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Liz leads our research programme into Phytophthora and also leads the team answering pathology enquiries received by RHS Gardening Advice
My research focuses on improving our knowledge and advice on common diseases affecting UK gardens with a focus on Phytophthora. Day-to-day tasks involve conducting molecular work, analysing data, writing scientific papers and setting up lab or field experiments. When I am not working on my research projects I’m most likely in the lab examining diseased plant specimens to help answer member’s plant health enquiries.
The aim of our research is to feed into the advice we provide, giving more information about diseases and pests important to UK gardeners.
The number of enquiries that the Pathology team answers is steadily increasing each year. This makes it ever more important to deal with members’ questions efficiently. I lead the team overseeing prompt answers for our members and contributing to publishing information about any new diseases we find. One of the most important diseases to gardeners is Phytophthora root rot. Our research aims to provide better answers by improving the knowledge and advice we give on managing this disease in gardens.
I am proud to have represented the RHS at several international conferences. Meeting other scientists from around the world, developing my knowledge and understanding of plant pathogens, and giving updates about current RHS research are all big accomplishments for me. Participating in national and local TV and radio shows – raising the profile of plant pathologists in the UK while increasing the public’s knowledge about fungi and other plant diseases is also something I am extremely proud of. I am also an editor for the journal New Disease Reports.
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.
