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

Journals

Books / chapters

Technical / contract reports

Conference papers

  • Brooker, R.; Hewison, R.; Mitchell, C.; Newton, A.; Neilson, R.; Pakeman, R.; Raubach, S.; Shaw, P.; Verrall, S.; Karley, A. (2023) Crop mixtures as part of the sustainability toolbox for the distilling industry, World Distilled Spirits Conference, 9 May 2023, EICC, Edinburgh.
  • Brooker, R.; Newton, A.; Pakeman, R.; Mitchell, C.; Hewison, R.; Karley, A. (2022) Identifying challenges and developing solutions lessons from participatory approaches to improving and promoting crop mixtures, Crop Production in Northern Britain Conference, 1-2 March 2022, Online.
  • Karley, A.J.; Mitchell, C.; Hawes, C.; Young, M.W.; Brooker, R.W.; Pakeman, R.J.; Iannetta, P.P.M.I.; Newton, A.C. (2020) Crop species mixtures as part of integrated farm management., Proceedings, The Dundee Conference: Crop Production Northern Britain, Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee, 25-26 February 2020, pp143-147.
  • Brooker, R.W.; Karley, A.J.; Mitchell, C.; Newton, A.C.; Pakeman, R.J. (2020) Do we need weeds? The place of non-crop plants in arable systems., Proceedings, The Dundee Conference: Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee, 25-26 February 2020, pp149-154.
  • Karley, A.J.; Banfield-Zanin, J.A.; Bickler, C.; Bliss, K.; Brooker, R.W.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Midmer, A.; Mitchell, C.; Newton, A.C.; Pakeman, R.J.; Pearce, B.; Tippin, L.; George, D.R. (2019) Knowledge Exchange in ‘Plant Team’ Cropping with on-farm participatory research., European Conference on Crop Diversification, Budapest, Hungary, 18-20 September 2019. Book of Abstracts, pp56-57.
  • Karley, A.J.; Newton, A.C.; Brooker, R.W.; Pakeman, R.J.; Guy, D.; Mitchell, C.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Weih, M.; Scherber, C.; Klaer, L. (2018) DIVERSify-ing for sustainability using cereal-legume “plant teams”., Association of Applied Biologists Meeting, Advances in Legume Science, Glasgow, UK, 21-22 March 2018. Aspects of Applied Biology, 138, 57-62.
  • Karley, A.J.; Graham, J.; Mitchell, C.; Williams, C.; Mitchell, D.; Jennings, N.; Dolan, A.; McFarlane, S.; Prashar, A.; Begg, G.; Birch, A.N.E. (2018) IPM tools for pest and disease management in raspberry plantations., Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2018: The Dundee Conference, Environmental Management and Crop Production, Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee, 27-28 February 2018. Conference Proceedings, pp55-58.
  • Karley, A.J.; Mitchell, C.; Hawes, C.; Iannetta, P.P.M.; Banks, G.; Ford, L.; Young, M.; Quesada, N.; Begg, G. (2017) Aphid infestations and biocontrol in cereal crops in Scotland: effects of winter cropping across three regions., 7th Meeting of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group Landscape Management for Functional Biodiversity in Conjunction with a British Ecological Society Agricultural Ecology Special Interest Group Meeting, Dundee, 29-31 March 2017. Landscape management for functional biodiversity IOBC-WPRS Bulletin, 122, 90-93.
  • Mitchell, C.; Graham, J.; Johnson, S.N.; Karley, A.J.; Woodhead, M.; Brennan, R.M.; Cooke, D.E.L.; (2012) How root traits of soft fruit help resist pest and pathogen attack., SSCR/Bulrush Event, Dundee.
  • 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

  • Lozada-Ellison, L.; Karley, A.; Mitchell, C.; Malloch, G.; Bebber, D.; Gurr, S. (2024) Ensuring future resilience to pests and diseases a multidisciplinary approach, Poster presented at the ENRA conference in Edinburgh on 23rd September 2024 which brought together policy makers with researchers providing evidence to support policy through Scottish Government (RESAS) funded research
  • Brooker, R.; Keillor, B.; Mitchell, C.; Newton, A.; Pakeman, R.; Karley, A. (2021) Impacts of largescale environmental drivers and crop composition on the benefits of intercropping, British Ecological Society Annual Meeting, Liverpool, 13/12/21.
  • Highet, F.; Sumner-Kalkun, J.; Carnegie, M.; Kenyon, D.; Arnsdorf, Y.; Madden, S.; Karley, A.J.; Mitchell, C.; Stockan, J.; Beaton, J.; Quine, C.; MacLeod, A.; Ouvard. D. (2019) The assessment of the potential of the Psyllid Trioza anthrisci to vector ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso) in Scotland., Scotland’s Plant Health Conference, Edinburgh, 28 May 2019.
  • Brooker, R.W.; Hewison, R.; Mitchell, C.; Newton, A.C.; Pakeman, R.J.; Schöb, C.; Karley, A.J. (2018) Crop mixtures., BES Annual Meeting 2018, Birmingham, 16-19 December. (Poster)
  • 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).