Sectors

Barley
Agriculture
With plentiful rain and long summer day lengths, Scotland produces some of the highest yielding and best quality crops in the world. But conditions that promote good crop growth are often good for pests and pathogens too and in Scotland 15-20% of our crops are lost to pests and diseases annually.
Snail on leaf
Environment
Scotland has a remarkable assemblage of species and habitats with Atlantic, montane, boreal, arctic-alpine, and oceanic habitats in close proximity. However, pests and pathogens represent an increasing threat to these natural assets, and a particular challenge is the sheer complexity of the diversity of the natural environment in terms of the number of species that may be impacted.
trees on river
Forestry
The sector represents a major component of Scotland’s rural economy – providing significant employment and raw materials for wood processing industries. Sustainable forest management seeks to deliver these economic benefits alongside important ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration and flood mitigation, provision of wildlife habitat and opportunities for recreation and a range of leisure activities. Pests and diseases threaten the continued long-term delivery of these benefits.
Daffodils
Horticulture
Scotland is renowned for the quality of its private and public horticultural collections, and its rich cultural history of plant collecting, allotments and gardening. Horticultural plantings are of significant economic value, as well as providing amenity, health and well-being, cultural and conservation resources. However, pest and pathogens represent a major threat to this highly diverse set of plantings.

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Cluster of Oak processionary moth larvae feeding on oak leaves

Ongoing controls to protect against the tree pest Oak Processionary Moth

Landscapers, nurseries, landowners and woodland managers are being urged to take action after the Plant Health Service intercepted a number of cases of oak processionary moth caterpillars on trees imported from the continent.

Anyone who has received oak trees imported from the continent should urgently check their trees for OPM, and nurseries should spray trees that they might be holding as stock with the pesticide Deltamethrin as a precautionary measure to stop this pest spreading. It is vital these trees are checked and sprayed now to minimise the spread of this damaging tree pest and protect the health of our oak trees.
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Zebra chip on potato

Assessing the potential of the psyllid Trioza anthrisci to vector Liberibacter solanacearum (Lso) in Scotland

The aim of this project was to assess the distribution and population numbers of the psyllid Trioza anthrisci and it’s potential as a vector of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum’ (Lso).  The project has allowed the PHC to better understand the distribution and number of T. anthrisci populations in carrot growing areas to better inform assessment of the risk of disease transmission to crops in Scotland. 

 

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Our Highlighted Event

Symptoms 2 Sequences
Symptoms 2 Sequences: Practical Training in Plant Diagnostics
11 Sep 2019, 9am - 5pm

RBGE are running a workshop in Practical Plant Diagnostics on Wednesday 11th September 2019. PhD students, researchers, agronomists, horticulturalists, and anyone interested in plant diseases are invited to this one-day workshop covering:  

● core diagnostic skills

● diseases in crops, trees, and ornamental plants

● remote sensing and surveillance

● advances in molecular detection.

The workshop costs £65 including lunch and you can register for the event using the following link:

http://bit.ly/2MweQ0W

More information can be found in the flyer below:

S2S_RBGE_2019_Flyer_0.pdf

PhD students, researchers, agronomists, horticulturalists, and anyone interested in plant diseases are invited to a one-day workshop on practical techniques in plant diagnostics covering core diagnostic skills; diseases in crops, trees, and ornamental plants; remote sensing and surveillance and