Tessera

Dana MacGregor

@plantenv.bsky.social

Molecular Geneticist | Weed Biologist | https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0543-0408 | Understanding weedy resilience to shape sustainable agriculture

19 Posts188 Follower 42 Folgt

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 4d ago

Want to use cutting-edge science to help develop more sustainable agricultural systems? Fully-funded SWBio DTP PhD studentship (Project 3547) opportunity at Rothamsted Research in collaboration with University of Bath & Jordans Cereals. www.swbio.ac.uk/programme/ho... www.swbio.ac.uk/files/2026/1...

Images of blackgrass in oats, microbes on plates, and oats in a field sitting above the logos of SWBio, Rothamsted, Jordans and University of Bath.

ERGA - European Reference Genome Atlas @ergabiodiv.bsky.social · last yr.

Looking to connect with the #ERGA community on Bluesky? 🦋 We’ve created a starter pack! If you’re interested in #ReferenceGenomes and want your account added, just drop us a message below 💬 go.bsky.app/15jzVKB 🔁 Please reshare so we can reach the whole community! #genomes for #biodiversity

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Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · last yr.

We really did try everything, throwing the kitchen sink of VERG techniques at these rice plants... but nothing we tried worked. We're hoping that by sharing our negative data, others won't walk down the same deadends! Full data at doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Insights from controlled, comparative experiments highlight the limitations of using BSMV and FoMV for virus-enabled reverse genetics in rice

Virus-enabled reverse genetics (VERG) is a powerful tool for transient gene expression modulation in plants, particularly where stable transformation is challenging. However, the efficacy of VERG vari...

doi.org

Rothamsted Research@rothamsted.ac.uk · last yr.

Sometimes scientists learn a lot more from experiments that don't work than those that do. A new study with @ufrgs.br has shown that a common genetic tweaking technique does not work in rice...but this could open the door to more innovation @plantenv.bsky.social www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/rices-r...

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · last yr.

We tried and we tried... but none of our virus-enabled reverse genetics tricks worked in rice! We're trying to let the scientific community know to keep others from wasting their time trying the same things. www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/rices-r... with the full article at doi.org/10.1101/2025...

Figure 3. Virus-mediated protein overexpression (VOX) using Foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV) vector. Phenotypes of wheat (A) and rice (D) leaves that have been inoculated with FoMV carrying a multi cloning site (MCS) or GFP gene under white light or using blue light with a GFP filter set. Photos of the fourth leaf, up next the rub-inoculate leaf with a sap containing grinded leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana agroinfiltrated with FoMV:GFP and the abrasive carborundum. Phenotype of whole wheat (B) and Setaria viridis (C) plants that have been inoculated with FoMV:GFP showing systemic infection.

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · last yr.

Join me for a pint 🍻 tomorrow night as I dig into the genetics of wicked weeds 🌱. No biology degree required just a fair dose of curiosity. A bit of heckling welcome.... 📍 Harpenden Arms AL5 2TR 📅 8/7/25 at 7pm #WeedScience #PlantGenetics #Blackgrass #ScienceTalk

Café Scientifique - Harpenden@cafesci-harpenden.bsky.social · last yr.

Please join us for another exciting Cafe Scientifique talk by Rothamsted @rothamsted.bsky.social scientist Dr Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social on the science of weeds, and the amazing ways scientists trying effective ways to fight weeds in agricultural fields.

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · last yr.

I've just spent the last two days at the first ever ARIA Summit. What a rush! It was so inspiring to be surrounded by people for whom "Having Ambition" was not a detriment and think that saving the world is a real and achievable milestone. More? See @amyrlewin.bsky.social sifted.eu/articles/ari...

UK moonshot factory ARIA hosts upbeat London summit ahead of government spending review

Techno-optimists talked about how to change the world, ahead of a government spending review which they're hoping won't hamper ARIA's ambition

sifted.eu

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

Sometimes you just have to shout "Duck" and see what happens. Credit to my daughter for incredible photo and www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places... for the great location.

Image of a female duck taken at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/wrest-park/

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

I am proud of my Rothamsted science! We are uncovering how weeds overcome human and abiotic agroecosystem stresses and which resilience traits can inform weed control and crop improvement. Hoping to demonstrate my own resilience and keep building toward even greater impact despite upcoming changes.

Rothamsted Research@rothamsted.ac.uk · 2y ago

Rothamsted Research announces five-year transformation to refocus science and secure sustainable future. Read the full statement 👇 www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/rothams...

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

Grant deadlines & manuscript revisions have kept me busy - but this sneakily resilient ivy-leaved toadflax flourishing in the walls and crevices at Sizergh @nationaltrust.org.uk www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/lake-d... caught my eye over Easter. Even the prettiest plants are weeds to someone else!

Picture of ivy-leaved toadflax taken at Sizergh Gardens, National Trust, near Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 8DZ

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

#PhD Opportunity: A Greener Way to Control Weeds We need new solutions to combat #Blackgrass; Could naturally occurring soil microbes hold the key? Full details www.envision-dtp.org/2025/a-green... Open to UK “home” applicants only. DEADLINE: 17:00 Wed 12 March dana.macgregor@rothamsted.ac.uk

🌱PhD Opportunity: A Greener Way to Control Weeds – Using the Soil Microbiome to Combat Blackgrass 🌱
Blackgrass is Western Europe’s most problematic weed. With evolved resistance to conventional control methods, it threatens UK crop production. We need new solutions. Could soil microbes hold the key?

At Rothamsted Research, in collaboration with Lancaster University, we are offering a fully funded PhD through the Envision DTP. It aims to explore how naturally occurring soil microbes can suppress herbicide-resistant blackgrass and builds toward developing this interaction into a promising new approach to sustainable weed control. Further details at https://www.envision-dtp.org/2025/a-greener-way-to-control-weeds-using-the-soil-microbiome-to-combat-blackgrass/

✅Eligibility:
Open to UK “home” applicants only.
Candidates should have a good honours degree in a relevant subject or equivalent qualifications and experience.
Applicants who have previously completed an Envision Research Experience Placement (REP) will be guaranteed an interview.

Interested? Apply! https://www.envision-dtp.org/projects/apply/
DEADLINE: 17:00 on Wed 12th March
For informal enquiries, contact Dana MacGregor (Dana.MacGregor@Rothamsted.ac.uk).

Earlham Institute @earlhaminst.bsky.social · 2y ago

💬 "The DEFRA Secretary’s commitment to implementing the new Precision Breeding Act is great news. “The regulation that will be established by this legislation will create new markets for healthier, more environmentally beneficial plant products." - Prof Neil Hall, Director of the Earlham Institute.

Government committed to unlocking precision breeding technology

The UK Government has committed to a timeline for introducing legislation that will empower researchers, companies, farmers, and consumers to benefit from precision breeding techniques.

earlham.ac.uk

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

Very excited to see both these papers out! Press release at www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/new-seq... We've worked hard to understand Alopecurus weeds and having genomes for both A. myosuroides and A. aequalis will be incredibly enabling. Thanks so much to the many collaborators who have been involved!

Figure 1: Images highlighting differences in Alopecurus aequalis (shortawn foxtail or orange foxtail; a, c, e, & g) and Alopecurus myosuroides (black-grass; b, d, f, & h) morphologies. Images show flowering heads (a-b), seeds (c-d), at vegetative growth stage (e-f) and Kew Herbarium images (g-h). The flower spike of A. aequalis (a) has a blunt end rather than the tapered end in A. myosuroides (b). While both have single flowered spikelets, the anthers of A. aequalis are shorter compared to A. myosuroides (b). The mature seeds of these two species are easily distinguished (c: A. aequalis, d: A. myosuroides). A. aequalis has a more prostrate growth (e) while A. myosuroides is more upright (f). These differences can be seen in Herbarium images from Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (https://data.rbge.org.uk/search/herbarium/) for A. aequalis (Barcode: E01358418, g), and A. myosuroides (Barcode: E01137779, h).

Rothamsted Research@rothamsted.ac.uk · 2y ago

Two Alopecurus genomes, blackgrass and orange or shortawn foxtail, have been sequenced 🧬 to help researchers address what makes these weeds such exceptional survivors in modern agricultural systems @earlhaminst.bsky.social @plantenv.bsky.social 👇 Full story www.rothamsted.ac.uk/news/new-seq...

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

Thanks also to @biggenomes.bsky.social! Data below shows the Orange foxtail genome structure is more similar to barley than blackgrass! We expect this new T2T quality genome will be a valuable tool for researchers. Although fully open acces, I would love to hear from anyone using it.

Figure 5: Whole genome comparison between Hordeum vulgare, Alopecurus aequalis and Alopecurus myosuroides. a: GENESPACE comparison showing synteny between the 3 species (* indicates that the chromosome has been reversed). b: Detailed alignment showing the position of the A. aequalis chromosome 1 centromere (in red) in relation to the breakpoint.

Dana MacGregor@plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

New #OpenAccess tool for #WeedGenomics, #HerbicideResistance, and #ComparativeGenomics. Chromosome-scale genome assembly for Alopecurus aequalis - rdcu.be/d335n @rothamsted.bsky.social @earlhaminst.bsky.social @jonwright99.bsky.social @gemygk.bsky.social @ergabiodiv.bsky.social and all 24 authors!

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

Chromosome-scale genome assembly and de novo annotation of Alopecurus aequalis

Scientific Data - Chromosome-scale genome assembly and de novo annotation of Alopecurus aequalis

rdcu.be

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

Last days to apply for www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin... #PhD The enemy of my enemy. Answers to "why does Zymoseptoria infect wheat but not wheat's worst weed blackgrass?" BBSRC #SWBioDTP studentship for 2025. Closing midnight 11th December 2024. @rothamsted.bsky.social @quietscientist.bsky.social

Images of blackgrass and wheat that have been infected with Zymoseptoria showing the intriguing outcome that blackgrass is able to resist Septoria blotch.

Dana MacGregor@plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

📢 SWBio DTP PhD Opportunity - The enemy of my enemy… why does Zymoseptoria infect wheat but not wheat’s worst weed blackgrass? 📄 Full details: www.swbio.ac.uk/agriculture-... Apply www.exeter.ac.uk/study/fundin... 🗓️ Closing Date: Midnight, Wed 11 Dec #PhD #PlantPathology #WeedScience #AgriResearch

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

Last chance to apply for our www.rothamsted.ac.uk/studentship/... PhD project, where your data will help develop rapid and effective strategies to control unmanageable seed-dispersed weed populations Apply samis.bath.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd... before midnight 11th December 2024 @rothamsted.bsky.social

What Makes Weeds Flower? | Rothamsted Research

rothamsted.ac.uk

Dana MacGregor@plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

📢 SWBio DTP PhD Opportunity: What Makes Weeds Flower? Disrupting Seed Production in Herbicide-Resistant Weeds to Improve Sustainable Agriculture @rothamsted.bsky.social 📄 www.swbio.ac.uk/agriculture-... Apply samis.bath.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd... 🗓️ Closing Wed 11 Dec #PhD #WeedScience #Bioinformatics

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago

Dana MacGregor @plantenv.bsky.social · 2y ago