DeS-BL (Blackleg)
Pectobacterium atrosepticum is one of the most economically damaging bacterial plant pathogens in the UK, causing blackleg disease of potato plants and soft rot of tubers.The DeS-BL (Building a Decision Support tool for Potato Blackleg Disease) project aims to develop tools to help farmers, agronomists and policymakers manage the disease.
The research is organised into five work packages
- Understanding the role of nematode worms and insects in disease transmission
- Investigating the impact of current practices, including irrigation and crop rotation on disease establishment
- Studying the potato root microbiome, how it changes with soil conditions and the potential for biocontrol
- Using data from past outbreaks and climate change models to identify drivers of disease and develop a tool for predicting blackleg risk
- Collaborate with industry and policymakers to implement and evaluate the project findings and decision making tool
Meet the DeS-BL Team
Ian Toth (James Hutton Institute), Project Lead
Barbara Mable University of Glasgow
Adam Kleczkowski University of Strathclyde
Greig Cahill
Triona Davey SASA
Mike MacDonald University of Dundee
Ciara_Keating
Sonia Humphris James Hutton Institute
Yangminghao (Hao) Lui
Michael Porter
Prakash Bhagat
Glyn Jones Newcastle University
Umer Zeeshan Ijaz University of Glasgow
Simon Alexander SA Consulting
Eric Anderson Scottish Agronomy Ltd
Ari Sadanandom Durham University
Dave Roberts James Hutton Institute
Amy King Bayer Crop Science UK
Joel Milner University of Glasgow
Jim Wilson SoilEssentials
Meet the DeS-BL Advisory Group
Mark Stalham
Euan Grewar (Grewar Farming)
Gerard Croft (British Potato Trade Association)
Sophie Bambridge (B&C Farming Ltd.)
tim-daniell
