Horticultural Crop Research (East Malling)

Graham's research is focused on understanding mechanisms that facilitate plant-environment interactions and increase crop resilience to climate change. These topics are approached using a combination of genetic and physiological tools, with a main focus on stomatal traits. Stomata are key gatekeepers for plant-environment interactions because they control gas-exchange at the leaf surface. They strongly contribute to water-use efficiency, photosynthetic processes, temperature regulation, hydraulic integrity, and organismal plasticity.

Research project:

Below ground carbon sequestration potential of apple trees
Date: September 2019- September 2023
Partners: University of Reading, NIAB East Malling and CTP FCR
Funders: AHDB, BBSRC, Berry Gardens, M&S, NACM, WorldWide Fruits and The Worshipful Company of Fruiters.

Research interests

Charles undertakes research and development of products, tools, and methods to enable more efficient and environmentally sound crop protection. He is interested in transferring technology and methods from other sectors into agriculture, utilising a range of scientific fields such as semio-chemistry, insect behaviour, image analysis (fluorescence, hyper/multi spectroscopy), remote sensing (aerial and ground), automation and precision agricultural technology to develop novel methods of crop protection.

Based at NIAB East Malling Nada's research interests focus on the intersection between genetics and environment and the function that small non-coding RNAs and epigenetic mechanisms play in the information flow within the plant and between the plant and its surroundings. Small RNAs and mechanisms of epigenetic regulation are best known for their role in genome defence against transposons, but their functions in plants are vastly diverse and steadily increasing.

Nengi holds an MSc in molecular biology with biotechnology (Bangor University, Wales) and a PhD studying the ripening process of tropical mango (Mangifera indica L.) with a particular focus on the Rab GTPases (University of Nottingham).

Geoffrey studied Engineering Science (Meng) at the University of Oxford, graduating in 2021, where he developed a range of interests from control theory to chemical engineering.

In the past he has worked with wood decomposing fungi and joined NIAB in 2022 where he is now receiving training in the irrigation systems at East Malling’s WET (Water Efficient Technology) Centre .

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Adam is a research assistant providing technical support to the Crop Science and Production Systems team at NIAB East Malling. This includes the set-up, maintenance, and monitoring of various experimental and commercial trials.

Adam graduated from the University of Sheffield with a BSc in Biology and the University of Warwick with an MSc in Sustainable Crop Production. His research interests include nutrient and water use efficiency in crops, plant pathology and plant physiology.

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Mitzi has been a project administrator at East Malling since March 2019, providing administrative support to the CTP PhD studentship programmes, both at East Malling and Cambridge.

She also provides general administrative support to other projects, such as the Rubus breeding programme, and at the East Malling site in general.

Ross is responsible for much of the day-to-day operational running of the site including facilities, health & safety, quality control (EMQA), etc, and occasionally helping the science staff communicate their activities to external audiences.