Research

My research is concerned with integrated pest management in soft fruit systems (mainly raspberry and blackcurrant). In particular, I coordinate an HDC funded project, ‘Developing techniques to manage raspberry leaf and bud mite in tunnel production’ which aims to control leaf and bud mite using natural enemies and minimal acaricide applications. This work involves liaising with soft fruit growers and industry representatives on a regular basis to assess commercial needs and focus our research to address these needs. On completion of this research it is hoped to develop sustainable methods of IPM on protected raspberry plots that do not rely on fungicide and pesticide applications during flowering and fruit development but still provide a high quality of fruit with minimal residue levels.

My other research interest is another insect pest of raspberries, the clay coloured weevil (Otiorhynchus singularis). Very little work has been done on this pest in recent times and there is now a need to further understand the weevil’s biology and use this information to find new ways of controlling pest numbers.

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

Technical / contract reports

  • Johnson, S.N.; Karley, A.J.; Hawes, C.; Mitchell, C. (2008) Aboveground-belowground trophic linkages., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2007, pp40-41.
  • Fenton, B.; Birch, A.N.E.; Clyne, C.; Kasprowicz, L.; Malloch, G.; Mitchell, C.; Gordon, S.C. (2004) No sex please – we’re British aphids., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp164-166.

Conference papers

  • Mitchell, C. (2009) Raspberry leaf and bud mite., SSCR Soft Fruit Committee, SCRI, Dundee, 25 February 2009.
  • Mitchell, C.; Johnson, S.N. (2009) Combining biological control and plant resistance to control the large raspberry aphid., Ento’09 National Meeting of the Royal Entomological Society, University of Sheffield, 15-17 July 2009.
  • Mitchell, C.; Johnson, S.N.; Birch, A.N.E.; Hubbard, S.F. (2008) Tri-trophic interaction changes as herbivores start adapting to host plant resistance., British Ecological Society Annual Meeting 2008, Imperial College, London, 3-5 September 2008.
  • Johnson, S.N.; Mitchell, C. (2008) Root-feeding insects as agents of change in agroecology., International Congress of Entomology, 23rd World Congress, Durban, South Africa, 6-12 July 2008.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Gordon, S.C.; Brennan, R.M.; Jennings, S.N.; Mitchell, C. (2007) Breeding for durable resistance to the large raspberry aphid, Amphorophora ideai, in field and protected raspberry plantations: Co-evolution and IPM., IOBC Working Group: Integrated Plant Protection in Fruit Crops, East Malling Research, 24-25 September 2007.
  • Mitchell, C.; Hubbard, S.F.; Gordon, S.C.; Birch, A.N.E. (2006) Making sure your prey eat well: parasitoids prefer aphids that feed on good host plants., British Ecological Society AGM. Glasgow, 10-12 September 2006.
  • Gordon, S.C.; Birch, A.N.E.; Mitchell, C. (2006) Integrated pest management of pests of raspberry (Rubus idaeus) – possible developments in Europe by 2015., IOBC/WPRS Bulletin, Stavanger, Norway, 5-8 October 2005.
  • Mitchell, C.; Gordon, S.C.; Birch, A.N.E.; Hubbard, S.F. (2004) Developing a “lure and kill” system for raspberry beetle, Byturus tomentosus, in Rubus production., Bulletin IOBC/WPRS, 27, 113-118.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Gordon, S.C.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Mitchell, C.; Jones, A.T.; Griffiths, D.W.; Brennan, R.M.; Graham, J.; Woodford, J.A.T. (2004) Developing a sustainable IPM system for high value Rubus crops (raspberry, blackberry) for Europe., Acta Horticulturae, 649, 289-292.

Conference posters / abstracts

  • Graham, J.; Johnson, S.N.; Karley, A.J.; Mitchell, C.; Woodhead, M.; Brennan, R.M.; Cooke, D.E.L. (2011) How root and leaf traits of soft fruit help resist pest and pathogen attack., Fruit for the Future, Dundee, 14 July 2011. (Poster)
  • Shepherd, T.; Birch, A.N.E.; Jorna, C.S.; Mitchell, C.; Cross, J.; Hall, D.; Farman, D. (2009) Profiling of raspberry cane wound volatiles using a combination of SPME and GC-TOF-MS., Metabomeeting 2009, Norwich, 5-8 July 2009.
  • Mitchell, C.; Shepherd, T.; Birch, A.N.E.; Gordon, S.; Cross, J.; Hall, D. (2008) Are females attracted by wound volatiles to cane splits? Early stages in the development of a plant derived attractant for raspberry cane midge., 23rd International Congress of Entomology, Durban, South Africa, 6-12 July 2008.
  • Gordon, S.C.; Mitchell, C.; Birch, A.N.E.; Griffiths, D.W.; Casagrande, E.; Jones, O. (2005) Use of natural plant derived chemicals to monitor and the prospects of managing raspberry beetles (Byturus tomentosus) in open field production., Workshop Pest and Weed Control in Sustainable Fruit Production, Poland (Abstract).
  • Gordon, S.C.; Barker, H.; Graham, J.; Brennan, R.M.; Dolan, A.; Birch, A.N.E.; Mitchell, C.; Cross, J.; Berrie, A.; Fitzgerald, J.; Allen, J. (2005) Integrated crop management related cane and bush fruit research in the UK., WG3 1st Meeting Sustainable Berry Production (COST 863 Euroberry), Wageningen, 7-9 July 2005 (Abstract).
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Gordon, S.C.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Mitchell, C.; Jones, A.T.; Griffiths, D.W.; Brennan, R.M.; Graham, J.; Woodford, J.A.T. (2003) Developing a sustainable IPM system for high value Rubus crops (raspberry, blackberry) for Europe., COST 836 Final Workshop, Ancona, 9-11 October 2003 (Poster).
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Gordon, S.C.; Woodford, J.A.T.; Griffiths, D.W.; Robertson, G.; Mitchell, C. (2003) Raspberry beetle monitoring and enhanced trapping using plant-derived volatile compounds from host flowers., Symposium on Raspberry, Cacak, Serbia and Montenegro, 28-30 October 2003 (Poster).
  • Gordon, S.C.; Birch, A.N.E.; Woodford, J.A.T.; Mitchell, C. (2003) Managing pests of raspberry using IPM techniques – European experience., Symposium on Raspberry, Cacak, Serbia and Montenegro, 28-30 October 2003 (Abstract).

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