Professor Ingo Hein

Head of Potato Genetics and Professor of Crop Genetics
Cell and Molecular Sciences
E: Ingo.Hein@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)1382568869
Our research group focuses on identifying, mobilising, and cloning durable resistances against major potato pathogens. By applying genomics and genetics to the Commonwealth Potato Collection, we uncover novel resistances that are integrated into breeding programmes through collaboration with breeders and industry partners. Our work bridges fundamental discovery and practical application, using cutting-edge techniques such as association genetics and developing diploid potatoes for trait discovery, all aimed at enhancing disease resistance and contributing to sustainable potato cultivation.

Research

I am the Head of Potato Genetics at the Hutton and a Professor of Crop Genetics at the University of Dundee.

Our research centres on identifying, mobilising, and cloning durable resistances against major potato pathogens. A key aspect of our work is the exploration of the Commonwealth Potato Collection, where we use genomics and genetics to uncover novel resistances. By working closely with breeders, stakeholders, and industry partners, we ensure that our fundamental research into disease resistance translates directly into practical applications.

Current projects focus on the following key areas:

  • Identifying and cloning new genetic variations in wild Solanum species to confer resistance against Phytophthora infestans, Potato Cyst Nematodes, and Viruses.
  • Using association genetics (SMRT-AgRenSeq-d) to pinpoint resistances in tetraploid potato cultivars and breeding clones.
  • Developing and utilising diploid potatoes for trait discovery.
  • Facilitating the integration of resistances into breeding programmes by creating highly transferrable markers.

Through these research avenues, we aim to improve the durability and effectiveness of disease resistance in potato cultivation, contributing to the sustainable growth of the industry and ensuring food security.

Publications

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Baker, K.; Stephen, G.; Strachan, S.; Armstrong, M.; Hein, I. (2018) BLASTmap: A Shiny-based application to visualize BLAST results as interactive heat maps and a tool to design gene-specific baits for bespoke target enrichment sequencing, In: Ma, W. & Wolpert, T. (eds.) Plant Pathogenic Fungi and Oomyctes. Methods in Molecular Biology. New York: Humana Press, Volume 1848, 199-206.
  • Feechan, A.; Turnbull, D.; Stevens, L.J.; Engelhardt, S.; Birch, P.R.J.; Hein, I.; Gilroy, E.M. (2015) The hypersensitive response in PAMP- and effector-triggered immune responses., In: Gunawardena, A. & McCabe, P. (eds.). Plant Programmed Cell Death. Springer, New York, Chapter 10, pp235-258.
  • Jupe, F.; Chen, X.; Verweij, W.; Witek, K.; Jones, J.D.G.; Hein I. (2014) Genomic DNA library preparation for resistance gene enrichment and sequencing (RenSeq) in plants., In: Birch, P.R.J., Jones, J.T. & Bos, J.I.B. (eds.). Plant-Pathogen Interactions: Methods in Molecular Biology. Volume 1127, Humana Press, New York, 2nd ed, Chapter 22, pp291-303.
  • Hein, I.; Kumlehn, J.; Waugh, R. (2008) Functional validation in the Triticeae., In: Jorgensen, R. (ed.). Genetics and Genomics of the Triticeae. Chapter 13, 359-286.
  • Graham, J.; Hein, I.; Powell, W. (2007) Raspberry., In: Kole, C (ed.). Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding in Plants: Fruits and Nuts. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, Chapter 9, 207-216.
  • Graham, J.; Hein, I.; Powell, W. (2007) Genomic tools in contemporary raspberry breeding., In: Kole, C. (ed.). Genome Mapping and Molecular Breeding in Plants. Vol 4 Fruits and Nuts. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Chapter 9, 207-214.
  • Berger, D.K.; Crampton, B.G.; Hein, I.; Vos, W. (2007) Screening cDNA libraries on glass slide microarrays., In: Brampal, J.B. (ed.). Microarrays: Volume II Applications and Data Analysis, Series: Methods in Molecular Biology Vol 382. 2nd edition. Humana Press, Totowa, New Jersey, USA, Chapter 12, 177-203.

Technical / contract reports

  • Hein, I.; Birch, P.R.J.; Chapman, S.N.; Bryan, G.J. (2011) Pathogen effector driven search for more durable potato late blight resistance., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2010, pp38-40.
  • Avrova, A.O.; Birch, P.R.J.; Hein, I.; Jones, J.T.; Pritchard, L. (2010) Functional analysis of pathogen effectors: how to go from genomics to durable resistance., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2009, 39-41.
  • Sharma, S.K.; Millam, S.; Hedley, P.E.; Hein, I.; McNicol, J.W.; Bryan, G.J. (2008) Somatic embryogenesis in potato., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2007, pp18-19.

Conference papers

  • He ,Q.; Naqvi, S.; McLellan, H.; Boevink, P.C.; Champouret, N.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.R.J. (2018) A plant pathogen effector utilizes host Susceptibility factor NRL1 to degrade the immune regulator SWAP70, Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Meeting, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, China, 8-12 April 2018.
  • Strachan, S.M.; Hein, I.; Bryan, G.J.; McLean, K.; Blok, V.C. (2016) Mapping the H2 gene to a Globodera pallida pathotype PA1-resistant potato cultivar., The Dundee Conference: Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2016, Dundee, 23-24 February 2016, pp245-250.
  • Chen, X.; Bayer, M.; Harrower, B.; Stevens, L.; Chapman, S.; Gilroy, E.; van Weymers, P.; Jupe, F.; Witek, K.; Jones, J.; Birch, P.; Bryan, G.; Hein, I. (2014) Using the potato genome to map and clone durable resistance genes more rapidly., Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Environmental Management and Crop Protection, West Park Conference Centre, Dundee, 25-26 February 2014.
  • Turnbull, D.; Breen, S.A.; Naqvi, S.; Yang, L.; Murphy, F.S.; Armstrong, M.R.; Engelhardt, S.; Welsh, L.; Hein, I.; Zhan, J.; Birch, P.R.J.; Gilroy, E.M. (2014) Pumped up on (brassino) steroids: multiple Phytophthora infestans effectors manipulate the Brassinosteroid pathway in potato., FESPB/EPSO 2014 Congress, The Convention Centre, Dublin, 22-26 June 2014.
  • Stevens, L.; Chapman, S.; Boevink, P.; Engelhardt, S.; Chen, X.; Birch, P.; Hein, I. (2014) Shuffling resistance genes to protect solanaceous plants., British Society for Plant Pathology Presidential Meeting, University of St Andrews, 1-2 September 2014.
  • Griffe, L.; Gamble, L.; Lynott, J.; Münsterkötter, M.; Knogge, W.; Newton, A.C.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.R.J.; Kanyuka, K.; Avrova, A. (2013) Identification and characterisation of effectors from barley pathogen Rhynchosporium commune., Fourth CIRC Dissemination Event, Cambridge, UK. 15-16 May 2013.
  • Whisson, S.C.; Gilroy, E.M.; Avrova, A.O.; Tian, Z.D.; Breen, S.; Armstrong MR.; Squires, J.; Vieeshouwers, V.; McLellan, H.; Seman, Z.; Kandel, K.; Boevink, P.C.; Pritchard, L.; Hein, I.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Birch, P.R.J.; (2011) Phytophthora infestans effectors in late blight disease development and exploitation for disease control., 18th Triennial Conference of the European Association for Potato Research, Oulu, Finland, 24-29 July 2011.
  • Breen, S.; Gilroy, E.M.; Armstrong, M.R.; Morales, J.G.; Hein, I.; Douglas, E.; Boevink, P.; McLellan, H.; Randall, E.; Tian, Z.D.; Avrova, A.O.; Pritchard, L.; Lokossou, A.A.; Govers, F.; van der Vossen, E.A.G.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; Brunner, F.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Avr2, an RXLR effector from Phytophthora infestans., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; McLellan, H.; Breen, S.; Engelhardt, S.; Tian, Z.D.; Seman, Z.A.; Pritchard, L.; Armstrong, M.R.; Randall, E.; Avrova, A.O.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; van West, P.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Using knowledge of RXLR effectors to seek durable resistance., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Gravouil, C.; Dickinson, M.; Newton, A.C.; Hein, I. (2010) Characterisation of the barley phyllosphere and its interactions with Rhynchosporium secalis., Postgraduate Symposium, Nottingham, 23-24 June 2010 (Poster).
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Breen, S.; Hein, I.; Tian, Z.D.; Armstrong, M.R.; Douglas, E.; Lokossou, A.A.; Boevink, P.; McLellan, H.; Randall, E.; Morales, J.G.; Avrova, A.O.; Pritchard, L.; van der Vossen, E.A.G.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Amino acid polymorphisms upstream of the RXLR motif in Phytophthora infestans effector Avr2 condition R gene recognition., The Fungal Cell, British Mycological Society Meeting, Westpark Conference Centre, Dundee, 1-4 September 2009.
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Armstrong, M.R.; Bos, J.; Taylor, R.; Morales, J.; Hein, I.; Douglas, E.; Boevink, P.; Avrova, A.O.; Breen, S.; van West, P.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Sadanandom, A.; Kamoun, S.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Functional analysis of Phytophthora infestans RXLR effectors Avr2 and Avr3a., Fungal Genetics Conference, Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, USA, 17-22 March 2009.
  • Hein, I.; Gilroy, E.M.; Whisson, S.C.; Pritchard, L.; Bryan, G.J.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Exploiting the Phytophthora infestans genome to determine targets for sustainable potato protection., XIV MPMI Conference, Montreal, Canada, 19-23 July 2009.
  • Birch, P.R.J.; Armstrong, M.R.; Gilroy, E.M.; Bos, J.; Taylor, R.M.; Morales, J.G.; Hein, I.; Douglas, E.; Boevink, P.; Breen, S.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C.; Sadanandom, A.; Kamoun, S. (2009) Localisation and function of Phytophthora infestans RXLR effectors and their host targets., XIV MPMI Conference, Montreal, Canada, 19-23 July 2009.
  • van den Berg, N.; Berger, D.K.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.R.J.; Wingfield, M.J.; Viljoen, A. (2009) Genes up-regulated in tolerant Cavendish banana roots in response to Fusarium oxysporium f.sp. cubense infection., International Symposium on Recent Advances in Banana Crop Protection for Sustainable Production and Improved Livelihoods, White River, South Africa, 10-14 September 2007. Acta Horticulturae, 828, pp273-282.
  • Hein, I.; Harrower, B.E.; Squires, J.; Birch, P.R.J.; Bryan, G.J. (2007) Screening wild potato accessions for resistance to the virulent allel of the Phytophthora infestans effector avr3a EM., XIII International Congress of Molecular Plant Microbe Interactions, Sorrento, Italy, 21-27 July 2007.
  • McLellan, H.; Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; Boevink, P.; Birch, P.R.J.; Loake, G. (2007) The roles of cathespin B-like proteases in plant disease resistance., XIII International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Sorrento, Italy, 22-26 July 2007.
  • McLean, K.; McNicoll, J.; Bradshaw, J.E.; Hein, I.; Milbourne, D.; Bryan, G.J. (2006) Strategies for fine mapping and isolation of resistance QTLs on Linkage Groups IV and V of potato., International Solanaceae Conference and Solanaceae Genomics Network, Madison, Wisconsin, 23-27 July 2006.
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Venter, E.; McLellan, H.; Hein, I.; Hrubikova, K.; Holeva, M.C.; Boevink, P.; Loake, G.J.; Lacomme, C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2006) Inducible disease resistance involves an apoplastic cysteine protease Cathepsin B., Proceedings of IOBC/wprs Joint Working Group Meeting: Breeding for Inducible Resistance against Pests and Diseases, Heraklion, Crete, 27-29 April 2006.
  • Hein, I.; Williamson, S.; Russell, J.R.; Graham, J.; Brennan, R.M.; Powell, W. (2004) Development of genomic resources for red raspberry: BAC library construction, analysis and screening., Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG) XII Proceedings, San Diego, California, 10-12 January 2004, 109.
  • Lacomme, C.; Hrubikova, K.; Hein, I. (2003) Viral induced gene silencing (VIGS) enhancement through viral-based expression of inverted repeats., Abstracts of 5th International Symposium – Recent Advances in Plant Biotechnology: Progress and Developments, Stara Lesna, Slovak Republic, 83.
  • Lacomme, C.; Hrubikova, K.; Hein, I. (2003) Enhancement of virus induced gene silencing through viral-based production of inverted repeats., Abstracts of Seventh International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology, Barcelona, Spain, 398.
  • Graham, J.; Hein, I.; Russell, J.R.; Woodhead, M.; Gordon, S.C.; Smith, K.; Jorgensen, L.; Brennan, R.; Powell, W. (2003) The use of genomics technologies in contemporary Rubus and Ribes breeding programmes., Acta Horticulturae, 649, 319-322.
  • Rokka, V.; Avrova, A.O.; Hein, I.; Gilroy, E.M.; Cardle, L.; Birch, P.R.J. (2002) Unravelling signalling processes in the potato R gene resistance response to Phytophthora infestans., GILB GILB’02 conference – Late Blight: Managing the Global Threat, Hamburg, Germany, 11-13 July 2002, 152.
  • Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; de Luca, S.; Hein, I.; Williams, N.; Birch, P.R.J. (2001) Infection stage-specific gene expression in Phytophthora infestans., Molecular Biology of Fungal Pathogens XII, Ambleside, Cumbria, 14-16 September 2001.
  • Morris, W.L.; Hedley, P.E.; Hein, I.; Campbell, E.; Birch, P.R.J.; Newton, A.C. (2000) Characterisation of resistance pathways to Rhynchosporium secalis in barley using suppression subtractive hybridisation., Proceedings of the 6th International Congress of Plant Molecular Biology, Quebec, Canada, 18-24 June 2000, pp22-36.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Mantelin, S; Nguyen Thi, H.; Ho-Bich, H.; Armstrong, M.; Xiong, L.; Jones, J.T.; Hein, I.; Bellafiore, S. (2019) Towards the characterisation of a novel resistance gene to control the rice root-knot nematode., XVIIIth International Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Glasgow, Scotland, 14-18 July 2019. (Poster)
  • Sudermann, M.; Armstrong, M.; Lim, J.T.Y.; Hein, I.; Smart, C.D. (2018) Effector diversity within the US-23 clonal lineage of Phytophthora infestans., Phytopathology, 108, S1.208. Abstract.
  • Strachan, S.; Baker, K.; Hein, I.; Bryan, G.; Blok, V. (2016) Mapping the globodera pallida resistance gene H2 in potato using whole genome enrichment., Journal of Nematology, 48, p373. Abstract.
  • Griffe, L.; Gamble, L.; Berepiki, A.; Knogge, W.; Newton, A.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.; Kanyuka, K.; Avrova, A.O. (2014) Characterisation of virulence gene from barley pathogen Rhynchosporium commune., 6th CIRC Dissemination Event, Sheffield, UK, 6-7 May 2014.
  • Chapman, S.; Stevens, L.; Boevink, P.; Engelhardt, S.; Alexander, C.; Champouret, N.; Birch, P.; Hein, I. (2014) Artificial evolution of the potato resistance gene R3a to detect the virulent form of AVR3a., British Society for Plant Pathology Presidential Meeting, University of St Andrews, 1-2 September 2014. (Poster)
  • Griffe, L.; Gamble, L.; Berepiki, A.; Münsterkötter, M.; Knogge, W.; Newton, A.C.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.; Kanyuka, K.; Avrova, A. (2013) Characterisation of effectors from barley pathogen Rhynchosporium commune, BBSRC-Crop Improvement Research Club (CIRC) Fifth Dissemination Event, Edinburgh, 11-12 December 2013.
  • Griffe, L.; Gamble, L.; Lynott, J.; Münsterkötter, M.; Knogge, W.; Newton, A.C.; Hein, I.; Birch, P.R.J.; Kanyuka, K.; Avrova, A. (2013) Identification and characterisation of effectors from barley pathogen Rhynchosporium commune., Effectome Meeting VI, Lauret, France, 25-27 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.
  • Birch, P.R.J.; Boevink, P.C.; Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; Pritchard, L.; Whisson, S.C. (2012) Effectors from the potato late blight pathogen: their roles in suppressing or triggering the plant immune system., EPS Autumn-school, Wageningen, 6 March 2012.
  • Stevens, L,; Chapman, S.; Chen, X.; Engelhardt, S.; Birch, P.; Hein, I. (2012) The molecular characterisation of two gain-of-function R3a* variants., British Society for Plant Pathology Presidential Meeting, Norwich, 16-18 December 2012. (Poster)
  • Birch, P.R.J.; Boevink, P.C.; Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; Pritchard, L.; Randall, E.; Whisson, S.C. (2011) Effectors from the potato late blight pathogen: their roles in suppressing or triggering the plant immune system., British Mycological Society Meeting, Exeter, September 2011.
  • Gravouil, C.; Fountaine, J.M.; Dickinson, M.J.; Hein, I.; Newton, A.C. (2011) The bad, the ugly and the good., Fourth International Workshop on Barley Leaf Blights, West Park Centre, Dundee, 27-29 June 2011. (Poster)
  • Gravouil, C.; Fountaine, J.M.; Macrae, A.; Hein, I.; Dickinson, M.; Newton, A.C. (2010) Characterisation of the barley (Hordeum vulgare) phyllosphere., 9th International Symposium on Leaf Surface Ecology, Corvallis, Oregon, USA, 15-18 August 2010 (Poster).
  • Gravouil, C.; Newton, A.C.; Hein, I.; Dickinson, M. (2010) Effect of potato bacterial pathogen on barley fungal diseases., Inaugural College of Life Sciences’ PhD Association (PiCLS) Symposium, Dundee, 12-13 May 2010 (Poster).
  • Hein, I.; Whisson, S.C.; Armstrong, M.; Gilroy, E.M.; Avrova, A.O.; Tian, Z.; Chapman, S.N.; Birch, P.R.J.; Bryan, G.J. (2010) Identifying key Phytophthora infestans effectors as targets for more durable late blight resistance., 7th Solanaceae Conference 2010, Dundee, 5-9 September 2010, 155 (Poster).
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Breen, S.; Morales, J.G.; Lokossou, A.A.; Ramos, B.; Armstrong, M.R.; Hein, I.; Boevink, P.; Pritchard, L.; van der Vossen, E.A.G.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2009) Cloning and functional analysis of Phytophthora infestans RXLR effector, Avr2., 22nd New Phytologist Symposium on Effectors in Plant-Microbe Interactions, INRA Versailles Research Centre, Paris, France, 13-16 September 2009 (Poster).
  • Lacomme, C.; Faivre-Rampant, O.; Gilroy, E.M.; Valentine, T.A.; Shaw, J.; Hrubikova, K.; Blok, V.C.; Hein, I.; Haupt, S.; Loake, G.; Birch, P.R.J.; Taylor, M.A.; Oparka, K.J. (2004) Virus-induced gene silencing vector development for functional studies in Solanaceae., 1st Solanaceae Genome Workshop. Wageningen, The Netherlands, 19-21 September 2004 (Abstract).
  • Avrova, A.O.; Whisson, S.C.; Hein, I.; de Luca, S.; Venter, E.; Birch, P.R.J. (2003) Differential gene expression in Phytophthora infestans prior to and during potato infection., 8th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2-7 February 2003 (Poster).
  • Graham, J.; Russell, J.R.; Hein, I.; Powell, W. (2003) An integrated approach to mapping in Rubus., Abstracts of the Annual Main Meeting of the Society for Experimental Biology, 134/A, S143-S144.