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) is based at the Dundee site and comprises more than 90 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. 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 a wide range of genomics platforms, plant transformation, containment glasshouses, temperature-controlled growth rooms, and an imaging suite with excellent confocal laser scanning and electron microscopes.  We recently won funding through the ALERT scheme to purchase a super resolution microscope adapted for use with plant samples

Cell and Molecular Sciences Department Head: John Jones

Research areas

Centres of research

Our scientists make a major contribution to the goals of the International Barley Hub and the Advanced Plant Growth Centre