Cell and Molecular Sciences

A major research focus is on the genetic improvement of cereals, potatoes and soft fruit crops with respect to yield and quality, resource use efficiency and pest and disease resistance.

Cell and Molecular Sciences (CMS) was established from the Plant Pathology, Genetics and Plant Products and Food Quality programmes of the former SCRI. CMS is based at the Dundee site and comprises more than 100 plant scientists with research specialisms in cell and molecular biology, genomics, genetics, pathology and physiology.

Crop improvement

A major research focus is on the genetic improvement of cereals, potatoes and soft fruit crops with respect to yield and quality, resource use efficiency and pest and disease resistance.

We study processes from the gene and molecular level to field scale, providing knowledge to tackle problems of food security and to develop sustainable production systems against a background of environmental change.

Close relationships with breeding and agronomy companies, as well as Government Agencies and other national and international stakeholders ensures the translation of our research into practical applications through the Research Themes. We have a unique relationship with local universities, and scientists from the Universities of Dundee and St Andrews are affiliated to CMS.  Groups within CMS and Dundee University are working together as the Dundee Effector Consortium studying the roles and recognition of effectors in a wide range of pathosystems.

Collections and facilities

We maintain collections of potato, barley and fruit germplasm, for example we maintain the Commonwealth Potato Collection (CPC), and have mapping populations of barley, soft fruit and potato as well as collections of contemporary isolates of pathogens and pests.

Our state-of-the-art facilities include sequencing and microarray services, plant transformation, containment glasshouses, temperature-controlled growth rooms, and an imaging suite with modern confocal laser scanning and electron microscopes, as well as high-specification laboratories (including a category 3 containment laboratory) for molecular biology.

Head of Cell and Molecular Sciences Group: Lesley Torrance

Research areas

Centres of research

Centre for Research on Potato and other Solanaceous plants