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← Kew powdery mildew workshop
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The Powdery Mildew Citizen Science Scheme – development of identification using molecular techniques

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Oliver Ellingham

Here is the presentation I delivered at the PM workshop, Kew on September 15th, 2014.

It was extremely different to the almost exclusively research-based presentations, but received much interest, avenues for future growth, and new powdery mildew samples.

Please click on the first slide and then cycle through………and then send some samples!

‘Avenues to impact’ or ways in which your research will affect the masses are now common goals in all research grant proposals…
…however, they are rarely followed through on.
The “Powdery Mildew Citizen Science Scheme” was launched via this blogpost on 21st May, 2014.

There is a very real disconnect between the research that we do as scientists and public and government awareness and understanding. Schemes like this can help to keep us connected.
This credit-card-sized flyer was disseminated with the help of the RHS at flower shows in Chelsea, Birmingham and Hampton Court.
The scheme is also promoted via the Reading Herbarium Twitter page (@RNGherb).

A montage of communications via Twitter (left) and Facebook (right).
Articles from relevant socieites have also helped to spread the word (this one if from the BSBI http://bsbipublicity.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/botanists-to-rescue-ii-we-need-your.html).
A montage of blog posts.

The launch blog includes info on how to send powdery mildew infected samples…
…resulting in various samples; some of which really test the national postal service…
…and others which are beaturifully presented. All samples however are equally useful.

After morphological analysis, samples are stored with moisture absorbing silica gel, before DNA is extracted from them.
As of 15/09/2104 33 samples from 13 locations across the UK have been received.
Analysis of the host plant and important morphological features in both the sexual and asexual forms of the fungus helps to delimit the potential species.

Complimenting morphology with the fungus’ DNA which is then matched to an online reference library (NCBI’s GenBank) helps to complete the identification.
However not all of the ca. 800 PM species are present on this online resource. In such cases an ID to a tribe or genus level is sufficient and complimented with the morphology and host data.
As well as continuing the scheme I must start to develop the principal aim of my project; developing molecular markers for ID.

Don’t forget to send the samples!

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About Oliver Ellingham

PhD student at the University of Reading. Working on ID techniques of powdery mildew Fungi. Interested in mycology, plant pathology and arboriculture.
View all posts by Oliver Ellingham →
This entry was posted in PhD research, Public Engagement with Science, RHS research and tagged #PowderyM, Ascomycota, Citizen Science, Erysiphales, Fungal identification, Fungi, Oli Ellingham, Oliver Ellingham, Plant Pathology, Powdery Mildew, RHS. Bookmark the permalink.
← Kew powdery mildew workshop
MSc Plant Diversity 2013/14 dissertation submission Today →
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