PhD Studentship further details

Project title:The epidemiology and integrated control of fairy rings on golf courses

Director of Studies:Dr Martin Hare (Harper Adams University College)

Second supervisors:Dr Ruth Mann (Sports Turf Research Institute)

Prof. Simon Edwards (Harper Adams University College)

Harper Adams University College (HAUC) is a specialist institution that works primarily within the land-based sector. With relevance to this project it has a reputation for producing quality research in the areas of crop science, plant pathology and molecular diagnostics.

The Sports Turf Research Institute(STRI) is the world’s leading authority for sports turf research. Its aim is to research construction methods, preparation techniques and products to improve the performance, quality, durability and aesthetics of all sports surfaces.

The PhD is funded by monetary contributions from The R&A and HAUC and by significant in-kind contributions from STRI.

Project Background:

Fairy rings on Open Championship golf courses reduce both the playability and the aesthetics of the course. The exact causal agents of these fairy rings are unclear, although it is thought that most are, as yet unidentified, basidiomycete fungi. Fairy rings may in addition however be caused by other types of fungi. The effects of environment on fairy ring development are also poorly documented. In particular weather conditions appear to cause marked differences in the symptoms exhibited on different golf courses. Some fairy rings appear to respond well to current control measures and yet others appear to be unaffected.

There is therefore a fundament lack of understanding regarding the causal agents of fairy rings, the epidemiology of the causal agents and the best means of their control. As little is known about the fungi that potentially cause fairy ring problems on golf courses, this project will include fundamental research characterising causal fungi using molecular technologies, investigating potential lifecycles and potentially developing predictive infection models as well as determining integrated control programmes.

The project is being funded by The R&A and Harper Adams University College (HAUC) and will involve significant collaboration with the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI). The student will be based at HAUC with part of the project being completed at STRI’s Headquarters in Bingley, West Yorkshire. This project will require extensive travel around the UK to golf courses including the Open Championship venues.

Aim: To produce an integrated strategy for the control of fairy rings on golf courses.

Objectives:

1)To identify the causal agents of fairy rings on golf courses

2)To investigate the epidemiology of the causal agents.

3)To synthesise an integrated strategy for the control of fairy rings on open championship golf courses.

Proposed work programme:

1. Initially the student will be based at STRI and will perform a literature review and learn the skills required to work with fungal diseases of sports turf.

2.A survey of golf course managers will ascertain the distribution of fairy rings in the UK and the factors, such as climate or management practices, that affect fairy ring incidence and severity.

3. Samples of turf from golf courses will be obtained and the fungal species associated with the fairy rings will be identified using molecular techniques. This molecular work will be performed in the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory at HAUC and it is expected that from this stage of the project the student will be based at HAUC.

4.The efficacy of control measures will be investigated in controlled environments or glasshouse studies.

5. Finally field-based experiments at STRI’s trial site and/or on golf courses will test integrated control measures.

Facilities:

The student will be mainly based at Harper Adams University College but will spend up to the first year of the project at STRI. The student will also be required to visit golf courses within the UK.

(i)Research facilities (HAUC)

  • Crop and Environment Research Centre (CERC) - Harper Adams' specialist centre for teaching and research into crop science, technology and the environmental implications of modern crop production. Its main areas of endeavour involve producing both food and non-food crops by sustainable methods. Crop protection is an important research area, including forecasting, diagnostics, bio-control, novel forms of control and the implications for food and environmental safety, post-harvest quality, efficient use of water by plants, and the impact of production systems on biodiversity.
  • CERC is accredited by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate to conduct efficacy trials on agricultural, horticulturaland stored crops. Within this purpose-built research centre, academic staff carry out a wide range of commercial and teaching crop trials and research projects. Research staff have access to first class facilities including the University College Farm, molecular laboratories, engineering workshops and a national network of trial sites. There are modern field laboratories, and field trials currently exceed 60 hectares with more than 5,000 trial plots. Several glass houses with facilities including seven 6m by 5m computer controlled growing compartments, one air-conditioned, two accredited isolation houses and an aphid proof house. The protected cropping is supplemented by poly-tunnels, enabling important non-field based crop trials to be undertaken.

The combination of expertise, location and facilities enables CERC to carry out major contracts for government, farmer-funded bodies and private clients. As well as research, CERC facilitates crop demonstrations, which underpin undergraduate, postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development training.

  • The Princess Margaret Laboratory complex - contains laboratories with up-to-date equipment for the analysis of agricultural, environmental and food samples and provides excellent resources for science teaching. It is the University College's well-founded laboratory status, distinctive amongst institutions of our type and size, which has been pivotal to Harper Adams being successful in obtaining both taught and research degree awarding powers.

The laboratory complex includes six well-equipped teaching laboratories for undergraduate practical classes in the areas of Applied Biology, Microbiology, Nutrition, Crop Protection, Soils and Molecular Biology. Separate research laboratories support both undergraduate and postgraduate work in these areas and the most recent development has been the creation of a purpose-built Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory equipped to extract, amplify and quantify DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The Princess Margaret Laboratories are staffed by a team of well qualified and enthusiastic technicians who facilitate the provision of science teaching and research for a wide variety of Harper Adams' students. These include those studying for foundation degrees, final year undergraduates doing laboratory-based projects and also those who embark on postgraduate programmes. Harper Adams is therefore exceptionally well-placed to make science accessible to students at all levels.

Research facilities (STRI)

  • The STRI research team is unrivalled in its scientific knowledge of the construction, care and maintenance of sports surfaces. The scientists and technicians in the STRI Research team provide years of practical research and experience, combined with access to the most advanced technology in the industry.
  • Over the last eighty years STRI has managed research projects for all sports governing bodies and associations, product and machinery manufacturers, product distributors, governmental bodies and organisations, industry bodies and private sports facilities. It offers a full range of research and testing services for UK and international clients at its unique research facilities in Bingley or at individual sports venues and sites across the world.

(ii)Relevant courses (HAUC)

A Personal Development Programme is created in consultation with the Personal Development Planning Advisor for each individual postgraduate research student at HAUC and could include for example:

  • Good research skills
  • Advanced research methods (statistics)
  • Leadership and professional development
  • Improving your teamwork
  • Careers guidance
  • Networking
  • Technical writing skills
  • Mock viva
  • Writing grant proposals
  • Personal development

In-house training will be provided in molecular techniques and funds are available for external courses where required.

(iii)Welfare services (HAUC)

HAUC has Welfare Services available to all post graduate students. These include on-site medical facilities, student support services as well as dedicated postgraduate student representatives on both academic and social bodies.

Further information is available at

Any questions please contact:

Dr Martin Hare

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t: +44 1952 815252