Personal Chair
- About
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- Email Address
- a.price@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 272690
- Office Address
Room 1:07 Cruickshank Building
- School/Department
- School of Biological Sciences
Biography
- BSc Biochemistry York 1985
- PhD Plant Biochemistry Sheffield 1988
- Research Assistant/Fellow in Lancaster and Bangor 1988-1998
Memberships and Affiliations
- Internal Memberships
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- University and College Union branch committee member, Workload Rep and Health and Safety Rep
- Gifford Committee Member
- External Memberships
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- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission Assessor
- Gatsby Foundation Mentor (promoting plant science amongst UK-based students)
- Editor for Annals of Applied Biology
- Editor for Food and Energy Security
- External examiner for 3-5 PhDs per year
- Research
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Research Overview
Genetic variation in rice at the breeding, physiological and molecular level, in particular:
- Quantitative trait loci (QTL) and association mapping of drought avoidance mechanisms including root growth and stomatal sensitivity and multi-location field drought resistance.
- QTL mapping major and partial resistance to biotic factors including the most important fungal pathogen of rice (blast), the serious pest the root-knot nematode and the parasitic plant Striga (the most important biological constraint in African agriculture)
- Elucidating the effects of environment on QTL expression
- Genetic variation for arsenic tolerance, uptake and metabolism
- Elucidating the physiological and molecular mechanism responsible for genetic variation identified above
- Identifying candidate genes for the above via bioinformatics, gene expression (including whole genome transcriptomics and Q-PCR), and gene and genome sequencing.
Current Research
Main research efforts are focusing on sustainable rice production in the context of the need to feed the planet while improving sustainability of water use and coping with climate change. Key issues are;
- The development and exploitation of the new Bengal and Assam Aus Panel of 300 sequenced rice cultivars for genome wide association (GWA) mapping. This includes mapping drought, salt and cadmium tolerance plus nitrogen use efficiency. The population is currently in three Indian, three Bangladeshi, one Pakistatani, one Philippino and three UK institutions.
- Alternative wetting and drying as a method to grow rice using less water while also reducing greenhouse gas emmissions and reducing grain arsenic uptake.
- Coordinating multi-country screens to map geneic variation in nitrogen use efficiency
- Identifying genes to reduce grain arsenic and cadmium in rice.
- Methods of multi-trait analysis for genome wide association mapping.
- The role of natural variation in aquaporins in rice water relations.
- The importance of genetic variation amongst rice cultivars for mycorrhizal colonisation.
- Genetic and biological control of the root knot nematode including breeding in Italy and India.
Current staff;
Kirsten Brown- technician
Tony Travis- Postdoctoral Research Assisatant working on the GCRF South Asia Nitrogen Hub project speciallised in bioinformatics
Current research students;
Yehia Hazzazi- Nitrogen Use Efficiency in rice using the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel and GWA Mapping
Mari Sumayli- The Biological Significance of Genetic Variation in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonisation in Rice
Dhin Islam- Effects of soil physical conditions and alternate wetting and drying on the performance of rice
Dalal Alonazy- Genetic Mapping Heat Stress Resistance in the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel
Chris Tembo- The Biological Significance of Genetic Variation in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Colonisation in Rice
Sara Bataw- Evaluation of rice candidate genes for arsenic and phosphorus concentration
Farzana Era- Salt Stress Tolerance of Mature Rice Plants using the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel
Fatimah Alhawiti- Genetic Mapping Cold Stress Resistance in the Bengal and Assam Aus Panel
Collaborations
Extensive collaborations in India (eight institutions), Bangladesh (three institutions), one in the Philippines and Pakistan, plus more than 10 in Europe and a similar number in the UK.
Funding and Grants
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GCRF South Asia Nitrogen Hub (BBSRC funding). Five year £19M project with 13 UK and 20+ South Asian partners. £600K to Aberdeen, joint with Jo Smith. Start 1st April 2019
- Newton Fund 3 year project “NUCLEUS: a virtual joint centre to deliver enhanced Nitrogen Use effiCiency via an integrated SoiL-plant systEms approach for the Uk & BraSil”, coordinated by Nottingham University, Aberdeen budget of £230K of £2,241K total. Start 1st January 2016
- Newton Fund 3 year project “Newton-Bhabha Virtual Centre on Nitrogen Efficiency of Whole-cropping Systems for improved performance and resilience in agriculture (NEWS India-UK)”, coordinated by CEH Edinburgh, Aberdeen budget of £360K of £1,130K UK total. Start 1st January 2016.
- FACCE-ERA-NET+ 3 year funded project GreenRice, seven partners in 4 countries coordinated by CIRAD, Montpellier. Aberdeen budget €878K of €1,447K total. Start 1st December 2014
- BBSRC Case Studentship- 4 year project with Bayer CropScience entitled “Towards identification of QTLs for root traits in bread wheat”. Start October 2014
- EU FP7 funded project EURoot, 4 year 20 partner project on cereal roots coordinated from CIRAD, Montpellier. Aberdeen has budget of €210K of a total €3M. Coordinator of dissemination workpackage. Start January 2012
- BBSRC funded project “A genetic dissection of traits required for sustainable water use in rice using Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS)” joint with Lancaster, the International Rice Research Institute and Mymensingh University. £1.1 M with £922 K to Aberdeen. I am PI with Co-Is Professor Meharg and Salt and Dr Ebenhoeh. Start February 2012, end January 2016
- EU-FP7 project "EURoot: Enhancing resource Uptake from Roots under stress in cereal crops". €3 M, 20 partner project with €209 to Aberdeen. Dissemination workpackage coordinator. Start Jan 2012, end December 2015.
- EU-FP7 Marie Curie Incoming Fellowship "LowAsRice" for Tapash Dasgupta, Calcutta University. Start date in negotiation. Budget £207k.
- Generations Challenge Program funded project "Targeting Drought-Avoidance Root Traits to Enhance Rice Productivity under Water-Limited Environments". Three year project with 10 partners in Philippines, India, Australia, USA, Nigeria, Tanzania, Japan and UK, coordinated by Rachid Serraj, IRRI. Start 1st December 2008. Budget $104k (of total grant $900k).
- BBSRC funded project "Characterizing genetic & soil induced variation in arsenic uptake, translocation & metabolism in rice to mitigate arsenic contamination in Asia" with Andy Meharg and Jorg Feldmann in collaboration with Rothamsted Research, UK, and research laboratories in Bangladesh, India and China. Start December 2007. Budget £412k (of total grant £617k).
- CEDROME; EU INCO-DEV funded project "Developing drought-tolerant cereals to support efficient water management in the Mediterranean area" in collaboration with partners in Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, China, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. Start 1st January 2006. Budget 290k Euro (of 1.7M Euro)
- BBSRC funded project "What makes rice roots able to penetrate hard layers? An integrated biophysical, modelling, genetic and molecular approach". Start October 2004, end October 2007. Funds held £209,000.
- BBSRC funded project 'Genetic dissection of environmental influence on root growth in rice using QTL analysis'. Start November 2000, end October 2003. Funds held £138,000.
- RESIDEV; EU INCO-DEV funded project 'Exploring the genetic diversity of rice-blast host-pathogen interactions in China: a tool to improve breeding for resistance to blast disease.' in collaboration with two labs in France and two in China. Start March 2001, end September 2003. Funds held 159,275 ECU (of total grant 903,230 ECU)
- BBSRC funded project 'The development of Near Isogenic Lines at root growth and drought resistance Quantitative Trait Loci in upland rice'. Start November 1999, end January 2001. Funds held £30,592.
- DFID Plant Sciences Programme funded project 'Analysis of environmental effects on expression of root penetration QTLs in Upland Rice, and development of PCR markers for QTL selection in drought resistance breeding'. Start 1st August 1999, end 31 July 2002. Funds held £86,556 (of total grant £165,017).
- Publications
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Page 3 of 6 Results 51 to 75 of 137
Genome wide association mapping of grain arsenic, copper, molybdenum and zinc in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grown at four international field sites
PloS ONE, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 1-12Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0089685
- [OPEN ACCESS] http://aura.abdn.ac.uk/bitstream/2164/3146/1/Nortonetal2014Plos1GWAS.pdf
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Natural variation of rice strigolactone biosynthesis is associated with the deletion of two MAX1 orthologs
PNAS, vol. 111, no. 6, pp. 2379-2384Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1317360111
Alternate wetting and drying irrigation for rice in Bangladesh: is it sustainable and has plant breeding something to offer?
Food and Energy Security, vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 120-129Contributions to Journals: ArticlesVariation in Rice Cadmium Related to Human Exposure
Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 47, no. 11, pp. 5613-5618Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es400521h
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Effect of organic matter amendment, arsenic amendment and water management regime on rice grain arsenic species
Environmental Pollution, vol. 177, pp. 38-47Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.01.049
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
QTLs associated with root traits increase yield in upland rice when transferred through marker-assisted selection
Theoretical and Applied Genetics, vol. 126, no. 1, pp. 101-108Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-012-1963-y
Identification of quantitative trait loci for rice grain element composition on an arsenic impacted soil: Influence of flowering time on genetic loci
Annals of Applied Biology, vol. 161, no. 1, pp. 46-56Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7348.2012.00549.x
Grain accumulation of selenium species in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 46, no. 10, pp. 5557-5564Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es203871j
A review of recent developments in the speciation and location of arsenic and selenium in rice grain
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, vol. 402, no. 10, pp. 3275-3286Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5579-x
Erratum to - Anal Bioanal Chem: A review of recent developments in the speciation and location of arsenic and selenium in rice grain (Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (DOI 10.1007/s00216-011-5579-x))
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY, vol. 402, no. 10, pp. 3379-3379Contributions to Journals: Comments and Debates- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-012-5786-0
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Variation in grain arsenic assessed in a diverse panel of rice (Oryza sativa) grown in multiple sites
New Phytologist, vol. 193, no. 3, pp. 650-664Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03983.x
Relationship between genetic distances and postzygotic reproductive isolation in diploid Fragaria (Rosaceae)
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, vol. 104, no. 3, pp. 510-526Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8312.2011.01744.x
Phloem transport of arsenic species from flag leaf to grain during grain filling
New Phytologist, vol. 192, no. 1, pp. 87-98Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03789.x
Genome-wide association mapping reveals a rich genetic architecture of complex traits in Oryza sativa
Nature Communications, vol. 2, 467Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms1467
Effects of phosphate on arsenate and arsenite sensitivity in two rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars of different sensitivity
Environmental and Experimental Botany, vol. 72, no. 1, pp. 47-52Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2010.11.003
Assessing the labile arsenic pool in contaminated paddy soils by isotopic dilution techniques and simple extractions
Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 45, no. 10, pp. 4262-4269Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es104080s
Influence of the soil physical environment on rice (Oryza sativa L.) response to drought stress and its implications for drought research
Field Crops Research, vol. 121, no. 3, pp. 303-310Contributions to Journals: Literature Reviews- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2011.01.012
The dynamics of arsenic in four paddy fields in the Bengal delta
Environmental Pollution, vol. 159, no. 4, pp. 947-953Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2010.12.016
Identification of tetramethylarsonium in rice grains with elevated arsenic content
Journal of Environmental Monitoring, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 32-34Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c0em00460j
Low genetic diversity and high genetic differentiation among severely fragmented populations of the critically endangered tree Talbotiella gentii (Fabaceae)
Southern Forests, vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 73-80Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2989/20702620.2011.610778
Arsenic Influence on Genetic Variation in Grain Trace-Element Nutrient Content in Bengal Delta Grown Rice
Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 44, no. 21, pp. 8284-8288Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es101487x
Genetic Analysis of Heat Tolerance at Anthesis in Rice
Crop Science, vol. 50, no. 5, pp. 1633-1641Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.2135/cropsci2009.09.0516
Genetic mapping of the rice ionome in leaves and grain: identification of QTLs for 17 elements including arsenic, cadmium, iron and selenium
Plant and Soil, vol. 329, no. 1-2, pp. 139-153Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-009-0141-8
Arsenic shoot-grain relationships in field grown rice cultivars
Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 44, no. 4, pp. 1471-1477Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es902992d
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus
Grain unloading of arsenic species in rice
Plant Physiology, vol. 152, no. 1, pp. 309-319Contributions to Journals: Articles- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.109.146126
- [ONLINE] View publication in Scopus