Professor Julie Scholes

School of Biosciences

Emeritus Professor of Plant and Microbial Sciences

j.scholes@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 4780

Alfred Denny Building

Full contact details

Professor Julie Scholes
School of Biosciences
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN

Profile

Career

Emeritus Professor of Plant and Microbial Sciences, University of Sheffield (2020 – present).
Professor of Plant and Microbial Sciences, University of Sheffield (2003 –
2020).
Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Reader, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (1995 – 2003).
Royal Society University Research Fellow, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (1987 – 1995).
Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 Research Fellow, Department of Botany, University of Sheffield (1986 – 1987).

Qualifications: BSc (1982) PhD (1986) University of Wales.

Research interests

My research group focuses on understanding the physiological and molecular interactions between plants and their symbionts, including fungal pathogens, mycorrhizal fungi and root parasitic weeds of the Orobanchaceae family. A specific focus of my research is the parasitic witchweed Striga. Striga hermonthica and S.asiatica infect the staple cereal crops of sub-Saharan Africa including maize, sorghum, millet and upland rice, causing devastating losses in yield.

Our work spans from the molecular to the applied and encompasses laboratory studies and field trials, the latter in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. We exploit physiological, genomic, comparative genomic, quantitative genetic and molecular approaches to identify genes underlying resistance in cereals to different genetic ecotypes of Striga species and to identify virulence/effector genes in the parasite. We have recently published the first the S. hermonthica genome (Qiu et al., 2022). The ultimate aim of this work is to understand the molecular basis of host-parasite specificity, which is essential for delaying the evolution of virulence in the parasite and to enable predictive breeding of durable defence.

Field trial of Striga-resistance in rice varieties at Mbita Point, Kenya

Striga plant with pink flowers — Striga hermonthica

Publications

Journal articles

Qiu S, Bradley JM, Zhang P, Chaudhuri R, Blaxter M, Butlin RK & Scholes JD (2022) Genome-enabled discovery of candidate virulence loci in Striga hermonthica, a devastating parasite of African cereal crops. New Phytologist. View this article in WRRO
Scott D, Scholes JD, Randrianjafizanaka MT, Randriamampianina JA, Autfray P & Freckleton RP (2021) Identifying existing management practices in the control of Striga asiatica within rice–maize systems in mid‐west Madagascar. Ecology and Evolution, 11(19), 13579-13592.
Bouwmeester H, Sinha N & Scholes J (2021) Parasitic plants: physiology, development, signaling, and ecosystem interactions. Plant Physiology, 185(4), 1267-1269.
Scott D, Scholes JD, Randrianjafizanaka MT, Randriamampianina JA, Autfray P & Freckleton RP (2020) Mapping the drivers of parasitic weed abundance at a national scale : a new approach applied to Striga asiatica in the mid‐west of Madagascar. Weed Research. View this article in WRRO
Bunsick M, Toh S, Wong C, Xu Z, Ly G, McErlean C, Pescetto G, Nemrish K, Sung P, Li J , Scholes J et al (2020) SMAX1-dependent seed germination bypasses GA signalling in Arabidopsis and Striga. Nature Plants. View this article in WRRO
Waweru DN, Kuria EK, Bradley JM, Scholes JD & Runo S (2019) Tissue culture protocols for the obligate parasitic plant Striga hermonthica and implications for host-parasite co-cultivation. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 138(2), 247-256. View this article in WRRO
Beerling DJ, Leake JR, Long SP, Scholes JD, Ton J, Nelson PN, Bird M, Kantzas E, Taylor LL, Sarkar B , Kelland M et al (2018) Publisher Correction: Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security. Nature Plants, 4(6), 392-392.
Beerling DJ, Leake JR, Long SP, Scholes JD, Ton J, Nelson PN, Bird M, Kantzas E, Taylor LL, Sarkar B , Kelland M et al (2018) Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security. Nature Plants, 4, 138-147. View this article in WRRO
Rodenburg J, Cissoko M, Kayongo N, Dieng I, Bisikwa J, Irakiza R, Masoka I, Midega CAO & Scholes JD (2017) Genetic variation and host–parasite specificity of Striga resistance and tolerance in rice: the need for predictive breeding. New Phytologist, 214(3), 1267-1280. View this article in WRRO
Edwards DP, Lim F, James RH, Pearce CR, Scholes J, Freckleton RP & Beerling DJ (2017) Climate change mitigation : potential benefits and pitfalls of enhanced rock weathering in tropical agriculture.. Biology Letters, 13(4). View this article in WRRO
Brearley FQ, Saner P, Uchida A, Burslem DFRP, Hector A, Nilus R, Scholes JD & Egli S (2017) Testing the importance of a common ectomycorrhizal network for dipterocarp seedling growth and survival in tropical forests of Borneo. Plant Ecology & Diversity, 9(5-6), 563-576. View this article in WRRO
Luna E, Beardon E, Ravnskov S, Scholes J & Ton J (2016) Optimizing Chemically Induced Resistance in Tomato Against Botrytis cinerea. PLANT DISEASE, 100(4), 704-710.
Rodenburg J, Cissoko M, Kayeke J, Dieng I, Khan ZR, Midega CA, Onyuka EA & Scholes JD (2015) Do NERICA rice cultivars express resistance to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. and Striga asiatica (L.) Kuntze under field conditions?. Field Crops Res, 170, 83-94. View this article in WRRO
Rizoulis A, Elliott DR, Rolfe SA, Thornton SF, Banwart SA, Pickup RW & Scholes JD (2013) Diversity of Planktonic and Attached Bacterial Communities in a Phenol-Contaminated Sandstone Aquifer. Microbial Ecology, 66(1), 84-95.
Runo S, Macharia S, Alakonya A, Machuka J, Sinha N & Scholes J (2012) Striga parasitizes transgenic hairy roots of Zea mays and provides a tool for studying plant-plant interactions.. Plant Methods, 8(1), 20. View this article in WRRO
Malinowski R, Smith JA, Fleming AJ, Scholes JD & Rolfe SA (2012) Gall formation in clubroot-infected Arabidopsis results from an increase in existing meristematic activities of the host but is not essential for the completion of the pathogen life cycle. Plant Journal, 71(2), 226-238.
Huang K, Whitlock R, Press MC & Scholes JD (2012) Variation for host range within and among populations of the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica.. Heredity (Edinb), 108(2), 96-104.
Bagchi R, Philipson CD, Slade EM, Hector A, Phillips S, Villanueva JF, Lewis OT, Lyal CHC, Nilus R, Madran A , Scholes JD et al (2011) Impacts of logging on density-dependent predation of dipterocarp seeds in a South East Asian rainforest.. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 366(1582), 3246-3255.
Cissoko M, Boisnard A, Rodenburg J, Press MC & Scholes JD (2011) New Rice for Africa (NERICA) cultivars exhibit different levels of post-attachment resistance against the parasitic weeds Striga hermonthica and Striga asiatica.. New Phytol, 192(4), 952-963.
Rolfe SA & Scholes JD (2010) Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of plant-pathogen interactions.. Protoplasma, 247(3-4), 163-175.
Andrews JS, Rolfe SA, Huang WE, Scholes JD & Banwart SA (2010) Biofilm formation in environmental bacteria is influenced by different macromolecules depending on genus and species.. Environ Microbiol, 12(9), 2496-2507.
Yoder JI & Scholes JD (2010) Host plant resistance to parasitic weeds; recent progress and bottlenecks.. Curr Opin Plant Biol, 13(4), 478-484.
Hooper AM, Tsanuo MK, Chamberlain K, Tittcomb K, Scholes J, Hassanali A, Khan ZR & Pickett JA (2010) Isoschaftoside, a C-glycosylflavonoid from Desmodium uncinatum root exudate, is an allelochemical against the development of Striga.. Phytochemistry, 71(8-9), 904-908.
Bagchi R, Press MC & Scholes JD (2010) Evolutionary history and distance dependence control survival of dipterocarp seedlings.. Ecol Lett, 13(1), 51-59.
Elliott DR, Scholes JD, Thornton SF, Rizoulis A, Banwart SA & Rolfe SA (2010) Dynamic changes in microbial community structure and function in phenol-degrading microcosms inoculated with cells from a contaminated aquifer.. FEMS Microbiol Ecol, 71(2), 247-259.
Ludwig-Muller J, Prinsen E, Rolfe SA & Scholes JD (2009) Metabolism and Plant Hormone Action During Clubroot Disease. J PLANT GROWTH REGUL, 28(3), 229-244.
Swarbrick PJ, Scholes JD, Press MC & Slate J (2009) A major QTL for resistance of rice to the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica is not dependent on genetic background.. Pest Manag Sci, 65(5), 528-532.
Scholes JD & Rolfe SA (2009) Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging as tool for understanding the impact of fungal diseases on plant performance: a phenomics perspective. FUNCT PLANT BIOL, 36(10-11), 880-892.
Swarbrick PJ, Huang K, Liu G, Slate J, Press MC & Scholes JD (2008) Global patterns of gene expression in rice cultivars undergoing a susceptible or resistant interaction with the parasitic plant Striga hermonthica.. New Phytol, 179(2), 515-529.
Scholes JD & Press MC (2008) Striga infestation of cereal crops - an unsolved problem in resource limited agriculture.. Curr Opin Plant Biol, 11(2), 180-186.
Geoghegan M, Andrews JS, Biggs CA, Eboigbodin KE, Elliott DR, Rolfe S, Scholes J, Ojeda JJ, Romero-Gonzales ME, Edyvean RGJ , Swanson L et al (2008) The polymer physics and chemistry of microbial cell attachment and adhesion. Faraday Discussions, 139, 85-103.
Brearley FQ, Scholes JD, Press MC & Palfner G (2007) How does light and phosphorus fertilisation affect the growth and ectomycorrhizal community of two contrasting dipterocarp species?. PLANT ECOL, 192(2), 237-249.
Swarbrick PJ, Schulze-Lefert P & Scholes JD (2006) Metabolic consequences of susceptibility and resistance (race-specific and broad-spectrum) in barley leaves challenged with powdery mildew.. Plant Cell Environ, 29(6), 1061-1076.
Quilliam RS, Swarbrick PJ, Scholes JD & Rolfe SA (2006) Imaging photosynthesis in wounded leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana.. J Exp Bot, 57(1), 55-69.
Gurney AL, Slate J, Press MC & Scholes JD (2006) A novel form of resistance in rice to the angiosperm parasite Striga hermonthica.. New Phytol, 169(1), 199-208.
Vasey RA, Scholes JD & Press MC (2005) Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Is Susceptible to the Parasitic Angiosperm Striga hermonthica, a Major Cereal Pathogen in Africa.. Phytopathology, 95(11), 1294-1300.
Wright DP, Scholes JD, Read DJ & Rolfe SA (2005) European and African maize cultivars differ in their physiological and molecular responses to mycorrhizal infection.. New Phytol, 167(3), 881-896.
PÉREZ-DE-LUQUE A, RUBIALES D, CUBERO JI, PRESS MC, SCHOLES J, YONEYAMA K, TAKEUCHI Y, PLAKHINE D & JOEL DM (2005) Interaction between Orobanche crenata and its Host Legumes: Unsuccessful Haustorial Penetration and Necrosis of the Developing Parasite. Annals of Botany, 95(6), 935-942.
Brearley FQ, Scholes JD & Su See L (2005) Nitrogen nutrition and isotopic discrimination in tropical ectomycorrhizal fungi.. Res Microbiol, 156(2), 184-190.
Leakey ADB, Scholes JD & Press MC (2005) Physiological and ecological significance of sunflecks for dipterocarp seedlings.. J Exp Bot, 56(411), 469-482.
Rank C, Rasmussen LS, Jensen SR, Pierce S, Press MC & Scholes JD (2004) Cytotoxic constituents of Alectra and Striga species. WEED RES, 44(4), 265-270.
Gurney AL, Grimanelli D, Kanampiu F, Hoisington D, Scholes JD & Press MC (2003) Novel sources of resistance to Striga hermonthica in Tripsacum dactyloides, a wild relative of maize. NEW PHYTOL, 160(3), 557-568.
Leakey ADB, Press MC & Scholes JD (2003) High-temperature inhibition of photosynthesis is greater under sunflecks than uniform irradiance in a tropical rain forest tree seedling. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 26(10), 1681-1690.
Brearley FQ, Press MC & Scholes JD (2003) Nutrients obtained from leaf litter can improve the growth of dipterocarp seedlings. NEW PHYTOL, 160(1), 101-110.
Pierce S, Mbwaga AM, Press MC & Scholes JD (2003) Xenognosin production and tolerance to Striga asiatica infection of high-yielding maize cultivars. WEED RES, 43(2), 139-145.
Leakey ADB, Press MC & Scholes JD (2003) Patterns of dynamic irradiance affect the photosynthetic capacity and growth of dipterocarp tree seedlings.. Oecologia, 135(2), 184-193.
Leakey ADB, Press MC, Scholes JD & Watling JR (2002) Relative enhancement of photosynthesis and growth at elevated CO2 is greater under sunflecks than uniform irradiance in a tropical rain forest tree seedling. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 25(12), 1701-1714.
Gurney AL, Press MC & Scholes JD (2002) Can wild relatives of sorghum provide new sources of resistance or tolerance against Striga species?. WEED RES, 42(4), 317-324.
Gurney AL, Taylor A, Mbwaga A, Scholes JD & Press MC (2002) Do maize cultivars demonstrate tolerance to the parasitic weed Striga asiatica ?. WEED RES, 42(4), 299-306.
Bungard RA, Zipperlen SA, Press MC & Scholes JD (2002) The influence of nutrients on growth and photosynthesis of seedlings of two rainforest dipterocarp species. FUNCT PLANT BIOL, 29(4), 505-515.
Rolfe SA & Scholes JD (2002) Extended depth-of-focus imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence from intact leaves.. Photosynth Res, 72(1), 107-115.
Bungard RA, Press MC & Scholes JD (2000) The influence of nitrogen on rain forest dipterocarp seedlings exposed to a large increase in irradiance. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 23(11), 1183-1194.
Chou HM, Bundock N, Rolfe SA & Scholes JD (2000) Infection of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves with Albugo candida (white blister rust) causes a reprogramming of host metabolism.. Mol Plant Pathol, 1(2), 99-113.
Wright DP, Scholes JD, Read DJ & Rolfe SA (2000) Changes in carbon allocation and expression of carbon transporter genes in Betula pendula Roth. colonized by the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus (Batsch) Fr.. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 23(1), 39-49.
Gurney AL, Press MC & Scholes JD (1999) Infection time and density influence the response of sorghum to the parasitic angiosperm Striga hermonthica. NEW PHYTOL, 143(3), 573-580.
Hibberd JM, Quick WP, Press MC, Scholes JD & Jeschke WD (1999) Solute fluxes from tobacco to the parasitic angiosperm Orobanche cernua and the influence of infection on host carbon and nitrogen relations. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 22(8), 937-947.
Bungard RA, Wingler A, Morton JD, Andrews M, Press MC & Scholes JD (1999) Ammonium can stimulate nitrate and nitrite reductase in the absence of nitrate in Clematis vitalba. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 22(7), 859-866.
Bungard RA, Ruban AV, Hibberd JM, Press MC, Horton P & Scholes JD (1999) Unusual carotenoid composition and a new type of xanthophyll cycle in plants.. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 96(3), 1135-1139.
Wright DP, Read DJ & Scholes JD (1998) Mycorrhizal sink strength influences whole plant carbon balance of Trifolium repens L. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 21(9), 881-891.
Hibberd JM, Bungard RA, Press MC, Jeschke WD, Scholes JD & Quick WP (1998) Localization of photosynthetic metabolism in the parasitic angiosperm Cuscuta reflexa. PLANTA, 205(4), 506-513.
Hibberd JM, Quick WP, Press MC & Scholes JD (1998) Can source-sink relations explain responses of tobacco to infection by the root holoparasitic angiosperm Orobanche cernua?. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 21(3), 333-340.
Wright DP, Scholes JD & Read DJ (1998) Effects of VA mycorrhizal colonization on photosynthesis and biomass production of Trifolium repens L.. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 21(2), 209-216.
Frost DL, Gurney AL, Press MC & Scholes JD (1997) Striga hermonthica reduces photosynthesis in sorghum: The importance of stomatal limitations and a potential role for ABA?. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 20(4), 483-492.
Scholes JD, Press MC & Zipperlen SW (1997) Differences in light energy utilisation and dissipation between dipterocarp rain forest tree seedlings. OECOLOGIA, 109(1), 41-48.
Scholes J, Bundock N, Wilde R & Rolfe S (1996) The impact of reduced vacuolar invertase activity on the photosynthetic and carbohydrate metabolism of tomato. Planta, 200(2).
Tang X, Rolfe SA & Scholes JD (1996) The effect of Albugo candida (white blister rust) on the photosynthetic and carbohydrate metabolism of leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 19(8), 967-975.
Barker ER, Press MC, Scholes JD & Quick WP (1996) Interactions between the parasitic angiosperm Orobanche aegyptiaca and its tomato host: Growth and biomass allocation. NEW PHYTOL, 133(4), 637-642.
Scholes JD & Rolfe SA (1996) Photosynthesis in localised regions of oat leaves infected with crown rust (Puccinia coronata): Quantitative imaging of chlorophyll fluorescence. PLANTA, 199(4), 573-582.
Hibberd JM, Quick WP, Press MC & Scholes JD (1996) The influence of the parasitic angiosperm Striga gesnerioides on the growth and photosynthesis of its host, Vigna unguiculata. J EXP BOT, 47(297), 507-512.
Tang X, Ruffner HP, Scholes JD & Rolfe SA (1996) Purification and characterisation of soluble invertases from leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana.. Planta, 198(1), 17-23.
WRIGHT DP, BALDWIN BC, SHEPHARD MC & SCHOLES JD (1995) SOURCE-SINK RELATIONSHIPS IN WHEAT LEAVES INFECTED WITH POWDERY MILDEW .1. ALTERATIONS IN CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM. PHYSIOL MOL PLANT P, 47(4), 237-253.
WRIGHT DP, BALDWIN BC, SHEPHARD MC & SCHOLES JD (1995) SOURCE-SINK RELATIONSHIPS IN WHEAT LEAVES INFECTED WITH POWDERY MILDEW .2. CHANGES IN THE REGULATION OF THE CALVIN CYCLE. PHYSIOL MOL PLANT P, 47(4), 255-267.
ROLFE SA & SCHOLES JD (1995) QUANTITATIVE IMAGING OF CHLOROPHYLL FLUORESCENCE. NEW PHYTOL, 131(1), 69-79.
SCHOLES JD, LEE PJ, HORTON P & LEWIS DH (1994) INVERTASE - UNDERSTANDING CHANGES IN THE PHOTOSYNTHETIC AND CARBOHYDRATE-METABOLISM OF BARLEY LEAVES INFECTED WITH POWDERY MILDEW. NEW PHYTOL, 126(2), 213-222.
Wiggins TE, Jager BJ & Scholes JD (1994) Effect of a methoxyacrylate inhibitor on photosynthesis.. Biochem Soc Trans, 22(1), 69S.
JOHNSON GN, SCHOLES JD, HORTON P & YOUNG AJ (1993) RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CAROTENOID COMPOSITION AND GROWTH HABIT IN BRITISH PLANT-SPECIES. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 16(6), 681-686.
JOHNSON GN, YOUNG AJ, SCHOLES JD & HORTON P (1993) THE DISSIPATION OF EXCESS EXCITATION-ENERGY IN BRITISH PLANT-SPECIES. PLANT CELL ENVIRON, 16(6), 673-679.
Scholes JH (1991) Brian Blundell Boycott. Visual Neuroscience, 7(1-2), v-vi.
Coleburn NH, Scholes JV & Lowe FC (1991) Renal failure in patients with aids-related complex. Urology, 37(6), 523-527.
Foong A, Scholes JV, Gleich GJ, Kephart GM & Holt PR (1991) Eosinophil-induced chronic active hepatitis in the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Hepatology, 13(6), 1090-1094.
HORTON P, CROFTS J, GORDON S, OXBOROUGH K, REES D & SCHOLES JD (1989) REGULATION OF PHOTOSYSTEM-II BY METABOLIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL-FACTORS. PHILOS T ROY SOC B, 323(1216), 269-279.
HORTON P, OXBOROUGH K, REES D & SCHOLES JD (1988) REGULATION OF THE PHOTOCHEMICAL EFFICIENCY OF PHOTOSYSTEM-II - CONSEQUENCES FOR THE LIGHT RESPONSE OF FIELD PHOTOSYNTHESIS. PLANT PHYSIOL BIOCH, 26(4), 453-460.
SCHOLES JD & FARRAR JF (1987) DEVELOPMENT OF SYMPTOMS OF BROWN RUST OF BARLEY IN RELATION TO THE DISTRIBUTION OF FUNGAL MYCELIUM, STARCH ACCUMULATION AND LOCALIZED CHANGES IN THE CONCENTRATION OF CHLOROPHYLL. NEW PHYTOL, 107(1), 103-117.
SCHOLES JD & FARRAR JF (1986) INCREASED RATES OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN LOCALIZED REGIONS OF A BARLEY LEAF INFECTED WITH BROWN RUST. NEW PHYTOL, 104(4), 601-612.
SCHOLES JD & FARRAR JF (1985) PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND CHLOROPLAST FUNCTIONING WITHIN INDIVIDUAL PUSTULES OF UROMYCES-MUSCARI ON BLUEBELL LEAVES. PHYSIOL PLANT PATHOL, 27(3), 387-400.
SCHOLES JD & SHATTOCK RC (1984) OBSERVATIONS ON DRECHSLERA LEAF-SPOT ON LOLIUM-PERENNE AFFECTED BY CADMIUM. NEW PHYTOL, 98(2), 377-386.

Chapters

Timko MP & Scholes JD (2013) Host Reaction to Attack by Root Parasitic Plants, Parasitic Orobanchaceae (pp. 115-141). Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Scholes JD, Swarbrick PJ, Slate J & Press MC (2007) THE MOLECULAR GENETIC BASIS OF HOST RESISTANCE TO STRIGA SPECIES: A WAY FORWARD, Integrating New Technologies for Striga Control (pp. 173-184). WORLD SCIENTIFIC
Armstrong W, Hodgson JG, Booth RE, Gaitens P, Grime JP, Band SR, Mowforth MA, Crawford RMM, Bossard CC, Hillier SH , Leprince O et al (1993) Methods of Comparative Study, Methods in Comparative Plant Ecology (pp. 29-222). Springer Netherlands
Johnson G, Horton P, Scholes J & Grime P (1990) Fluorescence Responses on Step Changes in Irradiance by Plants from Different Light Habitats, Current Research in Photosynthesis (pp. 3155-3158). Springer Netherlands
Wright DP, Scholes JD, Horton P, Baldwin BC & Shephard MC (1990) The Relationship between the Development of Haustoria of Erysiphe graminis and the Energy Status of Leaves, Current Research in Photosynthesis (pp. 3017-3020). Springer Netherlands
Scholes J, Lee P, Horton P & Lewis D (1990) Photosynthetic Metabolism in Barley Leaves Infected with Powdery Mildew, Current Research in Photosynthesis (pp. 3013-3016). Springer Netherlands
Beardon E, Scholes J & Ton J () How do Beneficial Microbes Induce Systemic Resistance?, Induced Resistance for Plant Defense (pp. 232-248). John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Conference proceedings papers

Pierce S, Ley G, Mbwaga AM, Lamboll RI, Riches CR, Press MC & Scholes JD (2003) Farmers, farms and physiology: an integrated approach to Striga research. BCPC INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS CROP SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2003, VOL 1 AND 2, CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS (pp 1017-1022)
Press MC, Scholes JD & Riches CR (2001) Current status and future prospects for management of parasitic weeds (Striga and Orobanche). WORLD'S WORST WEEDS, PROCEEDINGS(77) (pp 71-88)
Press MC, Scholes JD & Watling JR (1999) Parasitic plants: physiological and ecological interactions with their hosts. PHYSIOLOGICAL PLANT ECOLOGY (pp 175-197)
SCHOLES JD (1992) PHOTOSYNTHESIS - CELLULAR AND TISSUE ASPECTS IN DISEASED LEAVES. PESTS AND PATHOGENS (pp 85-106)
WRIGHT DP, SCHOLES JD, HORTON P, BALDWIN BC & SHEPHARD MC (1990) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HAUSTORIA OF ERYSIPHE-GRAMINIS AND THE ENERGY STATUS OF LEAVES. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS, VOLS 1-4 (pp D223-D226)

Preprints

Bunsick M, Xu Z, Pescetto G, Ly G, Hountalas J, Boyer F-D, McErlean CSP, Scholes JD & Lumba S (2022) HTL/KAI2 signalling substitutes for light to control plant germination, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Scott D, Scholes J, Randrianjafizanaka M, Autfray P, Randriamampianina J & Freckleton R (2021) Identifying cultural, climatic and temporal factors influencing Striga asiatica abundance within rice--maize systems in mid-west Madagascar, Authorea, Inc..
Bunsick M, Xu X, Pescetto G, Ly G, Hountalas J, Didier-Boyer F, McErlean CSP, Scholes JD & Lumba S () HTL/KAI2 Signalling Substitutes for Light to Control Plant Germination.

Research group

David Rapley - Understanding resistance in rice to the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica in sub-Saharan Africa. Grantham PhD Scholarship (2017 –2022).
Rachel Greenhill – Population genomics and virulence of Striga asiatica in Madagascar. BBSRC-DTP PhD (2018 – 2023). (With Prof Roger Butlin; Dr Roy Chaudhuri).

Grants

GCRF-BBSRC Foundation Award (2017 – 2019) Facilitating smart crop breeding through understanding the genetics of resistance and virulence in the Striga-rice interaction. Lead PI: Julie Scholes; Co-PIs: Mathias Lorieux (IRD Montpellier/CIAT Colombia); Roger Butlin.

CIMMYT maize CRP programme (2017 – 2019) Characterising resistance mechanisms in maize for targeted breeding of durable defence against Striga hermonthica ($300k). Lead PI: Julie Scholes; Co-PI Abebe Menkir (IITA, Nigeria).

HEFCE-ODA Quality Research allocation (2017-18) Understanding the genetics of resistance in maize for breeding durable defence to both to the insect pest Fall Armyworm and the parasitic witchweed S. hermonthica. Lead PI: Julie Scholes; Co-PIs: Jurriaan Ton, Abebe Menkir (IITA, Nigeria); Georg Goergen (IITA, Benin).

BBSRC SCPRID initiative (2013-2017) Genomic approaches to understanding resistance and virulence in the cereal Striga interaction for targeted breeding of durable defence (£1.3M). Lead PI: Julie Scholes; Co-PIs: Roger Butlin (Sheffield); Jonne Rodenburg (Africa Rice Centre); Steven Runo (Kenyatta University, Kenya); Mathias Lorieux (CIAT, Columbia/ IRD France); Jenipher Bisikwa (Makerere University, Uganda).

Leverhulme Trust (2014-2017) Exploiting Next Generation Sequencing to find virulence genes in Striga, a major parasite of African crops (£249k). Lead PI: Julie Scholes; Co-PIs: Roger Butlin (Sheffield).

Professional activities and memberships

Special Editor for Plant Physiology (2019 - present)
Member of the Scientific Advisory panel for the PROMISE project (Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) (2016 – present)
Member of the Executive Committee of the International Parasitic Plant Society (2020– present).
President of the International Parasitic Plant Society (2016 – 2020).
Vice President of the International Parasitic Plant Society (2012 – 2016).
Panel member, UKRI GCRF Grant Assessment Panel (2016 - 2020).
Panel member, Royal Society International Capacity Building Advisory Network (2012 – present).
Panel member, Royal Society Environmental Advisory Network (EAN) (2000 –present).
Panel member, Leverhulme-Royal Society Africa Award Grant Panel (2009- 2018).
Panel member, DfID-Royal Society Pan Africa Capacity Building Initiative Panel (2012-2016).
Panel member, BBSRC pool of grant panel members (Committee B) (2012-2016).
Panel member, the BBSRC-DfID-GATES Grant panel for Sustainable Crop Production Research for
International Development (SCPRID) (2011-2012).
Panel member, BBSRC-DfID Grant Panel for the Sustainable Agriculture Research for International Development (SARID) initiative (2006 -2007).
External examiner at the University of Exeter (2010 -2014) and University of Leeds (2002 – 2006).