Crop and grassland production and disease control

Rob is a senior crop physiologist and biochemist at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee. In his current role he works across a range of crops to identify physiological and biochemical mechanisms underpinning crop yield and quality in response to the biotic and abiotic environment. He works extensively with geneticists and breeders where his mechanistic insights facilitate the identification of genetic markers underpinning agronomic traits.  

Sanjeev is a member of the Potato Genetics and Breeding group at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee - specialising in the field of potato genetics and genomics including next-generation sequencing, bioinformatics, genome-wide association studies and genomic selection. He was actively involved in the international potato genome sequencing project notably construction of the reference potato chromosome-scale pseudomolecules.

Sonia has a PhD in microbiology and is currently a senior postdoctoral molecular bacteriologist at the James Hutton Institute in Dundee.

Current research interests

Current research interests

Jennie is a Senior researcher in potato pathology and diagnostics. Her main research interests are developing the use of molecular diagnostic techniques for the detection and quantification of seed and soil-borne potato pathogens: both as a research tool to investigate the epidemiology of potato pathogens, and in supporting the management of potatoes by quantifying disease risk.

My current research interests are in developing and applying an understanding of the physiological determinants of resource use efficiency (especially nitrogen use efficiency) and the response of crops to foliar disease to guide management practice and improve the sustainability of production. Physiological questions are addressed at the tissue, whole plant and crop scales. Modelling is used to integrate understanding across these scales and to investigate the complex interactions between soil, root and crop canopy processes.

Current research interests

My interests range between all aspects of grass and grassland agronomy; from agricultural production of grass for livestock production; through grasses for soil stabilisation on engineered sites; to the provision of grass playing surfaces for sports and leisure activities.

I am also interested in the potential future role of grassland for the provision of harvestable material that can be used for renewable energy production and bioprocessing.