NIAB's plant pathology group delivers a wide range of research and services focused on the evaluation, improvement and deployment of host disease resistance, and works closely with universities, plant breeders, and plant science institutes.
Major programmes include resistance to rusts and ergot in wheat and to diverse pathogens on several legume crops. To complement these there is a strong focus on the study of pathogen populations using genomic technologies as well as pathotyping to develop novel ways of population surveillance and understanding of host-pathogen interactions.
New programmes investigating pest resistance and management are under development, reflecting the increasing pest pressures in arable crops. The group also develops pathogen diagnostic techniques for future commercial application, and offers specialist services to industry and agrochemical companies for product evaluation and development.
