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Jennie Brierley
Senior researcher in potato pathology and diagnostics
Current research interests
My main research interests are developing the use of molecular diagnostic techniques for the detection and quantification of seed and soil-borne potato pathogens: both as a research tool to investigate the epidemiology of potato pathogens, and in supporting the management of potatoes by quantifying disease risk. By employing appropriate sampling strategies in conjunction with DNA extraction and molecular real-time PCR techniques to detect and quantify target pathogens we can validate the relationship between detectable inoculum and disease risk. Furthermore, the impact of soil-borne inoculum on disease can be investigated in conjunction with other control factors such as host resistance, crop management and chemical control options. Much of my research has been collaborative, both within the UK and internationally. Research targets have been Spongospora subterranea (powdery scab); Colletotrichum coccodes (black dot); Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 (black scurf/stem canker); Helminthosporium solani (silver scurf) and pathogenic Streptomyces spp. (common scab).
At present I am focusing on the effect of crop management practices, in particular how soil organic matter content effects the introduction and persistence of pathogens through a crop rotation. This research utilizes the Centre for Sustainable Cropping: a long-term platform for research on arable sustainability.
I am the research deliverable leader for Scottish Government RESAS workpackage RD2.1.5 "in-field detection". The aim is to improve detection of economically important pests/pathogens/diseases affecting key Scottish crops to improve decision making for growers and control recommendations leading to improved disease control.
I am a key staff member leading Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM) research at The James Hutton Institute. For details of ongoing IPM research areas and projects, please visit the IPM@Hutton website http://ipm.hutton.ac.uk
I am a Postgraduate liaison officer and member of the Postgraduate Stundentship Committee.
Past research
-
Scottish Crop Research Institute (2001)
Epidemiological studies into the bacterial soft rot disease of potatoes Erwinia carotovora spp. Atroseptica (black leg). -
Cambridge University Farm (1998-2001)
Experimental field trials investigating a range of agronomic factors affecting the size distribution of tubers in potato crops. -
Rothamsted Research (1997-1998)
Investigating the use of SPAD meters for diagnosing the nitrogen status of wheat. -
Royal Botanic Gardens, KEW, Seed Conservation Section (1995-1997)
Seed physiology of seagrass species.
Bibliography
- Lees, A.K.; Roberts, D.M.; Lynott, J.; Sullivan L.; Brierley, J.L. (2019) Real-time PCR and LAMP assays for the detection of spores of Sporangia of Alternaria solani and Sporangia of Phytophthora infestans to inform disease risk forecasting., Plant Disease, 103, 3172-3180.
- Peters, J.C.; Harper, G.; Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.; Wale, S.J.; Hilton, A.; Gladders, P.; Boonham, N.; Cunnington, A.C. (2016) The effect of post-harvest storage conditions on the development of black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) on potato in crops grown for different durations., Plant Pathology, 65, 1484-1491.
- Brierley, J.L.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S.J.; Woodhall, J.W; Lees, A.K. (2016) The relative importance of seed- and soil-borne inoculum of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 in causing black scurf on potato., Potato Research, 59, 181-193.
- Heltoft, P.; Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.K.; ;Sullivan, L.; Lynott, J.; Hermansen, A. (2016) The relationship between soil inoculum and the development of Fusarium dry rot in potato cultivars Asterix and Saturna., European Journal Plant Pathology, 146, 711-714.
- Toth, I.; Humphris, S.; Brierley, J.; Skelsey, P.; Saddler, G.; Cahill, G.; Wale, S. (2016) Routes of blackleg contamination of high grade potato seed stocks by Pectobacterium species., AHDB Final Project Report April 2013 - May 2016 (Ref 111R475).
- Brierley, J.L.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S.J.; Peters, J.C.; Gladders, P.P.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Ritchie, F.; Mackenzie, K.; Lees, A.K. (2015) Factors affecting the development and control of black dot on potato tubers., Plant Pathology, 64, 167-177.
- Brierley, J.L.; Sullivan, L.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S.J.; Hilton, A.J.; Kielebrink, D.T.; Lees, A.K. (2013) Relationship between Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea soil inoculum level, host resistance and powdery scab on potato tubers in the field., Plant Pathology, 62, 413-420.
- Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A. (2012) International diagnostics collaboration: informing management of potato diseases through epidemiology and diagnostics., R422 Final Report. Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
- Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S.J.; Gladders, P.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Peters, J.C. (2010) Relative importance of seed-tuber and soilborne inoculum in causing black dot disease of potato., Plant Pathology, 59, 693-702.
- Wale, S.; Lees, A.K.; Peters, J.; Brierley, J.L.; Woodhall, J.W.; Davey, T. (2010) Final report: Extending the scope of modern potato diagnostics and their interpretation., Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
- Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Lees, A.K. (2009) Quantifying potato pathogen DNA in soil., Applied Soil Ecology, 41, 234-238.
- Wale, S.; Hilton, A.; Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Peters, J.; Gladders, P.; Bradshaw, N. (2008) Developing effective integrated control measures for the control of black dot., R249 Final Report. Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
- Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.; Hilton, A.; Wale, S.; Peters, J.; Elphinstone, J.; Boonham, N. (2008) Improving decision making for the management of potato diseases using real-time diagnostics., R253 Final Report, Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
- Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.K.; Wale, S.; (2008) Powdery scab: strains and conducive conditions. A review of literature and other sources of information., Research Review, Potato Council Ltd., Stoneleigh, 43pp.
- Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Sullivan, L.; Cullen, D.W. (2006) Molecular diagnostics: quantitative tools for investigating potato pathogens., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp26-27.
- Lees, A.K.; Wale, S.J.; van de Graaf, P.; Brierley, J.L. (2005) The use of molecular diagnostics to investigate the epidemiology of potato diseases., Australasian Plant Pathology, 34, 449-455.
- Toth, I.K.; Sullivan, L.; Brierley, J.L.; Avrova, A.O.; Hyman, L.J.; Holeva, M.C.; Broadfoot, L.; Perombelon, M.C.M.; McNicol, J.W. (2003) Relationship between potato seed tuber contamination by Erwinia carotovora ssp. atroseptica, blackleg disease development and progeny tuber contamination., Plant Pathology, 52, 119-126.
- Lees, A.K.; Roberts, D.M.; Lynott, J.; Sullivan L.; Brierley, J.L. (2019) Real-time PCR and LAMP assays for the detection of spores of Sporangia of Alternaria solani and Sporangia of Phytophthora infestans to inform disease risk forecasting., Plant Disease, 103, 3172-3180.
- Peters, J.C.; Harper, G.; Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.; Wale, S.J.; Hilton, A.; Gladders, P.; Boonham, N.; Cunnington, A.C. (2016) The effect of post-harvest storage conditions on the development of black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) on potato in crops grown for different durations., Plant Pathology, 65, 1484-1491.
- Brierley, J.L.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S.J.; Woodhall, J.W; Lees, A.K. (2016) The relative importance of seed- and soil-borne inoculum of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 in causing black scurf on potato., Potato Research, 59, 181-193.
- Heltoft, P.; Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.K.; ;Sullivan, L.; Lynott, J.; Hermansen, A. (2016) The relationship between soil inoculum and the development of Fusarium dry rot in potato cultivars Asterix and Saturna., European Journal Plant Pathology, 146, 711-714.
- Brierley, J.L.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S.J.; Peters, J.C.; Gladders, P.P.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Ritchie, F.; Mackenzie, K.; Lees, A.K. (2015) Factors affecting the development and control of black dot on potato tubers., Plant Pathology, 64, 167-177.
- Brierley, J.L.; Sullivan, L.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S.J.; Hilton, A.J.; Kielebrink, D.T.; Lees, A.K. (2013) Relationship between Spongospora subterranea f.sp. subterranea soil inoculum level, host resistance and powdery scab on potato tubers in the field., Plant Pathology, 62, 413-420.
- Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Hilton, A.J.; Wale, S.J.; Gladders, P.; Bradshaw, N.J.; Peters, J.C. (2010) Relative importance of seed-tuber and soilborne inoculum in causing black dot disease of potato., Plant Pathology, 59, 693-702.
- Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Lees, A.K. (2009) Quantifying potato pathogen DNA in soil., Applied Soil Ecology, 41, 234-238.
- Lees, A.K.; Wale, S.J.; van de Graaf, P.; Brierley, J.L. (2005) The use of molecular diagnostics to investigate the epidemiology of potato diseases., Australasian Plant Pathology, 34, 449-455.
- Toth, I.K.; Sullivan, L.; Brierley, J.L.; Avrova, A.O.; Hyman, L.J.; Holeva, M.C.; Broadfoot, L.; Perombelon, M.C.M.; McNicol, J.W. (2003) Relationship between potato seed tuber contamination by Erwinia carotovora ssp. atroseptica, blackleg disease development and progeny tuber contamination., Plant Pathology, 52, 119-126.
- Toth, I.; Humphris, S.; Brierley, J.; Skelsey, P.; Saddler, G.; Cahill, G.; Wale, S. (2016) Routes of blackleg contamination of high grade potato seed stocks by Pectobacterium species., AHDB Final Project Report April 2013 - May 2016 (Ref 111R475).
- Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A. (2012) International diagnostics collaboration: informing management of potato diseases through epidemiology and diagnostics., R422 Final Report. Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
- Wale, S.; Lees, A.K.; Peters, J.; Brierley, J.L.; Woodhall, J.W.; Davey, T. (2010) Final report: Extending the scope of modern potato diagnostics and their interpretation., Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
- Wale, S.; Hilton, A.; Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Peters, J.; Gladders, P.; Bradshaw, N. (2008) Developing effective integrated control measures for the control of black dot., R249 Final Report. Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
- Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.; Hilton, A.; Wale, S.; Peters, J.; Elphinstone, J.; Boonham, N. (2008) Improving decision making for the management of potato diseases using real-time diagnostics., R253 Final Report, Potato Council Ltd, Stoneleigh.
- Brierley, J.L.; Lees, A.K.; Wale, S.; (2008) Powdery scab: strains and conducive conditions. A review of literature and other sources of information., Research Review, Potato Council Ltd., Stoneleigh, 43pp.
- Lees, A.K.; Brierley, J.L.; Stewart, J.A.; Sullivan, L.; Cullen, D.W. (2006) Molecular diagnostics: quantitative tools for investigating potato pathogens., Annual Report of the Scottish Crop Research Institute for 2006, pp26-27.
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