Dr Rosalind McHugh

Potato Pathology Manager Telephone Number +44(0)131 244 8931 Email Address ros.mchugh@sasa.gsi.gov.uk

Research interests/Areas of expertise

• Fungal disease diagnostics
• Potato tuber diseases
• Biocontrol of plant pathogens
• Field trial design and analysis
• Principal Investigator for AHDB funded project “Alternative approaches for healthy PBTC mini-tuber production (2017-2019)"

Biography

• I became a Potato Pathologist in 2010 and Potato Pathology Manager in 2014. As such, I support the Scottish seed potato industry through managing potato disease diagnostics, research and health monitoring. I also run courses in tuber disease identification for Agricultural Officers and trade delegates.
• I came to SASA in 2005 as a Research Bacteriologist, investigating the risk posed to the seed potato industry by the brown rot pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum. Since then I have held a number of posts including GM Officer, developing molecular tests for the identification of GM elements and Horticultural Pathologist, working with quarantine diseases such as Potato Wart and Sudden Oak Death.
• From 1997, I was based at the School of Agriculture, University of Aberdeen, firstly completing a PhD and then working as a Research Fellow, developing biocontrol systems through laboratory studies and field trials for pathogens such as Botrytis cinerea and Phytophthora infestans. 
• MSc degree in Crop Protection, University of Aberdeen (1996).
• BSc (Hons) degree in Horticulture, University of Strathclyde (1995).