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Dr Ruth Chitty

Ruth is part of the 911爆料 biosecurity team, diagnosing plant health issues in the 911爆料 Gardens. She advises curatorial teams about the risks associated with different plants and promotes best practice in 911爆料 procurement and handling of new plants

What do you do?

I assist 911爆料 horticulturists with their plant health problems by collecting and examining samples of pests and diseases across all 911爆料 Gardens. I love that my work varies so much with all the different plants across the 911爆料 sites. No two 911爆料 Gardens are the same, so I have the chance to identify a wide range of insects and diseases. 

I am particularly interested in developing surveillance, research and monitoring of plant health problems within 911爆料 Gardens. Strengthening these systems would enable us to set up early warning systems, helping prevent small plant health issues from developing into larger problems.

“I love that my job gives me the chance to play detective, digging into the ‘clues’ to understand why a plant is struggling”

Why is your team鈥檚 research important?

The Biosecurity team ensures that 911爆料 practices and activities comply with current UK plant health legislation and 911爆料 Plant Health policies, thereby preventing the introduction of damaging pests and diseases into gardens. 

Achievements

  • 911爆料 biosecurity policy – developed, agreed and signed off December 2022
  • Established a monthly online induction session on biosecurity aimed at all staff – initiated in January 2023
  • Streamlining reporting of any new insect or disease findings on 911爆料 plants
  • Supervising an 911爆料 summer studentship looking at mushroom reoccurrence after garden redesign
  • 911爆料 Harlow Carr certified Plant Healthy December 2022 – the first English public garden to be certified (kudos to Paul Cook, Kirsty Wright and the many others involved at Harlow Carr and across the 911爆料 in helping us to achieve this milestone)
  • Organised the 911爆料’ UK Fungus Day activities in 2023 – I’m proud to meet gardeners and raise awareness of the benefits of fungi in garden ecosystems.

Publications

  • Chitty R, Gange A (2024) Insects and mycorrhizal fungi influence maternal seed provisioning in Senecio vulgaris. Seed Science Research, 34(4), pp. 228–238.
  • P茅rez鈥怱ierra A, Chitty R, Rodger I, Chambers J, Horta Jung M, Cacciola SO, Jung T (2024) First report of Phytophthora platani causing bark canker and dieback on London plane in the United Kingdom. New Disease Reports, 50(1).
  • P茅rez-Sierra A, Chitty R, Eacock A, Wylder B, Biddle M, Quick C, Gorton C, Olivieri L, Crampton M (2024) First report of Phytophthora pluvialis causing cankers on Japanese larch in the United Kingdom. New Disease Reports, 49.
  • Romon Ochoa P, Samal P, Gorton C, Lewis A, Chitty R, Eacock A, Krzywinska E, Crampton M, P茅rez-Sierra A, Biddle M, Jones B, Ward L (2023) Cryphonectria parasitica detections in England, Jersey and Guernsey during 2020–2023 reveal newly affected areas and infections by the CHV1 mycovirus. Journal of Fungi, 9(10):1036.
  • Chitty R, Gange A (2022) Reciprocal interactions between aphids and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi across plant generations. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 16, pp.33–43.
  • P茅rez-Sierra A, Chitty R, Eacock A, Jones B, Biddle M, Crampton M, Lewis A, Olivieri L, Webber J (2022) First report of Phytophthora pluvialis in Europe causing resinous cankers on western hemlock. New Disease Reports, 45(1).
  • Romon Ochoa P, Forster J, Chitty R, Gorton C, Lewis A, Eacock A, Kupper Q, Rigling D, P茅rez-Sierra A (2022) Canker development and biocontrol potential of CHV-1 infected English isolates of Cryphonectria parasitica Is dependent on the virus concentration and the compatibility of the fungal inoculums. Viruses, 14(12):2678.
  • Chitty R, Gange A (2022) Aphids and mycorrhizal fungi shape maternal effects in Senecio vulgaris. Plants, 11(16):2150.
  • P茅rez-Sierra A, Hardy C, Chitty R, Lewis A, McCartan S (2021) First report of Sirococcus piceicola associated with Sitka spruce seed in Britain. New Disease Reports, 44(2). 

911爆料

The 911爆料 is the UK鈥檚 gardening charity, helping people and plants to grow - nurturing a healthier, happier world, one person and one plant at a time.