Phil of Pictures - British Society for Plant Pathology and to reduce production costs. Quite...
Transcript of Phil of Pictures - British Society for Plant Pathology and to reduce production costs. Quite...
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Editorial
Pathology with a purpose
Strolling along the shelves of scientific journals in the CSL library you can hardly fail to be impressed by the
weight of knowledge and speed of progress in plant pathology. But I often wonder what a cost benefit
analysis of all that work would look like! Growers and crop consultants often seem bereft of practicable
strategies to combat even major crop pathogens. And they are under constant pressure to improve yield and
quality, and to reduce production costs. Quite naturally they turn to crop scientists to deliver the answers.
The agrochemical and plant breeding companies have been very successful in delivering new products into the
market – their continued existence is testament to that fact. Outputs from more basic research are often less
tangible and, in the UK at least, commonly lack any relevance for commercial crop protection. We artfully
detail the enormous practical benefits from our work in the relevant sections of grant proposals. But prefer
the success of that work to be measured by the number of refereed publications that are generated. Pointing
to those groaning shelves of knowledge will not protect us from the derision of the supposed beneficiaries.
Progress would be obviously stifled scientists were not allowed to fail from time to time. Exciting new
frontiers often turn out to be dead ends; there is no disgrace in that. However, the integrity of our profession
must surely depend on us recognising the lines of enquiry that will deliver, those that won’t, and reporting that
to each other and our funders honestly?
By now you might have guessed that this is something of a hobbyhorse for me! Perhaps it comes from the
years spent trying to explain half-baked disease management solutions, or the supposed benefits from huge
programmes of pathology research to sceptical crop managers. Contrast that experience with an individual
charged with representing the outputs from the agrochemical and plant breeding industries. Whatever you
might think about their products, you certainly cannot argue that they have failed to launch and have them
taken-up by the market.
Steve Parker
Front Cover
From top left clockwise - Fusaruim Avenaceum, F. Culmorum, F. Poae, Microdochium Nivale.
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President of the BSPP 2005
As your President for 2005 I thought it appropriate
to say ‘hello’ to all BSPP members and wish you all a
very successful 2005.
When I was asked, over two years ago, if I would
agree to be nominated as Vice President of BSPP I
was delighted to accept, while at the same time
wondering ‘Why me?’ I was a Founder Member of
BSPP, having previously been a member of the
Federation of British Plant Pathologists, and have
remained a BSPP member ever since. But as a plant
pathologist who has spent most of my professional
live in the research, discovery and development side
of the crop protection industry where the results of
research are mostly industrial property not for
external disclosure, I expect I have been somewhat
hidden to all but those of you who have contacts with
the industry. For those of you who have come across
me, you will know that my main interest is the
detection and management of fungicide resistance,
one of the topics I spent over 20 years working on
during my commercial life, during 8 years of which I
was Chairman of the International Steering
Committee of the Fungicide Resistance Action
Committee. During all this time I accepted that BSPP
was run by a dedicated band of individuals, many of
whom I knew personally or through their reputations.
But I admit that I never really questioned what they
did for the society. Only when I became a member of
the Board, as Vice President, did I begin to learn how
the Society is managed.
Although much of the agenda for the BSPP Board
meetings concerns administrative matters there are
times when topics could be of interest to all
members and it is my intention to bring such matters
to your attention through what I hope will become a
regular ‘President’s Piece’, following on from the
‘Thoughts from the President’ of my predecessor
Stuart Wale.
One item that is a regular discussion topic at Board
meetings is how to involve more BSPP members in
the society. The BSPP Board is the key decision
making body for the Society and is able to dictate
the direction in which the Society will develop. But we
exist to serve the membership. What do you, the
members, want from the Society? How can the
Society help you, as a pathologist? Input from
members on any topic relevant to the Society is
welcome, either to myself, the secretary or any
Board member. We also have an excellent Newsletter
that imparts news and information, but it only exists
because of the membership input it receives. More
items are welcome. Our membership is very diverse
and I feel certain that many of you have topics of
interest to our other members. Are you seeking
information? Do you have a particular viewpoint you
wish to air, even if it may be controversial? Why not
write to the Newsletter Editor? I often feel that our
younger members are the ones to develop new
thoughts for the future, so would be particularly keen
to see more input from them in the Newsletter.
And while on the subject of young members, I am
pleased to tell you that we are currently planning the
BSPP Presidential meeting for December 2005.
More details will be revealed soon, but we want our
younger (and student) members to play a significant
role in this meeting ... so get ready for a new
concept in BSPP Meetings.
More next time
Phil Russell
Members can find some preliminary detail of the
Presidential meeting on pages 6 and 7
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Phil Russell obtained
his BSc and PhD at
UCW Aberystwyth
before joining the
Applied Biology
Department of The
University of
Cambridge as a
Demonstrator in
Plant Pathology and
Plant Breeding. At the end of the 5 year tenure he
joined Fison’s Agrochemicals as a plant pathologist
in charge of initial field testing of new fungicides.
The Company merger with Boots Agchem Division to
form FBC Ltd followed by Schering saw Phil move
through various roles including spells in Field
Development and Central Marketing before he
became Head of Fungicides Dept for Schering
Agrochemicals. It was at this time that his interest in
fungicide resistance and its management developed
and he maintained the interest as Head of
Development Support for AgrEvo (Schering plus
Hoechst) before becoming Fungicide Resistance
manager for Aventis Crop Sciences (AgrEvo plus
Rhone-Poulenc) based in Lyon. He was Chairman of
the Steering Committee of the Fungicide Resistance
Action Committee for 8 years, is a Special
Professor in Plant Pathology at the University of
Nottingham and was awarded a BCPC medal in
2002 for his contributions to Crop Protection.
Phil decided to retire from industry in 2001 and now
works as an independent plant pathology consultant
specialising in R & D and resistance management.
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BSPP PRESIDENTIAL MEETING 2005
• The BSPP Presidential Meeting in 2005 will have a different format to previous meetings.
• The meeting will have as its core a series of seminar sessions, 3 seminar sessions to run
• concurrently at any one time.
• Each seminar session will be broad-based and managed by an invited chairperson/speaker, and
include offered presentations on the subject.
• The aim will be to promote active discussion of research and views. Presentations from younger
scientists will be most welcome and actively encouraged.
• A summary of the output from each seminar will be presented to the whole meeting in the final session
of the meeting.
• The Garrett Memorial Lecture, P H Gregory Prize and John Colhoun Prize will also be included in the
programme, along with plenary talks from distinguished scientists.
• A Presidential Dinner and other social events will be organised.
Registration and accommodation costs for BSPP members and students will be heavily subsidised by BSPP –
we anticipate setting the costs for registration at £20 for BSPP members, with accommodation for 2 nights in
en-suite rooms (including meals) to cost no more than £120 for salaried members and £20 for students.
Registration for non-members will be set at a level such that it will encourage membership to be taken out.
Seminar session themes:
Virus Biology, Bacterial Biology, Fungal Biology, Plant genetics and resistance mechanisms, Technology
transfer, Population genetics and systematics (taxonomy), Diagnostics, Forecasting / decision support /
epidemiology, Non host disease control (including chemical, biological, integrated).
We hope as many of you as possible will come along to the meeting, present your research, interact with
other BSPP members and enjoy a BSPP ‘Christmas Party’.
Keep an eye on the BSPP website http://www.bspp.org.uk/ for further details.
President: Professor Phil Russell
Programme Secretary: Matt Dickinson, email: [email protected]
Title: Plant Pathology with a Purpose.
Location: University of Nottingham, Jubilee Campus
Dates: 19th – 21st December 2005
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The Spotty Horror Show
Leaf-spotting in Hebe cultivars per se is not new to
the horticultural industry. Necrotic leaf lesions
containing pycnidia and spore morphology
diagnostic of a Septoria species, subsequently
identified as S. exotica, have previously been
common and widespread on a range of cultivars in
the UK. Where the disease occurred fungicide
application e.g. carbendazim tended to be applied
routinely and affected plant samples have not been
received in diagnostic ‘Plant Clinics’ for several
years.
Plate 1 : Leaf-spot on Hebe cv. Fransisca variegata caused by
Septoria exotica [Photographs courtesy of Dr T M O’Neill, ADAS].
However, in the autumn of 2003 a severe leaf spot
infection, on a crop of Hebe cv. Red Edge, was
reported in the STC Plant Clinic. Here, carbendazim,
along with other fungicides in a series of
programmed sprays, were reported to be ineffective
against the problem. The severity of the infection in
combination with the apparent poor fungicide
performance led to the suspicion that this disease
was not all that it seemed. Subsequently,
microscopic examination and isolation tests carried
out by STC failed to detect any Septoria sp. but
instead recovered a Stemphylium sp. consistently. In
a subsequent, but preliminary, investigation at STC
re-inoculation into healthy leaves of Hebe cv. Red
Edge produced further leaf-spots suggesting the
Stemphylium sp. to be a primary pathogen rather
than a secondary opportunist (Sutton, pers.com).
Plate 2 : Severe leaf-spot
symptoms in Hebe cv. ‘Red
Edge’ (a), with close-up of
individual leaf-spots (b).
As a result of these early observations an HDC-
funded project (HNS 128) 1 was commissioned on
Hebe leaf spot, with collaboration between STC and
the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) along with a
leading HONS consultant, Mr Danny Elliott, serving
as the grower coordinator.
Early work within this collaborative project between
STC & CSL involved an extensive grower survey to
determine the extent of the problem. This survey
demonstrated that similar leaf-spotting is common
across a range of Hebe cultivars throughout the UK.
Of the various samples received Stemphylium was
isolated from the majority. Interestingly, Septoria was
not detected on any of the crops surveyed.
Stemphylium sp. are common in the environment,
and one of the most frequently occurring is S.
botryosum (syn. Pleospora herbarum), a recognised
saprophyte on senescent plant material on a range
of crops. To verify that the Stemphylium sp.
recovered was indeed a new pathogen on Hebe a
a.
b.
1This project was commissioned by HONS growers and financed via a grower R&D levy through the Horticultural Development Council.
The support of various growers, consultants and the HDC is gratefully acknowledged.
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number of artificial inoculation and isolation tests
were carried out at CSL to demonstrate Koch’s
postulates. The Hebe cultivar ‘Red Edge’ inoculated
with a spore suspension of the Stemphylium sp. and
incubated under conditions of high humidity resulted
in lesion development on unwounded leaves within 2
days of inoculation. The Stemphylium sp. was
subsequently re-isolated thus confirming
pathogenicity on this host.
Molecular analysis of the fungus carried out at CSL
has demonstrated that the Stemphylium sp has a
96% homology with S. solani (NCBI database), a
relatively minor pathogen of the Solanaceae in the
UK. Further analyses of the asexual and sexual
stage of the pathogen will enable the verification of
its identity.
Plate 5 : Photomicrograph of conidia (asexual) spores of
Stemphylium recovered from leaf-spots on Hebe.
Naturally the industry is keen to improve its ability to
control the disease and to prevent further crop and
quality loss. Work is underway to identify new
fungicides with activity against the pathogen and
also to gain a better insight into the epidemiology of
the disease cycle so that cultural measures can be
implemented more effectively. A series of in vitro
fungicide tests conducted by STC using a range of
geographically diverse isolates of the fungus found
it to be insensitive to carbendazim though, a number
of alternative fungicides have given promising
results. These are now being trialled in a replicated
experiment under commercial conditions.
For growers to effectively deploy cultural control
measures they need a better knowledge of the
pathogen life-cycle including methods of spore
dispersal and the effect of practices such as
overhead irrigation and the removal of leaf litter, in
terms of reducing the overall inoculum potential for
re-infection. Current work in this project therefore
involves field trials to validate and approve novel
chemical control of the disease, spore trapping to
improve our understanding of the infection cycle and
the influence of overhead irrigation, and analysis of
leaf litter with respect to the possibility that the
perfect stage may play an important role in
pathogen survival over-winter.
The preliminary results from this project have been
interpreted and communicated to growers; vital if
they are to maintain continued quality production of
some of the more popular, but highly susceptible,
Hebe cultivars.
Collaborative R&D effort, bringing together
scientists and technology transfer specialists, as
demonstrated here will become ever more important
if the industry is to maintain its current impetus with
respect to the economic output of high quality
produce whether in the ornamental or edible sector.
Hannah Jones
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Bluffers guide to fusariumhead blight
What is it?
Fusarium head blight (FHB), or as it is better known
in the UK fusarium ear blight, is a disease of the
maturing ear in cereal crops. In the UK five main
pathogens have been associated with FHB
symptoms: Fusarium avenaceum, F. culmorum, F.
graminearum, F. poae and Microdochium nivale
(formerly F. nivale) vars nivale and majus.
Symptoms caused on the ear vary from discrete
glume lesions, caused by F. poae, to bleaching of
the ear above the point of infection caused by F.
culmorum and F. graminearum. At harvest field
infections can be identified due to the presence of
pink grains in the harvested sample. The
predominant species responsible for FHB symptoms
varies from year to year and is related to the
weather conditions encountered through out the
year.
A crop is at its most susceptible during flowering.
Spores reach the ear as a result of splash or wind
dispersal from infections at the stem base, infected
crop debris in the soil or weed hosts found in the
field or at the field margin. A period of 24-48 h of
warm, wet, humid conditions after spores arrive at
the ear where provide optimal conditions for disease
development.
Why should I care?
There are two ways in which infections caused by
FHB pathogens affect us. Firstly, they can reduce
crop yield and quality, with the extent of the loss
being related to the pathogen present. Losses due
to infections caused by F. culmorum or F.
graminearum are greater than those caused by the
other FHB pathogens, however as a general rule of
thumb 1% infection leads to 1% yield loss. Perhaps
of greater concern is that all the Fusarium species
involved in FHB produce mycotoxins which are
potentially damaging to the health of both humans
and animals. The chief mycotoxins of concern
come from a group called the trichothecenes; a
group consisting of over 150 toxins. The most
prevalent toxins from this group found in cereals are
deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol (NIV), T-2 and HT-2
toxins. Other toxins produce by the Fusarium
species responsible for FEB include zearalenone, a
nonsteroidal oestrogenic mycotoxin and enniatins.
New EU legislation is due to come into force
sometime during 2006 which will set maximum
levels for DON in grain and food products. Limits for
other toxins, including zearalenone and T-2 and HT-2
toxins are to follow.
What’s new?
Traditionally F. culmorum, F. avenaceum, F. poae and
M. nivale have been regarded as the pre-dominant
FHB pathogens in the UK. Of these F. culmorum
was regarded as the most important pathogen in
terms of yield loss and mycotoxin production.
However, isolations from disease symptoms carried
out at CSL as part of the Crop Monitor project
(www.cropmonitor.co.uk) have shown that levels of
F. graminearum have been increasing while those of
F. culmorum have been decreasing. In 2003, levels
of F. graminearum were for the first time in the
survey higher than those of F. culmorum, this
remained the case in 2004. The increase of F.
graminearum in the UK is of concern as world wide
this pathogen is regarded as more devastating than
F. culmorum in terms of both yield loss and toxin
production. Initially F. graminearum was pre-
dominantly isolated from the SW of England and
Wales, however over the last few years it has been
isolated more and more frequently from East Anglia,
Fusarium head blightof wheat
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Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. The reasons behind the
increase and spread of F. graminearum are not fully
understood, however increases in other parts of the
world have been linked with increased maize
production and use of minimum/reduced tillage
systems.
How can it be controlled?
With the increase in F. graminearum and the
imminent introduction of EU mycotoxin legislation
effective control of the FHB is becoming more and
more important. A number of control strategies can
be utilised to control FHB including the use of
resistant varieties, fungicides, biological control and
cultural methods. Using resistant varieties
potentially offers the most effective control strategy
as the control mechanism is in palace whenever
inoculum arrives at the ear. However, the cultivars
currently available to the UK market are not
sufficiently resistance to provide effective disease
control. Cultural methods, including crop rotation,
weed control and soil cultivation work primarily by
reducing the amount of available inoculum. This is
generally achieved either by the prevention of
ascospore maturation (deep burial of infected crop
debris) or removal of host on which inoculum can
multiply (weed control/crop rotation). Fungicides
currently offer the best option for control, but only if
the correct product is applied at the correct timing,
even then the best products are only likely to be 60-
80% effective. Product choice will be determined by
the species likely to be present on the ear at the
time of application e.g. triazole fungicides are most
effective against the Fusarium species, whereas
strobilurin fungicides have greatest activity against
M. nivale. The time of fungicide application is vitally
important with the optimum time for application
being two to three days pre or post inoculum
arriving at the ear i.e. the fungicide should be
applied as the crop is flowering.
Misting is used to promote infection in field experiments at CSL
As none of the methods outlined are 100% effective
against FHB the best approach is an integrated
control strategy utilising as many of the different
control strategies as possible.
Phil Jennings, CSL
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Travel Reports
The 2nd International Symposium on
Fusarium Head Blight
Orlando, Florida 11-15th December 2004
The opening talk of the 2nd International Symposium
on Fusarium Head Blight was on the impact of
Fusarium head blight on the US Malting and Brewing
Industry, presented by Richard Emerson, a theme
which was evident throughout the conference
reflecting the devastating impact of the disease
world wide both economically and consequences for
human health of the toxic metabolite (mycotoxins)
contamination in grain affected by Fusarium head
blight.
The development of resistant cultivars, the most
viable strategy for controlling the disease, was the
major theme of the conference, but has proved
difficult due to the complex and polygenic nature of
Fusarium head blight resistance. This highlighted the
key role of international cooperation that is allowing
some of the most exiting progress in understanding
the mechanisms of disease resistance. Notable
examples of such collaborative work presented at
the conference was global progress in identifying
and deploying FHB resistance genes at CIMMYT and
US wheat and Barley Scab Initiative funded
cooperative research.
Recent success in the development of more
resistant cultivars in US e.g. Truman featured as a
poster presentation. Nevertheless the challenge
remains to routinely produce superior resistance
material in breeding programmes with good
agronomic characteristics and fully utilising native
resistance sources as well as more exotic material.
My own interest centres on understanding
resistance through the evaluation of individual
components of partial disease resistance and their
relationship to disease epidemic development, using
detached leaf assays and seed germination assays
inoculated with Fusarium spp., for use as pre-
screening selection tools and to characterise
resistance sources. Cooperative work with
contributors to the Southern US FHB screening
nursery and QTL mapping with Norwegian based
scientists and the FHB programme at CIMMYT
featured in a number of posters I presented at the
Symposium. Separately the study of components of
partial resistance in Norway using in vitro techniques
was presented as a poster by Ingerd Hofgaard
demonstrating the use of the detached leaf assay
for pre-screening compounds for inducing FHB
resistance.
The plenary talk in this Genetic Engineering session
by P. Stephen Baenzinger on a Wheat
Transformation: a needed Tool for Wheat Genetics
and Germplasm Improvement. This series of
presentations in the Genetic Engineering session
were amongst the most interesting of the
conference demonstrating that genetic engineering
is a powerful tool to increase our understanding of
FHB resistance and progress in developing resistant
cultivars using conventional breeding methods.
As I have become accustomed to the Nordic
countries led the way in the social aspects of the
conference with notable contributions from Denmark
on this occasion. I wish to thank the BSPP for
proving a Travel Award to assist in attending this
Symposium which provided a great opportunity to
meet colleagues for very productive discussions in
addition to presenting recent research.
Roy Browne
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International Union of Forest Research
Organisations, 11th Conference on Root
and Butt Rots
Poznan and Bialowieza, August 2004.
Seventy delegates with a common interest in root-
decay causing fungi that attack trees gathered for
this conference based initially in Poznan in Poland,
but moving on to the primeval European lowland
forest at Bialowieza in the middle of the week. With
a delightful venue, wonderful food and glorious
weather (mostly), our Polish hosts certainly made a
favourable impression. The scientific programme
was rather formidable: forty five oral presentations in
three days, plus two full days of field excursions, and
nearly forty posters; a single day in the middle
allowed relaxation during the west-to-east train
journey from Poznan to Bialowieza. Incredibly, we
had our own private train – 3 carriages and a
restaurant car – to take us across the flat plain of
northern Poland, allowing ample time to contemplate
contrasts in agricultural methods, the large pine-
dominated forests and the considerable
modernization of the rail system currently in
progress.
One of us (SW) has attended several meetings in this
series in the past, and it is very striking how the
science has moved rapidly over the last the years.
Compared with ten years ago, there is now an
abundance of work using molecular tools to help
unravel the intricacies of fungal communities,
speciation in these difficult groups (particularly
Armillaria), infection biology and host-pathogen
interactions. It was encouraging to see extremely
powerful molecular tools being used to answer real
biological questions with tangible applications in the
field. The scientific sessions started with talks on
phylogenetic analyses , followed by informative
presentations on gene expression during the
infection process. Further talks on infection biology
of both Armillaria and Heterobasidion followed,
including aspects of host resistance to disease.
Another area with good coverage was forest root
disease modelling: the complex and extended life
cycles of both hosts and pathogens, and the critical
environmental and host factors that must be
considered make forest disease modelling a
formidable task. There was much applied research
described too; it should be remembered that the
lengths of the crop cycles in forestry mean that
experiments may continue for many years – the
longest quoted in Poland was by Greg Filip from the
USDA Forest Service: 20-30 year results. And these
were described as ‘early results’.
The field excursions included trips to see both
Armillaria and Heterobasidion infections in pine
plantations: species within these genera can cause
very serious losses under soil the conditions
prevailing in northern Poland. With Poland entering
the EU and converting a considerable area of
farmland into forestry, increased incidence of
Heterobasidion is
likely in the future, unless major efforts are made to
prevent initial infections. We spent the last day of
the conference in the incomparable Bialowieza
Forest, firstly looking at some of the large mammals
that are maintained within the forest area, then taking
an extended guided walk in the forest reserve itself,
an experience which we recommend to anyone with
the slightest interest in the ecology of forests.
With contributions from all over Europe, Russia,
North America, Australia and New Zealand and,
eventually, central Africa, the conference really pulled
together the world’s leading research groups involved
in work on these rather specialised diseases. The
next meeting will be in northern California, moving to
Oregon, and should include visits to vineyards and to
Yosemite National Park. Can we recommend this
work to you?
Steve Woodward & Billy Bodles
University of Aberdeen, School of Biological
Sciences
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Participants at the 11th IUFRO Conference on Root and Butt rots of Forest trees,
Poland, August 2004
(photograph courtesy of Prof. M. M
anka)
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MSc Bursary Report
Characterization of stripe rust resistance in a durum wheat population using NBS-profiling
and SSR markers
The world’s population is increasing at an alarming
rate. To feed the forecasted 12 billion people living
on the planet by 2050, a staggering increase in
food production will be needed (1). An important
route to sustainable and increased food production
is through the control of crop diseases. One of the
major diseases of wheat are the rusts, a highly
specialized group of plant pathogens with narrow
host ranges (2). The wheat rusts occur wherever
wheat is grown and can cause severe losses in
production.
Stripe or yellow rust, caused by P. striiformis, is
principally a disease of wheat grown in cooler
climates, generally associated with higher
elevations, northern latitudes or where wheat is
grown as a winter crop. Because the disease can
attack early in wheat’s development, stunted and
weakened plants often occur. Losses can be severe
(50 percent), causing shriveled grain and damaged
tillers. In extreme years, stripe rust can cause 100
percent losses. Stripe rust currently causes severe
losses in East Africa, Far East Asia, West Asia,
Western Europe (2) and more specifically in Turkey.
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) is an
allo-tetraploid wheat used for food products such as
pasta, couscous and burghul (3). Stripe rust is the
most important biotic stress restricting the yield of
durum wheat in many areas of the world (4),
including Turkey. Control of stripe rust epidemics is
through fungicide applications and more importantly
resistance breeding (5).
The BSPP provided me with an MSc Bursary to fund
a project at the John Innes Center in Norwich, UK
during the summer of 2004. The bursary allowed
me to characterize stripe rust resistance in an F6,
Recombinant Inbred Line, durum wheat population,
developed at the International Center for Agricultural
Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA). This population
consisted of 150 F6 lines developed from the cross
Kunduru 1149 X Cham-1. The female parent,
Kunduru 1149 is a high quality, low yielding, disease
susceptible variety, whereas the male parent Cham-
1 is low quality, high yielding, stripe rust resistant
variety. A field based, adult plant study of the 150
F6 lines showed considerable variation for stripe
rust resistance in this population (4). My project at
the John Innes Center was aimed at identifying
molecular markers linked to stripe rust resistance in
this F6 population.
The stripe rust resistance phenotype of the Kunduru
1149 x Cham-1 population at the seedling growth
stage was tested using the P.s. f.sp. tritici isolate
WYR85-22 (race 6E0A+). This isolate is virulent on
stripe rust resistance genes Yr2, Yr6, Yr7 and Yr9
and represents the virulence profile of the P.s. f.sp
tritici population used in the published, field adult
plant tests (4). This was to determine whether the
field resistance reported by Gocmen et al., 2004 (4)
was likely to be seedling expressed. The seedlings
were scored for stripe rust resistance using the
University of Sydney, Plant Breeding Institute,
Cobbity (PBI) infection type scale (6).
The 150 lines divided into four categories based on
their seedling resistance to stripe rust: Cat I
contained 34 lines that showed intermediate
resistance (IT1/2), Cat II contained 33 lines that
showed an IT0 resistance, Cat III contained 76 lines
that showed a flecking infection type (IT;) and Cat IV
contained 7 lines that showed a susceptible
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phenotype (IT3/4). Twelve lines from Cat I, 12 lines
from Cat II, 23 lines from Cat III and 6 lines from Cat
IV were chosen to constitute a sub-population of the
Kunduru 1149 x Cham-1 cross to examine for
polymorphism using DNA markers. DNA was
isolated from these lines using a modified protocol
that combined DNeasy plant kit 96 (Qiagen) and
DNeasy mini plant kit (Qiagen).
The parents of the cross were screened for
polymorphisms with 59 different SSR markers.
Twenty-eight (one on each chromosome arm) gave
clear polymorphism between the parents. These
SSR markers were used to screen the sub-
population. The SSR markers were visualized using
silverstaining. The F6 lines were scored based on
which parental allele they carried. The SSR marker
alleles of each F6 line were compared to the
seedling resistance phenotypes described above,
and the adult plant resistance phenotypes (4) using
the Kruskal-Wallis, single-marker regression analysis
program in MapQTL version 5.0 for windows. Using
the adult plant resistance phenotypes, the SSR
marker gwm153 (on chromosome 1BL) showed
linkage to stripe rust resistance at P<0.005 and
gwm169 (on chromosome 6AL) showed linkage at
P<0.05. With the seedling resistance phenotypes,
the SSR marker gwm153 showed linkage to stripe
rust resistance at P<0.005. The SSR marker
barc61 (on chromosome 1BS) showed linkage to
seedling stripe rust resistance at P<0.05, and the
SSR marker wmc83 (on chromosome 7AS) at
P<0.1.
The Kunduru 1149 x Cham-1 subpopulation was
also used to search for polymorphisms using the
NBS-AFLP profiling method (7). This procedure
looks for DNA polymorphisms using AFLP primers
associated with regions of the genome showing
homology to R-gene NBS sequences. Using NBS-
specific primers NBS2, NBS3 and NBS5 in
combination with the Mse I adaptor primer a total of
14 presence-absence polymorphisms were
detected. These scores were then entered into the
Kruskal-Wallis package of MapQTL 5, along with the
adult resistance phenotypes, or the seedling
resistance phenotypes. With the adult plant
phenotypes, 6 polymorphic bands showed linkage to
stripe rust resistance at P<0.05 and 2 bands at
P<0.1. For the seedling resistance phenotypes, 1
polymorphic band showed linkage to stripe rust
resistance at P<0.01, 4 bands at P<0.05 and 3
bands showed linkage at P<0.1.
The SSR and NBS-profiling scores were entered into
JoinMap 3.0 to search for linkages between the two
marker types. The SSR marker gwm153 showed
significant linkage (LOD: 3.04) to 2 NBS-profiling
markers that were both ~290 bp long. These NBS-
profiling markers had shown linkage to stripe rust at
P<0.05. This may indicate the presence of a
Resistance Gene Analog (RGA) located on the long
arm of chromosome 1B.
Four NBS-AFLP bands were chosen that showed
linkage to stripe rust resistance to both adult and
seedling phenotypes, these bands were excised
from silver stained polyacrylamide gels and the DNA
extracted from the gel slices. The resulting DNA
was reamplified using the original primer
combinations. The next step in my project will be to
clone the excised bands, sequence the clones and
perform a homology search to determine the nature
of the bands. This work is therefore continuing in
the lab of my supervisor, Prof Muge Sayar Turet, at
the University of Bogazici, Istanbul.
During my visit I learned many techniques and met
many interesting people. I was given the opportunity
to attend the 11th International Rusts and Powdery
Mildews Conference, which was a week of very
interesting and stimulating talks. I would like to
thank Dr. Lesley A. Boyd for her great wisdom and
patience with my endless questions, Ruth
17
McCormack for her help and good company, Clare
Lewis, James Melichar and everyone else in the Biffin
Building, JIC who helped me enormously. Lastly, I
thank the BSPP for giving me this wonderful
opportunity.
Hale Tufan
Bogazici University
Molecular Biology and Genetics Department
Istanbul, Turkey
References:
(1) D. Hoisington, N. Bohorova, S. Fennell, M. Khairallah, A. Pellegrineschi, J.M. Ribaut. The application of
biotechnology to wheat improvement, http://www.fao.org
(2) R.P. Singh, J. Huerta-Espino, A.P. Roelfs. The wheat rusts, http://www.fao.org
(3) I. Elouafi, M.M. Nachit 2004. A genetic linkage map of the Durum X Triticum dicoccoides backcross
population based on SSRs and AFLP markers, and QTL analysis for milling traits, Theor Appl Genet 108: 401-413
(4) B. Gocmen, S. Albustan, Z. Kaya, S. Keskin, V. Taskin. 2003. Response of 150 F6 inbred durum wheat lines
derived from Kunduru-1149 X Cham-1 cross to yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis). Crop Protection 22: 787-793
(5) P.H. Smith, R.M.D. Koebner, L.A. Boyd. 2002. The development of a STS marker linked to yellow rust
resistance derived from the wheat cultivar Moro. Theor Appl Genet 104: 1278-1282
(6) R.A.McIntosh, C.R. Wellings, R.F. Park 1995. Wheat Rusts: An atlas of resistance genes. Kulwer. The
Netherlands.
(7) C.G. Van der Linden, D.C.A.E. Wouters, V. Mihalka, E.Z. Kochieva, M.J.M. Smulders, B. Vosman. 2004.
Efficient targeting of plant disease resistance loci using NBS profiling. Theor Appl Genet 109: 384-393
Hale Tufan, Bogazici University
18
Thank you James
James Brown was Editor of the BSPP Newsletter from 1997 to 2002. During this period the Newsletter
evolved from a rather bland booklet of meeting reports and news items into a much more lively and well-
illustrated magazine with entertaining articles and often forthright and thought-provoking editorials. In
recognition of his great efforts over a 5 year period the BSPP Board have presented James with a framed
original by the Farmer’s Weekly cartoonist Tebbit. The cartoon depicts a farmer holding up the headline
“Strobilurin fungicide Septoria resistance” and the spray operator commenting “ But I’ve just learned to say it”.
The photo shows John Lucas (BSPP President 2003) presenting James with the picture at the John Innes
Centre Norwich, where James is a Project Leader in the Department of Disease and Stress Biology.
Photograph courtesy of Lia Arraiano
19
And thank you Avice
At an informal gathering at Rothamsted on 9th December 2004, Avice Hall, secretary to the Board of the
British Society for Plant Pathology from 1999 - 2003, was presented with a Caithness Glass bowl, suitably
engraved with the host plants of diseases that she has investigated. Roger Plumb, President in 2002 and
current Treasurer of BSPP, presented Avice with the bowl on behalf of the BSPP Board.
20
Pathogen Profiles
If the bluffers guide on page 10 has whetted your appetite for more on head blight you’re in luck! Pathogen
profiles are a new regular feature in Molecular Plant Pathology and BSPPWeb, providing up to-date overviews of
research on specific pathogens. The following profile summaries are currently available via www.bspp.org.uk,
with links to download the full articles from the Blackwells Molecular Plant Pathology web site:
Heading for disaster: Fusarium graminearum on cereal cropsRubella S. Goswam and I. H. Corby KistlerTurnip yellow mosaic virus: transfer RNA mimicry, chloroplasts and a C-rich genomeTheo W. DreherClaviceps purpurea:molecular aspects of a unique pathogenic lifestylePaul Tudzynski and Jan SchefferGaeumannomyces graminis, the take-all fungus and its relativesJacqeline Freeman and Elaine WardSugarbeet leaf spot disease (Cercospora beticola Sacc.)John Weiland and Georg KochBlack currant reversion virus, a mite-transmitted nepovirusPetri SusiUstilago maydis, model system for analysis of the molecular basis of fungal pathogenicityChristoph W. Basse and Gero SteinbergXanthomonas axonopodis pv.citri: factors affecting successful eradication of citrus cankerJames H, Graham, Tim R. Gottwald, Jaime Cubero & Diann S. AchorCotton leaf curl disease, a multicomponent begomovirus complexRob W. BriddonMolecular, ecological and evolutionary approaches to understanding Alternaria diseases of citrusKazuya Akimitsu, Tobin L. Peever & L. W. TimmerFusarium oxysporum: exploring the molecular arsenal of a vascular wilt fungusAntonio Di Pietro, Marta P. Madrid, Zaira Caracuel, Jesús Delgado-Jarana & M. Isabel G. RonceroPantoea agglomerans pvs. gypsophilae and betae, recently evolved pathogens?Shulamit Manulis & Isaac BarashRoot-knot nematode parasitism and host response: molecular basis of a sophisticated interactionPierre Abad, Bruno Favery, Marie-Noëlle Rosso, Philippe Castagnone-SerenoAlternaria spp.: from general saprophyte to specific parasiteBart P. H. J. ThommaDowny mildew of Arabidopsis thaliana caused by Hyaloperonospora parasitica (formerly Peronospora parasitica)Alan J. Slusarenko and Nikolaus L. SchlaichXanthomonas citri: breaking the surfaceAsha M. Brunings and Dean W. GabrielTurnip vein-clearing virus- from pathogen to host expression profileUlrich MelcherBeet yellows virus: the importance of being differentValerian V. DoljaPotato leafroll virus: a classic pathogen shows some new tricksMichael Taliansky, Mike A. Mayo and Hugh BarkerSoft rot erwiniae: from genes to genomesIan K. Toth, Kenneth S. Bell, Maria C. Holeva and Paul R. J. Birch
21
Tomato yellow leaf curl virus, the intracellular dynamics of a plant DNA virusYedidya GafniAlfalfa mosaic virus: coat protein-dependent initiation of infectionJohn F. BolCowpea mosaic virus: effects on host cell processes Jeroen Pouwels, Jan E. Carette, Jan Van Lent and Joan WellinkCauliflower mosaic virus: still in the newsMuriel Haas, Marina Bureau, Angèle Geldreich, Pierre Yot and Mario KellerTurnip mosaic virus and the quest for durable resistance John A. Walsh and Carol E. Jenner Barley yellow dwarf virus: Luteoviridae or Tombusviridae?W. Allen Miller, Sijun Liu and Randy Beckett Bipolaris sorokiniana, a cereal pathogen of global concern: cytological and molecular approaches towards better controlJagdish Kumar, Patrick Schäfer, Ralph Hückelhoven, Gregor Langen, Helmut Baltruschat, Elke Stein, SubramaniamNagarajan and Karl-Heinz KogelRalstonia solanacearum: secrets of a major pathogen unveiled by analysis of its genomeStephane Genin and Christian Boucher Sugar-beet powdery mildew (Erysiphe betae) Sally Francis Mycosphaerella graminicola: latent infection, crop devastation and genomicsClaire-Louise Palmer and Wendy SkinnerThe tomato powdery mildew fungus Oidium neolycopersici Hannah Jones, John M. Whipps, and Sarah Jane GurrPhytophthora infestans enters the genomics eraPaul R. J. Birch & Stephen C. WhissonColletotrichum: tales of forcible entry, stealth, transient confinement andbreakout tales of forcible entry,stealth, transient confinement andbreakoutAkinwunmi O. Latunde-DadaTobacco mosaic virus, not just a single component virus anymoreElisabeth Knapp & Dennis J. LewandowskiCucumber mosaic virus, a model for RNA virus evolutionMarilyn J. RoossinckXanthomonas albilineans and the antipathogenesis approach to disease controlRobert G BirchErwinia amylovora: the molecular basis of fireblight disease: the molecular basis of fireblight diseaseJ A EastgateStrawberry crinkle virus, a Cytorhabdovirus needing more attention from virologistsK I Posthuma, A N Adams & Y HongPseudomonas syringae pv. tomato: the right pathogen, of the right plant, at the right time pv. tomato:the right pathogen, of the right plant, at the right timeG M PrestonFrom host recognition to T-DNA integration: the function of bacterial and plant genes in theAgrobacterium-plant cell interactionT Tzfira & V CitovskyTomato spotted wilt virus - positive steps towards negative successS AdkinsBrome mosaic virus, good for an RNA virologist's basic needsC C Kao & K Sivakumaran
22
Meeting Announcements
Phyllosphere 2005: 8th International Symposium on the
Microbiology of Aerial Plant Surfaces. St Catherine's
College, Oxford, UK; 24-27 July 2005
This international conference will address the
ecological role of the diverse microbiota of aerial plant
surfaces. Basic aspects of microbial ecology such as
gene exchange, habitat modification, and interactions
of microbes with the hosts on which they live often are
examined best in this system. An understanding of
phyllosphere microbiology is essential for the
development of rational strategies to manipulate these
communities in ways that are beneficial to agriculture
and other managed ecosystems. This conference will
bring together researchers from the plant and
microbial side and will include the areas of plant
pathology, mycology, bacteriology, aerobiology,
micrometeorology, statistics, plant physiology,
biochemistry, anatomy, and microbial and plant
molecular biology. Details of the scientific programme
and how to register can be obtained from the website
http://www.ceh.ac.uk/phyllosphere/index.asp or by
contacting:
Angela Morrison
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
Mansfield Road
Oxford OX1 3SR
United Kingdom
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)1865 281683
Fax: +44 (0)1865 281696
International Plant Virus Epidemiology
Symposium, Lima, Peru
4-8 April 2005
www.cipotato.org/training/PlantVirusEpidemSymp05
9th International Workshop on Plant Disease
Epidemiology,
Rennes, France
10-15 April 2005
www.rennes.inra.fr/epidemio2005
International Working Groups on Legume and
Vegetable Viruses,
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
11-15 April, 2005
Contact: Gail Wisler [email protected]
www.ifa.to.cnr.it/vvwg
1st International Conference on Plant-Microbe
Interactions: Endophytes and Biocontrol Agents,
Lapland, Saariselkä, Finland
www.bioweb/fi/
13th Meeting of the Latin American Association
of Plant Pathology,
Córdoba. Argentina
19-22 April 2005
13th International Sclerotinia Workshop
Monterey,
California, USA
12-16 June 2005
9th International Verticillium Symposium,
Monterey,
California, USA
June 17-21, 2005
Second Asian Conference on Plant Pathology,
‘Challenges and Opportunities in Plant
Pathology in Asia’,
Singapore.
25-28 June 2005
http://www.2ndACPP.org
International Congress on Molecular Plant-
Microbe Interactions,
Cancun, Mexico
17-22 July 2005
www.ismpminet.org
APS Annual Meeting, Austin TX, USA
30 July-3 August 2005
www.apsnet.org
230
1st International Conference on the Importance
of Biodiversity to Human Health,
Galway, Ireland,
23 - 25 August 2005
www.cohab2005.com
VIII International Symposium on Thysanoptera
and Tospoviruses, Pacific Grove,
California, USA
5-11 September 2005
www.istt2005.net
15th Biennial Australasian Plant Pathology
Society Conference, ‘Innovations for Sustainable
Plant Health’,
Geelong, Victoria, Australia
26-29 September 2005
www.deakin.edu.au/events/APPS2005
International Symposium on Biotechnology of
Temperate Fruit Crops and Tropical Species,
10-14 October 2005
http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/ishscrops
4th Canadian Fusarium headblight Workshop,
Ottawa Congress Centre
1-3 November 2005
http:// grainscanada.gc.ca
Emerging Trends in Plant-Microbe Interactions,
University of Madras, Chennai, India.
8-10 December 2005
International Symposium on New Crop
Technologies in Soil and soilless Cultivation
underProtected Environment¸
Agadir, Morocco
19-24 February 2006
XX International Symposium on Virus and
Virus-like Diseases of Temperate Fruit Crops
and XI International Symposium of Small Fruit
Virus Diseases,
Antalya, Turkey
22-26 May 2006
18th World Congress of Soil Science,
Philadelphia, PA, USA
9-15 July 2006
www.18wcss.org
APS Annual Meeting,
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
29 July-2 August 2006
www.apsnet.org
27th International Horticultural Congress &
Exhibition, IHC 2006, Global Horticulture:
Diversity & Harmony,
Seoul, Korea
13-19 August 2006
www.ihc2006.org
APS Annual Meeting,
San Diego, CA, USA
28 July-1 August 2007
www.apsnet.org
APS Annual Meeting,
Minneapolis, MN, USA
26-30 July 2008
www.apsnet.org
And the big one!
ICPP 2008, Torino, Italy,24-29 August, 2008
Contact: Prof. M.L. Gullino, University of Torino: [email protected]
http://www.icpp2008.org
24
Under-graduate bursary report
A Proteomic Approach for the Identification of Proteins Differentially Regulated During Peronospora
viciae Infection in Susceptible and Resistant Pea Cultivars.
Downy mildew of pea is caused by the oomycete
Peronospora viciae, an obligate biotroph that obtains
nutrients from a live host for a prolonged period of time.
P. viciae causes losses of up to 55% where fungicides and
plant resistance are not effective; even worse, entire
crops may be lost through systemic infections of
seedlings by soil-borne oospores which may lay dormant
for up to 8 years. Systemically infected plants show
stunted growth, distortion, rosetting and do not produce
any flowers. Sporulation often occurs all over the
deformed shoots and the plant will usually die within 2-3
weeks (Figure 1). This disease therefore poses a large
problem especially in the UK, Europe’s largest producer of
peas.
This bursary study was undertaken at the Bristol Genomic
Research Institute at the University of the West of
England. Its purpose was to examine the differences in
protein expression between the partially resistant pea
cultivar Early Onward and the susceptible cultivar Livioletta
during infection by P. viciae. Two dimensional
electrophoresis (2DE) was used to separate proteins
according to their isoelectric point and mass. The
resulting protein spots were then analysed using matrix
assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight (MALDI-
TOF) mass spectrometry, which produced a peptide mass
fingerprint that was used to search the Swissprot
database for identification.
Similarities were observed between the gels from infected
and healthy samples of Livioletta and Early Onward
suggesting that many of the proteins were the result of
normal plant cell processes. An example of this is ribulose
biphosphate carboxylase which is involved in carbon
dioxide fixation during photosynthesis. However, a large
number of proteins were only present on infected
samples, especially from the resistant cultivar Early
Onward, suggesting that these proteins were part of a
defence response. For example, glyceraldehyde-3-
phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is a cytosolic enzyme
involved in glycolysis and is one of the proteins identified
as up regulated during P. viciae infection. This may
increase the production of energy which could be used to
either produce proteins involved in resistance
mechanisms, or to replenish carbohydrates lost to the
invasive pathogen. It is important to note that this protein
is often upregulated in response to biotic and abiotic
stresses, so further work aims to identify those proteins
specifically involved in downy mildew infections.
This research has taught me the basic proteomic
techniques and has developed my skills and confidence in
the laboratory. I have enjoyed applying theoretical
understanding from my degree course to the rapidly
developing field of proteomics, and was very fortunate to
work in the new facility at UWE. These results were
presented as a poster at the Aberdeen EFPP/BSPP
meeting in September 2004.
I would like to thank the BSPP for funding and for giving
me the opportunity to develop skills which I am now
finding essential during my sandwich year. Many thanks
also to my supervisor Richard Amey, Tanja Schleicher and
Peter Spencer-Phillips for their invaluable guidance.
Laura Taylor - UWE Bristol
Pea plant infected by
Peronsopora viciae,
displaying typical
symptoms such as
profuse sporulation on
the underside of the
leaves and tendrils. The
tendrils are also much
thicker and more curled
than those of healthy
plants.
Members of the BSPP BoardBSPP President Prof Phil E. RussellGog Magog House, 263A Hinton Way, Great Shelford, Cambridge CB2 5AN.Tel: +44 (0)1223 841724; e-mail: [email protected]
BSPP President-Elect Prof Peter Mills (Chair, Fellowship Committee)Warwick HRI, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK.Tel: +44 (0)1789 470382; Fax: +44 (0)1789 470552;
e-mail: [email protected]
BSPP Vice-President Dr Richard Cooper (Chair, Travel Fund Committee)Reader in Plant Pathology, Dept of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UKTel: +44 (0)1225-323051
Fax: +44 (0)1225-826779; e-mail: [email protected].
BSPP Secretary Mr Bill Rennie 1 St Fillans Grove, Aberdour, Fife, KY3 OXG.Tel: +44 (0)1383 860695; email: [email protected]
BSPP Treasurer Dr Simon ArcherDept. of Biology, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ.
Tel: +44 (0)20 75945368 or 5942214; Fax: +44 (0)20 75842056; e-mail: [email protected]
BSPP Programme Secretary Dr Matthew DickinsonSchool of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Loughborough LE12 5RD.Tel: +44 (0)115 951 3236;
Fax: +44 (0)115 951 6334; e-mail: [email protected]
BSPP Membership Secretary Dr Tijs Gilles Warwick HRI, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK.Tel: +44 (0)1789 470382 Fax: +44 (0)1789 470552.;
email: [email protected]
Elected Board Members 2003-2005Dr Dawn Arnold (BSPP Publicity Officer)Centre for Research in Plant Science, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY.
Tel: +44 (0)117 344 3819; Fax: +44 (0)117 344 2904; email: [email protected]
Dr Fiona Doohan (BSPP Education Officer)Dept. of Environmental Resource Management, Faculty of Agriculture, University college Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Tel:+353 1 7167743; email: [email protected]
Dr Vivian BlokScottish Crop Research Institute,Invergowrie, Dundee, DD2 5DA, Scotland.Tel: +44 (0)1382 562731; Fax: +44(0)1382 562426;
email:[email protected]
Elected Board Members 2004-2006Dr Julie FloodCABI Biosciences, UK Centre, Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9TY, UK.email: [email protected]
Dr Neal EvansRothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 2JQ, UK.Tel: +44 (0)1582 763133 x 2296 Fax: +44 (0)1582 760981; email:
Dr Roger WilliamsHGCA, 223 Pentonville Road London, N1 9HYTel: 020 7520 3934; email: [email protected]
Invited to attend board meetings by invitation (not Board members)Senior Editor, Plant Pathology Dr Richard ShattockSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW.Tel: +44 (0)1248 382540; Fax: +44 (0)1248 370731;
e-mail: [email protected]
Senior Editor, Molecular Plant Pathology Dr Gary FosterSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1UG.Tel: +44 (0)117 928 7474; Fax: +44 (0)117 925 7374;
e-mail: [email protected]
Senior Editor, New Disease Reports Dr Rick MumfordCentral Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO14 1LZ.Tel: +44 (0)1904 462000; Fax: +44 (0)1904 462111; e-mail: [email protected]
Editor, Newsletter: Dr Steve R. Parker Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO14 1LZ.Tel: +44 (0)1904 462418; Fax: +44 (0)1904 462111;
e-mail: [email protected]
Membership Administrator Dr Diane E. Brown57 Heath Road, Hockering, Dereham, Norfolk, NR20 3JA, UK.Phone/fax +44 (0)1603 880313; e-mail: [email protected]
NB: This phone/fax number is to be used ONLY between 8 am and 10 pm UKtime as the office is in a private houseBSPP Webmanager Dr John P. ClarksonWarwick HRI, Wellesbourne, Warwick, CV35 9EF, UK.Tel: +44 (0)1789 470382; Fax: +44 (0)1789 470552; e-mail: [email protected]
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