Rein Drenkhan

Rein Drenkhan is a Professor of Forest Pathology at the Institute of Forestry and Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, and holds the Chair of Silviculture and Forest Ecology. As Vice-Rector for Research, his work focuses on fungal diseases in forest trees, particularly Lecanosticta acicola (pine needle blight), Inonotus obliquus (Chaga), and Dutch Elm Disease. His research spans microbial community dynamics, pathogen invasion patterns, and forest management impacts on disease.

Key research areas include:

• Fungal mycobiome responses to environmental factors
• Host-pathogen interactions in birch, spruce, and elm
• Global soil fungal diversity and biogeography
• Climate change effects on forest disease spread
• Bioactive compounds in tree-associated fungi

Recent publications analyze fungal communities in Betula, Picea, and Pinus forests, with emphasis on invasive pathogens like Lecanosticta acicola and Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. His work combines metabarcoding, chemical analysis, and long-term ecological monitoring across Northern Europe.