Dr Jon Pickup

Head of Virology & Zoology

Telephone Number
+44(0)131 244 8859

Research interests/Areas of expertise

Aphids and their transmission of potato viruses
European Union Control Directive on Potato Cyst Nematodes

Biography

I graduated in Zoology from Oxford University in 1979 and went on to gain my Ph.D in Entomology from Liverpool University, studying the gut contents of damselfly larvae.
In 1984 I was appointed to a research post working for the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge, spending 28 months on Signy Island in the South Orkney Islands to investigate the survival strategies of nematode worms in a cold and dry environment.
I started as a Nematologist/Entomologist at the then Agricultural Scientific Services of the Scottish Office, located at East Craigs in 1990.
My job at SASA involves managing service delivery for diagnostic laboratories providing information on the presence of potato cyst nematodes in soil samples prior to seed potato production, the incidence of aphids in suction trap catches and the amount of potato viruses in seed potato crops. We also carry out surveillance work regarding pests of plant health significance, provide diagnoses of bee diseases and provide advice to the Scottish Government’s policy makers.

Publications

Lacomme C, Nova Y, Mullholland L, Pickup J. 2020. Parameters affecting the epidemiology and detection of viruses infecting potato. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2020. :241-246.
Davie K, Pickup J, Blok V, Kuhfuss L, Kettle H, Roberts A, Ewing D, Kleczkowski A. 2020. Potato cyst nematodes - obstacles we face and options to overcome. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2020. :199-204.
Pickup J, Davie K, Blok V, Kuhfuss L, Kleczkowski A, McDougall B, Kettle H, Roberts A, Ewing D. 2020. The potato cyst nematode epidemic - where are we now and where are we heading? Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2020. :193-198.
Bell JR, Botham MS, Henrys PA, Leech DI, Pearce‐Higgins JW, Shortall CR, Brereton TM, Pickup J, Thackeray SJ. 2019. Spatial and habitat variation in aphid, butterfly, moth and bird phenologies over the last half century. Global Change Biology. 25(6):1982-1994.
Lacomme C, Davie K, Nova Y, Mullholland L, Pickup J. 2018. Factors affecting the population dynamics and epidemiology of viruses infecting potato. Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2018. :215-220.
Davie K, Pickup J. 2018. Nematode pests of potatoes. Achieving sustainable cultivation of potatoes. 2 Production, storage and crop protection
Pickup J, Davie K, Cole Y, Fotheringham S, Sloan W. 2018. The impact of the regulation of potato cyst nematodes across Scotland - are we running out of land for seed production? Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2018. :237-242.
Davie K, Holmes R, Pickup J, Lacomme C. 2017. Dynamics of PVY strains in field grown potato: Impact of strain competition and ability to overcome host resistance mechanisms. Virus Research. 241:95-104.
Pickup J, Lacomme C. 2017. IPM case studies: seed potato. Aphids as Crop Pests. :pp597-606.
Pickup J. 2017. No shortcuts with sampling. :67-80.
Lacomme C, Pickup J, Fox A, Glais L, Dupuis B, Steinger T, Rolot J-L, Valkonen JPT, Kruger K, Nie X et al.. 2017. Transmission and Epidemiology of Potato virus Y. Potato virus Y: biodiversity, pathogenicity, epidemiology and management. :141-176.
Malloch G, Pickup J, Highet F, Foster S, Williamson M, Fenton B. 2016. Assessment of the spread of pyrethroid resistant grain aphid (Sitobion avenae) and an update on changes in the population structure of peach potato aphid (Myzus persicae) in Scotland. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2016. :223-228.
Pickup J, Reid A, Cole Y, Anderson E. 2016. Management of PCN – the potential for new diagnostics and resistant varieties. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2016. :251-256.
S Eves-van den Akker, Cock P, Blok V, Reid A, Pickup J, Blaxter M, Urwin P, Jones J, Anderson E. 2016. The potato cyst nematode: National distribution of mitotypes. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2016. :235-237.
Chard J, Monger W, Highet F, Schlenzig A, Kenyon DM, Pickup J. 2016. Update on Plant Health. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2016. :191-196.
S Eves-van den Akker, Lilley CJ, Reid A, Pickup J, Anderson E, Cock PJA, Blaxter M, Urwin PE, Jones JT, Blok V. 2015. A metagenetic approach to determine the diversity and distribution of cyst nematodes at the level of the country, the field and the individual. Molecular Ecology. 24(23):5842–5851.
The data are also available to download.
Reid A, Evans FF, Mulholland V, Cole Y, Pickup J. 2015. High-Throughput Diagnosis of Potato Cyst Nematodes in Soil Samples. Plant Pathology : Techniques and Protocols. :137-148.
Bell JR, Alderson L, Izera D, Kruger T, Parker S, Pickup J, Shortall CR, Taylor MS, Verrier P, Harrington R. 2015. Long-term phenological trends, species accumulation rates, aphid traits and climate: five decades of change in migrating aphids. Journal of Animal Ecology. 84(1):21–34.
Lacomme C, Davie K, Holmes R, Pickup J. 2014. PVYN prevalence in potato crops: impact of strain competition and differential ability to overcome plant resistance mechanisms. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2014. :201-206.
Pickup J. 2014. The status of potato cyst nematodes in Scotland. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2014. :257-262.
Pickup J, Highet F, Lacomme C. 2013. Use of aphid suction traps and seed potato classification data for forecasting virus risk in Scottish seed potatoes. NJF Report. 9(7):32-35.
Malloch G, Pickup J, Highet F, Foster S, Fenton B. 2012. A long term genotypic analysis of Scottish peach-potato aphids: what has happened to the braveheart clone? Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2012. :243-248.
Hockland S, Niere B, Grenier E, Blok V, Phillips M, Den Nijs L, Anthoine G, Pickup J, Viaene N. 2012. An evaluation of the implications of virulence in non-European populations of Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis for potato cultivation in Europe. Nematology. 14(1):1-13.
Pickup J, Cole Y, Reid A, Kerr J, Speirs J, MacRae D. 2012. Potato Cyst Nematodes: initial impressions of the impact of the new EU Directive in Scotland. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2012. :227-232.
Chard J, Nisbet C, Fraser K, Goodfellow S, James C, Monger W, Schlenzig A, Pickup J, Jeffries CJ. 2012. Safeguarding the health of potatoes in Scotland. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2012. :207-214. Chard-Safeguarding-the-health-of-potatoes-in-Scotland-CPNB-2012.pdf (77.15 KB)
Pickup J, Cole Y, Reid A. 2012. The impact of the new EU Potato Cyst Nematode Directive in Scotland. 31st International Symposium of European Society of Nematologists.
Blok V, Hoolahan A, Grujic N, Paterson A, Kaczmarek A, Palomares-Rius JE, Dowton M, Reid A, Pickup J, Kenyon DM. 2012. Using the mitochondrial genome of Potato Cyst nematodes to distinguish introductions. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2012. :239-242.
Kenyon DM, Reid A, Evans FF, Mulholland V, Pickup J, Blok VC, Paterson A, Phillips MS. 2010. Development of a high-throughput method for the detection and speciation of PCN. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010. :201-206.
Reid A, Kenyon DM, Evans FF, Mulholland V, Pickup J, Blok VC, Paterson A, Phillips MS. 2010. Development of a high-throughput method for the detection and species determination of PCN.. Aspects of Applied Biology. 103, 3rd Symposium on Potato Cyst Nematodes, Harper Adams University College, Newport, UK:11-14.
Chard J, Jeffries CJ, Pickup J. 2010. New pest risks for potato. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010. :165-170.
Pickup J, Fox A, Holmes R, Highet F, Davie K, Lacomme C. 2010. Potato viruses PVA and PVY - do they have the same aphid vectors? Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2010. :219-224.
Fenton B, Kasprowicz L, Malloch G, Pickup J. 2010. Reproductive performance of asexual clones of the peach-potato aphid, (Myzus persicae, Homoptera: Aphididae), colonising Scotland in relation to host plant and field ecology. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 100(4):451–460.
Viaene N, Den Nijs L, Anthoine G, Carletti B, De Cal A, Evlice E, Gaar V, Gabl I, Ilieva Z, Niere B et al.. 2010. The EUPHRESCO project on Globodera: ring testing of methods for identification and resistance testing for potato cyst nematodes. 30th International Symposium of the European Society of Nematologists.
Pickup J, Davie K, Fox A, Highet F, Holmes R. 2009. Epidemiology of viruses in Scottish seed potatoes. Aspects of Applied Biology. 94, Potatoes, Viruses and their vectors:5-10.
Reid A, Kenyon DM, Evans FF, Pickup J, Blok VC, Paterson A, Phillips MS. 2009. Potato cyst nematode: new legislation, new technology. SOL 2009.
Kasprowicz L, Malloch G, Foster S, Pickup J, Zhan J, Fenton B. 2008. Clonal turnover of MACE - carrying peach - potato aphids (myzus persicae (sulzer), homoptera : aphididae) colonising Scotland. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 98(2):115-124.
Kasprowicz L, Malloch G, Pickup J, Fenton B. 2008. Spatial and temporal dynamics of myzus persicae clones in fields and suction traps. Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 10(2):91-100.
Pickup J, Fox A, Highet F, Browning I. 2007. A study of the transmission of non-persistent potato viruses under Scottish conditions. EAPR Virology 2007, Abstracts of the 13th European Association for Potato Research Virology Section Meeting. :43.
Malloch G, Highet F, Kasprowicz L, Pickup J, Neilson R, Fenton B. 2006. Microsatellite marker analysis of peach–potato aphids (Myzus persicae, Homoptera: Aphididae) from Scottish suction traps. Bulletin of Entomological Research. 96(6):573-582.
Reid A, Pickup J. 2005. Molecular characterization of a morphologically unusual potato cyst nematode. EPPO Bulletin. 35(1):69-72.
Fenton B, Malloch G, Woodford JAT, Foster SP, Anstead J, Denholm I, King L, Pickup J. 2005. The attack of the clones : tracking the movement of insecticide - resistant peach - potato aphids myzus persicae (hemiptera : aphididae). Bulletin of Entomological Research. 95(5):483-494.
King L, Fox A, Browning I, Pickup J. 2004. Poster - aphid transmission of potato viruses PVYO and PVYN. EAPR Virology 2004, Abstracts of the 12th European Association for Potato Research Virology Section Meeting. :18.
Harrington R, Verrier P, Denholm C, Hullé M, Maurice D, Bell N, Knight J, Rounsevell M, Cocu N, Barbagallo S et al.. 2004. ‘EXAMINE’ (EXploitation of Aphid Monitoring in Europe): An EU Thematic Network for the study of global change impacts on aphids. Aphids in a New Millennium. Proceedings 6th International Aphid Symposium, Rennes, France, 3-7 September 2001. :45-49.
Harrington R, Parker S, Taylor M, Adamowicz T, Cox D, Foster S, Denholm I, Dewar A, Pickup J. 2003. Trapped in 2002. British Sugar Beet Review. 71:12-17.
Pickup J, King L. 2002. Aphid monitoring for virus control in Scottish seed potatoes. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2002. :337-342.
Harrington R, Pickup J. 2001. Responses of aphids to temperature change.
Harrington R, Else M, Pickup J, Hullé M, Clark S. 2000. Climate and aphid phenology.
Hockland S, Pickup J, Turner S. 2000. Potato cyst nematode - a plant health perspective for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Aspects of Applied Biology. 59:11-18.
Pickup J, Carnegie SF, Nevison IM. 2000. Scoring for resistance to potato cyst nematodes: a 1 to 9 scale.
Harrington R, Dewar A, Pickup J. 1999. The potential impact of climate change on the incidence of insect-vectored viruses.
Ward SA, Leather SR, Pickup J, Harrington R. 1998. Mortality during dispersal and the cost of host-specificity in parasites: how many aphids find hosts? Journal of Animal Ecology. 67(5):763-773.
Brewer A, Pickup J. 1996. Forecasting the incidence of potato leafroll virus in Scottish seed potatoes. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 1996. :407-408.
Pickup J, Brewer AM. 1994. The use of aphid suction-trap data in forecasting the incidence of potato leafroll virus in Scottish seed potatoes. Brighton Crop Protection Conference - Pests and Diseases, 1994. Volume 1. :351-358.
Harrington R, Hullé M, Pickup J, Bale JS. 1992. Forecasting the need for early season aphid control: geographical variation in the relationship between winter temperature and early season flight activity of Myzus persicae. Association of Applied Biologists 1992 Presidential Meeting Rennes, France, 8-10 September 1992. :8-11.