Nichola Hawkins
@nicholahawkins.bsky.social
Plant pathologist / evolutionary biologist researching crop protection and antimicrobial resistance in fungal diseases of plants. Evolution and sustainable agriculture. Wild flowers and sharing the love of plants and botany. 🌾🧫🧬🍄🌼
Pinned
Learning from fungicide resistance: Evolutionary insights to guide RNAi-based control of fungal crop pathogens
Crop protection against fungal pathogens is essential to prevent crop losses and maintain food security. Current crop protection relies heavily on che…
www.sciencedirect.com
New paper out now in @britmycolsoc.org.uk Fungal Biology Reviews. Learning from fungicide resistance: Evolutionary insights to guide RNAi-based control of fungal crop pathogens. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Nichola Hawkins
Human, animal, plant and environmental health are all inextricably linked.
This means that to address global health issues, like #AntimicrobialResistance, we must collaborate across all sectors.
A #OneHealth approach is key.
This means that to address global health issues, like #AntimicrobialResistance, we must collaborate across all sectors.
A #OneHealth approach is key.
September 22, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Human, animal, plant and environmental health are all inextricably linked.
This means that to address global health issues, like #AntimicrobialResistance, we must collaborate across all sectors.
A #OneHealth approach is key.
This means that to address global health issues, like #AntimicrobialResistance, we must collaborate across all sectors.
A #OneHealth approach is key.
Very sad news. As a Wye graduate I have many happy memories of ecology field trips. In the years since, our paths often crossed within the botanical community due to Dr M's tireless efforts to spread the love of plants: long may that legacy continue. 🌱
🌿🌾🌳🌍🍞🎼We are sad that Jonathan Mitchley ('DrM') passed away this week. BUC and especially the Student Botany Festival, would not exist without him. He made a big impact on the UK & Irish student botany community. Competition & festival will continue in 2027. www.reading.ac.uk/news/2026/Un...
September 7, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Very sad news. As a Wye graduate I have many happy memories of ecology field trips. In the years since, our paths often crossed within the botanical community due to Dr M's tireless efforts to spread the love of plants: long may that legacy continue. 🌱
It's always wonderful to have a chance to get children interested in plants, but worrying that for the first time in years of running this activity I couldn't find a single daisy in flower!
If you're near Fleet in Hampshire today, you can find us at the Nature Discovery Day at Edenbridge Country Park.
August 15, 2026 at 10:44 AM
It's always wonderful to have a chance to get children interested in plants, but worrying that for the first time in years of running this activity I couldn't find a single daisy in flower!
Reposted by Nichola Hawkins
If you're near Fleet in Hampshire today, you can find us at the Nature Discovery Day at Edenbridge Country Park.
August 15, 2026 at 10:39 AM
If you're near Fleet in Hampshire today, you can find us at the Nature Discovery Day at Edenbridge Country Park.
This week I visited Teagasc Oak Park for an Aerobiomics-AMR project meeting, and a tour of some of their field trials- a big yellow rust year but the Septoria is starting to take off too now after some recent rain.
June 19, 2026 at 8:33 PM
This week I visited Teagasc Oak Park for an Aerobiomics-AMR project meeting, and a tour of some of their field trials- a big yellow rust year but the Septoria is starting to take off too now after some recent rain.
New article from @theccdm.bsky.social on using NanoPore sequencing to detect fungicide resistance alleles in airborne spores, as part of our our joint Aerobiomics-AMR project with Wageningen University and Research, Teagasc, INRAE and the University of Warmia and Mazury.
🌾 New spore trapping + DNA sequencing tech is tracking fungicide resistance in grain crops. CCDM researchers can now detect resistance from air samples containing airborne spores—offering faster, more comprehensive monitoring of resistance risk.
Read more: www.ccdm.com.au/new-combined...
Read more: www.ccdm.com.au/new-combined...
June 17, 2026 at 9:53 AM
New article from @theccdm.bsky.social on using NanoPore sequencing to detect fungicide resistance alleles in airborne spores, as part of our our joint Aerobiomics-AMR project with Wageningen University and Research, Teagasc, INRAE and the University of Warmia and Mazury.
Before I go home after #IWC2026Bologna, a visit to Bologna Botanic Garden with displays on food plants, crop wild relatives and plants of the future.
May 30, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Before I go home after #IWC2026Bologna, a visit to Bologna Botanic Garden with displays on food plants, crop wild relatives and plants of the future.
Not technically admissible for #WildFlowerHour as it's not in the UK but I did spot some #CabbageFamily cuckoo-flower in Germany this afternoon!
April 19, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Not technically admissible for #WildFlowerHour as it's not in the UK but I did spot some #CabbageFamily cuckoo-flower in Germany this afternoon!
Back in Friedrichroda for the 21st Reinhardsbrunn Symposium! Looking forward to four days discussing all things fungicides and resistance.
April 19, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Back in Friedrichroda for the 21st Reinhardsbrunn Symposium! Looking forward to four days discussing all things fungicides and resistance.
Two pictures for the #WildFlowerHour #CowslipChallenge: in Histon, Cambridge on Friday and in Doddington, Kent today.
April 5, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Two pictures for the #WildFlowerHour #CowslipChallenge: in Histon, Cambridge on Friday and in Doddington, Kent today.
New article from AHDB explaining the current fungicide resistance situation in Septoria in the UK, including our recent SDHI sensitivity data ahdb.org.uk/news/fungici...
Fungicide resistance: Septoria status and spray strategies | AHDB
Septoria tritici is becoming resistant to winter wheat fungicides, so growers need to understand current resistance levels and use strategies to slow its spread.
ahdb.org.uk
March 24, 2026 at 4:58 PM
New article from AHDB explaining the current fungicide resistance situation in Septoria in the UK, including our recent SDHI sensitivity data ahdb.org.uk/news/fungici...
Catherine Harries from AHDB discusses our recent SDHI sensitivity testing results and what it means for resistance management on this week's The AG Show podcast. youtu.be/kL3aEu1-I0M?...
Spring calving update, fungicide resistance explained and a pork pie without pastry?!
YouTube video by AHDB
youtu.be
March 19, 2026 at 11:50 AM
Catherine Harries from AHDB discusses our recent SDHI sensitivity testing results and what it means for resistance management on this week's The AG Show podcast. youtu.be/kL3aEu1-I0M?...
Signs of Spring around the @niab-uk.bsky.social Park Farm site despite the stormy weather today: the first Cowslips flowering, and Bee orchid rosettes starting to appear.
March 12, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Signs of Spring around the @niab-uk.bsky.social Park Farm site despite the stormy weather today: the first Cowslips flowering, and Bee orchid rosettes starting to appear.
Seeing a lot of Albugo candida "white rust" (actually an oomycete, not a basidiomycete fungus like other rusts) on Shepherd's purse around here at the moment #WildPlantDisease
March 1, 2026 at 9:22 AM
Seeing a lot of Albugo candida "white rust" (actually an oomycete, not a basidiomycete fungus like other rusts) on Shepherd's purse around here at the moment #WildPlantDisease
Reposted by Nichola Hawkins
Niab's Charlotte Nellist, Kostya Kanyuka and Nichola Hawkins presenting at yesterday's AHDB UKCPVS stakeholder meeting. Charlotte and Kostya introduced updates from 2025, before Nichola discussed fungicide resistance status in cereals. For more on the UKCPVS see https://ow.ly/JMjN50XWabj
January 13, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Niab's Charlotte Nellist, Kostya Kanyuka and Nichola Hawkins presenting at yesterday's AHDB UKCPVS stakeholder meeting. Charlotte and Kostya introduced updates from 2025, before Nichola discussed fungicide resistance status in cereals. For more on the UKCPVS see https://ow.ly/JMjN50XWabj
In this week's @farmersweeklyuk.bsky.social podcast, @aoifeodriscoll.bsky.social talks about the latest results from our AHDB-funded fungicide resistance monitoring and what this means for growers. omny.fm/shows/the-fa...
Nightmare before Christmas: Battle to save biodiversity net gain, cross-resistance fungicide warning, UK-France lamb war, & Red Tractor reviews standards
omny.fm
December 17, 2025 at 11:10 AM
In this week's @farmersweeklyuk.bsky.social podcast, @aoifeodriscoll.bsky.social talks about the latest results from our AHDB-funded fungicide resistance monitoring and what this means for growers. omny.fm/shows/the-fa...
Reposted by Nichola Hawkins
🚨New #PhD #adverts alert🚨
I currently have two PhD studentships being advertised on environmental #AMR ⬇️
More being advertised soon 👀
@ukceh.bsky.social @ukceh-moleco.bsky.social
I currently have two PhD studentships being advertised on environmental #AMR ⬇️
More being advertised soon 👀
@ukceh.bsky.social @ukceh-moleco.bsky.social
October 31, 2025 at 10:45 AM
🚨New #PhD #adverts alert🚨
I currently have two PhD studentships being advertised on environmental #AMR ⬇️
More being advertised soon 👀
@ukceh.bsky.social @ukceh-moleco.bsky.social
I currently have two PhD studentships being advertised on environmental #AMR ⬇️
More being advertised soon 👀
@ukceh.bsky.social @ukceh-moleco.bsky.social
Reposted by Nichola Hawkins
A fab bunch of talks for Session 1 Disease Management in Practice #PPATH2025
🌾 Helen Bates @niab-uk.bsky.social
🥔 Ashleigh Holmes @hutton.ac.uk
🧬 Aimee Fowkes - Fera x @newcastleuni.bsky.social
🍓 Avice Hall @herts.ac.uk
🌾 Helen Bates @niab-uk.bsky.social
🥔 Ashleigh Holmes @hutton.ac.uk
🧬 Aimee Fowkes - Fera x @newcastleuni.bsky.social
🍓 Avice Hall @herts.ac.uk
September 9, 2025 at 11:35 AM
A fab bunch of talks for Session 1 Disease Management in Practice #PPATH2025
🌾 Helen Bates @niab-uk.bsky.social
🥔 Ashleigh Holmes @hutton.ac.uk
🧬 Aimee Fowkes - Fera x @newcastleuni.bsky.social
🍓 Avice Hall @herts.ac.uk
🌾 Helen Bates @niab-uk.bsky.social
🥔 Ashleigh Holmes @hutton.ac.uk
🧬 Aimee Fowkes - Fera x @newcastleuni.bsky.social
🍓 Avice Hall @herts.ac.uk
Sea couch #SeedHeads, some infected with ergot fungus. On the sand dunes at Bridgwater Bay. #WildFlowerHour
September 7, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Sea couch #SeedHeads, some infected with ergot fungus. On the sand dunes at Bridgwater Bay. #WildFlowerHour
I always enjoy getting the chance to go out botanising in the field with the @wildflowersociety.bsky.social . This morning's plants included Silver cinquefoil Potentilla argentea, and the stunning hybrid goat's-beard Tragopogon x mirabilis.
September 6, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I always enjoy getting the chance to go out botanising in the field with the @wildflowersociety.bsky.social . This morning's plants included Silver cinquefoil Potentilla argentea, and the stunning hybrid goat's-beard Tragopogon x mirabilis.
We've seen lots of examples of parallel evolution at the point mutation level in fungicide target encoding genes (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...), and now @thorstenlangner.bsky.social has found repeated evolution of point mutations in a plant pathogen effector, too!
August 13, 2025 at 5:12 PM
We've seen lots of examples of parallel evolution at the point mutation level in fungicide target encoding genes (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1...), and now @thorstenlangner.bsky.social has found repeated evolution of point mutations in a plant pathogen effector, too!
New paper out now in @britmycolsoc.org.uk Fungal Biology Reviews. Learning from fungicide resistance: Evolutionary insights to guide RNAi-based control of fungal crop pathogens. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Learning from fungicide resistance: Evolutionary insights to guide RNAi-based control of fungal crop pathogens
Crop protection against fungal pathogens is essential to prevent crop losses and maintain food security. Current crop protection relies heavily on che…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
New paper out now in @britmycolsoc.org.uk Fungal Biology Reviews. Learning from fungicide resistance: Evolutionary insights to guide RNAi-based control of fungal crop pathogens. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Ash flower galls, caused by a mite, Acerina fraxinivora. A heavy infestation like this will reduce seed production but won't kill the tree.
July 27, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Ash flower galls, caused by a mite, Acerina fraxinivora. A heavy infestation like this will reduce seed production but won't kill the tree.
Viper's bugloss in the evening sunlight #WildFlowerHour #HairyPlants
July 13, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Viper's bugloss in the evening sunlight #WildFlowerHour #HairyPlants
A great day hearing from other plant-related research groups around Cambridge.
Botanicon 2025 - the 3rd annual Plants @ Cambridge conference bringing together plant scientists from across Cambridge to share their work and ideas.
@camplantsci.bsky.social @cropscicentre.bsky.social @niab-uk.bsky.social @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social #PlantsAtCambridge
@camplantsci.bsky.social @cropscicentre.bsky.social @niab-uk.bsky.social @cubotanicgarden.bsky.social #PlantsAtCambridge
July 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
A great day hearing from other plant-related research groups around Cambridge.