Dr Mike Roberts
Senior LecturerResearch Overview
Research in my group focuses on the biology of plant stress responses. Using tomato and Arabidopsis as our main models, we study the regulation of responses to plant-insect and plant-pathogen interactions, as well as some aspects of abiotic stress. Our main current focus is on priming; the long-term 'memory' of plant stress and its impacts on future defence responses both within and between generations. We also work on the use of waste plant products as sources of defence-eliciting molecules for applications in crop protection.
More information is available from my lab web pages.
Administration
Mike's main administrative role in LEC is as Programme Director for LEC's portfolio of biology degree schemes
Teaching
Mike’s main teaching includes:
- a first year undergraduate module, 'Developmental Biology' delivered as part of the BSc degree schemes in Biology and Zoology
- a second year undergraduate module, 'Environmental Physiology' delivered as part of the BSc degree schemes in Biology and Ecology & Conservation
- a third year undergraduate module, 'Host-Parasite Interactions' delivered as part of the BSc degree schemes in Biology, Zoology and Ecology & Conservation
- distance learning modules on 'Crop Biotechnology' and 'Plant Defence and Crop Protection' delivered as part of our Food Challenges for the 21st Century postgraduate programme.
Research Interests
Current research areas:
Long-term priming of plant defence responses
- Mechanisms and applications of long-term priming of plant resistance to pests and diseases.
- Trans-generational phenotypic plasticity.
Effects of the environment on plant stress responses
- Interactions between ozone signalling and wound/herbivore responses in Arabidopsis.
Sustainable approaches to improved plant biotic and abiotic stress resistance
- Novel seed treatments which provide long-lasting increases in resistance against disease and insect pests in crop plants. This research has led to successful commercialisation.
- The development of novel combinations of bioactive compounds to enhance plant abiotic stress resistance.
These projects have been supported by ~£2 million external funding, including grants from BBSRC, Defra, NERC and industry.
Career Details
1988-1991: Department of Botany, University of Leicester. SERC/CASE PhD studentship
1991-1994: Department of Botany, University of Leicester. Post-doctoral Research Associate funded by an AFRC grant to Dr. R.J. Scott.
1994-1996: The Plant Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of York. Research Associate funded by a BBSRC ROPA award to Prof. D.J. Bowles.
1996-2001: The Plant Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of York. Royal Society University Research Fellowship.
2001-2004: Department of Biological Sciences, Lancaster University. Royal Society University Research Fellowship.
2004-2008: Department of Biological Sciences, Lancaster University. Lecturer in Plant Science.
2008-2012: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University. Lecturer in Plant Science.
2012-present: Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University. Senior Lecturer in Plant Science.
PhD Supervision Interests
Transgenerational defence priming in plants. Crop protection methods based on defence priming. Effects of biotic interactions on seed dormancy.
Selected Publications
Costs and Benefits of Transgenerational Induced Resistance in Arabidopsis
Sánchez, A.L., Pascual-Pardo, D., Furci, L., Roberts, M.R., Ton, J. 26/02/2021 In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 12
Journal article
Long-Lasting Defence Priming by β-Aminobutyric Acid in Tomato Is Marked by Genome-Wide Changes in DNA Methylation
Catoni, M., Alvarez-Venegas, R., Worrall, D., Holroyd, G., Barraza, A., Luna, E., Ton, J., Roberts, M. 15/04/2022 In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 13 p.
Journal article
Jasmonic acid-dependent regulation of seed dormancy following maternal herbivory in Arabidopsis
Singh, P., Dave, A., Vaistij, F., Worrall, D., Holroyd, G.H., Wells, J., Kaminski, F., Graham, I., Roberts, M.R. 06/2017 In: New Phytologist. 214, 4, p. 1702-1711. 10 p.
Journal article
Treating seeds with activators of plant defence generates long-lasting priming of resistance to pests and pathogens.
Worrall, D., Holroyd, G.H., Moore, J.P., Glowacz, M., Croft, P., Taylor, J.E., Paul, N.D., Roberts, M.R. 02/2012 In: New Phytologist. 193, 3, p. 770-778. 9 p.
Journal article
Next generation systemic acquired resistance
Luna, E., Bruce, T., Roberts, M., Flors, V., Ton, J. 02/2012 In: Plant Physiology. 158, 2, p. 844-853. 10 p.
Journal article
All Publications
Priming tree seed for stress resilience
01/12/2023 → 27/03/2025
Research
Can we reduce food waste in the supply chain from farm to fork?
01/10/2019 → 30/09/2023
Research
High throughput technologies for the efficient downstream processing of Recombinant proteins for production of low-cost rapid diagnostic kits
01/10/2019 → 31/03/2023
Research
High throughput technologies for the efficient downstream processing of Recombinant proteins for production of low-cost rapid diagnostic kits
01/10/2019 → 30/09/2023
Research
Impacts of seed priming on seed dormancy in temperate region tree species
01/10/2019 → 30/09/2020
Research
N8: Exploring DNA-Nanoparticle Conjugates for Convenient Point-of-Use Detection of Plant Fungal Pathogens
05/11/2018 → 04/11/2019
Research
Assessing the long-term impacts of plant activator compounds on disease resistance and crop productivity
01/10/2018 → 30/09/2022
Research
Maternal priming of seeds for enhanced pest and disease resistance
01/10/2018 → 30/09/2022
Research
Plant protection products from tomato waste
19/02/2018 → 18/08/2018
Research
Understanding the environmental contexts for the commercialisation of a novel microbial pesticide
01/11/2015 → 30/04/2016
Research
Reducing pesticide inputs and improving crop production under environmental stress by using seed treatments to prime plant defences.
01/10/2015 → 30/09/2019
Research
Transgenerational immune priming in plants
01/09/2014 → 31/12/2017
Research
Mechanisms of plant defence priming using seed treatments
01/12/2009 → 30/11/2012
Research
2001 BBSRC project grant Release of organic acid to the rhizosphere: a role for anion channels. £209, 216
01/01/1900 → …
Research
Biology Taster Session
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
Future Zoo
Public Lecture/ Debate/Seminar
James Sims
Hosting an academic visitor
IOBC-WPRS PR-IR 2022: Priming the Future for Healthy Plants
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
IOBC-WPRS PR-IR 2022: Priming the Future for Healthy Plants
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
University of Essex (External organisation)
Member of Advisory Panel
University College Cork
Visiting an external academic institution
FST Taster Day
Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
Lancashire Farmer Network AGM
Oral presentation
South Lakes Federation Science teachers conference
Business Course/Training
VISCEA Plant Biotic Stresses & Resistance Mechanisms III, Vienna, Austria
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
ISMPP International Conference on Plant Health for Human Welfare
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
N8 AgriFood 2017 International Sustainable Food Production Conference
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
FST Taster Day
Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
N8 Crop Innovation Pipeline Workshop
Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Guguletho Makatini
Hosting a Student (PhD)
South Lakes Federation Science teachers conference
Business Course/Training
Raul Alvarez-Venegas
Hosting an academic visitor
GARNet 2016
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
FST Taster Day
Types of Public engagement and outreach - Festival/Exhibition
Association of Applied Biologists Knowledge Exchange Meeting
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
XVI Congress on Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
BBSRC (External organisation)
Membership of committee
SEB Annual Main Meeting
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Monsanto Global Seed Technology Symposium
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Mahjabeen Panhwar
Hosting a Student (PhD)
3rd International Workshop on the Molecular Aspects of Seed Dormancy and Germination
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (External organisation)
Membership of committee
European Union (External organisation)
Membership of committee
International Symposium on Microbial Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Society for Experimental Biology (External organisation)
Membership of committee
SEB Annual Main Meeting
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Plant Methods (Journal)
Editorial activity
Society for Experimental Biology (External organisation)
Membership of committee
Visiting research fellowship
Types of Business and Community - Hosting of external, non-academic visitor
SEB Plant Development Group meeting, “Protein-protein interactions in plant development.”
Participation in conference -Mixed Audience
Staff Prize for Commercialisation
Prize (including medals and awards)
University Research Fellowship
Fellowship awarded competitively
- Improving global stewardship
- Innovation for a better environment
- Plant and Crop Science