Research

  • Food quality and nutritional value.
  • Molecular physiology, transgenic biology and metabolic regulation.
  • Metabolomics: Applications in the analysis of functional diversity, food quality and food safety.

Past research

  • Regulation of sucrose-starch interconversion.
  • Nitrogen assimilation.
  • Developmental processes (for example, fruit ripening).

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Davies, H.V.; Shepherd, L.V.T. (2012) Integrating ‘omics in food quality and safety assessment., In: Agrawal, G.K. & Rakwal, R. (eds.). Seed Development: OMICS Technologies toward Improvement of Seed Quality and Crop Yield: OMICS in Seed Biology. Springer, Chapter 26, pp555-567. ISBN: 978-94-007-4748-7
  • Davies, H.V.; Shepherd, L.V.T. (2011) Metabolomics and genetically modified organisms (GMOs)., In: Heldman, D.R., Hoover, D.G. & Wheeler, M.B. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Food. Taylor and Francis, Boca Raton, Florida, 410-413.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; McNicol, J.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2007) Application of metabolite and flavour volatile profiling to studies of biodiversity in Solanum species., In: Nikolau, B.L. & Wurtele, E.S. (eds.). Concepts in Plant Metabolomics. Springer, Dordrecht, 259-268. ISBN: 978-1-4020-5607-9
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2007) Profiling of metabolites and volatile flavour compounds from Solanum species using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry., In: Nikolau, B.L. & Wurtele, E.S. (eds.). Concepts in Plant Metabolomics. Springer, Dordrecht, 208-219. ISBN: 978-1-4020-5607-9
  • Davies, H.V. (2002) Commercial developments with transgenic potato., In: Valpuesta, V. (ed.). Fruit and Vegetable Biotechnology. Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge, Chapter 9, pp222-249.
  • Davies, H.V. (2000) Advances in potato improvement through genetic engineering., In: Arencibia, A.D. (ed.). Plant Genetic Engineering. Towards the Third Millennium. Elsevier, Chapter 23, pp154-158.
  • Kumar, A.; MacLeod, M.R.; Arif, M.A.D.; Davies, H.V.; Taylor, M.A. (1998) A molecular approach to study the role of polyamines and ethylene in plant development., In: Bardocz, S.; White, A.; Tiburcio, A.F. (eds.). COST 917: Biogenically Active Amines in Food, Volume 1, pp 43-52.

Technical / contract reports

  • Shepherd, L.V.T.; Dobson, G.; Davies, H.V. (2011) Metabolome biodiversity in crop plant species – when, where, how much and so what?., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2010, pp20-21.
  • Shepherd, L.V.T.; Davies, H.V. (2006) Metabolic analysis of potato tuber development., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp34-35.
  • McNicol, J.W.; Verrall, S.R.; Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Griffiths, D.W.; Ramsay, G.; Davies, H.V.; Stewart, D. (2006) Statistical analysis of metabolomic data., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp54-55.
  • Shepherd, L.V.T.; Davies, H.V. (2006) Searching for unintended compositional changes in GM potatoes (Invited review)., ISB News Reports, pp4-7.
  • Davies, H.V.; Waugh, R. (2004) Genes to products., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp135-137.
  • McDougall, G.J.; Ross, H.A.; Swanston, J.S.; Davies, H.V. (2004) A novel activity for a starch debranching enzyme., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp142-143.
  • Davies, H.V.; Viola, R.; Waugh, R. (2003) Genes to Products Overview., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, pp106-108.
  • Morris, W.L.; Ducreux, L.J.M.; Millam, S.; Stewart, D.; Griffiths, D.W.; Davies, H.V.; Taylor, M.A. (2003) Carotenogenesis in potato tubers., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, pp109.
  • Shepherd, L.V.T.; McCue, K.F.; Belknap, W.R.; Davies, H.V. (2003) Transgenical approaches to reduce glycoalkaloids in potato tubers., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, p112.
  • Davies, H.V.; Taylor, M.A.; Tiller, S.A.; Witte, C. (2002) Molecular manipulation of urea metabolism in potato., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp140-142.
  • Davies, H.V.; Waugh, R. (2002) Genes to Products., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp133-134.
  • Davies, H.V.; Viola, R.; Oparka, K.J. (2001) Plant biochemistry and cell biology., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2000/2001, pp90-93.
  • Stewart, D.; Deighton, N.; Davies, H.V. (2001) Antioxidants in soft fruit., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2000/2001, pp94-98.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Jones, C.S.; Stewart, D.; Taylor, M.A.; McNicol, R.J.; Davies, H.V. (1998) Multidisciplinary approaches to improve red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) fruit quality., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1997/98, pp99-103.
  • Robinson, D.J.;Davies, H.V.;Birch, AN.E.;Wilson, TM.A.;Kerby, N.W.;Squire, G.R.;Hillman, J.R.; (1998) Development, release and regulation of GM crops., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1997/98
  • Maddison, A.; Meyer, R.C.; Hedley, P.E.; Waugh, R.; Davies, H.V.; Machray, G.C. (1996) The organisation and expression from plant multigene families., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1993, p92.

Conference papers

  • Shepherd, L.V.T.; Pont, S.D.A.; Bryan, G.J.; Dale, M.F.B.; Hancock, R.D.; Hedley, P.E.; Morris, J.A.; Verrall, S.R.; Hackett, C.A.; McNicol, J.W.; Davies, H.V. (2013) Acrylamide forming potential of potato: predictive tools and genetic interactions., Aspects of Applied Biology, 116, 53-60.
  • Deighton, N.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V.; Gardner, P.T.; Duthie, G.G.; Mullen, W.; Crozier, A. (2011) Soft fruit as sources of dietary antioxidants., Proceedings of the 8th International Rubus and Ribes Symposium, Dundee, 9-11 July 2011.
  • Davies, H.V. (2010) Improving tuber quality – opportunities and challenges for GM approaches., SSCR Meeting, Dundee, 11 February 2010.
  • Shepherd, T.; Cognat, C.; Griffiths, D.W.; Dobson, G.; Davies, H.V.; Stewart, D. (2008) Application of GC-(ToF)MS based metabolite profiling techniques for compositional analysis of leaf cuticular waxes from potato., Metabomeeting 2008, Lyon, France, 28-29 April 2008.
  • McCue, K.F.; Allen, P.V.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Blake, A.; Rockhold, D.R.; Novy, R.G.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V.; Belknap, W.R. (2007) Manipulation and compensation of steroidal glycoalkaloid biosynthesis in potatoes., Acta Horticulturae, 745, 343-350.
  • Conner, S.; Davies, H.V.; Stewart, D. (2007) Metabolomics and its application to novel food testing., 3rd International Metabolomics Conference, Manchester, 10-14 June 2007.
  • Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; McNicol, J.W.; Davies, H.V. (2007) Metabolomics as a platform technology for food safety and risk assessment., 3rd International Metabolomics Conference, Manchester, 10-14 June 2007.
  • McCue, K.F.; Allen, P.A.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Blake, A.; Novy, R.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V.; Belknap, W.R. (2006) Manipulation and compensation of steroidal glycoalkaloid biosynthesis in potatoes., International Solanaceae Conference and Solanaceae Genomics Network, Madison, Wisconsin, July 2006.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; McNicol, J.W.; Davies, H.V.; Stewart, D. (2006) Use and limitations of GC-MS based metabolite profiling methods for the analysis of metabolite content in freeze-dried potato tubers., 4th International Plant Metabolomics Conference, Reading, 7-10 April 2007. Metabolomics, 2(4), p279.
  • Stewart, D.; Colquhoun, I.; McNicol, J.W.; Davies, H.V. (2006) Plant metabolomics addressing scientific concerns and uncertainties with genetic modification., 4th International Plant Metabolomics Conference, Reading, 7-10 April 2006.
  • Davies, H.V. (2006) Metabolomics: Applications in functional biodiversity analysis in potato., International Solanaceae Conference and Solanaceae Genomics Network, Madison, Wisconsin, 23-27 July 2006.
  • McCue, K.F.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Rockhold, D.R.; Allen, P.V.; Davies, H.V.; Belknap, W.R. (2005) Modification of potato alkaloids – a lesson in applied metabolomics., 229th American Chemical Society National Meeting, San Diego, 13-17 March 2005.
  • Cankar, K.; van Dijk, J.; Gruden, K.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Stewart, D.; Leifert, C.; Davies, H.V.; Kok, E.J. (2005) Development of a potato microarray for food safety analysis., Biosciences 2005, Glasgow, 17-21 July 2005.
  • McCue, K.F.; Allen, P.V.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Blake, A.; Maccree, M.M.; Rockhold, D.R.; Whitworth, J.L.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V.; Belknap, W.R. (2005) Identification and characterization of a novel UDP-glucose:solanidine glucosyl transferase at the committed step in steroidal glycoalkaloid biosynthesis in potatoes., Proceedings of the Potato Association of America Congress, Calgary, Canada, 17-21 July 2005.
  • Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V.; Verrall, S.R.; Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Colquhoun, I.; Le Gall, G. (2004) Metabolic profiling: Platform technologies to detect unintended effects following genetic modification of potato (Solanum tuberosum)., 3rd International Congress on Plant Metabolomics, Iowa, USA, 3-6 June 2004.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; McNicol, J.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2004) Application of metabolite and flavour volatile profiling to studies of biodiversity in Solanum species., 3rd International Congress on Plant Metabolomics, Iowa, USA, 3-6 June 2004.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2004) Profiling of metabolites and volatile flavour compounds from Solanum species using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry., 3rd International Congress on Plant Metabolomics, Iowa, USA, 3-6 June 2004.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; McNicol, J.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2004) Application of metabolite profiling to studies of biodiversity in Solanum species., Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meetin,. Heriot-Watt Unviersity, 29 March – 2 April 2004.
  • Morris, W.L.; Ducreux, L.J.M.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V.; Bryan, G.J.; Hedley, P.E.; Millam, S.; Taylor, M.A. (2004) Characterisation and transgenic modification of carotenogenesis during tuber development and storage in potato., Scottish Plant Molecular Biology Meeting, Dundee, 9 January 2004.
  • Morris, W.L.; Ducreux, L.J.M.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V.; Taylor, M.A. (2004) Carotenoid accumulation during potato tuber development and storage., SEB Annual Meeting, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 29 March – 2 April 2004.
  • Taylor, M.A.; Morris, W.L.; Ducreux, L.J.M.; Davies, H.V.; Millam, S. (2004) Metabolic engineering of carotenoid biosynthesis in potato tubers., Aspects of Applied Biology, 72, 155-162.
  • McCue, K.F.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Allen, P.V.; Maccree, M.M.; Rockhold, D.R.; Davies, H.V.; Belknap, W.R. (2003) Modification of steroidal alkaloid biosynthesis in transgenic tubers containing an antisense sterol glycotransferase (Sgt) gene encoding a novel steroidal alkaloid diglycoside rhamnosyl transferase., 87th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America, Washington, USA, 10-14 August 2003.
  • Morris, W.L.; Ducreux, L.J.M.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Lacomme, C.; Davies, H.V.; Taylor, M.A. (2003) Characterisation and transgenic modification of carotenogenesis during tuber development and storage in potato., Gordon Conference – Carotenoids 2004, California, USA, 4-9 January 2004.
  • McCue, K.F.; Allen, P.V.; Rockhold, D.R.; Maccree, M.M.; Belknap, W.R.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Joyce, P.; Corsini, D.l.; Davies, H.V. (2003) Reduction of total steroidal glycoalkaloids in potato tubers using antisense constructs of a gene encoding a solanidine glucosyl transferase., Acta Horticulturae, 619, 77-86.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; McNicol, J.W.; Deighton, N.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2003) Can metabolite profiling be used to identify unintended effects in transgenic tubers?, 16th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, Edinburgh, 31 August – 5 September 2003.
  • McCue, K.F.; Corsini, D.l.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Moehs, C.P.; Joyce, P.; Davies, H.V.; Belknap, W.R. (2002) Reduction of total steroidal glycoalkaloids in potato tubers using antisense constructs of a gene encoding a solanidine glycosyl transferase., Potato Association of America, Toronto, Canada, July 2002.
  • Stewart, D.; Deighton, N.; Duthie, G.G.; Gardner, P.T.; Davies, H.V. (2001) Identification and assessment of nutritional relevant of antioxidant compounds from soft fruit species., Bioactive Compounds in Plant Foods – Health Effects and Perspectives for the Food Industry, Tenerife, Spain, 26-28 April 2001.
  • Stewart, D.; Deighton, N.; Davies, H.V. (2001) Contribution of cell wall-bound compounds to the antioxidant capacity of soft fruit., COST Action 916: Bioactive Compounds in Plant Foods – Health Effects and Perspectives for the Food Industry, Tenerife, Spain, 26-28 April 2001.
  • Stewart, D.; Deighton, N.; Karenlampi, S.; Kokko, H.; Davies, H.V. (2001) Scandinavian berries as a nutritionally relevant source of antioxidants., COST Action 916: Bioactive Compounds in Plant Foods – Health Effects and Perspectives for the Food Industry, Tenerife, Spain, 26-28 April 2001.
  • Stewart, D.; Deighton, N.; Davies, H.V. (2000) Contribution of cell wall-bound compounds to the antioxidant capacity of soft fruit., Abstracts of the NEODIET Conference – Nutritional Enhancement of Plant Foods, John Innes Centre, Norwich, 6-9 September 2000, 28.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Podevin, N.; Devos, Y.; Liu, Y.; Karenlampi, S.; Bradshaw, J.E.; Jones, H.; Nielsen, K.M.; Kleter, G.A.; Kuiper, H.A.; Sweet, J.; Poting, A.; Davies, H.V. (2012) Safety assessment of cisgenic and intragenic plants: EFSA’s GMO Panel scientific opinion., 12th International Symposium on Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms (ISBGMO12), St Louis, Missouri, USA, 16-20 September 2012 (Abstract).
  • Pertry, I.; Tzotzos, G.; Nothegger, C.; Burssens, S.; Davies, H.V.; Hull R.; Sweet, J.; Kuiper, H.A.; Mezzetti, B.; Messens, K.; Iserentant, D.; De Loose, M.; Gheysen, G. (2012) FURARN, a computer-based support system for the risk assessment of GM crops., 12th International Symposium on Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms (ISBGMO12). St Louis, Missouri, USA, 16-20 September 2012 (Abstract).
  • Halford, N.G.; Muttucumara, N.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Davies, H.V. (2012) Producing low acrylamide risk potatoes., World Potato Congress, Edinburgh, 27-30 May 2012.
  • Alexander, C.J.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Sungurtas, J.A.; McNicol, J.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2012) Statistical Analysis of combined metabolomics datasets from the potato tuber life cycle., Metabomeeting, University of Manchester, 25-27 September 2012.
  • Pont, S.D.A.; Ponte, A.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Davies, H.V.; Hancock, R.D. (2011) Towards reduced acrylamide potato products: Analysis of precuros accumulation pathways using 13C-labelling in conjunction with GC/MS., PlantEngine Plant Metabolic Engineering for High Value Products, Murcia, Spain,17-18 November 2011.
  • Cullen, D.W.; Harwood, W.A.; Smedley, M.; Davies, H.V.; Taylor, M.A. (2008) Development of a standard, validated procedure for the isolation of transgene flanking regions in GM crops and detailed analysis of transgene insertion., 1st Global Conference on GMO Analysis, Como, Italy, 24-27 June 2008 (Poster).
  • Lehesranta, S.J.; Davies, H.V.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Nunan, N.; McNicol, J.W.; Auriola, S.; Koistinen, K.M.; Suomalainen, S.; Kokko, H.I.; Karenlampi, S.O. (2005) Comparison of tuber proteomes of potato (Solanum sp.) varieties, landraces and genetically modified lines., 16th Triennial Conference of the EAPR, Bilbao, 17-22 July 2005. (Poster)
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2004) Use of gas chromatography-(time-of-flight) mass spectrometry for analysis of metabolites from Solanum species., Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, Heriot Watt University, 29 March – 2 April 2004.
  • McCue, K.F.; Allen, P.V.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Rockhold, D.R.; Davies, H.V.; Belknap, W.R. (2004) Identification and characterization of a glycosterol rhamnosyl transferase, the terminal step in triose formation of steroidal glycoalkaloids., 88th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America, Scottsbluff, USA, 8-12 August 2004 (Abstract).
  • McCue, K.F.; Allen, P.V.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Rockhold, D.R.; Davies, H.V.; Belknap, W.R. (2004) Identification and characterisation of UDP-galactose:solanidine galactosyl transferase, a branchpoint in triose formation of steroidal glycoalkaloids., 88th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America. Scottsbluff, USA, 8-12 August 2004 (Abstract).
  • Verrall, S.R.; Deighton, N.; Marshall, R.; Sungurtas, J.; Shepherd, T.; Shepherd, L.V.T.; Dobson, G.; McNicol, J.W.; Davies, H.V. (2003) Can metabolomics identify unintended effects in transgenic tubers?, 2nd International Conference on Plant Metabolomics, Potsdam, Germany, 25-28 April 2003. (Poster)
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Marshall, R.; Verrall, S.R.; Conner, S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Stewart, D.; Davies, H.V. (2003) Analysis of metabolites from Solanum species using gas chromatography-(Time-of-Flight) mass spectrometry and automated data analysis., 16th International Mass Spectrometry Conference, Edinburgh, 31 August – 5 September 2003. (Poster)
  • Kokko, H.; Karenlampi, S.; Juntilla, O.; Rapp, K.; Martinussen, I.; Deighton, N.; Davies, H.V. (2001) Northberry: cultivation and breeding of Northern Rubus species (R. chamaemorus, R. arcticus)., 8th International Rubus & Ribes Symposium, Dundee, 9-11 July 2001, 6.
  • Souleyre, E.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Taylor, M.A.; Duncan, G.; Davies, H.V. (2000) Starch synthesis in strawberry fruit., Abstracts of the Society for Experimental Biology Annual Main Meeting, Exeter University, 27-31 March 2000.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Laarhoven, L.; Davies, H.V.; Harren, F. (2000) Ethylene production by strawberry flowers and ripening fruit., Abstracts of the 9th International Workshop on LASER Based Photoacoustic Trace Gas Detection in Life Sciences, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 11-12 July 2000.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Medina-Escobar, N.; Ross, H.A.; Souleyre, E.; Hancock, R.D.; Fairlie, J.; Taylor, M.A.; Davies, H.V. (2000) Enzymes of the TCA cycle expressed during strawberry fruit ripening., Abstracts of the 4th International Strawberry Symposium, Tampere, Finland, 9-14 July 2000.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Wyman, M.; Neelam, A.; Jones, C.S.; Taylor, M.A.; Davies, H.V.; Sexton, R. (2000) Abscission endo-b-1,4-glucanase, ethylene and the machine harvesting of red raspberries., Abstracts of the 10th Scottish Cell Wall Group Meeting, Edinburgh University, 3-4 April 2000.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Sexton, R.; Neelam, A.; Jones, C.S.; Taylor, M.A.; Davies, H.V. (1999) The biochemical and molecular characterisation of raspberry fruit (Rubus idaeus L.) abscission cellulase., Abstracts of the 9th Scottish Plant Cell Wall Group Meeting, Glasgow University.
  • Davies, H.V.; Harris, N.; Taylor, M.A.; Jarvis, S.; Ross, H.A.; Millam, S.; Blundy, M.; Burrell, M.; Viola, R. (1998) Inhibition of starch biosynthesis in transgenic plants with down-regulated fructokinase activity., Abstracts of AAB Conference on Production and Uses of Starch, Edinburgh.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Stewart, D.; Jones, C.S.; Woodhead, M.; Deighton, N.; Wheatley, R.E.; Taylor, M.A.; McNicol, R.J.; Davies, H.V. (1998) Enhancing raspberry fruit quality., Physiological and Technological Aspects of Gaseous and Thermal Treatments of Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Madrid, Spain.