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Roots are rarely seen, but they are important and SEFARI research delves below the surface. Roots hold plants upright and soils in place. They acquire the water and nutrients plants need to grow and, thereby, underpin terrestrial food chains and the nutrition of humans and livestock. They can also be beautiful. To illustrate the beauty and science of roots, SEFARI sponsored a collaboration (through our Responsive Opportunity Fund) between the Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience (CECHR) artist in residence (Jean Duncan) and scientists at The James Hutton Institute(Philip White
"Our Plant Power open day is a wonderful chance for everyone to come and learn about and be amazed by our relationship with plants" The James Hutton Institute and the University of Dundee are taking part in the international Fascination of Plants Day on Sunday 21st May with a celebration of the power of plants. The free 'Plant Power’ event set amidst the University of Dundee Botanic Garden’s beautiful collection of trees and shrubs, glasshouses, water garden and herb garden, will have a range of activities for all the family between 11am and 4pm. More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez
SEFARI has a crucial role in ensuring that the right research and expertise gets to the right people, at the right time and in the right format. This model has to deliver for policy makers, commercial interests and individuals alike – such challenges are shared the world over in the space between research and decision taking. SEFARI also has a role to better internationalise Scottish Government funded research on environment, food, agriculture and land. While that means developing ways to take our messages beyond Scotland, it also opens up the opportunity for us to learn from others. This week
"Professor Jackson’s book, 'Prosperity without Growth' is a landmark in the sustainability debate" Tim Jackson, Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey and Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP), has been announced as the speaker of the 40th T.B. Macaulay Lecture, to be presented in partnership by the James Hutton Institute and the Macaulay Development Trust on 4 th October 2017. Related content 40th T.B. Macaulay Lecture - Prosperity Without Growth: Foundations for the Economy of Tomorrow More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez
"The pathogen population is constantly evolving which can challenge the effectiveness of disease management practices" An international consortium including the James Hutton Institute which tracks the European spatial distribution of Phytophthora infestans, the plant pathogen responsible for potato late blight, has updated the distribution of the pathogen by adding new data that visualises the distribution and diversity of dominant clones in the 2016 crop. The results reveal widespread infection by 2 new clones and novel genetically diverse isolates in some regions. Related content Cell and
"Current work at the Hutton Institute is testing for Lyme disease risk at a lot of sites with widely varying deer densities to test the impact of deer densities on Lyme disease risk" Lyme disease – an infection contracted from the bite of an infected tick– is an important emerging disease in the UK, and is increasing in incidence in people in the UK and large parts of Europe and North America. A new study, published by the Royal Society, found that some types of conservation action could increase the abundance of ticks, which transmit diseases like Lyme disease. Related content Lucy Gilbert
Or at least Showcase Time… We’re beginning to get a little paranoid at SEFARI HQ. On the day of our first significant set-piece, our launch event, Article 50 was triggered, signalling the start of the formal process for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. On the day of our second major set-piece, a research showcase event, the Prime Minister called for a general election! The showcase event was a celebration of SEFARI research and delivery. Taking place in the magnificent surroundings of the Garden Lobby in the Scottish Parliament this was an opportunity to explore, with Members of
"Understanding the function of the mutation in Golden Promise and its interactions with other genes means that favourable traits can be bred into our current varieties of barley" Scientists from the International Barley Hub working in collaboration with brewing industry partners have unravelled the genetic secrets of Golden Promise, a popular malting barley variety in the 1970s and 1980s, in a drive to develop future varieties suited to the needs of growers and distillers. Golden Promise’s combined short height, high yields and early maturity, together with its characteristic growth, made it
“This discovery reveals a novel strategy that can be used by a pathogen to suppress the plants immune system, highlighting a vulnerability in our crops that could potentially be protected in the future.” Scientists at the James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with the Division of Plant Sciences at the University of Dundee and the Fujian Agricultural and Forestry University of China, have discovered that the pathogen responsible for the devastating crop disease potato late blight manipulates the plants’ growth and development to boost its infection process. Related content Cell and Molecular
"Each use of the service to analyse a crop sample is worth savings of approximately ÂŁ14 in labour and equipment for farmers" As one of the world's most important food crops, potatoes are grown for many different markets. It is fundamental for farmers to know when to halt crop growth to achieve optimal tuber size for market and so maximize profits. Until now, standard practice has been to grade a sample of tubers through multiple sieves, counting the number within size ranges, which is time consuming and expensive. Related content Matt Aitkenhead More information from: Bernardo Rodriguez