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Adrian Newton

Staff picture: Adrian Newton
Cell and Molecular Sciences
Cell and Molecular Sciences
Cereal Pathologist
adrian.newton@hutton.ac.uk
+44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

The James Hutton Institute
Invergowrie
Dundee DD2 5DA
Scotland UK

 

Adrian Newton is a cereal pathologist by training but his current research spans broader aspects of arable crops in the context of integrated crop management. His first degree was in Agricultural Botany from the University of Reading, followed by a PhD in Genetics from the University of Birmingham. His PhD and subsequent post-doc work at Birmingham were on the population biology of Puccinia striiformis (yellow rust) and Phaeosphaeria nodorum (Stagonospora nodorum formerly Septoria nodorum; glume blotch) on wheat and barley. Moving to the former Scottish Crop Research Institute he focussed on Blumeria graminis (formerly Erysiphe graminis; powdery mildew) and Rhynchosporium commune (formerly Rhynchosporium secalis; rhynchosporium or scald) on barley. This work continued his interest in pathogen population biology but focussed more on disease control through resistance, tolerance, exploitation of in-crop diversity and the development of resistance elicitors as crop protectants. Other interests included adaptation to climate change in plant pathology.

Current research interests

Adrian’s research interests in cereal pathogens continue, including Ramularia collo-cygni (Ramularia Leaf Spot). The crop diversity interest has taken more of an ecological focus working with Hutton colleagues and others, and has encompassed intercropping, especially cereal-legume combinations for both biomass (wholecrop) and grain. His IPM interests in general have included soil cultivation, particularly the effects of non-inversion versus inversion tillage. The particular approach of direct drilling or conservation tillage and it’s farming systems context are another current area of interest and exciting developments.

Some links to previous areas of work: Epidemiology, crop protection and resistance deployment; Resistance elicitors; Analysing epidemic spatial trends and local competition effects in heterogeneous vegetation and cultivar mixtures in general.

Adrian is a key staff member leading Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM) research at the Institute. For details of ongoing IPM research areas and projects, please visit the IPM@hutton website.

He is also honoured to be a Visiting Professor of Cereal Pathology at SRUC, Edinburgh; an editor for Plant Pathology; a Member of the Association for Crop Protection in Northern Britain Standing Committee and Programme Committee and its Treasurer; a Member of HGCA Barley, Oats and Other cereals Recommended List Committee; a Member of Scottish Variety Consultative Committee (Cereals); a Member of the International Committee for the International Workshop on Barley Leaf Diseases; a Member of the Scottish Society for Crop Research - Combinable and Energy Crops Committee; and an Associate of the Centre for Environmental Change and Human Resilience.

Current research grants activities

  • Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme 2016-2021, Theme 2 – Productive and Sustainable Land Management and Rural Economies. Research Deliverables: Integrated Pest Management (RD2.1.6), Novel Crops (2.1.8), Sustainable Soil and Water Management (RD2.3.4), Integrated Management Systems (RD2.3.9)
  • EU 2020: SFS-2-2016 DIVERSify– Designing InnoVative plant teams for Ecosystem Resilience and agricultural Sustainability
  • EU 2020: SFS-26-2016 TRUE– Transition paths to sustainable legume-based systems in Europe
  • HGCA Soil Management call: Platforms to test and demonstrate sustainable soil management: integration of major UK field experiments (completed 2017)
  • AHDB Horticulture PhD studentship: Integrated protection of horticultural crops through enhancing endogenous defence mechanisms (completed 2017)
  • AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds PhD studentship: Introgressing Resilience and Resource Use Efficiency Traits from Scots Bere to Elite Barley Lines (REBEL)
  • Royal Horticultural Society / Mylnefield Trust PhD studentship: Benign Enhancement Of Natural Defences: BEYOND
  • Danish Strategic Research Council: Restricting the pathogenic effect on barley of the endophytic fungus Ramularia collo-cygni (PhD studentship)
  • Innovate UK.  Breeding for durable resistance to Rhynchosporium (DRRUM)
  • EU ENDURE network
  • RESAS Innovation: Biocontrol for plant and human pathogens on horticultural produce (completed 2018).

Bibliography

  • Brooker, R.; Karley, A.; Pakeman, R.J.; Newton, A.; Schob, C.; Morcillo, L., (2016) Biodiversity and function., In: Brooker, R., Hester, A. & Pakeman, R.J.(eds.). Ecosystem Services. The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, pp6-7.
  • Newton, A.C.; Pons-Kuhnemann, J., (2014) Induced resistance in natural ecosystems and pathogen population biology: exploiting interactions., In: Walters, D., Newton, A. & Lyon, G. (eds.). Induced Resistance for Plant Defence: A Sustainable Approach to Crop Protection. 2nd edition. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, UK, pp137-148.
  • Lyon, G.D.; Newton, A.C.; Walters, D.R. (eds.), (2014) Induced resistance in crop protection: the future, drivers and barriers., In: Induced Resistance for Plant Defence: A Sustainable Approach to Crop Protection. 2nd edition. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester, UK, Chapter 14,
  • Walters, D.R.; Newton, A.C.; Lyon, G.D. (eds.)., (2014) Induced resistance for plant defence: a sustainable approach to cop protection., 2nd edition, Blackwell Science, Oxford, 352pp.
  • Newton, A.C.; Akar, T.; Baresel, J.P.; Bebeli, P.J.; Bettencourt, E.; Bladenopoulos, K.V.; Czembor, J.H.; Fasoula, D.A.; Katsiotis, A.; Koutis, K.; Koutsika-Sotiriou, M.; Kovacs, G.; Larsson, H.; Pinheiro de Carvalho, M.A.A.; Rubiales, D.; Russell, J.R.; dos Santos, T.M.; Vaz Patto, M.C., (2011) Cereal landraces for sustainable agriculture., In: Lichtfouse, E., Hamelin, M., Navarrete, M. & Debaeke, P. (eds.). Sustainable Agriculture, Volume 2, Springer, Netherlands, 147-186.
  • Swanston, J.S.; Newton, A.C., (2009) Growing wheat for high alcohol yield - homogeneous and heterogeneous approaches., In: Davies, S. & Evans, G. (eds.). Soybean and Wheat Crops: Growth, Fertilisation and Yield. Nova Science Publishers Inc, Hauppauge, NY, USA, 165-184.
  • Bingham, I.J.; Newton, A.C., (2009) Crop tolerance of foliar pathogens: possible mechanisms and potential for exploitation., In: Walters, D. (ed.). Disease Control in Crops: Biological and Environmentally Friendly Approaches. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, Chapter 7, 142-161.
  • Newton, A.C., (2009) Plant disease control through the use of variety mixtures., In: Walters, D. (ed.). Disease Control in Crops: Biological and Environmentally Friendly Approaches. Wiley-Blackwell, Chichester, Chapter 8, 162-171.
  • Lyon, G.D.; Newton, A.C.; Walters, D.R., (2007) Induced resistance in crop protection: the future, drivers and barriers., In: Walters, D.R., Newton, A.C. & Lyon, G.D. (eds.). Induced Resistance for Plant Defence: A Sustainable Approach to Crop Protection. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, Chapter 13, pp243-249.
  • Newton, A.C.; Pons-Kuhnemann, J., (2007) Induced resistance in natural ecosystems and pathogen population biology: exploiting interactions., In: Walters, D., Newton, A. & Lyon, G. (eds.). Induced Resistance for Plant Defence: A Sustainable Approach to Crop Protection. Blackwell Science, Oxford, UK, pp133-142.
  • Flath, K.; Cooke, M.; Waldow, F.; Vogt-Kaute, W.; Miedanar, T.; Rodemann, B.; Martinez, F.; Newton, A.C.; Jalli, M.; Munk, L.; Willas, J., (2006) Disease assessment., In: Donner, D. & Osman, A. (eds.). Handbook: Cereal variety testing for low input agriculture COST 860 SUSVAR Handbook. COST 860 SUSVAR. Roskilde, Denmark, ppD1-D30.
  • Newton, A.C.; McRoberts, N.; Hughes, G., (2006) Information technology in plant disease epidemiology., In: Cooke, B.M., Jones, D.G. & Kaye, B. (eds.). The Epidemiology of Plant Diseases. 2nd edition, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, pp335-356.
  • Lyon, G.D.; Newton, A.C., (1999) Implementation of elicitor mediated induced resistance in agriculture., In: Agrawal, A.A., Tuzun, S. & Bent, E. (eds.). Induced Plant Defense Against Pathogens and Herbivores: Biochemistry, Ecology and Agriculture. American Phytopathological Society Press, pp299-318.
  • Forster, B.P.; Ellis, R.P.; Newton, A.C.; Tuberosa, R.; This, D.; El-Gamal, A.S.; Bahri, M.H.; Ben Salem, M., (1999) Molecular breeding of barley for droughted low input agricultural conditions., In: Gissel-Nielsen, G. & Jensen, A. (eds.). Plant Nutrition - Molecular Biology and Genetics. Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp359-363.
  • Newton, A.C.; Gaunt, R.E., (1998) Information technology in epidemiology., In: Jones, D.G. (ed.). The Epidemiology of Plant Diseases. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Dordrecht. Pp278-292
  • Newton, A. C.; Leakey, R. R. B.; Powell, W.; Chalmers, K.; Waugh, R.; Tchoundjeu, Z.; Mathias, P. J.; Alderson, P. G.; Mesen, J. F.; Baker, P.; Ramnarine, S., (1994) Domestication of mahoganies., In: Leakey, R. R. B. & Newton, A. C. (eds.) Tropical trees: the potential for domestication and the rebuilding of forest resources. HMSO, London, 256-266. (ITE Symposium, 29).

  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Begg, G.; Black, K.; Hawes, C.; Karley, A.j.; James, E.K.; Maluk, M.; Newton, A.; Squire, G.R.; Walker, G.; White, P., (2017) Teaming up for good: intercropping and farming-science partnership at the James Hutton Institute., NGO Report for www.LEAF.org, 8 November 2017.
  • Iannetta, P.P.M.; Begg, G.; Black, K.; Hawes, C.; Karley, A.J.; James, E.K.; Maluk, M.; Newton, A.C.; Squire, G.R.; Walker, G.; White, P.J., (2017) Sustainable legume systems for improved primary produce., SAB Annual Report, May 2017.
  • Brooker, R.; Iannetta, P.; Karley, A.; Newton, A.; Pakeman, R., (2017) Crop mixtures in the Strategic Research Programme., Workshop Report, James Hutton Institute, Dundee, 27 July 2017. Report circulated to workshop attendees.
  • McKenzie, B.M.; Stobart, R.; Brown, J.L.; George, T.S.; Morris, N.; Newton, A.C.; Valentine, T.A.; Hallett, P.D., (2017) Platforms to test and demonstrate sustainable soil management: integration of major UK field experiments., AHDB Final Report RD-2012-3786, 178pp.
  • Squire, G.; Cammarero, D.; Daniell, T.; Newton, A.C.; White, P.J., (2016) Agriculture and forestry climate change report card technical paper. 3. Arable Crops., Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) Network with additional support from the Scottish Government.
  • Holden, N.; Newton, A.C.; Walters, D., (2015) Use of plant defence elicitors to provide induced resistance protection in brassica and allium crops., Annual Report on HDC Project FV417.
  • Thomas, W.T.B.; Comadran, J.; Ramsay, L.; Shaw, P.; Marshall, D.F.; Newton, A.C.; O'Sullivan, D.; Cockram, J.; Mackay, I.; Bayles, R.; White, J.; Kearsey, M.J.; Luo, Z.; Wang, M.; Tapsell, C.; Harrap, D.; Werner, P.; Klose, S.; Bury, P.; Wroth, J.; Argilllier, O.; Habgood, R.; Glew, M.; Bochard, A-M.; Gymer, P.; Vequaud, D.; Christerson, T.; Allvin, B,; Davies, N.; Broadbent, R.; Brosnan, J.; Bringhurst, T.; Booer, C.; Waugh, R., (2014) Association genetics of UK elite barley (AGOUEB)., Final Project Report to HGCA, No 528, 125pp.
  • Skelsey, P.; Newton, A.C., (2014) Impacts on Agriculture: ‘‘Climate Change and Wheat Fusarium Head Blight Epidemics: Present and Future Risks., CXC Summary Report.
  • Fitt, B.D.L.; Atkins, S.D.; Fraaije, B.A.; Lucas, J.A.; Newton, A.C.; Looseley, M.E.; Werner, P.; Harrap, D.; Ashworth, M.; Southgate, J.; Phillips, H.; Gilchrist. A., (2012) Role of inoculum sources in Rhynchosporium population dynamics and epidemics on barley., HGCA Project Report No 486, 46pp.
  • Holden, N.; Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C.; Walters, D., (2012) Assessment of plant elicitors to induce resistance against head-rot in broccoli., HDC Annual Report 2012.
  • Holden, N.; Toth, I.K.; Newton, A.C., (2012) Reducing bacterial infection in seed onions through the use of plant elicitors., HDC Grower Summary, FV393, Final 2012.
  • Newton, A.C.; Avrova, A.O.; Thirugnanasambandam, A.; Looseley, M., (2011) Asymptomatic infection - the Trojan horse of crop production., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2010, pp14-15.
  • 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.
  • Newton, A.C., (2009) Climate change research at SCRI., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2008, pp62-63.
  • Jones, E.R.L.; Newton, A.C., (2005) Rhynchosporium of barley., United Kingdom Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey Annual Report for 2004
  • Jones, E.R.L.; Newton, A.C., (2004) Rhynchosporium of barley., United Kingdom Cereal Pathogen Virulence Survey Annual Report for 2003.
  • Swanston, J.S.; Newton, A.C.; Hoad, S.; Brosnan, J.M., (2004) Wheat mixtures for grain distilling., Project Report to the Scottish Society for Crop Research.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Boag, B.; Newton, A.C.; Gordon, S.C.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Hallett, P.D.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Stephens, S.E.; Neilson, S.; Wright, G.M.; Marshall, B.; McKenzie, B.M.; Squire, G.R.; Gill, P.; Wheatley, R.E., (2004) The SCRI LEAF Innovation Centre: Agro-ecosystem research which develops and promotes sustainable agriculture strategies and policies for Scotland, UK and Europe., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp107-114.
  • Newton, A.C.; Swanston, J.S., (2004) Crop diversity - new opportunities for low-input industrial crops?, Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2003/2004, pp154-156.
  • Newton, A.C.; Bengough, A.G. ;Begg, G.S.; Swanston, J.S.; Hawes, C., (2003) The role and importance of canopy heterogeneity., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2002/2003, pp125-127.

Scientific posters/conferences

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The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.