- Room 101, 18 Portland Villas, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 582016
- jerry.roberts@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Professor Jerry Roberts
Emeritus Professor
School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)
Biography
Biography
Qualifications
Professor Jerry Roberts obtained a BA in Botany from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Plant Cell Biology from the University of Cambridge.
After completing his postgraduate studies he joined the University of Nottingham as a Lecturer and was awarded a personal Chair in Plant Biology in 2000. During his career at Nottingham he was Head of the School of Biosciences, Dean of the Graduate School, and Assistant Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research before joining the University of Plymouth as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise in February 2017.
Research
Research
Research interests
Jerry’s research focuses on plant cell and molecular biology and has been funded by grants from research councils, the EU, and industry. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and is the named inventor on a number of patents. He has acted as a consultant for businesses both in the UK and overseas and was a member of the BBSRC Bioscience Skills and Careers Strategy Advisory Panel.
Jerry is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
Publications
Publications
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
(2022) 'The Kelch‐F‐box protein SMALL AND GLOSSY LEAVES 1 (SAGL1) negatively influences salicylic acid biosynthesis in
<i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>
by promoting the turn‐over of transcription factor SYSTEMIC ACQUIRED RESISTANCE DEFICIENT 1 (SARD1)' New Phytologist 235, (3) 885-897 , DOI
(2021) 'The rice
<i>EP3</i>
and
<i>OsFBK1</i>
E3 ligases alter plant architecture and flower development, and affect transcript accumulation of microRNA pathway genes and their targets' Plant Biotechnology Journal 20, (2) 297-309 , DOI
(2021) 'Multi‐omic dissection of the drought resistance traits of soybean landrace LX' Plant, Cell & Environment 44, (5) 1379-1398 , DOI
(2020) 'Retirement of Mary Traynor, executive editor of JXB (1995–2020)' Journal of Experimental Botany 71, (19) 5719-5720 , DOI Open access
(2020) 'OIL PALM ETHYLENE RECEPTOR GENE FAMILY: IDENTIFICATION, CHARACTERISATION AND EXPRESSION ANALYSIS' Journal of Oil Palm Research , DOI
(2019) 'Genome-wide analysis and characterization of F-box gene family in Gossypium hirsutum L' BMC Genomics 20, (1) , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Genotyping-by-Sequencing of Gossypium hirsutum Races and Cultivars Uncovers Novel Patterns of Genetic Relationships and Domestication Footprints' Evolutionary Bioinformatics 15, 1-11 , DOI Open access
(2019) 'Re-evaluation of the ethylene-dependent and -independent pathways in the regulation of floral and organ abscission' Journal of Experimental Botany 70, (5) 1461-1467 , DOI Open access
(2017) 'The Arabidopsis thaliana F-box gene HAWAIIAN SKIRT is a new player in the microRNA pathway' PLoS ONE 12, (12) , DOI Open access
(2017) 'HAWAIIAN SKIRT controls size and floral organ number by modulating CUC1 and CUC2 expression' PLoS ONE 12, (9) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Root hydrotropism is controlled via a cortex-specific growth mechanism' Nature Plants 3, (0) 0-0 , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Development of a Statistical Crop Model to Explain the Relationship between Seed Yield and Phenotypic Diversity within the Brassica napus Genepool' Agronomy 7, (2) 31-31 , DOI Open access
(2017) 'Editorial: Plant Organ Abscission: From Models to Crops' Frontiers in Plant Science 8, , DOI Open access
(2016) 'IMPACT OF PACLOBUTRAZOL ON THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NURSERY GROWN CLONAL OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)' Journal of Oil Palm Research 28, (4) 404-414 , DOI Open access
(2015) 'Using X-ray Computed Tomography to explore the role of abscisic acid in moderating the impact of soil compaction on root system architecture' Environmental and Experimental Botany 110, 11-18 , DOI
(2015) 'Decreased photosynthesis in the erect panicle 3 (ep3) mutant of rice is associated with reduced stomatal conductance and attenuated guard cell development' Journal of Experimental Botany 66, (5) 1543-1552 , DOI Open access
(2013) 'Use of Mutants to Dissect the Role of Ethylene Signalling in Organ Senescence and the Regulation of Yield in Arabidopsis thaliana' Journal of Plant Growth Regulation 33, (1) 56-65 , DOI
(2013) 'Exploring the interacting effect of soil texture and bulk density on root system development in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)' Environmental and Experimental Botany 91, 38-47 , DOI
(2013) 'The Manipulation of Auxin in the Abscission Zone Cells of Arabidopsis Flowers Reveals That Indoleacetic Acid Signaling Is a Prerequisite for Organ Shedding ' Plant Physiology 162, (1) 96-106 , DOI
(2012) 'A Novel Approach to Dissect the Abscission Process in Arabidopsis ' Plant Physiology 160, (3) 1342-1356 , DOI
(2012) 'Quantifying the impact of soil compaction on root system architecture in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) by X-ray micro-computed tomography' Annals of Botany 110, (2) 511-519 , DOI
(2012) 'Manipulating resource allocation in plants' Journal of Experimental Botany 63, (9) 3391-3400 , DOI
(2012) 'Timing of exposure to ozone affects reproductive sensitivity and compensatory ability in Brassica campestris' Environmental and Experimental Botany 75, 225-234 , DOI
(2011) 'The potential for underutilized crops to improve security of food production' Journal of Experimental Botany 63, (3) 1075-1079 , DOI
(2011) 'Quantifying the effect of soil compaction on three varieties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) using X-ray Micro Computed Tomography (CT)' Plant and Soil 353, (1-2) 195-208 , DOI
(2011) 'Soil compaction: a review of past and present techniques for investigating effects on root growth' Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 91, (9) 1528-1537 , DOI
(2011) 'The role of the pod in seed development: strategies for manipulating yield' New Phytologist 190, (4) 838-853 , DOI
(2010) 'Direct effects of ozone on reproductive development in Plantago major L. populations differing in sensitivity' Environmental and Experimental Botany 69, (2) 121-128 , DOI
(2010) 'The X-factor: visualizing undisturbed root architecture in soils using X-ray computed tomography' Journal of Experimental Botany 61, (2) 311-313 , DOI
(2009) 'A molecular and structural characterization of senescing Arabidopsis siliques and comparison of transcriptional profiles with senescing petals and leaves' The Plant Journal 57, (4) 690-705 , DOI
(2008) 'The F-box protein HAWAIIAN SKIRT regulates boundary fusion via miRNA processing' Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology 150, (3) S189-S189 , DOI
(2007) 'Development of microsatellite markers for bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc.) — an underutilized African legume crop species' Molecular Ecology Notes 7, (6) 1326-1328 , DOI
(2007) 'Expression of polygalacturonases and evidence to support their role during cell separation processes in Arabidopsis thaliana' Journal of Experimental Botany 58, (13) 3719-3730 , DOI
(2007) 'Ethylene and the Regulation of Senescence Processes in Transgenic Nicotiana sylvestris Plants' Annals of Botany 101, (2) 301-310 , DOI
(2007) 'Ozone affects gas exchange, growth and reproductive development in<i>Brassica campestris</i>(Wisconsin Fast Plants)' New Phytologist 176, (1) 150-163 , DOI
(2007) '<i>HAWAIIAN SKIRT</i>: An F-Box Gene That Regulates Organ Fusion and Growth in Arabidopsis' Plant Physiology 144, (3) 1370-1382 , DOI
(2007) 'Inheritance of ‘domestication’ traits in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.)' Euphytica 157, (1-2) 59-68 , DOI
(2006) 'Spatial and temporal expression of the response regulators ARR22 and ARR24 in Arabidopsis thaliana' Journal of Experimental Botany 57, (15) 4225-4233 , DOI
(2006) 'High glucosinolate broccoli: a delivery system for sulforaphane' Molecular Breeding 18, (3) 219-228 , DOI
(2005) 'Breeding in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.): strategic considerations' AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY 4, (6) 463-471
(2005) 'Changes in expansin activity and gene expression during ethylene-promoted leaflet abscission in Sambucus nigra' Journal of Experimental Botany 56, (413) 817-823 , DOI
(2003) 'Genetic diversity in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) landraces assessed by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers' Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution 50, (7) 737-741 , DOI
(2003) 'The Impact of Temperature on Leaf Appearance in Bambara Groundnut Landraces' Crop Science 43, (4) 1375-1379 , DOI
(2003) 'The impact of temperature on seed germination in bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc) landraces' Seed Science and Technology 31, (2) 259-273 , DOI
(2002) 'Genetic diversity in bambara groundnut (<i>Vigna subterranea</i> (L.) Verdc) landraces revealed by AFLP markers' Genome 45, (6) 1175-1180 , DOI
(2002) 'A<scp>BSCISSION</scp>, D<scp>EHISCENCE, AND</scp>O<scp>THER</scp>C<scp>ELL</scp>S<scp>EPARATION</scp>P<scp>ROCESSES</scp>' Annual Review of Plant Biology 53, (1) 131-158 , DOI
(2002) 'Temporal and Spatial Expression of a Polygalacturonase during Leaf and Flower Abscission in Oilseed Rape and Arabidopsis' Plant Physiology 128, (2) 534-543 , DOI
(2002) 'Temporal and Spatial Expression of a Polygalacturonase during Leaf and Flower Abscission in Oilseed Rape and Arabidopsis' PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 128, (2) 534-543 , DOI
(2002) 'Differential Display: Analysis of Gene Expression During Plant Cell Separation Processes' Molecular Biotechnology 21, (3) 251-258 , DOI
(2002) 'Use of mutants to study long‐distance signalling in response to compacted soil' Journal of Experimental Botany 53, (366) 45-50 , DOI
(2000) 'Does an antagonistic relationship between ABA and ethylene mediate shoot growth when tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants encounter compacted soil?' Plant, Cell and Environment 23, (11) 1217-1226 , DOI
(2000) 'Cell Separation Processes in Plants—Models, Mechanisms and Manipulation' Annals of Botany 86, (2) 223-235 , DOI
(2000) 'Moving on up: auxin-induced K+ channel expression regulates gravitropism' Trends in Plant Science 5, (3) 85-86 , DOI
(2000) 'Abscission and dehiscence' Symp Soc Exp Biol 52, 203-211
(1999) 'Soil Compaction. A Role for Ethylene in Regulating Leaf Expansion and Shoot Growth in Tomato?' Plant Physiology 121, (4) 1227-1237 , DOI
(1999) 'Does root-sourced ABA have a role in mediating growth and stomatal responses to soil compaction in tomato (<i>Lycopersicon esculentum</i>
)?' Physiologia Plantarum 107, (3) 267-276 , DOI
(1999) 'Novel approaches for examining the effects of differential soil compaction on xylem sap abscisic acid concentration, stomatal conductance and growth in barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i>L.)' Plant, Cell & Environment 22, (11) 1377-1388 , DOI
(1999) 'Influence of Soil Compaction on Xylem Sap Composition in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)' Journal of Plant Physiology 155, (4-5) 503-508 , DOI
(1999) 'Isolation and expression of an allergen-like mRNA from ethylene-treated Sambucus nigra leaflet abscission zones' Journal of Experimental Botany 50, (334) 733-734 , DOI
(1999) 'An mRNA encoding a response regulator protein from Brassica napus is up-regulated during pod development' Journal of Experimental Botany 50, (332) 335-341 , DOI
(1999) 'Dehiscence-related expression of an Arabidopsis thaliana gene encoding a polygalacturonase in transgenic plants of Brassica napus' Plant, Cell and Environment 22, (2) 159-167 , DOI
(1999) 'Effect of pre-sowing hydration on germination, emergence and early seedling growth of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L. Verdc)' SEED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 27, (3) 893-905
(1998) 'Impact of ozone on seed yield and quality and seedling vigour in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)' Journal of Plant Physiology 153, (1-2) 127-134 , DOI
(1998) 'Recent developments in abscission: shedding light on the shedding process' Trends in Plant Science 3, (1) 10-14 , DOI
(1997) 'Leaflet abscission and phytoalexin production during the response of two faba bean breeding lines to
<i>Botrytis</i>
infection' Plant Pathology 46, (6) 989-996 , DOI
(1997) 'Temporal and spatial expression of mRNAs encoding pathogenesis-related proteins during ethylene-promoted leaflet abscission in Sambucus nigra*' Plant, Cell and Environment 20, (12) 1517-1524 , DOI
(1997) 'Characterization and expression of an mRNA encoding a wound-induced (Win) protein from ethylene-treated tomato leaf abscission zone tissue' Journal of Experimental Botany 48, (6) 1223-1227 , DOI
(1997) 'Characterization and expression of an mRNA encoding a wound-induced (win) protein from ethylene-treated tomato leaf abscission zone tissue' Journal of Experimental Botany 48, (311) 1223-1227 , DOI
(1997) 'Leaflet abscission and phytoalexin production during the response of two faba bean breeding lines to Botrytis infection' Plant Pathology 46, (6) 989-996 , DOI
(1996) 'A molecular study of dormancy breaking and germination in seeds of Trollius ledebouri' Plant Molecular Biology 32, (3) 559-564 , DOI
(1996) 'Characterization of an mRNA encoding a polygalacturonase expressed during pod development in oilseed rape (<i>Brassica napus</i>L.)' Journal of Experimental Botany 47, (1) 111-115 , DOI
(1996) 'Characterization of an mRNA encoding a polygalacturonase expressed during pod development in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)' Journal of Experimental Botany 47, (294) 111-115 , DOI
(1996) 'Effect of soil compaction on barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i>L.) growth' Journal of Experimental Botany 47, (4) 551-556 , DOI
(1996) 'Effect of soil compaction on barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i>L.) growth' Journal of Experimental Botany 47, (4) 539-549 , DOI
(1995) 'Increased 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylic Acid Oxidase Activity in Shoots of Flooded Tomato Plants Raises Ethylene Production to Physiologically Active Levels' Plant Physiology 109, (4) 1435-1440 , DOI
(1995) 'Characterisation of an mRNA encoding a metallothionein-like protein that accumulates during ethylene-promoted abscission of Sambucus nigra L. leaflets' Planta 197, (3) , DOI
(1995) 'The effect of elevated atmospheric CO<inf>2</inf> and drought onstomatal frequency in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea (L.))' Journal of Experimental Botany 46, (7) 847-852 , DOI
(1995) 'The effect of elevated atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub>and drought onstomatal frequency in groundnut (<i>Arachis hypogaea</i>(L.))' Journal of Experimental Botany 46, (7) 847-852 , DOI
(1994) 'Isolation of a mRNA encoding a nucleoside diphosphate kinase from tomato that is up-regulated by wounding' Plant Molecular Biology 25, (4) 739-742 , DOI
(1994) 'Characterization and accumulation pattern of an mRNA encoding an abscission-related ?-1,4-glucanase from leaflets of Sambucus nigra' Plant Molecular Biology 24, (6) 961-964 , DOI
(1994) 'Characterization of a mRNA that accumulates during development of oilseed rape pods' Plant Molecular Biology 24, (1) 223-227 , DOI
(1994) 'Impact of O<sub>3</sub>and SO<sub>2</sub>on reproductive development in oilseed rape (<i>Brassica napus</i>L.)' New Phytologist 126, (1) 71-79 , DOI
(1993) 'Identification and characterization of a proline-rich mRNA that accumulates during pod development in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)' Plant Molecular Biology 23, (6) 1223-1232 , DOI
(1993) 'Impact of O3 and SO2 on reproductive development in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). I. Pollen germination and pollen tube growth' New Phytologist 124, (3) 439-446 , DOI
(1993) 'Purification of beta1,4 glucanase from ethylene-treated leaflet abscission zones of Sambucus nigra' Plant, Cell and Environment 16, (3) 329-333 , DOI
(1993) 'Changes in Polygalacturonase Activity and Solubility of Polyuronides during Ethylene-stimulated Leaf Abscission in<i>Sambucus nigra</i>' Journal of Experimental Botany 44, (1) 93-98 , DOI
(1991) 'Polygalacturonase expression during leaf abscission of normal and transgenic tomato plants' Planta 183, (1) , DOI
(1991) 'Anatomical and Biochemical Changes Associated with the Induction of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) Pod Dehiscence by Dasineura brassicae (Winn.)' Annals of Botany 67, (3) 193-197 , DOI
(1990) 'Dehiscence of Fruit in Oilseed Rape (<i>Brassica nap us</i>L.)' Journal of Experimental Botany 41, (8) 1003-1011 , DOI
(1990) 'Dehiscence of Fruit in Oilseed Rape (<i>Brassica napus</i>L.)' Journal of Experimental Botany 41, (8) 995-1002 , DOI
(1985) 'The control of seed germination in Trollius ledebouri A model of seed dormancy' Planta 166, (3) 321-328 , DOI
(1985) 'The control of seed germination in Trollius ledebouri: The breaking of dormancy' Planta 166, (3) 314-320 , DOI
(1984) 'Tropic responses of hypocotyls from normal tomato plants and the gravitropic mutant Lazy-1' Plant, Cell and Environment 7, (7) 515-520 , DOI
(1984) 'Ethylene-promoted tomato flower abscission and the possible involvement of an inhibitor' Planta 160, (2) 159-163 , DOI
(1984) 'Ethylene-induced root coiling in tomato seedlings' Plant Growth Regulation 2, (3) 217-225 , DOI
(1984) 'Tropic responses of hypocotyls from normal tomato plants and the gravitropic mutant Lazy‐1' Plant, Cell & Environment 7, (7) 515-520 , DOI
(1981) 'Auxin and the Control of Ethylene Production during the Development and Senescence of Leaves and Fruits' Journal of Experimental Botany 32, (5) 875-887 , DOI
Books
Chapters
(2012) 'Ethylene and Cell Separation Processes' Annual Plant Reviews Volume 44 Wiley-Blackwell 243-273 , DOI
(1999) 'Physiological Analysis of Flower and Leaf Abscission in Antisense-ACC Oxidase Tomato Plants' Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene II Springer Netherlands 381-386 , DOI
(1997) 'Spatial and Temporal Expression of Abscission-Related Genes During Ethylene-Promoted Organ Shedding' Biology and Biotechnology of the Plant Hormone Ethylene Springer Netherlands 185-190 , DOI
(1993) 'Changes in Gene Expression during Leaf Abscission' Cellular and Molecular Aspects of the Plant Hormone Ethylene Springer Netherlands 272-277 , DOI
(1993) 'The Use of Antisense Transgenic Tomato Plants to Study the Role of Ethylene in Responses to Waterlogging' Cellular and Molecular Aspects of the Plant Hormone Ethylene Springer Netherlands 261-262 , DOI
(1992) 'Gravitropism research — will mutants prevent us from going around the bend?' Progress in Plant Growth Regulation Springer Netherlands 913-920 , DOI
(1989) 'Changes in Gene Expression During Ethylene-Induced Leaf Abscission' Cell Separation in Plants Springer Berlin Heidelberg 61-68 , DOI
(1987) 'GENETIC VARIANTS AS AIDS TO EXAMINE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHYLENE IN DEVELOPMENT' Hormone Action in Plant Development–Acritical Appraisal Elsevier 107-118 , DOI
'Cell Separation and Adhesion Processes in Plants' Plant Cell Separation and Adhesion Blackwell Publishing Ltd 1-7 , DOI
'Molecular Research in Oil Palm, the Key Oil Crop for the Future' Genomics of Tropical Crop Plants Springer New York 371-404 , DOI
Conference Papers
(2013) 'MOLECULAR ANALYSIS OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT, AN UNDERUTILISED AFRICAN LEGUME CROP AS PART OF THE BAMLINK PROJECT - WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN?' International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) 451-458 , DOI
(2009) 'BAMLINK - A CROSS DISCIPLINARY PROGRAMME TO ENHANCE THE ROLE OF BAMBARA GROUNDNUT (VIGNA SUBTERRANEA L. VERDC.) FOR FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA AND INDIA' International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) 137-150 , DOI
(1996) 'Direct Effects of Ozone on the Reproductive Development of Brassica Species' Elsevier BV 172-178 , DOI
(1995) 'CHARACTERIZATION OF MESSAGES WHICH ACCUMULATE DURING ETHYLENE-INDUCED LEAFLET ABSCISSION IN SAMBUCUS-NIGRA' 132-132
(1994) 'IS PLANT GROWTH IN COMPACTED SOIL REGULATED BY A ROOT-SOURCED CHEMICAL SIGNAL' 433-435