Edwina Nolan

Project Title: Prolonging fungicide efficacy against Ramularia collo-cygni by reducing disease pressures

Overview: Ramularia collo-cygni, is a fungal pathogen of barley of increasing importance. The banning of key active ingredients that have controlled Ramularia, combined with the development of fungicide resistance threatens barley production globally. To date, varietal resistance in barley has not been discovered placing full dependency on the use of fungicides to control this disease.

This project aims to evaluate potential strategies to reduce disease development (e.g. altering fungicide timing or actives) and consequently, their indirect impact on the selection for fungicide resistance. Edwina is assessing fungicide application timings and fungicide active ingredients to identify impacts on disease control and crop yield through barley field trials. In the lab, she will be using molecular diagnostics and fungicide sensitivity testing to quantify Ramularia DNA from barley samples and examine different rates of fungicide products to determine product efficiency.

Edwina graduated with a first-class honours degree in Agri-Environmental Sciences (BAgrSc) from UCD in 2024. During her time in UCD, she gained practical experience in crop science and environmental research through professional work placement and a final year research project. Growing up on a tillage farm in Co. Carlow, Edwina is committed to ensuring the sustainability and quality of the crops sector.

Programme Area: Crop Science Department

Supervisors: Dr. Steven Kildea, Dr. Angela Feechan (Heriot-Watt), Dr. Henry Creissen (UHI) and Dr. Neil Havis (SRUC)

Location: Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Co. Carlow

Funding Source: Teagasc