Ian Toth

Senior Scientist
Cell and Molecular Sciences
E: Ian.Toth@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)
Research phytopathologist and Director of Scotland’s Plant Health Centre and the National Potato innovation Centre (NPIC)

Biography

Scotland’s Plant Health Centre (planthealthcentre.scot) is a multi-organisation virtual Centre of Expertise led by the James Hutton Institute and funded by the Scottish Government through RESAS (Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services Division). Working with the Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland, Professor Gerry Saddler from SASA, the Centre brings the plant sectors for forestry, horticulture, environment and agriculture together to co-ordinate plant health knowledge, skills, needs and activities across Scotland. As part of his Director’s role, Ian sits on the four UK nations Evidence Co-ordination Group for plant health.

We are proposing to establish and manage a National Potato Innovation Centre (NPIC) that will employ a whole-sector approach to deliver solutions to the potato industry. NPIC will comprise a state-of-the art-innovation centre based in Dundee that will work with national and international partners to create new solutions for the industry as well as innovative products and high-skilled jobs.

Ian is a Visiting Professor at the University of Glasgow and until recently was an Honorary Professor at the Forestry and Agriculture Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He has an active research team whose focus is on the Epidemiology, aetiology and control of blackleg disease caused by Pectobacterium and Dickeya species. More recently, following a Scottish Government working group (which he led), he is part of a £2.3 million project on sustainable management of potato cyst nematodes (PCN).  He has over 100 refereed papers and book chapters and an H-index (Google Scholar) of 50, and in 2021 co-edited the first book dedicated to the soft rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRP) entitled ‘Plant Diseases Caused by Dickeya and Pectobacterium Species’ (ISBN – 978-3-030-61458-4) and written by the global SRP community.

He has strong links with other academic and industry representatives worldwide and is currently the President of the European Association for Potato Research (EAPR), and will hold the 23rd EAPR Triennial Conference in Edinburgh in June 2027. He is also the chair of the organising committee for the International Erwinia Workshop (last held in Italy in 2022) and a member of the International Potato Partnership (IPP). His industry links have led to him receiving the British Potato Industry Award for lifetime contribution to the potato industry (2020).

Research

Pectobacterium and Dickeya: The soft rot pathogens Pectobacterium and Dickeya spp. cause disease on many crops and ornamentals worldwide, including blackleg diseases of potatoes in the field and soft rots of tubers in storage. It is important to reduce or prevent the incidences of such diseases, which is important in Scotland due to the high health status of its potato seed industry.

RESAS-funded projects are investigating the development of PCR-based fingerprinting methods to differentiate strains, enhancing our ability to track pathogens between crops, field generations and through the environment. We are also investigating optimal field conditions to reduce blackleg disease and testing novel control options in the field. Innovate UK funding, in projects led by APSBiocontrol, have investigated the use of bacteriophages in blackleg control, while a multi-partner funded project (DeS BL), as part of the BBSRC-led Bacterial Plant Diseases Programme, is investigating the epidemiology, aetiology and control of blackleg disease on several fronts.   

Potato cyst nematodes (PCN): Following a national working group to identify a clear strategy for dealing with the PCN in Scotland, and the submission of a report to the Plant Health Centre highlighting actions that needed to be taken, a £2.3 million project was funded by Scottish Government to address those actions and deliver sustainable management options for PCN.  The project includes an economic impact assessment, the development of a decisions support tool, new resistance markers, dihaploids breeding approaches, improved methods for tolerance, groundkeeper control, IPM approaches and a national-wide knowledge exchange programme under the banner ‘PCN Action Scotland’. For more information visit pcnhub.ac.uk.

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Humphris, S.N.; Cahill, G.; Elphinstone, J.G.; Kelly, R.; Parkinson, N.M.; Pritchard, L.; Toth, I.K.; Saddler, G.S. (2015) Detection of the bacterial potato pathogens Pectobacterium and Dickeya spp using conventional and real time PCR., In: Lacomme, C. (ed.). Plant Pathology: Techniques and Protocols. (Methods in Molecular Biology, 1302). Humana Press, New York, 2nd edition, Chapter 1, pp1-16.
  • Holden, N.; Pritchard, L.; Toth, I.K.; Wright, K.M. (2013) Mechanism of plant colonisation by human pathogenic enterobacteria: an emphasis on the roots and rhizosphere., In: de Bruijn, F. (ed.). Molecular Microbial Ecology of the Rhizosphere. Wiley Blackwell, Hoboken, New Jersey, Volume 2, Chapter 117, pp1217-1226.
  • Lin, K.; Husmeier, D.; Dondelinger, F.; Mayer, C.D.; Liu, H.; Pritchard, L.; Salmond, G.P.C.; Toth, I.K.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Reverse engineering gene regulatory networks related to quorum sensing in the plant pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum., In: Fenyo, D. (ed.). Computational Biology. Springer, New York, Chapter 17, pp253-281.
  • Toth, I.K.; Pritchard, L.; Birch, P.R.J.; Liu, H. (2008) Genomics of the enterobacterial plant pathogens., In: Jackson, R.W. (ed.). Plant Pathogenic Bacteria: Genomics and Molecular Biology. Caister Academic Press, Norfolk, 163-174.
  • Preston, G.M.; Guttman, D.S.; Toth, I.K. (2007) Genomic analysis of plant pathogenic bacteria., In: Pallen, M., Nelson, K. & Preston, G. (eds.). Bacterial Pathogenomics. ASM Press, Washington, D.C., pp392-418.
  • Toth, I.K.; Moleleki, L.N.; Pritchard, L.; Liu, H.; Humphris, S.N.; Hyman, L.; Axelsen, G.W.; Brurberg, M.B.; Ravensdale, M.; Gilroy, E.M.; Birch, P.R.J. (2006) Erwiniae: genomics and the secret life of a plant pathogen., In: Bailey, M.J., Lilley, A.K., Timms-Wilson, T.M. & Spencer-Phillips, P.T.N. (eds.). Microbial Ecology of Aerial Plant Surfaces. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, pp191-201.
  • Bertheau, Y.; Frechon, D.; Toth, I.K.; Hyman, L.J. (1998) E.c. subsp. atroseptica DNA amplification by PCR., In: Perombelon, M.C.M. & van der Wolf, J. M. (eds.). Methods for the Detection and Quantification of Erwinia carotovora subsp. Atroseptica on Potatoes Suitable for Commercial Use: a Laboratory Manual, pp39-59.
  • Hyman, L.J.; Toth, I.K.; Perombelon, M.C.M. (1998) Isolation and identification of E.c. subsp. atroseptica., In: Perombelon, M.C.M. & van der Wolf, J. M. (eds.). Methods for the Detection and Quantification of Erwinia carotovora subsp. Atroseptica on Potatoes Suitable for Commercial Use: a Laboratory Manual, pp60-71.

Technical / contract reports

  • Toth, I.; Humphris, S.; Brierley, J.; Skelsey, P.; Saddler, G.; Cahill, G.; Wale, S. (2016) Routes of blackleg contamination of high grade potato seed stocks by Pectobacterium species., AHDB Final Project Report April 2013 – May 2016 (Ref 111R475).
  • Lees, A.; Cooke, D,.E.L.; Toth, I.; Dolan, A.; SRUC; Royal Botanic Gardens, Edinburgh. (2014) Scottish Government Plant Health Workshop., Rapporteur, Scottish Government Plant Health Workshop, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, 8 December 2014.
  • Holden, N.; Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C.; Walters, D. (2012) Assessment of plant elicitors to induce resistance against head-rot in broccoli., HDC Annual Report 2012.
  • Holden, N.; Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C. (2012) Reducing bacterial infection in seed onions through the use of plant elicitors., HDC Grower Summary, FV393, Final 2012.
  • Torrance, L.; Toth, I.K.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Fenton, B.; Blok, V.C.; Lees, A.K. (2010) Risks of new or emerging pests and pathogens posed by environmental change., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2009, pp14-17.
  • Toth, I.K. (2009) Sustainability-plant disease control., KnowledgeScotland, Science Connections Online, Sustainability and Communities; Climate Water and Energy, No 93.
  • Toth, I.K.; Pritchard, L.; Holeva, M.C.; Hyman, L.J.; Bell, K.S.; Whisson, S.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Birch, P.R.J. (2004) New discoveries with Erwinia genomics., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, p101.
  • Toth, I.K. (2002) Better understanding of Erwinia for detection and reduced spread., British Potato Council Technical Bulletin, Oxford,
  • Toth, I.K.; Bell, K.S.; Holeva, M.C.; Bryan, G.J.; Avrova, A.O.; Hyman, L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2002) Erwinia genomics: A new era in the battle against potato disease., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp25-28.
  • Torrance, L.; Ziegler, A.; Mayo, M.A.; Toth, I.K.; Blok, V.C.; Duncan, J.M. (2000) New technologies for the detection and identification of pathogens, pests and environmental pollutants.., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1999/2000, pp51-54.
  • Toth, I.K. (2000) Blackleg and soft rot – prevention by prediction., Interim Report to the British Potato Council.
  • Toth, I.K.; Hyman, L.J. (1997) Typing strains of Erwinia carotovora subspecies atroseptica for epidemiological analyses., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 1996/97, pp154-156.

Conference papers

  • Cooke, D.; Brierley, J.; Toth, I.; Randall, E.; Humphris, S.; Jones, J.; Cock, P. (2022) Applications of DNA metabarcoding for plant pathogen tracking and diagnostics, Crop Production in Northern Britain Conference, 1-2 March 2022, Online.
  • Toth, I.K.; Humphris, S.; Mitchell, R.J. (2018) Plant Health Centre of Expertise., Crop Production in Northern Britain Conference, Apex Hotel, Dundee, 27-28 February 2018.
  • Toth, I.K.; Lees, A.; Neilson, R.; Brierley, J.; Bienkowski, D. (2018) Research on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for potato., 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, pp187-192.
  • Toth, I.K.; Humphris, S.; Mitchell, R.J. (2018) Plant Health Centre of Expertise for Scotland., Scottish Society for Crop Research Potato Winter Meeting, 22 March 2018.
  • Toth, I.K.; Saddler, G.; Cahill, G.; Elphinstone, J.; Wale, S.; Gibson-Poole, S.; Humphris, S.; Pritchard, L.; Campbell, E.; Watts, L. (2017) Developing an IPM toolbox for blackleg disease., European Association for Potato Research triennial conference, Versailles, Paris, France. 9-14 July 2017.
  • Toth, I.K.; Cahill, G.; Elphinstone, J.G.; Humphris, S.; Saddler, G.S.; Wale, S.J. (2016) An update on the potato council/Scottish government-funded blackleg project – year 2., The Dundee Conference: Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2016, Dundee, 23-24 February 2016, pp203-204.
  • Toth, I.K.; Cahill, G.; Elphinstone, J.G.; Humphris, S.; Kiezebrink, D.; Saddler, G.S.; Wale, S.J. (2014) R&D into blackleg caused by Pectobacterium atrosepticum: an update., Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Environmental Management and Crop Protection, West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 25-26 February 2014.
  • Toth, I.K. (2014) Pathology research at the James Hutton Institute. Managing crop pests and diseases in a changing environment., KTN, Syngenta and LEAF Joint Workshop, Jealott’s Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire, 22 September 2014.
  • Toth, I.K.; Saddler, G.; Wale, S.; Elphinstone, J.; Keizebrink, D. (2014) Potato Council/RESAS-Funded Blackleg Research Proposal (Pectobacterium spp.): contamination of high grade potato seed stocks by Pectobacterium species and the effects of sulphuric acid treatment on pathogen spread., Crop Protection in Northern Britain, West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 25-26 February 2014.
  • Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C. (2014) Impacts of pests and diseases: a European perspective., Food Production and Environmental Sustainability in China, Beijing, China, 8 March 2014.
  • Toth, I.K.; Saddler, G.; Wale, S.; Elphinstone, J.; Keizebrink, D. (2014) Potato Council/RESAS-Funded Blackleg Research Proposal (Pectobacterium spp.): R&D into blackleg caused by Pectobacterium atrosepticum: an update., Scottish Society for Crop Research, 24 March 2014.
  • Toth, I.K. (2014) The impacts of bacterial genomics research on plant disease control., 13th International Conference on Plant Pathogenic Bacteria (ICPPB), Shanghai, China, 8-13 June 2014.
  • Toth, I.K.; Humphris, S.; Campbell, E. (2014) Resistance testing for Pectobacterium and Dickeya., International Erwinia Workshop, 8 June 2014.
  • Toth, I.K.; Humphris, S.; Pritchard, L.; Skelsey, P. (2014) Environmental spread of Pectobacterium and Dickeya: diagnostics to modelling., Euphresco Pectobacterium and Dickeya Workshop, Bern, Switzerland, 25 November 2014.
  • Toth, I.K. (2013) Environmental and agricultural metagenomics: crops perspective., SCRR Meeting on Metagenomics, Perth, 2 October 2013.
  • Toth, I.K.; Pritchard, L.; Humphris, S.; Douglas, E.; Birch, P.R.J. (2013) Genomic approaches to research on Pectobacterium and Dickeya species., International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP), Beijing, China, 25 – 30 August 2013.
  • Toth, I.K.; Pritchard, L.; Humphris, S.; Campbell E.; Birch, P.R.J. (2013) Pathogenicity and resistance: how genomics research on the bacterial plant pathogens Pectobacterium and Dickeya makes a difference to potato growers., 97th Annual Meeting of the Potato Association of America, Quebec City, Canada, 28 July – 1 August 2013.
  • Toth, I.K. (2013) Blackleg update., PCL Winter Storage Meeting, Kinross, 26 February 2013.
  • Toth, I.K.; Saddler, G.; Wale, S. (2013) Blackleg in Scotland., SAC Potato Conference, Perth, 30 January 2013.
  • Holden, N.J.; Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C. (2013) Can plant defence elicitors control bacterial infection in field vegetables?, In: Bardin, M., Mauch-Mani, B., Mazzotta, S., Nicot, P., Pieterse, C., Poessel, J-L., Ponchet, M. & Schmitt, A. (eds.). Induced Resistance in Plants against Insects and Diseases – Leaping from Success in the Lab to Success in the Field. Proceedings of the IOBC/WPRS, Avignon, France, 10-13 June 2013. IOBC-WRS Bulletin, 89, 433-443.
  • Gravouil, C.; Fountaine, J.M.; Toth, I.K.; Daniell, T.J.; Dickinson, M.F.; Newton, A.C. (2012) Pectobacterium atricepticum: pros and cons on non-host crop., Fitness Costs and Trade-offs in Plant-Parasite Interactions, BSPP Presidential Meeting 2012, Norwich.16-18 December 2012.
  • Holden, N.J.; Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C.; Walters, D. (2012) The use of plant elicitors in the control of bacterial infection in field vegetables., Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Dundee, 28-29 February, 2012, pp175-180.
  • Humphris, S.; Toth, I.K. (2012) Dickeya solani: spread and disease., Euphresco ERA-NET on Dickeya, 5-6 November 2012.
  • Pritchard, L.; Toth, I.K. (2012) Dickeya genomics at JHI – latest progress., Euphresco ERA-NET on Dickeya, 5-6 November 2012.
  • Toth, I.K.; Pritchard, L.; Humphris, S. (2012) Designing ‘D. solani’ diagnostics the genome way., Euphresco ERA-NET on Dickeya, 5-6 November 2012.
  • Toth, I.K.; Holden, N.; Pritchard, L. (2012) Genomics research on Pectobacterium and Dickeya species: disease, ecology and diagnosis., Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions (MPMI) Conference, Kyoto, Japan, 27 July 2012.
  • Toth, I.K.; Holden, N.; Pritchard, L. (2012) We only find what we look for: can enteric pathogens of animals live on and be spread by plants?, KNVM/NVMM Dutch Microbiology Society, Papendal, the Netherlands, 17 April 2012.
  • Toth, I.K. (2012) An update on ‘Dickeya solani’: a threat to potato production in Northern Britain., Potato Council Storage Forum (West), Hereford Racecourse, 2 March 2012.
  • Toth, I.K. (2012) An update on ‘Dickeya solani’: a threat to potato production in Northern Britain., Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Dundee, 29 February 2012.
  • Toth, I.K. (2011) “The Dickeya threat”., Potato Council Winter Meeting, Sutton Bridge, February 2011.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Holmes, A.; Jones, S.; Watts, L.; Humphris, S.; Cheetham, A.; Toth, I. (2022) Can microbiome profiles be used as an indicator of soil health to investigate the impacts from compaction and potato cropping, 3rd Plant Microbiome Symposium 2022, 24-26 May 2022, Dundee
  • Toth, I.K.; Campbell, E.; Cahill, G.; Elphinstone, J.; Humphris, S.; Saddler, G.S.; Wale, S.; Watts, L.; Pritchard, L.; Harper, G. (2018) Population studies of Pectobacterium atrosepticum: How it’s shaping our view of seed-borne vs environmental sources of infection., Phytopathology, 108, S1.259. Abstract.
  • Holmes, A.; Hedley, P.; Morris, J.; Rossez, Y.; Toth, I.; Holden, N.J. (2017) There’s something hairy going on: Understanding the defence response of plants to Escherichia coli O157:H7., Microbiology Society Annual General Meeting, Edinburgh, 3-6 April 2017.
  • Humphris, S.; Campbell, E.; Cahill, G.; Saddler, G.; Elphinstone, J.; Wale, S.; Toth, I. (2016) Tracking the in-field spread of Pectobacterium and blackleg disease., EAPR Pathology and Pests Section Meeting, Dundee, Scotland, 7-10 August 2016. (Poster)
  • Pritchard, L.; Humphris, S.; Saddler, G.; Parkinson, N.; Bertrand, V.; Elphinstone, J.; Toth, I. (2014) A new method of generating diagnostic primers from draft bacterial genome sequences., European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Parma, 1-3 April 2014.
  • Pritchard, L.; Toth, I.K.; Humphris, S. (2013) Dickeya comparative metabolism., 14th International Conference on Systems Biology, Copenhagen, Denmark, 29 August – 4 September 2013.
  • Hein, I.; Gilroy, E.; Hornyik, C.; Bryan, G.; Milne, I.; Toth, I.K.; Ducreux, L.; Torrance, L.; Milne, L.; Cock, P.; Pritchard, L.; Sharma, K.; MacFarlane, S.; Zhang, R.; Hedley, P.; Jones, J.; Birch, P.; Taylor, M.; Dale, F.; McNaughton, I.; Wright, J.; Prashar, A.; Blok, V.; Carnegie, P.; Chapman, S. (2013) Utilising the potato genome., Potatoes in Practice 2013, Balruddery Farm, Invergowrie, Dundee, 8 August 2013.
  • Holden, N.J.; Newton, A.C.; Toth, I.K.; Walters, D. (2012) Induced plant defence to fight pathogens., British Science Festival Exhibition, Aberdeen, 21 September 2012.
  • Holden, N.; Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C.; Walters, D. (2012) The use of plant elicitors in the control of bacterial infection in field vegetables., The Dundee Conference. Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Dundee, 28-29 February 2012 pp175-180.
  • Toth, I.K. (2012) Dickeya: a new threat to Europe., Knowledge Scotland, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, 5 October 2012. Poster.
  • Rossez, Y.; Holmes, A.; Ahl, L.I.; Pedersen, H.L.; Willats, W.G.T.; Toth, I.; Holden, N. (2012) Role of bacterial surface factors in adherence of enteric bacteria to plant polysaccharide., Glycobiology, 22, 1638.
  • Gravouil, C.; Fountaine, J.M.; Daniell, T.J.; Toth, I.K.; Dickinson, M.; Newton, A.C. (2012) Using innate beneficial microbes to promote resistance., EFPP Conference on Integrated Pest Management, Wageningen, 1-5 October 2012 (Abstract).
  • Holden, N.; Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C.; Walters, D. (2012) The use of plant elicitors in the control of bacterial infection in field vegetables., Crop Protection of Northern Britain, Environmental Management and Crop Protection, The Dundee Conference, The West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 28-29 February 2012. (Poster)
  • Cubitt, M.; Toth, I.K.; Salmond, G. (2011) Metabolic regulator linked to virulence in Pectobacterium., The Unlimited World of Microbes (IUMS) 2011 Conference, Sapporo, Japan, 6-10 September 2011.
  • Tan, H.; Toth, I.K.; Salmond, G. (2011) Characterisation of two putative c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases in Eca1043., The Unlimited World of Microbes (IUMS) 2011 Conference, Sapporo, Japan, 6-10 September 2011.
  • Cubitt, M.; Toth, I.K.; Salmond, G. (2011) Metabolic regulator linked to virulence in Pectobacterium atrosepticum., Society for General Microbiology, (SGM) Spring Conference 2011, Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate, 11-14 April 2011. Poster.
  • Holden, N.; Toth, I.K.; Walters, D.; Newton, A.C. (2011) Plant defence elicitors as a means to control opportunistic plant pathogenic bacteria., Annual BSPP Meeting, Cambridge, 15-17 December 2011. (Poster)
  • Cubitt, M.; Toth, I.K.; Salmond, G. (2011) Metabolic regulator linked to virulence in Pectobacterium atrosepticum through bypass of the Rsm system., Society for General Microbiology Spring Conference, Harrogate, 11-14 April 2011.
  • Tan, H.; Toth, I.K.; Salmond, G. (2011) Characterisation of two putative c-di-GMP phosphodiesterases in Eca 1043., Society for General Microbiology Spring Conference, Harrogate, 11-14 April 2011. (Poster)
  • 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).