Research

Metabolomics technologies collect vast quantities of data which must be processed in a suitable manner for the application. We have developed rigorous tests to ensure the validity of our methods and data analysis techniques to ensure robust data sets.

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • 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

Technical / contract reports

  • Ross, H.A.; Morris, W.L.; Ducreux, L.J.M.; Hancock, R.D.; Verrall, S.R.; Morris, J.A.; Stewart, D.; Hedley, P.E.; McDougall, G.J.; Taylor, M.A. (2011) The role of pectin methyl esterase in determining potato tuber textural quality., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2010, pp32-33.
  • 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.

Conference papers

  • Brooker, R.; Hewison, R.; Mitchell, C.; Newton, A.; Neilson, R.; Pakeman, R.; Raubach, S.; Shaw, P.; Verrall, S.; Karley, A. (2023) Crop mixtures as part of the sustainability toolbox for the distilling industry, World Distilled Spirits Conference, 9 May 2023, EICC, Edinburgh.
  • Zhang, K.; Rasool, B.; Pastok, D.; Morris, J.; Verrall, S.R.; Hedley, P.E.; Hancock, R.D.; Foyer, C.H. (2016) The redox state of the apoplast influences acclimation to changing irradiance in tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum)., Enhancing Photosynthesis in Crop Plants: Targets for Improvement, Discussion Meeting, Royal Society, London, 10-11 October 2016.
  • 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.
  • Hancock, R.D.; Jarret, D.; Morris, J.; Jorgensen L.; Verrall, S.R.; Hedley, P.E.; Brennan, R.M. (2013) Developing a transcriptomic and metabolomic map of blackcurrant fruit development for the identification of key genes associated with quality traits., UK PlantSci 2013, University of Dundee, Dundee, 16-17 April 2013.
  • Jarret, D.; Rowbottom, S.; Morris, J.; Jorgensen, L.; Verrall, S.R.; Hedley, P.E.; Brennan, R.M.; Hancock, R.D. (2013) Comparative transcriptome and metabolome analysis of developing blackcurrant seed provides an insight into pathway-specific gene-metabolite co-expression., Aspects of Applied Biology 119, 2013 Fruit and Roots: A celebration and forward look, East Malling Research, 6-7 November 2013.
  • 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.; 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.
  • 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.
  • Squires, J.N.; Daniell, T.J.; Clegg, C.D.; Griffiths, B.S.; Ritz, K.; Verrall, S.R.; Wheatley, R.E. (2001) Effects of plants on diversity of nitrite-reducing bacteria in an upland grassland., Molecular Microbial Ecology Group, York.
  • Daniell, T.J.; Clegg, C.D.; Griffiths, B.S.; Ritz, K.; Squires, J.; Verrall, S.R.; Wheatley, R.E. (2001) Coupling between plants and diversity of nitrite-reducing bacteria in an upland pasture., Interactions in the Microbial World: 9th International Symposium on Microbial Ecology, Amsterdam, 26-31 August 2001.
  • Bruce, A.; Wheatley, R.E.; Verrall, S.R. (2000) Effect of volatiles from bacteria and yeast on the growth and pigmentation of sap-stain fungi., Proceedings of 31st Meeting of International Research Group on Wood Preservation, Hawaii, 14-19 May 2000.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Allwood, W.; Palau, R.; McRae, D.; Pont, S.; Sungurtas, J.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L. (2017) Comparison of rapeseed grown sustainably and conventionally. A comparison of the quality of oil and meal from winter oilseed rape grown under sustainable and conventional practices., International Conference on Natural Product Biotechnology, AECC, Aberdeen, 25-26 September 2017.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Palau, R.; McRae, D.; Pont , S.; Sungurtus, J.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L. (2017) A comparison of the quality of oil and meal from rapeseed grown under sustainable and conventional cultivation practices., Scottish Lipid Discussion Group, University of St Andrews, 4 September 2017.
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; McRae, D.; Sungurtas, J.; Pont, S.; Palau, R.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L. (2016) Comparing the effects of different cultivation practices on the metabolite composition of cereal crops., Cereals in Practice, Saphock Farm, Oldmeldrum, 5 July 2016. (Poster).
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Palau, R.; McRae, D.; Sungurtas, J.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L.V.T. (2016) Comparison of rapeseed grown sustainably and conventionally. A comparison of the quality of oil and meal from winter oilseed rape grown under sustainable and conventional cultivation practices., Agriculture and the Environment XI, What Future for our Farming Systems?: Environmental Challenges and Integrated Solutions. Edinburgh, 1-2 March 2016. (Poster).
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; McRae, D.; Sungurtas, J.; Pont, S.; Palau, R.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L.V.T. (2016) A comparison of the metabolite compositions of spring barley, winter barley and winter wheat grown under sustainable and conventional cultivation practices using a GC-MS metabolomics approach., Agriculture and the Environment XI, What Future for our Farming Systems?: Environmental Challenges and Integrated Solutions. Edinburgh, 1-2 March 2016. (Poster).
  • Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; McRae, D.; Sungurtas, J.; Pont, S.; Palau, R.; Alexander, C.; Verrall, S.; Stewart, D.; Shepherd, L. (2016) Comparing the effects of different cultivation practices on the metabolite composition of cereal crops., Scottish Metabolomics Network Meeting at the Centre for Health Sciences, Inverness, 16-17 November 2016.
  • Hancock, R.D.; Morris, W.L.; Ducreux, L.J.M.; Morris, J.; Usman, M.; Verrall, S.R.; Hedley, P.E.; Taylor, M.A. (2013) High temperature inhibition of potato tuberisation is associated with altered redox status and associated transcript pro¿les., UK Plant Science Conference, West Park Centre, Dundee, 16-17 April 2013. (Poster)
  • Morris, W.L.; Ducreux, L.; Usman, M.; Hedley, P.; Verrall, S.; Zhang, R.; Morris, J.; Hancock, R.D. (2013) A physiological, biochemical and transcriptomic approach to understanding the response of potato to elevated temperature., UK Plant Science Conference, West Park Centre, Dundee, 16-17 April 2013. (Poster)
  • Ross, H.A.; Gordon, S.; McDougall, G.J.; Verrall, S.R.; Wright, K.M.; Cross, J.V.; Berrie, A.; Xu, X.; Brennan, R.M. (2011) Exploring variation in textural properties in blackcurrant germplasm., Xth International Rubus and Ribes Conference, Zlatibor, Serbia, 22-26 June 2011. (Poster)
  • Abreu, I.N.; Kanichukattu, E.N.; Sungurtas, J.; Verrall, S.R.; Stewart, D. (2010) Metabolomics as a route to fruit flavour and functionality: blackcurrant as a model study., 28th International Horticultural Congress, Lisbon, Portugal, 22-27 August 2010 (Poster and Talk).
  • Verrall, S.R.; McNicol, J.W.; Shepherd, T.; Dobson, G.; Griffiths, D.W.; Ramsay, G.; Stewart, D. (2007) Using hierarchical clustering of metabolomic data to relate clusters to metabolite pathways., 3rd International Metabolomics Society Conference, Manchester, 10-14 June 2007.
  • Dobson, G.; Shepherd, T.; Griffiths, D.W.; Ross, H.A.; Verrall, S.R.; Stewart, D. (2007) Studies of tuber developmental stages in the potato Solanum tuberosum group phureja using GC-MS-based metabolomics and volatile analysis approaches., 3rd International Metabolomics Conference. Manchester, 10-14 June 2007.
  • 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.
  • 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)