I am a professor in forest phytology. My research interests are focused on: i) physiological and metabolomic defence response of forest trees against aggressive fungal pathogens such as Phytophthora spp. or Ophiostoma spp., ii) the effects of stressful environmental factors on cell wall compositional properties of the wood (lignin, polysaccharides, extractives) and cell wall nanomechanics. In addition, my research team has long-term experience with the carbon balance, drought and heat stress in forest ecosystems. These topics are investigated on different levels, ranging from the individuals such as fungi (mycelial respiration), trees (leaf CO2 assimilation, respiration) up to the ecosystem scale (carbon-water-energy fluxes following disturbances caused by windstorms, fires and bark beetle attacks). Measurements are carried out in combination of chamber and eddy covariance methods. Also, the stomatal conductance, transpiration and energy balance data on various temporal and spatial scales are available. These activities belong to the long-term ecological research in the Tatra Mts (LTER Europe site) dedicated to post-disturbance ecosystem development and climate change impact. The effect of hydrological drought is investigated in European beech, silver fir and Norway spruce provenances using band dendrometers.