Monogram Conference 2024

Anthony Hall
 

Professor Anthony Hall is the head of Plant Genomics at the Earlham Institute on the Norwich Research Park. After of Postdoc at the University of Warwick with Prof. Andrew Millar he set up his independent research group focusing on the circadian clock at the University of Liverpool in 2003. His plant genomics group started in 2009 and has focused on using wheat as a model for studying the evolution in complex genomes. In 2010 he was awarded a senior BBSRC research fellowship entitled “Developing Next Generation Genetic Tools for Wheat”.  To date he has played a leading role in generating the first draft wheat genome (Brenchley et al, Nature 2012), in the 10 plus Wheat genome project (Walkowiak et al 2020) and the wheat epigenome (Gardiner et al. Genome Biology 2015). He currently leads the Earlham Institute's five-year strategic programme Decoding Biodiversity he is also a group leader in Delivering Sustainable Wheat. He also co-founded a ML/AI spin-out TraitSeq LTD.

Stefania Masci

Stefania’s main research interests are in the genetic, molecular and biochemical basis of wheat quality. She uses both conventional and advanced breeding techniques (such as genetic modification, genome editing and the use of TILLING mutants) to develop novel wheat germplasm for improved nutrition, technological processing and enhanced yield. Recent work includes the development and characterisation of wheat lines with low asparagine content to reduce acrylamide -forming potential. Gene silencing to enhance micronutrient content in Durum wheat and use of CRISPR-Cas9 to reduce allergen proteins in Durum wheat.

Jane Langdale

Jane Langdale is currently Professor of Plant Development in the Biology   Department at the University of Oxford and Professorial Fellow at The Queen’s College. 
Jane’s research focusses on understanding the genetic mechanisms that underpin how leaves develop and how they evolved (www.langdalelab.com) and she is currently co-ordinator of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded ‘C4 Rice Project’.
She was elected a Member of EMBO in 2007, a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2015, an International Member of the US National Academy of Sciences in 2019 and a Corresponding Member of the Australian Academy of Sciences in 2020.

Laura Dixon

Dr Laura Dixon is an Associate Professor in Crop Genetics and Physiology and UKRI Future Leader Fellow at the University of Leeds, UK. She received her PhD from the University of Edinburgh (understanding plant circadian rhythms) and her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge (Natural Sciences). Her group works to understand how cereals respond to temperature and photoperiod signals. The group's work combines discovery science at the molecular and genetic level with translation into the field. Their work focuses on reproductive plant biology including the vegetative to floral transition, floret formation and flowering time regulation.

Paul Nicholson

Paul Nicholson is a group leader in the Department of Crop Genetics at the John Innes Centre in Norwich. The focus of the Nicholson lab’s research is on investigating the genetic basis of resistance to a number of pathogens of wheat and barley.
The main diseases are Fusarium head blight and wheat blast which affect the heads of cereals and eyespot that attacks the stem base. While all three diseases reduce yield, Fusarium head blight is of particular concern because the fungi produce toxins that can contaminate grain and pose a health risk to human and animal consumers. These diseases each require a different approach. While wheat blast and Fusarium head blight cause similar symptoms they differ markedly with respect to resistance. The former can be tackled by identifying conventional resistance genes while the latter is much more difficult to counter as such genes do not appear to play a major role in resistance to this disease. The lab’s studies reveal that, in order to reduce disease, it is essential to identify and eliminate so-called susceptibility factors present in the host that actually aid the fungus as it infects. There are very few sources of resistance to eyespot and the most potent resistance derives from a relative of wheat. They are attempting to identify the gene(s) responsible as well as identify new sources of resistance. All their research is intended to produce information and tools to assist plant breeders to develop resistant varieties in order to prevent yield losses and reduce contamination of grain with toxins.

Erik Murchie

Prof. Erik Murchie holds a chair in Applied Plant Physiology at the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on metabolic and physiological responses to the environment with a particular passion for plants and crops under field conditions. Recent work in his research group has included nocturnal conductance in response to rising temperatures, photoprotection in cereal canopies and the  exploration of diverse wheat and rice germplasm for dynamic photosynthesis and heat tolerance. Progress has been made in understanding the role of 3D canopy architecture in determining productivity.

Tim Mauchline

Tim has spent his entire research career studying microbial interactions in the plant root environment. He is interested in the ecology of microbial communities in cropping systems, with the overall aim of understanding the function and potential of plant-associated microbes for nutrient cycling, plant stress tolerance and plant disease suppression. Recently, his research has focused on factors that shape the wheat root microbiome such as crop genotype, land management, fertilization regime as well as abiotic (e.g. drought, salt) and biotic factors. His ultimate goal is to maximize the contribution of microbes for the development of sustainable agricultural systems.