Award details

Fundamental studies of the interaction between environmental factors, crop pathogens and pests, and crops

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004208
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr Hugh McCartney
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Professor Jon West
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	535,443
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1999
End date	31/03/2007
Duration	96 months

Abstract

The overall aim of this project is to provide a fundamental understanding of the effects of environmental factors on the interactions between plant pathogens and arable crops. The work is largely focussed on plant pathogens and the development of crop disease, but work is also done on the dispersal mechanisms of fungi pathogenic to crop pests. The knowledge generated by this project will contribute to the reduction in the use of chemical control inputs through improved husbandry practices and a better assessment of the need for and timing of control measures. The objective are: to study the key phases in the spread of plant pathogens within crops; to develop generally applicable methods for modelling different aspects of epidemic development including dispersal mechanisms; and to develop new techniques for measuring the key environmental and biological factors in epidemic development. Relationships between environmental factors, such as temperature and humidity, and biological factors, such as infection and sporulation, are studied in the field and controlled environments. Studies of pathogen dispersal processes are done in wind tunnel/ rain tower experiments and in the field. Inoculum detection can be a key factor in the forecasting of disease progress. The use of novel methods based on molecular and immunological techniques for detecting airborne inoculum are investigated. Economically important crop/pathogen systems are used as models to provide basic information on the principles of plant disease epidemiology. Oilseed rape is currently used as a model crop for studying environment/ pathogen interactions. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on oilseed rape is a specific system studied. The fundamental understanding of dispersal processes and inoculum monitoring methods developed within this project also has applications in the understanding and management of human and animal diseases.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Plant & Microbial Sciences (PMS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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