Gaynor Malloch

Research Scientist
Ecological Sciences
E: gaynor.malloch@hutton.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)344 928 5428 (*)

Gaynor Malloch is a Research Scientist working within the entomology team led by agroecologist Alison Karley, collaborating in studying pest arthropod biology and biodiversity on an international and national scale. She shares responsibility for implementing research objectives funded by RESAS and industry. and for building collaborative links to stakeholder partners.  The research group is developing tools for integrated pest management (IPM) and biocontrol, primarily for soft fruit crops.  The aim is to identify potential new pest and disease threats and reduce reliance on inputs. In addition to developing markers for pests, parasitoids and endosymbionts, Gaynor assists with the maintenance and cataloguing of the insect pest collection at the Hutton (part of the Underpinning National Capacity Programme) and provides insect genotyping services to external research groups. She also supervises and teaches molecular techniques to PhD, MSc and BSc Hons students and visiting / temporary workers.

Research

Work includes laboratory glasshouse and field  studies and insect monitoring. Gaynor develops molecular techniques for species identification and population structure markers for new pest invaders such as Drosophila suzukii (Spotted Wing Drosophila SWD), Ericaphis species (Blueberry aphid) and Halyomorpha halys (Brown Marmorated Stinkbug sBMSB).  Additional markers for established pests and their parasitoids and bacterial endosymbionts are also evolving.

Past research

  • 2018- present: Research Associate at the James Hutton Institute. Shared responsibility for research programmes monitoring insect pest populations and- developing IPM tools.  Responsibility for developing molecular markers for insect species identification and population structure and analysis of their parasitoids and endosymbionts
  • 2002-2018: Research Associate at the James Hutton Institute. Shared responsibility for the research programme in molecular ecology. This involved  the molecular analysis of the virus vector aphid Myzus persicae and field virus epidemiology studies. The epidemiology field site was also used to assess the impact of these crop production methods on small mammal populations.
  • 1992 – 2002: Research Assistant at the Scottish Crop Research Institute, Dundee. Appointed to this position as part of a SERAD initiative to investigate aphid vector populations using molecular methods. The programme also involved the molecular analysis of population structures of raspberry beetle and their bacterial endosymbionts. 
  • 1987 – 1992: Assistant Scientific Officer in the Zoology Department of the Scottish Crop Research Institute. Provided technical support for a team studying the population dynamics of the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida.

Publications

Journals

Technical / contract reports

  • Malloch, G.; Mitchell, C.; Smith, A.; Karley, A.J. (2024) Impact of Local and Landscape Factors on Spotted Wing Drosophila Epidemiology, Published on Zenodo
  • Karley, A.; Mitchell, C.; Smith, A.; Malloch, G. (2023) Impact of Local and Landscape Factors on Spotted Wing Drosophila Epidemiology Summary report of work conducted in 2022-2023, Zenodo
  • Malloch, G.; Williamson, M.; Foster, S.; Fenton, B. (2014) Analysis of grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) Populations – genetic composition and the frequency of pyrethroid resistance., Research Report 2140004/ R480, Potato Council.
  • Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Winfield, A.; Wilson, A.; Ramsey, J.; Jander, G. (2008) Aphids join the genomics age., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2007, pp24-25.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Begg, G.S.; Brennan, R.M.; Fenton, B.; Gordon, S.C.; Griffiths, B.S.; Griffiths, D.W.; Hillier, J.; Malloch, G.; Squire, G.R.; Wheatley, R.E. (2002) Developing sustainable pest management strategies for a changing future., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2001/2002, pp184-189.
  • Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.L.; Brennan, R.M.; Birch, A.N.E. (2002) Evolution and adaptation of insects and mites to vegetation systems., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2000/2001, pp144-147.

Conference papers

  • Walsh, L.; Gaffney, M.; Foster, S.; Williamson, M.; Malloch, G.; Purvis, G. (2018) Supermutant: the case of grain aphid (sitobion avenae) resistance to pyrethroid insecticides., XI European Congress of Entomology, Napoli, Italy, 2-6 July 2018.
  • van Toor, R.F.; Malloch, G.L.; Fenton, B. (2013) Detecting potato viruses and insecticide resistance in aphids in water-propylene glycol yellow traps., Australian Plant Pathology Society Conference, Auckland, New Zealand, 26 November 2013.
  • van Toor, R.F.; Malloch, G.L.; Fenton, B. (2013) Detection of potato potyviruses in aphids caught in water and propylene glycol yellow traps., Potato Diseases Workshop, Auckland, New Zealand 25 November 2013.
  • Malloch, G.; Fenton, B.; Pickup, J.; Highet, F.; Foster S (2012) A long-term genotypic analysis of Scottish peach-potato aphids: what has happened to the Braveheart clone?, Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Dundee, 28-29 February, 2012.
  • Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Torrance, L. (2008) Aphids as virus vectors., Potatoes in Practice 2008, Dundee, 7 August 2008.
  • Fenton, B.; Lamond, S.; Malloch, G. (2007) Variation in transmission of potato leafroll virus by Scottish genotypes of peach potato aphid M. persicae (Sulzer)., 13th EAPR Virology Section Meeting, Aviemore, 17-21 June 2007.
  • Lazarova, S.S.; Brown, D.J.F.; Malloch, G.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Fenton, B.; Neilson, R. (2006) Sequence analysis of ribosomal and mitochondrial DNA of Xiphinema americanum-group populations., European Society of Nematologists Biennial Meeting, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, 5-9 June 2006.
  • Malloch, G.; King, L.; Borthwick, F.; Kasprowicz, L.; Pickup, J.; Fenton, B. (2006) A genotypic analysis of peach-potato aphids caught in Scottish suction traps., Proceedings of Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Dundee, 28 February – 1 March 2006, 319-324.
  • Kasprowicz, L.; Barker, H.; Malloch, G.; Foster, S.; Anstead, J.; Pickup, J.; King, L.; Evans, A.; Fenton, B. (2006) Tracking mace resistant clones of the peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Scotland., Proceedings of Crop Protection in Northern Britain, Dundee, 28 February – 1 March 2006, pp261-266.
  • Lazarova, S.; Brown, D.J.F.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Neilson, R. (2004) The endosymbiont bacteria of Xiphinema americanum-group nematodes., Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists, Estes Park, Colorado, USA, 7-11 August 2004.
  • Lazarova, S.; Brown, D.J.F.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Neilson, R. (2004) Intracellular endosymbiont bacteria associated with their soil-dwelling Xiphinema americanum-group Cobb, 1913 (Nematoda: Longidoridae) nematode hosts., Proceedings of the XIVth International Colloquim on Soil Zoology and Ecology, Rouen, France, 30 August – 3 September 2004.
  • Oliveira, C.M.G.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Brown, D.J.F.; Neilson, R. (2004) Development of species-specific primers for the ectoparasitic nematode species Xiphinema brevicolle, X. diffusum, X. elongatum, X. ifacolum and X. longicaudatum (Nematoda: Longidoridae)., Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists, Estes Park, Colorado, USA, 7-11 August 2004.
  • Oliveira, C.M.G.; Ferraz, C.C.B.; Monteiro, A.R.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Neilson, R. (2004) Molecular and morphometric analyses of Xiphidorus species (Nematoda: Longidoridae)., Proceedings of the 43rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists, Estes Park, Colorado, USA, 7-11 August 2004.
  • Lazarova, S.S.; Brown, D.J.F.; Malloch, G.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Vandekerkhove, T.M.; Fenton, B.; Wright, F.; Lamberti, F.; Barsi, L.; Neilson, R. (2004) Phylogenetic relationships of the endosymbiont bacteria of Xiphinema americanum-Group nematodes., European Society of Nematologists Meeting, Rome, 14-18 June 2004.
  • Oliveira, C.M.G.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Brown, D.J.F.; Neilson, R. (2004) Development of species-specific primers for the ectoparasitic nematode species Xiphinema brevicolle, X. elongatum, X. ifacolum and X. longicaudatum (Nematoda: Longidoridae) based on ribosomal DNA sequences., European Society of Nematologists Meeting, Rome, 14-18 June 2004.
  • Oliveira, C.M.G.; Ferraz, L.C.C.B.; Monteiro, A.R.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Brown, D.J.F.; Neilson, R. (2004) Molecular analyses of Xiphidorus species (Nematoda:Longidoridae) from Brazil., European Society of Nematologists Meeting, Rome, 14-18 June 2004.
  • Pickup, J.; King, L.; Evans, A.; Foster, S.; Cox, D.; Kasprowicz, L.; Clyne, C.; Malloch, G.; Barker, H.; Fenton, B. (2004) Insecticide resistant peach-potato aphids – are they here to stay?., Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2004, Dundee, 24-25 February 2004.
  • 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.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Jones, A.T.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Geoghegan, I.; Gordon, S.C.; Hillier, J.; Begg, G. (2003) Resistance-breaking raspberry aphid biotypes plant breeding., Bulletin OILB/SROP 26.
  • Lazarova, S.; Malloch, G.; Fenton, B.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Robbins, R.T.; Lamberti, F.; Brown, D.J.F.; Neilson, R. (2003) Endosymbiont bacteria of the Xiphinema americanum group of nematodes., Proceedings of AAB Advances in Nematology, London, 16 December 2003.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Jones, A.T.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Geoghegan, I.; Gordon, S.C.; Hillier, J.; Begg, G.S. (2002) Resistance-breaking raspberry aphid biotypes: constraints to sustainable control through plant breeding and integrated crop management., Proceedings of IOBC Host Plant Resistance Workshop, Sweden, 8-12 December 2001.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Jones, A.T.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Geoghegan, I.; Gordon, S.C.; Hillier, J.; Begg, G.S. (2002) Resistance-breaking raspberry aphid biotypes: constraints to sustainable control through plant breeding., Acta Horticulturae, 585, 315-317.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Jones, A.T.; Malloch, G.; Fenton, B.; Gordon, S.C. (2001) Resistance-breaking raspberry aphid biotypes: a challenge for plant breeding., 3rd Meeting of the Working Group ‘Integrated Plant Protection in Orchards’, Sub Group Soft Fruits, Dundee, Scotland, 18-21 September 2001.
  • Birch, A.N.E.; Jones, A.T.; Fenton, B.; Malloch, G.; Geoghegan, I.; Gordon, S.C.; Hillier, J.; Begg, G.S. (2001) Resistance-breaking raspberry aphid biotypes: a challenge for plant breeding and biotechnology., Proceedings of IOBC Soft Fruit IPM Meeting, Dundee, 2001.
  • Malloch, G.; Fenton, B. (2001) Genetic variation in raspberry beetles and possible role of their endosymbionts in pest management., Integrated Protection of Fruit Crops (Soft Fruits), Dundee, 18-21 September 2001, 26, 119-124
  • Fargette, M.; Gonzalez, J.; Harrower, B.E.; Malloch, G.; Phillips, M.S.; Trudgill, D.L.; Waugh, R. (1991) Population and species relationships in Globodera and Meloidogyne., Proceedings of AAB Meeting, London, December 1991.

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
  • Dolan, A.; Malloch, G. (2018) Monitoring for Drosophila suzukii-spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in Scotland., SSCR Winter Fruit Meeting, Inchture Hotel, Perthshire, 15 February 2018.
  • Lazarova, S.S; Brown, D.J.F.; Oliveira, C.M.G.; Fenton, B.; MacKenzie, K.; Wright, F.; Malloch, G.; Neilson, R. (2016) Diversity of endosymbiont bacteria associated with Xiphinema americanum-group parasitic nematodes., Linking Belowground Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in European Forests, 4th BioLink COST Action Meeting, Sofia, Bulgaria, 12-14 April 2016. Poster.
  • van Toor, R.; Malloch, G.; Fenton, B. (2013) Detecting potato viruses and insecticide resistance in aphids in water-propylene glycol yellow traps., Potato Diseases Workshop adjunct to Australian Plant Pathology Society Conference, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Pickup, J.; Woodford, J.A.T.; King, L.; Evans, A.; Foster, S.; Kasprowicz, L.; Malloch, G.; Barker, H.; Fenton, B. (2005) Insecticide resistant peach-potato aphids – are they here to stay?, 7th International Symposium on Aphids, Fremantle, Australia, 2-7 October 2005 (Abstract).
  • Kasprowicz, L.; Barker, H.; Malloch, G.; Foster, S.; Anstead, J.; Pickup, J.; King, L.; Evans, A.; Fenton, B. (2005) The molecular ecology of Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) MACE clones in Scotland in 2003 and 2004., RES Aphid Special Interest Group, Queens Gate, London, 6 July 2005 (Abstract).
  • Malloch, G.; Pickup, J.; King, L.; Kasprowicz, L.; Fenton, B. (2005) A genotypic analysis of peach potato aphids caught in Scottish suction traps., RES Aphid Special Interest Group, Queens Gate, London, 6 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.; Jones, A.T.; Malloch, G.; Fenton, B.; Gordon, S.C. (2003) Resistance-breaking raspberry aphid biotypes: a challenge for plant breeding., Proceedings of Integrated Protection of Fruit Crops (Soft Fruits), Dundee, 18-21 September 2001, 26, 51-54.