Cell and Molecular Sciences
Cell and Molecular Sciences (CMS) is based at our Dundee campus and comprises more than 90 plant scientists with research specialisms in cell and molecular biology, genomics, genetics, pathology and physiology.
We have a major research focus on the genetic improvement of cereals, potatoes and soft fruit crops with respect to yield and quality, resource use efficiency and pest and disease resistance.
Our science
We study processes from the gene and molecular level to field scale, providing knowledge to tackle problems of food security and to develop sustainable production systems against a background of environmental change.
Core technologies
Technical facilities at the Hutton are managed in the Core Technologies group, incorporating Genomics, Biotechnology and Imaging. Each of these facilities house state-of-the-art instrumentation and expertise to develop, enable and support associated technologies and resources. These include next generation sequencing, gene editing in crop species, and super-resolution & confocal microscopy. Contact Dr Pete Hedley.
Collections
We maintain collections of potato, barley and fruit germplasm, including the Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), and have mapping populations of barley, soft fruit and potato as well as collections of contemporary isolates of pathogens and pests.
Collaborations
Close relationships with breeding and agronomy companies, as well as government agencies and other national and international stakeholders ensures the translation of our research into practical applications. We have a unique relationship with local universities, working closely with scientists from the University of Dundee and University of St Andrews. We work together as the Dundee Effector Consortium studying the roles and recognition of effectors in a wide range of pathosystems.
Head of department
Alison Lees
Head of Dept. Cell & Molecular Sciences
Based in Dundee
T: +44 (0)1382 568834
- Delivery of a research programme focusing on applied potato pathology, integrated pest management (IPM@Hutton) and translational science.
- Late Blight IPM: informing management decisions and appropriate use of fungicides through a knowledge of pathogen phenotype and host resistance and use of disease forecasting models
- Other research interests include potato rot and blemish pathogens, disease resistance testing, diagnostics and risk-assessment for soil-borne potato diseases.
- Recent involvement in lettuce downy mildew research and provision of race characterisation testing to an industry consortium.
