Event Details

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.

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.