Alison Lees

Head of Dept. Cell & Molecular Sciences
Cell and Molecular Sciences
T: +44 (0)1382 568834
  Science Research Interests
  • Delivery of a research programme focusing on applied potato pathology, integrated pest management (IPM@Hutton) and translational science.
 
  • Late Blight IPM: informing management decisions and appropriate use of fungicides through a knowledge of pathogen phenotype and host resistance and use of disease forecasting models
 
  • Other research interests include potato rot and blemish pathogens, disease resistance testing, diagnostics and risk-assessment for soil-borne potato diseases.
 
  • Recent involvement in lettuce downy mildew research and provision of race characterisation testing to an industry consortium.

Research

Tools for Integrated Pest Management of potato diseases

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Previously Topic A Lead (Plant Health) & Project Lead ‘Integrated Crop Protection’ RESAS Strategic Research Programme 2022-27

IPM of potato late blight through improved in-field detection of Phytophthora infestans, appropriate use of fungicides and host resistance and alternatives to conventional pesticides.

Coordinator of the SusCrop ERA-NET Project ECOSOL: Eco-friendly solutions for the integrated management of late and early blight of potatoes’

A coordinator of Euroblight – A potato late blight Network for Europe.

DNA-based diagnostics to investigate the epidemiology of potato diseases and for disease risk assessment.

IPM of aerial oomycetes including Bremia lactucae on lettuce

Epidemiology and control of soil-borne potato diseases: black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes), powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea) and Rhizoctonia.

Other Activities  

Alison is a key staff member leading Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM) research at the James Hutton Institute.

Current secretary of the EAPR Council

Plant Pathology

 

Editor for Plant Pathology

Publications

The following Publications have not yet been migrated to the James Hutton Institute's Pure service and relate to the research outputs from the two legacy organisations: The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute and The Scottish Crop Research Institute.

Journals

Books / chapters

  • Colon, L.T.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Gronbech-Hansen, J.; Lassen, P.; Andrivon, D.; Hermansen, A.; Zimnoch-Guzowska, E.; Lees, A.K. (2005) Eucablight: a late blight network for Europe., In: Haverkort, A.J. and Struik, P.C (eds.). Potato in Progress: Science Meets Practice. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, pp290-297
  • Kerby, N.W.; Dale, M.F.B.; Lees, A.K.; Taylor, M.A.; Bradshaw, J.E. (2005) Breeding and diagnostic developments for better storage of potatoes to meet future industry needs., In: Potato in Progress: Science Meets Practice (eds. Haverkort, A.J. and Struik, P.C.), Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, pp76-85. (Proceedings of the Potato 2005 Congress, Emmeloord, Netherlands, 5-7 September 2005.)
  • Parry D.W.; Pettitt T.R.; Jenkinson P.; Lees A.K. (1994) The cereal fusarium complex., In: Blakeman, J.P. & Williamson, B. (eds.). Ecology of Plant Pathogens. CABI, Wallingford, pp301-320.

Technical / contract reports

  • Carnegie, S.F.; Campbell, H.; Heaton, K.; Wale, S.; Davey, T.; Roberts, A.M.I.; Kirkwood, M.; Lees, A.K. (2010) Research project report: Independent variety trials 2009., Potato Council Ltd., Stoneleigh, Report No 2010/12, 41pp.
  • Wale, S.; Lees, A.K.; Peters, J.; Brierley, J.L.; Woodhall, J.W.; Davey, T. (2010) Final report: Extending the scope of modern potato diagnostics and their interpretation., Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Shaw, D.S.; Bain, R.; Ritchie, F.; Taylor, M. (2010) Final report: Survey of GB blight populations., Potato Council, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
  • Torrance, L.; Toth, I.K.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Fenton, B.; Blok, V.C.; Lees, A.K. (2010) Risks of new or emerging pests and pathogens posed by environmental change., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2009, pp14-17.
  • Lees, A.K.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Fenton, B.; Newton, A.C. (2010) Understanding pathogen biodiversity as a key to controlling crop diseases., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2009, pp24-25.
  • Wale, S.; Hilton, A.; Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Peters, J.; Gladders, P.; Bradshaw, N. (2008) Developing effective integrated control measures for the control of black dot., R249 Final Report. Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
  • Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.; Hilton, A.; Wale, S.; Peters, J.; Elphinstone, J.; Boonham, N. (2008) Improving decision making for the management of potato diseases using real-time diagnostics., R253 Final Report, Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
  • Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.K.; Wale, S.; (2008) Powdery scab: strains and conducive conditions. A review of literature and other sources of information., Research Review, Potato Council Ltd., Stoneleigh, 43pp.
  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Sullivan, L.; Cullen, D.W. (2006) Molecular diagnostics: quantitative tools for investigating potato pathogens., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp26-27.

Conference papers

  • Merz, U.; Lees, A.K.; Sullivan, L.; Schwärzel, R.; Hebeisen, T.; Kirk, H.G.; Bouchek-Mechiche, K.; Hofferbert, H.R. (2011) Powdery scab resistance: an assessment of the host genotype× local Spongospora subterranea population relationship., Proceedings of the Eighth Symposium of the International Working Group on Plant Viruses with Fungal Vectors, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, 6-8 July 2011.
  • Bain, R.A.; Ritchie, F.; Lees, A.K.; Dyer, C.; Roberts, A. (2011) Development of foliar late blight (P. infestans) in relation to cultivar resistance and fungicide dose on potato., Proceedings of 13th Euroblight Workshop, St Petersburg, Russia, 9-12 October 2011. Special Report No.15., pp139-144.
  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Sullivan, L.; Wale, S.; Davey T.; Kiezebrink, D.; Wiechel, T.; Sparrow, L. (2011) Studying infection by Spongospora subterranea and PMTV., Proceedings of the 2011 Powdery Scab Workshop, Zurich, Switzerland, August 2011.
  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Wale, S.; Kiezebrink, D. (2011) Diagnostics, epidemiology and control of soil-borne diseases: focus on powdery scab., Proceedings of Nordic-Baltic Potato Tuber Disease Workshop, Hamar, Norway, 16-18 November 2011.
  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Wale, S.; Peters, J. (2011) Diagnostics, epidemiology and control of soil-borne diseases: focus on Rhizoctonia., Proceedings of Nordic-Baltic Potato Tuber Disease Workshop, Hamar, Norway, 16-18 November 2011.
  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Wale, S.; Peters, J.; Gladders, P.; Bradshaw, N. (2011) Diagnostics, epidemiology and control of soil-borne diseases: focus on black dot., Proceedings of Nordic-Baltic Potato Tuber Disease Workshop, Hamar, Norway, 16-18 November 2011.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Bain, R.A.; Ritchie, F.; Taylor, M.; Shaw, D.S. (2010) An update on the status of P. infestans genotype 13 in GB., 12th Euroblight Meeting, Arras, France, 3-6 May 2010.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Hansen, J.G.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Molecular diversity of Phytophthora infestans populations at local and regional scales., KNPV Meeting. Wageningen, The Netherlands, 16 June 2010.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Ongoing change in populations of Phytophthora infestans in the GB potato crop., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Gilroy, E.M.; Hein, I.; McLellan, H.; Breen, S.; Engelhardt, S.; Tian, Z.D.; Seman, Z.A.; Pritchard, L.; Armstrong, M.R.; Randall, E.; Avrova, A.O.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Vleeshouwers, V.G.A.A.; van West, P.; Whisson, S.C.; Birch, P.R.J. (2010) Using knowledge of RXLR effectors to seek durable resistance., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network Congress, Toulouse, France, 6-8 June 2010.
  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Sullivan, L. (2010) Investigating factors affecting infection of potato by Spongospora subterranea, the cause of powdery scab., Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010, Dundee, 23-24 February 2010, pp263-268.
  • Lees, A.K.; Carnegie, S.F.; Shaw, D.S.; Bain, R.A. (2010) The effect of late blight population changes on host resistance ratings., Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010, Dundee, 23-24 February 2010, 257-262.
  • Peters, J.C.; Woodhall, J.W.; Brierley, J.L.; Wale, S.; Davey, T.; Lees, A.K. (2010) Determining the distribution pattern of soil-borne Rhizoctonia solani AG3., Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010, Dundee, 23-24 February 2010, pp183-188.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Hansen, J.G.; Lassen, P.; Andersson, B.; Bakonyi, J. (2009) From a European to a global database of Phytophthora infestans genetic diversity: examining the nature and significance of population change., In: Proceedings of the Third International Late Blight Conference, Beijing, China, 3-6 April 2008. Acta Horticulturae, 834, 19-26.
  • Peters, J.C.; Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Wale, S. (2008) The use of real-time PCR for detecting plant pathogens., Proceedings of the 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Turin, Italy, 24-29 August 2008.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Zhan, J.; Hansen, J.S.; Lassen, P.; Birch, P.R.J. (2008) Molecular tools for analysis of populations of Phytophthora infestans at a local and global scale., Global Potato Conference 2008, New Delhi, India, 9-12 December 2008.
  • Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Wale, S.; Hilton, A.J.; Budge, G.; Elphinstone, J.; Barrett, B.; Boonham, N.; Lees, A.K. (2008) Validating predictive diagnostics for soil-borne potato diseases., ICPP Meeting, Turin, Italy, 90, 297.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Bain, R.A.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Shaw, D.S.; Taylor, M.C. (2008) Examining the drivers in a dramatic shift in P. infestans populations., Oomycete Molecular Genetics Network, Birnam, 6-9 May 2008.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Hansen, J.G.; Lassen, P.; Andersson, B.; Bakonyi, J. (2008) From a European to a global database of P. infestans genetic diversity: examining the nature and significance of population change., 3rd International Late Blight Conference, Beijing, China, 3-6 April 2008, 834, pp19-26.
  • Hansen, J.G.; Andersson, B.A.; Bain, R.; Schmiedl, J.; Soellinger, J.; Ritchie, F.; Bucena, L.; Cakir, E.; Cooke, L.; Dubois, L.; Filippov, A.; Hannukkala, A.; Hausladen, H.; Hausvater, E.; Heldak, J.; Hermansen, A.; Kapsa, J.; Pliakhnevich, M.; Koppel, M.; Lees, A.K.; Musa, T.; Ronis, A.; Schepers, H.; Vogelaar, K.; Vanhaverbeke, P. (2008) The development and control of late blight (Phytophthora infestans) in Europe in 2007 and 2008., 11th Euroblight Workshop, Hamar, Norway, 28-31 October 2008. PPO-Special Report, 13, 11-30.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Shaw, D.S.; Taylor, M.A.; Bain, R.A.; Ritchie, J. (2008) Drivers and possible consequences of a changing population of Phytophthora infestans on the GB potato industry., 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Turin, Italy, 24-29 August 2008.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Hansen, J.G.; Lassen, P.; Andersson, B.; Bakonyi, J. (2008) Eucablight pathogen database update., 11th Euroblight Workshop, Hamar, Norway, 28-31 October 2008.
  • Lees, A.K.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Sullivan, L.; Carnegie, S. (2008) Phytophthora infestans population changes: implications., 11th Euroblight Workshop, Hamar, Norway, 28-31 October 2008.
  • Lees, A.K.; Sullivan, L.; Williams, N.A.; Cooke, D.E.L. (2008) Using molecular tools to investigate the role of tuber and soil-borne inoculum of Phytophthora infestans., 9th International Congress of Plant Pathology, Turin, Italy, 24-29 August 2008.
  • McLean, K.; Bradshaw, J.E.; Lees, A.K.; Bryan, G.J. (2008) Mapping resistance to late blight in two S. verrucosum populations., 5th Solanaceae Genome Workshop 2008, Cologne, Germany, 12-16 October 2008.
  • Hilton, A.J.; Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.K.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Gladders, P.; Peters, J.; Wale, S.J. (2008) Colletotrichum coccodes, the cause of black dot of potatoes – how contaminated are potato fields in the UK?, Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2008, Dundee, 26-27 February 2008, pp237-242.
  • Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Wale, S.J.; Hilton, A.J.; Budge, G.; Elphinstone, J.; Barrett, B.; Boonham, N.; Lees, A.K. (2008) Validating predictive diagnostics for potato diseases., Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2008, Dundee, 26-27 February 2008, pp231-236.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Shaw, D.S.; Taylor, M.C.; Prentice, M.W.C.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Bain, R.A. (2008) The status of GB blight populations and the threat of oospores., Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2008, Dundee, 26-27 February 2008, pp217-222.
  • Toth, I.K.; Torrance, L.; Fenton, B.; Lees, A.K. (2008) Impact of climate change on pests and diseases of potatoes in Scotland: risks and recommendations., Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2008, Dundee, 26-27 February 2008, pp187-192.
  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Peters, J.C.; Gladder, P.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S. (2007) Diagnostic assays: quantitative tools for investigating the epidemiology of potato diseases and making disease risk assessments., EAPR Pathology Section Meeting, Homeenlinna, Finland, 2-6 July 2007.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Sullivan, L. (2011) Is there any relationship between level of S. subterranea inoculum and disease?, Proceedings of the 2011 Powdery Scab Workshop, Zurich, Switzerland. August 2011.
  • Stroud, G.P.; Harper, J.; Wale, S.; Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Peters, J.C. (2010) Post-harvest development of black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) on potato., EAPR Pathology Section Meeting, Carlow Ireland, 13-16 September 2010 (Abstract).
  • Peters, J.C.; Woodhall, J.W.; Brierley, J.L.; Wale, S.; Lees, A.K. (2010) Spatial distribution of soil-borne pathogens to inform disease risk prediction., EAPR Pathology Section Meeting, Carlow Ireland, 13-16 September 2010 (Abstract).
  • Lees, A.K.; Carnegie, S.F.; Shaw, D.S.; Bain, R.A. (2010) The effect of P. infestans population changes on host resistance ratings., 12th EuroBlight Workshop, Arras, France, 3-6 May 2010 (Poster).
  • Chapman, A.; Cooke, L.R.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K. (2010) P. infestans: monitoring and implications of population changes., 12th Euroblight Meeting, Arras, France, 3-6 May 2010 (Poster).
  • Lees, A.K.; Stewart, J.A.; Sullivan, L.; Brierley, J.L.; (2009) Epidemiology of soil-borne potato diseases., Proceedings of Soil-borne Disease Workshop, World Potato Congress, Christchurch, New Zealand (Abstract).
  • Lees, A.K.; Sullivan, L.; Brierley, J.L. (2009) Investigating factors affecting infection of potato by Spongospora subterranea., Association of Applied Biologists. Potatoes: Viruses and their Vectors, SASA, Edinburgh, 16 September 2009, 94, 65-66. (Poster).
  • Gopalakrishnan, V.; Lees, A.K.; Torrance, L.; Roberts, A.G. (2009) Acquisition and transmission of PMTV by Spongospora subterranea., Association of Applied Biologists. Potatoes: Viruses and their Vectors, SASA, Edinburgh, 16 September 2009 (Poster).
  • Gopalakrishnan, V.; Lees, A.K.; Torrance, L.; Roberts, A.G. (2009) Acquisition and transmission of PMTV by Spongospora subterranea., 37th Scottish Microscopy Group Symposium, Edinburgh, 4 November 2009 (Poster).
  • Wale, S.J.; Hilton, A.J.; Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Gladders, P.; Peters, J.C. (2008) Controlling black dot of potatoes (Colletotrichum coccodes) by understanding its epidemiology., ICPP Meeting, Turin, Italy, 90, 425.
  • Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Sullivan, L. (2007) Spongospora and PMTV research at SCRI., 2nd European Powdery Scab Workshop, Langnau, Switzerland, 30 July 2007 (Abstract).
  • Wale, S.; Hilton, A.J.; Lees, A.K.; Peters, J.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Gladders, P. (2006) Practical solutions to the control of black dot of potatoes., Abstract book. 8th Conference of the European Foundation for Plant Pathology and BSPP Presidential Meeting 2006. Fredericksberg, Denmark, 13-17 August 2006, 112.
  • van de Graaf, P.; Lees, A.K.; Duncan, J.M. (2002) Biology and control of Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea, the vector of PMTV., Abstracts of the 5th Symposium of the International Working Group on Plant Viruses with Fungal Vectors, Zurich, Switzerland, 22-25 July 2002.
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Hussain, S.; Sullivan, L.; Williams, N.A.; Duncan, J.M. (2002) The development and use of co-dominant SNPs and SSRs in the study of gene flow in Scottish late blight populations., 7th International Mycological Congress, Oslo, 11-17 August 2002 (Abstract).
  • Cooke, D.E.L.; Lees, A.K.; Birch, P.R.J.; Hussain, S.; Carnegie, S.; Duncan, J.M.; Gourlay, F.; Toth, R.; Young, V. (2002) Phytophthora infestans populations in Scotland: the implications of mixed mating types on potato late blight management., Late Blight: Managing the global threat, Proceedings of the Global Initiative on Late Blight (GILB) Conference, Hamburg, 11-13 July 2002 (Poster), 131.
  • Lees, A.K.; Hussain, S.; Cooke, D.E.L.; Duncan, J.M. (2002) The development of Phytophthora infestans specific primers and their use in epidemiological studies., Late Blight: Managing the global threat. Proceedings of the Global Initiative on Late Blight (GILB) Conference, Hamburg, 11-13 July 2002, 137 (Poster).
  • Cullen, D.W.; Lees, A.K.; Toth, I.K.; Bell, K.S.; Duncan, J.M. (2000) Detection and quantification of fungal and bacterial potato pathogens in plants and soil (Abstract)., EPPO Conference on Diagnostic Techniques for Plant Pests, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 1-4 February 2000, 46 (Abstract).
  • De Maine, M.J.; Lees, A.K.; Muir, D.D.; Bradshaw, J.E.; Mackay, G.R. (1999) Long-day adapted Phureja as a resource for potato breeding and genetic research., Abstracts, Global Conference on Potato, New Delhi, India, 6-11 December 1999, 175.
  • Cullen, D.W.; Lees, A.K.; Toth, I.K.; Duncan, J.M. (1999) Specific detection of the three main pathogens of potato blemish diseases by PCR., Abstracts of the 143rd Ordinary Society for General Microbiology Meeting, Edinburgh, 13-16 April 1999, 57.

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