Dr Rachel Wells

Senior Scientist Building Robustness in Crops (BRiC), Advancing Plant Health (APH)

Rachel’s research programme involves the utilisation of both natural and induced genetic variation and facilitating the translation of research from model species to crops. She has a keen interested in developing Brassica resources.

Rachel’s research group has a focus on oilseed rape pests, with a strong focus on cabbage stem flea beetle, including a collaborative project with industry to identify genetic markers that can be used by breeders in the development of oilseed rape varieties that are less palatable to the beetle. The team uses captive CSFB, to study CFSB development and genetics, and controlled and field plant variety screens for both adult and larval CSFB damage in Brassica napus and related species such as Sinapis alba. These experiments can be used to look at plant-pest interaction and ultimately determine the genes and mechanisms associated with pest resistance. This work is complemented by collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire on disease resistance.

The second part of Rachel’s research program focusses on understanding how genetic variation and the environment impact crop phenotype, including the use of speed breeding, gene network models for flowering (with Richard Morris) and Brassica oleracea head morphology (with Enrico Coen). She is supporting the development of a Multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population with Steven Penfield and Rothamsted research.

Selected Publications

See all of Dr Rachel Wells's publications