Laura Bowden

Seed Physiologist

Telephone Number
+44(0)131 244 8891

Email Address
laura.bowden@sasa.gsi.gov.uk

Research interests/Areas of expertise

Seed vigour – improving methods for seed vigour assessment, and investigating the potential of new techniques.
Assessing the viability of sprouted seed lots, and whether the tetrazolium test is appropriate.
Post-harvest treatments, including priming and re-drying to improve the quality of immature and deteriorated seed lots.

Biography

Joined SASA in July 2010 to work as the seed physiologist for the OSTS.
From April 2008 I worked as a research technician at Warwick HRI on a systems biology project investigating the genetics of biotic and abiotic stress responses in Arabidopsis.
From 2003 to 2007 I studied for a PhD jointly at the University of Reading and the Millennium Seed Bank Project, RBG Kew. My research focussed on seed development and factors influencing the ability to germinate, tolerate desiccation and acquire maximum longevity.
2003 MSc Conservation and Utilisation of Plant Genetic Resources, The University of Birmingham
2001 BSc (Hons) Biology, The University of Durham

Publications

Bowden L, Cockerell V. 2018. Factors influencing the radicle emergence test for swede rape. Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2018. :183-186.
Bowden L, Roberts A, Cockerell V. 2016. Environmental and other factors affecting the quality of wheat seed produced in Scotland. Proceedings Crop Protection in Northern Britain 2016. :87-92.
Bechtold U, Penfold CA, Jenkins DJ, Legaie R, Moore JD, Lawson T, Matthews JSA, Vialet-Chabrand S R M, Baxter L, Subramaniam S et al.. 2016. Time-Series Transcriptomics Reveals That AGAMOUS-LIKE22 Affects Primary Metabolism and Developmental Processes in Drought-Stressed Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 28(2):345-366.
Lewis LA, Polanski K, de Torres-Zabala M, Jayaraman S, Bowden L, Moore J, Penfold CA, Jenkins DJ, Hill C, Baxter L et al.. 2015. Transcriptional Dynamics Driving MAMP-Triggered Immunity and Pathogen Effector-Mediated Immunosuppression in Arabidopsis Leaves Following Infection with Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000. Plant Cell. 27(11):3038-3064.
Hickman R, Hill C, Penfold CA, Breeze E, Bowden L, Moore JD, Zhang P, Jackson A, Cooke E, Bewick-Copley F et al.. 2013. A local regulatory network around three NAC transcription factors in stress responses and senescence in Arabidopsis leaves. Plant Journal. 75(1):26–39.
Hay FR, Smith RD, Ellis RH, Butler LH. 2010. Developmental changes in the germinability, desiccation tolerance, hardseededness, and longevity of individual seeds of Trifolium ambiguum. Annals of Botany. 105(6):1035-1052.
Butler LH, Hay FR, Ellis RH, Smith RD. 2009. Post-abscission, pre-dispersal seeds of Digitalis purpurea remain in a developmental state that is not terminated by desiccation ex planta. Annals of Botany. 103(5):785-794.
Butler LH, Hay FR, Ellis RH, Smith RD, Murray TB. 2009. Priming and re-drying improve the survival of mature seeds of Digitalis purpurea during storage. Annals of Botany. 103(8):1261-1270.