David Roberts
Research Scientist
Ecological Sciences
T: +44 (0)1382 568700
Research
Strategies for quantifying and controlling free-living nematode populations and consequent damage by Tobacco Rattle Virus to improve potato yield and growth – funded by the Technology Strategy Board, (Began January 2011, 5 year project) this multi-partner collaboration combining the expertise of industry with colleagues at The James Hutton Institute (Roy Neilson, Vivian Blok and Finlay Dale) and SAC (Andy Evans) aims to address concerns in the UK potato industry related to the impending withdrawal of approved nematicides and long-term concerns regarding the effects of climate change on free-living nematode populations. The project aims to develop a rapid molecular pre-plant molecular test for the target nematodes of concern, assess damage threshold levels of nematodes on current potato cultivars, identify potential alternative control strategies and develop molecular markers to facilitate the breeding of new potato cultivars resistant to Tobacco Rattle Virus.
Invasive New Zealand flatworm study. We are utilising a large historical collection of invasive flatworms held at The James Hutton Institute in combination with new samples sent in by the public to investigate any changes in the flatworm genome that could be indicative of adaptation to our climate (With Roy Neilson and Brian Boag).
Prevalence study of Pratylenchus species. Utilising samples brought in for other projects we are studying the prevalence and distribution of Pratylenchus species in Scottish potato-growing fields using a combination of taxonomy, species-specific PCR and sequence analysis.
Past research
- 2011- current Post Doctoral Research. Ecological Sciences, The James Hutton Institute, Dundee. Strategies for quantifying and controlling free-living nematode populations and consequent damage by Tobacco Rattle Virus to improve potato yield and growth – funded by the Technology Strategy Board.
- 2005 –2010 Post Doctoral Research fellow/Lab manager
Environment Plant Interactions, SCRI
Development of molecular diagnostic assay. Environmental monitoring using high-throughput molecular approaches. Primarily focusing on analysing water samples for biological quality compared to existing indices. No details can be given for reasons of commercial protection. Project led to formation of EnPrint. - 1999–2003 Post Doctoral Research Fellow
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Aberdeen
Evolution and ecology of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli. - 1997-1999 Project leader/Post Doctoral Researcher
National Diagnostics Centre, University College Galway
Development of rapid diagnostic aids for human pathogenic fungi. - 1996-1997 Research Officer, Kings College London.
- BSc (Hons) and PhD – Kings College London.
Publications
Journals
- Orlando, V.; Roberts, D.; Edwards, S.G.; Prior, T.; Neilson, R.; Back, M.A. (2024) Development and validation of four TaqMan real-time PCR diagnostics for the identification and quantification of Pratylenchus crenatus, Pratylenchus neglectus, Pratylenchus penetrans and Pratylenchus thornei, Nematology, 26(4), 433-445
- Orlando, V.; Edwards, S.G.; Neilson, R.; Prior, T.; Roberts, D.M.; Back, M. (2021) Comparing the efficiency of six common methods for DNA extraction from root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus spp.)., Nematology, 23(4), 415-423
- Neilson, R.; Caul, S.; Fraser, F.C.; King, D.; Mitchell, S.M.; Roberts, D.M.; Giles, M.E. (2020) Microbial community size is a potential predictor of nematode functional group in limed grasslands., Applied Soil Ecology, 156, Article No.103702.
- Roberts, D.M.; Boag, B.; Hunter, F.; Tarlton, J.; MacKenzie, K.; Neilson, R. (2020) Genetic variability of Arthurdendyus triangulatus (Dendy, 1894), a non-native invasive land planarian., ZooTaxa, 4808, 38-50
- Vink, S.N.; Bienkowski, D.; Roberts, D.M.; Daniell, T.J.; Neilson, R. (2020) Impact of land use and management practices on soil nematode communities of Machair, a low-input calcareous ecosystem of conservation importance., Science of the Total Environment, 738, Article No. 140164.
- Orlando, V.; Grove, I.G.; Edwards, S.G.; Prior, T.; Roberts, D.; Neilson, R.; Back, M. (2020) Root-lesion nematodes of potato: current status of diagnostics, pathogenicity and management., Plant Pathology, 69, 405-417.
- Orr, J.N.; Neilson, R.; Freitag, T.E.; Roberts, D.M.; Davies, K.G.; Blok, V.C.; Cock, P.J.A. (2020) Parallel microbial ecology of pasteuira and nematode species in Scottish soils., Frontiers in Plant Science, 10, Article No. 1763.
- Lees, A.K.; Roberts, D.M.; Lynott, J.; Sullivan L.; Brierley, J.L. (2019) Real-time PCR and LAMP assays for the detection of spores of Sporangia of Alternaria solani and Sporangia of Phytophthora infestans to inform disease risk forecasting, Plant Disease, 103(12), 3172-3180
- Guerrero-Jiménez, G.; Vannucchi, P.E.; Silva-Briano, M.; Adabache-Ortiz, A.; Rico-Martínez, R.; Roberts, D.; Neilson, R.; Elías-Gutiérrez, M. (2019) Brachionus paranguensis sp. nov. (Rotifera, Monogononta), a member of the L group of the Brachionus plicatilis complex., ZooKeys, 880, 1-23.
- Lopes, E.A.; Roberts, D.M.; Blok, V.C. (2019) Variable ITS-copy number at different developmental stages of Meloidogyne hapla and M. chitwoodi., European Journal of Plant Pathology, 154, 843-848.
- Buonicontro, D.S.; Roberts, D.M.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Blok, V.C.; Neilson, R.; Oliveira, R.D.D. (2018) A rapid diagnostic for detection of Aphelenchoides besseyi and A. fujianensis based on real-time PCR., Plant Disease, 102, 519-526.
- Oliveira, C.M.G.; Blok, V.C.; Neilson, R.; Mroz, T.; Roberts, D.M. (2017) Hydrolysis probe-based PCR for detection of Pratylenchus crenatus, P. neglectus and P. penetrans., Nematology, 19, 81-91.
- de Jesus, D.S.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Roberts, D.; Blok, V.; Neilson, R.; Prior, T.; Balbino, H.M.; MacKenzie, K.M.; Oliveira, R.D.D. (2016) Morphological and molecular characterisation of Aphelenchoides besseyi and A. fujianensis (Nematoda: Aphelenchoididae) from rice and forage grass seeds in Brazil., Nematology, 18, 337-356.
- Sun, B.; Roberts, D.M.; Dennis, P.G.; Caul, S.; Daniell, T.J.; Hallett, P.D.; Hopkins, D.W. (2014) Microbial properties and nitrogen contents of arable soils under different tillage regimes., Soil Use and Management, 30, 152-159.
- Daniell, T.J.; Davidson, J.; Alexander, C.J.; Caul, S.; Roberts, D. (2012) Improved real-time PCR estimation of gene copy number in soil extracts using an artificial reference., Journal of Microbiological Methods, 91, 38-44.
- Roberts, D.M.; Schofield, P.; Donn, S.; Daniell, T.J. (2012) Directed terminal restriction analysis tool (DRAT): an aid to enzyme selection for directed terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms., Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 3, 24-28.
Books / chapters
- Roberts, D.M.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Neilson, R.; Blok, V.C. (2016) Molecular diagnostics of plant-parasitic nematodes., In: Oliveira, C.M.G., dos Santos, M.A. & e Castro, L.H.S. (eds.). Diagnose de Fitonematoides. Millennium Editora Ltda, Campinas, Brazil, pp281-324.
Technical / contract reports
- Neilson, R.; Roberts, D.M. (2012) Strategies for quantifying and controlling free living nematode populations and consequent damage by tobacco rattle virus to improve potato yield and quality., Interim Report for 2011 to Potato Council, AHDB and TSB.
Conference papers
- Neilson, R.; Roberts, D.M.; Loades, K.W.; Lozana, A.; Daniell, T. (2018) Healthy soils for crop production., Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2018: The Dundee Conference, Environmental Management and Crop Production, Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee, 27-28 February 2018. Conference Proceedings, 17-20.
- Roberts, D.M.; Rodenhurst, M.; Otter, J.; Dale, M.F.B.; Blok, V.C.; Neilson, R. (2012) Identifying free living nematode populations., Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2012, Dundee, 28-29 February 2012.
- Roberts, D.; Daniell, T.J. (2007) Are molecular tools useful for environmental monitoring?, British Phycological Society, Bristol, 3-5 January 2007.
Conference posters / abstracts
- Schwalm, H.; Escudero-Martinez, C.; Brown, M.; Brown, L.; Roberts, D.; Mitchell, S.; Lozano , I.; Bodenhausen, N.; Bulgarelli, D.; George, T.; Oburger , E. (2024) Total carbon and nitrogen exudation of barley, faba bean, potato and sweet potatocultivars grown in different European soils, International Society of Root Research 12th International Symposium, 2-7 June 2024, UFZ
- Loades, K.W.; Taylor, A.; Neilson, R.; Preedy, K.; Daniell, T.J.; Griffiths, B.; Roberts, D.M.; Beattie, P.; Anderson, E. (2018) SoilBio – Measurement of soil physical condition using the soil biological community., European Geosciences Union General Assembly 2018, Vienna, Austria, 8-13 April 2018. SSS7.1/HS8.3.9 – Interactions and Feedbacks between Soil Structure and Biogeochemical Processes in Micro-Aggregates and Beyond (co-organized). Geophysical Research Abstracts, Volume 20, EGU2018-19209.
- Roberts, D.M.; Neilson, R.; Blok, V.C.; Dale, M.F.B. (2012) Identifying free living nematodes., Crop Protection of Northern Britain, Environmental Management and Crop Protection, The Dundee Conference, The West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 28-29 February 2012. (Poster).
- Roberts, D.; Daniell, T.J. (2007) EnPrint TM., Connect Investment Conference (CIC). Edinburgh, 30 October 2007 (Poster).
