Growing Kent & Medway

Our experts can help you to reduce wastage and increase longevity in your plant-based products by identifying and controlling disease-causing pathogens.

Microbial contamination leading to spoilage of produce has a significant impact on crop yield. It is our goal to align this research expertise with the challenges you face in combating problematic plant pathogens, with the goal of increasing productivity, yield and product lifespan.

Images of strawberries infected with a fungal pathogen. Taken by student Sam Lynn.

Researchers at the University of Kent have expertise in the identification of a variety of plant pathogens, determination of genetic traits linked to their virulence and in the design of methods to both detect and reduce or eradicate their presence:

Molecular biology:

• Assisting the implementation of market assisted breeding
• Confirming disease resistance targets

Genetic analysis:

• Identifying genetic markers associated with traits of interest for breeding
• Genetic informed breeding of highly quantitative traits
• Pathogen race/fungicide resistance diagnostics

Disease control:

• Novel strategies for pathogen control
• Optimising performance of environmentally favourable biocontrols for fungal pathogens

(Contact: Dr Campbell Gourlay and Dr Helen Cockerton)