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)
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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.
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CERC is accredited by the Chemicals Regulation Directorate to conduct efficacy
trials on agricultural, horticultural and 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.
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The Princess Margaret Laboratory complex - contains laboratories with up-todate 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 laboratorybased 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)
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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.
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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:
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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
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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 http://www.harper-adams.ac.uk
Any questions please contact:
Dr Martin Hare
(mhare@harper-adams.ac.uk)
t: +44 1952 815252