Julie Graham
Cell and Molecular SciencesSoft fruit geneticist who works closely with industry to deliver sustainable and resilient crops.
Biography
Fruit Geneticist
James Hutton Institute Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA.
e-mail: Julie.Graham@hutton.ac.uk
Employment History:
PhD. Gene vector techniques in soft fruit, University of St Andrews 1987-1990
1990-1996: Junior post-doctoral researcher (Band 6), Soft Fruit Department, Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI).
1996-1999: Senior Post Doctoral Scientist (Band 5), Soft Fruit and Perennial Crops Department Scottish Crop Research Institute (SCRI).
January 1999 – June 1999: Acting Head (Band 4), Soft Fruit and Perennial Crops Genetics, Department, SCRI.
Jan 2000 – 2013: Research Leader (Band F) Raspberry genomics, Cellular and Molecular Sciences James Hutton Institute (JHI).
Jan 2013 – present. Research Leader (Band G) Soft Fruit Genomics, CMS, JHI
Recent publications
Williams D., Karley A., Britten A., McCallum S., Graham J (2023) Raspberry plant stress detection using hyperspectral imaging. Plant Direct 7.
Graham J., Smith K., MacKenzie K., Milne L., Jennings n., Mateos B., Hackett C. (2022) Developmental QTL in a red raspberry Primocane x biennial raspberry population that exhibit primocane fruiting Journal of horticulture J. Hortic, Vol. 9 Iss. 5 No: 308
William D., Hackett CA., Karley A., McCallum S., Smith K., Britten A. and Graham J (2021) Seeing the wood for the trees: hyperspectral imaging for high throughput QTL detection in raspberry, a perennial crop species Fruit Research 2021 1:7
Scolari L., Hancock R., Hedley P., Morris J., Smith K., Graham J. (2021) Combining QTL mapping and gene expression analysis to elucidate the genetic control of crumbly fruit in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Agronomy 11, 794.
Petridis A, van der Kaay J, Sungurtas J, Graham J, Hancock RD (2020) Photosynthetic plasticity allows blueberry plants to maintain yield under conditions of high sink demand Environmental and Experimental Botany. Vol 174 Article 104031 June 2020
Foster T, Bassil N, Dossett M, Worthington ML, Graham J. (2019) Genetic and genomic resources for Rubus breeding: a roadmap for the future” HORTRES 6: 116
Petridis, A., van der Kaay, J., Chrysanthou, E., McCallum, S., Graham, J. and Hancock, R. D.(2018) Photosynthetic limitation as a factor influencing yield in highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum) grown in a northern European environment. Journal of Experimental Botany 69: 3069-3080
Recent Grant Funding
IUK 10094313, BerryGrow
IUK 10082164, Economics of raspberry production
IUK 102130 Feasibility of developing novel breeding methodology to improve berry flavour
IUK 48163 Raspberry production in novel media for root rot resistance
IUK 101819 Imaging sensor solutions in soft fruit for high throughput phenotyping and monitoring of stresses
IUK 131890 Using genomics technologies to determine mechanisms of resistance to phytophthora
IUK 104626 Plant sensing to determine environmental impacts on developmental processed leading to crop yield
Mylnefield Trust PhD Dormancy in raspberry
H2020 Breeding Value
DEFRA Soft fruit GIN
Research
Currently I lead the soft fruit and perennial research at James Hutton Institute. Currently the group work alongside James Hutton Limited breeding staff to support the soft fruit sector by ensuring we carry out industry relevant research and breeding programmes that meet stakeholder requirements.
The Soft Fruit industry faces many challenges towards increased productivity, low input, carbon neutral regime in the light of changing climate. The UK berry industry is worth £2.2bn, with scope for growth based on significant health benefits of fruit. However, berries and other stone fruits are resource heavy crops reliant on energy, water, plastics and multiple pesticide and fertiliser inputs. External pressures such as loss of actives, lack of suitable substrates, consumer pressure and labour issues are prompting a necessary transformation in crop production. Innovation in both traditional growing and totally controlled growing is required.
My work has focused on the linking of phenotype to genotype through the development of genetic linkage maps, QTL mapping, genome sequencing and gene expression studies. Analysis has been focused on commercially valuable traits including pest and disease resistance and fruit quality and their interactions with the environment.
The soft fruit group is at the forefront translating science into industry benefits. These include the translation of molecular research into breeding solutions e.g. root- rot resistance markers which have led to the application for Plant Variety Rights on the first resistant cultivar to be released from JHL. We have also developed a range of other markers for breeding including those for other pest and disease resistance traits and for quality traits including fruit size and fruit softening which are applied through the JHL diagnostics unit. We have been able to do this through funding to generate excellent genetic and genomic resources.
We have been at the forefront of adopting plant architectural traits into IPM strategies including breeding programmes. More recently the group has been developing imaging technology for high throughput QTL mapping to assist in the understanding of sustainability traits and diagnostics on farm and this is about to be published.
This work also supports the developing APGC facility.
Additionally, we have led developments in optimising blueberry breeding and genetic resources including yield stability through optimised photosynthesis by on farm strategies. The imaging work and industry developments on yield stability has led to research on cherry yield issues bringing this new crop into the portfolio. This will probably be closely followed by apple and possibly honeyberry as soft fruit growers diversify. The research has a strong publication record despite the significant levels of industry funding.
Over the last 10 years the group has generated over £10 M in external funding to support the scientific research, breeding and industry challenges.
