David Cooke
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llewelyn68.bsky.social
David Cooke
@llewelyn68.bsky.social
Plant pathologist (all things oomycete - especially potato late blight); eDNA enthusiast; climber; runner; cyclist; views/opinions my own
Thanks for flagging this nice study by @hutton.ac.uk and other authors. Another trick up the sleeve of #Phytophthora to infect plant hosts
October 21, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Woodpecker feast in Fife today
October 18, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Indeed, thanks for flagging. Some interesting points on challenges of weather, prices and pests and how @hutton.ac.uk is helping. Not sure about the claim that PCN introduced to manage blight. Will check with my nematologist colleagues on Monday.
October 18, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Ian Toth speaking at the www.planthealthcentre.scot annual conference on summary of the years activities. Thanking Gerry Sadler and welcoming David Kenyon as Chief Plant Health Officer for Scotland.
October 7, 2025 at 12:24 PM
This needs more attention and traction. Endless unsustainable growth is not the answer for either people nor the planet. A focus on being 'better not bigger' should not hit profits if marketing is right.
Big Doughnutty News.
Just out in Nature: the all-new 2025 Doughnut. Transformed from a single-year snapshot to an annual global monitor of 21st century social & ecological thriving. Available to all in an open-access paper by @andrewlfanning.bsky.social and me. 🧵 1/
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
October 2, 2025 at 11:24 AM
It's that #potato harvest time of year again. Wishing the UK industry good yields and, more importantly, decent prices. At least the #lateblight pressure has been generally low in 2025.
September 20, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Reposted by David Cooke
Attention plant proteomics specialists: We are looking for a Head of our new Proteomics Unit at our international and dynamic Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology. @mpi-mp-potsdam.bsky.social Applications are welcome until 30. Sept 2025: jobs.mpimp-golm.mpg.de/jobposting/8...
Head of Service Unit Proteomics
jobs.mpimp-golm.mpg.de
August 23, 2025 at 8:27 AM
A very welcome Scottish berry campaign supported by @hutton.ac.uk alongside releases of our blackberry, raspberry and blueberry varieties. Berry berry good.
foodanddrink.scot/our-industry...
July 25, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Pleased to publish a @phytopathology.bsky.social paper with West Bengal State University demonstrating seed tubers as source of #lateblight #phytophthora epidemics in the Indian plains.
apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/epdf/10....
July 23, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Interesting to see one of the other insect sampling suction towers. This one at @rothamsted.bsky.social Research
June 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM
A @hutton.ac.uk blog shows our contribution to the meeting of the UK Defra 2025 Pesticides National Action Plan to keep Integrated Pest Management at the heart of UK crop production

sefari.scot/blog/2025/05...
May 29, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Great and challenging talk from Prof Bridget Emmett @ukceh.bsky.social on the urgent need to standardise soil sampling metrics. Lack of harmonisation impedes progress.
Day 2 #UKDNAWG25
May 14, 2025 at 12:36 PM
#UKDNAWG25 panel discussion thought provoking end to the day. @ukdnawg.bsky.social
May 13, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Applications of eDNA in forensics and separation of mixed samples presented by Lorna Dawson of @hutton.ac.uk at #UKDNAWG25
May 13, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Excited to be at @royalsociety.org for UK DNA Working Group meeting. First up hearing about RS eDNA report from Sarah Giles
May 13, 2025 at 9:13 AM
What's in a name? Quite a lot!
The consensus of our Phytophthora community just published @plantdisease.bsky.social Defending the Genus Phytophthora Proposed name change viewed as unjustified, scientifically incorrect and sowing confusion in all communities

apsjournals.apsnet.org/doi/abs/10.1...
Preserving the Biologically Coherent Generic Concept of Phytophthora, ‘Plant Destroyer’ | Phytopathology®
Phytophthora is a long-established, well known and globally important genus of plant pathogens. Phylogenetic evidence has shown that the biologically distinct, obligate biotrophic downy mildews evolve...
apsjournals.apsnet.org
April 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Pleased to see #Phytophthora #lateblight work from @hutton.ac.uk & @au.dk is getting attention in @wiley.com Plant Pathology #TopCitedArticle
This problematic EU43 clonal lineage needs careful management. #Euroblight results for 2024 coming soon
April 1, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by David Cooke
📢 We're hiring!
Become the Executive Officer at BSPP 🌿
🔹 Part-time (0.5 FTE)
🔹 Remote
🔹 £20–25K
Lead on strategy, projects & plant science impact.

Apply by 11 April
👉 buff.ly/Y9vJmYI
#PlantPathology #RemoteJobs #ScienceCareers
March 25, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Reposted by David Cooke
Plz Repost. We @slcuplants.bsky.social @uniofcam.bsky.social are looking for a postdoc with proven protein biochemistry & cell biology expertise & strong interest in plant processes targeted by Phytophthora effectors. (apply before 2 April) [Image: Alex Guyon]

www.jobs.cam.ac.uk/job/50570/
March 5, 2025 at 3:56 PM
The wilds of #Assynt, Scotland last week.
Moody mountains and seascapes galore.
A good unwind from the world of Phytophthora science.
March 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by David Cooke
Hi Skeeps, if you are in the London area and would like me to speak at your university or company, I will be in London on Thursday April 10 and Friday April 11.

Looking for talks that can offer some travel/lodging reimbursement.
February 4, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I know it's traditional to moan about British trains but credit where it's due. @lner.co.uk from Dundee went like clockwork, bang on time & very comfortable. York with it's town walls, Minster and Yorkshire beer always a pleasure.
January 29, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Reposted by David Cooke
Great new collaborative project 🇬🇧 🇩🇪 🇺🇸

Consider applying to this position in Alain Tissier’s lab at Leibniz Institute in Halle and join us to #FIGHTBLIGHT www.ipb-halle.de/en/career/jo...
January 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM