Compatible and incompatible plant–pathogen interactions are studied at the cell and molecular level. Studies include basic mechanisms of host susceptibility and resistance with particular emphasis on inducible resistance mechanisms in crop plants (potato, raspberry and barley) to a range of pathogens.

We aim to elucidate the mechanisms of resistance in the plant that are effective against these diseases and how pathogens manipulate, evade or subdue resistance. Major areas of effort include:

• Phytophthora infestans-plant interactions 
• Pectobacterium-potato interactions 
• programmed cell death
• virus resistance
• virus-cell interactions
• cyst nematode pathogenicity.