEF-China)
2009 Diploma Thesis awarded with the P&G sustainability
prize: Untersuchungen zur
Photosynthese von Eichenhybriden (Quercus x hispanica)
und ihrern Elternarten im Winterhalbjahr (Frankfurt, Germany)
Peer-reviewed publications
Holland V, Reininger N, Bantis F, Brüggemann W, Radoglou K & Fotelli M (2022). Diurnal photosynthetic performance of two oak species from two provenances in a Mediterranean and a central European common garden. Photosynthetica, 60(3), 326-336.
Bantis F, Früchtenicht E, Graap J, Ströll S, Reininger N, Schäfer L, Pollastrini M, Holland V, Bussotti F, Radoglou K & Brüggemann W (2020). The JIP-test as a tool for forestry in times of climate change. Photosynthetica, 58 (SI)
Koller S, Holland V & Brüggemann W (2020). Special issue in honour of Prof. Reto J. Strasser: Seasonal monitoring of PSII functionality and relative chlorophyll content on a field site in two consecutive years: A case study of different oak species. Photosynthetica, 58 (SI), 194-205.
Holland V, Fragner L, Jungcurt T, Weckwerth W & Brüggemann W (2016). Girdling interruption between source and sink in Quercus pubescens does not trigger leaf senescence. Photosynthetica, 54(4), 589-597.
Pollastrini M, Holland V, Brüggemann W, Bruelheide H, Dănilă I, Jaroszewicz B, Valladares F & Bussotti F (2016). Taxonomic and ecological relevance of the chlorophyll a fluorescence signature of tree species in mixed European forests. New Phytologist, 212(1), 51-65.
Pollastrini M, Holland V, Brüggemann W, & Bussotti F (2016). Chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis in forests. Annali di Botanica, 6, 23-37.
Bussotti F, Pollastrini M, Holland V and Brüggemann W (2015). Functional traits and adaptive capacity of European forests to climate change. Environmental and Experimental Botany 111:91-113.
Holland V, Koller S, Lukas S and Brüggemann W (2015). Drought-and frost-induced accumulation of soluble carbohydrates during accelerated senescence in Quercus pubescens. Trees DOI 10.1007/s00468-015-1290-4.
Holland V and Brüggemann W (2013). Insight into the photosynthetic apparatus in evergreen and deciduous European oaks during autumnal senescence by using OJIP fluorescence transient analysis. Plant biology, 16(4), 801-808.
Koller S, Holland V, Brüggemann W (2013). Fast chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetic signatures as an easy analysis method of differential drought stress effects in evergreen and deciduous European oaks, Photosynthetica, 51(4), 574-582.
Pollastrini M, Holland V, Brüggemann W, Koricheva J, Jussila I, Scherer-Lorenzen M, Berger S, Bussotti F (2013). Interactions and competition processes among tree species in young experimental mixed forests, assessed with chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf morphology. Plant Biology, 16(2), 323-331.
Baeten L, Verheyen K, Wirth C et al. (2013). A novel comparative research platform designed to determine the functional significance of tree species diversity in European forests. PPEES,15(5), 281-291.
Holland V and Brüggemann W (2011) Photosynthetic properties of Quercus x hispanica Lam. and Quercus suber L. under harsh Central European winter conditions. Photosynthetica, 49(3): 459-465.