Bacterial bookmarks for 2023

Like last year we decided to ask our project teams to send us great photos of their that we could use to showcase their work. And like last year our teams really impressed us with their contributions. Some will feature in an end of year video (coming soon!) but we chose two stand-out images to feature on our 2023 bookmarks.

We chose these images because they show ‘research in action’. And because they demonstrate that you might find plant pathologists in a field or in a glasshouse – not just in a lab! Read on to hear from the people who took or feature in the photos about what they were doing at the time.

January-June 2023: Marco Benucci sweep netting in a carrot field

Marco explains: I was sweep netting as part of our sampling for the detection of Candidatus Liberibacter soalancearum in carrot fields across the UK. This is part of the CALIBER project. We selected a total of 8 transects (100 m each). Along the 4 field margin transcects we collected plants and insects. Along the other 4 transects in the middle of the field, we collected only the insects. Here I am sweep netting in the middle of the field to collect insects, including insects which can transmit Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum. Sweep netting involves swishing the net backwards and forwards across the top of the plants. Back in the lab we test the insects to see if they are carrying the bacterium.

July-December 2023: Jenny Cole and Sarah Carroll innoculating strawberry plants

Photographer Adam Bryning explains: In the picture Jenny and Sarah, of the Xanthomonas Threats project, are spraying different varieties of strawberry plants with a bacterial inoculum (basically bacteria mixed in buffer). The bacterium they are applying is Xanthomonas fragariae causes the disease angular leaf spot of strawberry. We were doing this to see if different UK grown varieties have different susceptibilities or resistances to this pathogen. After spraying on the bacteria we cover the plant with plastic sheeting. This increases the humidity around the plant and encourages the stomata on the leaf to open up. The bacteria can then get into the leaf via the stomata. We then left them growing for 8 weeks and checked them regularly for symptom development. Some varieties certainly seemed more susceptible than others. This is worrying as the susceptible plants included some really popular varieties. It means that we could be leaving a door open to a really damaging outbreak.

Thanks to Marco and Adam and everyone else who submitted images. Printed bookmarks will be winging their way to project teams very soon but if you’d like to receive one (or more) please do get in touch with your postal address.