Professor John Pickett
FRS
Professor of Biological Chemistry
Overview
John is Professor of Biological Chemistry with particular interests in chemical ecology involving chemically mediated interactions between various organisms including pests attacking plants and animals.
- Chemical characterisation of pheromones and other semiochemicals of plants, and animals including insect pests, extending to beneficial organisms antagonistic to pests
- Stress related chemical signalling by plants and vertebrates including human and farm animals
- Elucidating biosynthetic pathways to pheromones and other semiochemicals together with associated molecular genetics
- Exploiting pheromones and other semiochemicals in management of pests and beneficial organisms by ecology management and genetic modification (GM)
Biography
John’s contributions to the field of chemical ecology have been acknowledged with the 1995 Rank Prize for Nutrition and Crop Husbandry, election to Fellowship of the Royal Society in 1996, election to Membership of the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina in 2001 and received the International Society of Chemical Ecology Medal in 2002. John was appointed to CBE for Services to Biological Chemistry in 2004.
In 2008 he was jointly awarded the Wolf Foundation Prize in Agriculture. He presented the Royal Society’s premier lecture in the biological sciences, the Croonian Prize Lecture in 2008, and the Cornell University Lecture in 2009. He was awarded the International Congress of Entomology Certificate of Distinction at the XXIV International Congress of Entomology held in Korea, August 2012. He was elected International Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2014. He became President of the Royal Entomological Society in 2014 and in August 2017 gave the Sterling B Hendricks Memorial Prize Lecture at the 254th Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Washington DC. In 2020, John was elected Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales.
Publications
2024
- Catlow, C. R. A. and Pickett, J. 2024. Science and innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa: an introduction. Interface Focus 14(4), article number: 20240020. (10.1098/rsfs.2024.0020)
- Ducker, C., Baines, C., Guy, J., Euzébio Goulart Santana, A., Pickett, J. A. and Oldham, N. J. 2024. A diterpene synthase from the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis produces the pheromone sobralene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 121(12), article number: e2322453121. (10.1073/pnas.2322453121)
- Harvey, D. J. et al. 2024. Novel pheromone-mediated reproductive behaviour in the stag beetle, Lucanus cervus. Scientific Reports 14, article number: 6037. (10.1038/s41598-024-55985-8)
- Shi, J. et al. 2024. Unprecedented oviposition tactics avoid plant defences and reduce attack by parasitic wasps. Plant, Cell and Environment 47(1), pp. 308-318. (10.1111/pce.14731)
- Batume, C. et al. 2024. Evaluating repellence properties of catnip essential oil against the mosquito species Aedes aegypti using a Y-tube olfactometer. Scientific Reports 14, article number: 2269. (10.1038/s41598-024-52715-y)
2023
- Ducker, C. et al. 2023. Characterisation of geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 161, article number: 104001. (10.1016/j.ibmb.2023.104001)
- Green, C. et al. 2023. A horizon scan to support chemical pollution-related policymaking for sustainable and climate-resilient economies. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 42(6), pp. 1212-1228. (10.1002/etc.5620)
- Cascone, P., Vuts, J., Birkett, M. A., Rasmann, S., Pickett, J. A. and Guerrieri, E. 2023. Small volatile lipophilic molecules induced belowground by aphid attack elicit a defensive response in neighbouring un-infested plants. Frontiers in Plant Science 14 (10.3389/fpls.2023.1154587)
- Ouya, F. O., Murage, A. W., Pittchar, J. O., Chidawanyika, F., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2023. Impacts of climate-resilient push–pull technology on farmers’ income in selected counties in Kenya and Tanzania: propensity score matching approach. Agriculture and Food Security 12(1), article number: 15. (10.1186/s40066-023-00418-4)
- Cascone, P., Vuts, J., Birkett, M. A., Dewhirst, S., Rasmann, S., Pickett, J. A. and Guerrieri, E. 2023. L-DOPA functions as a plant pheromone for belowground anti-herbivory communication. Ecology Letters 26(3), pp. 460-469. (10.1111/ele.14164)
- Gurr, G. M., Liu, J., Pickett, J. A. and Stevenson, P. C. 2023. Review of the chemical ecology of homoterpenes in arthropod-plant interactions. Austral Entomology (10.1111/aen.12629)
2022
- Pickett, J. A. 2022. Independent evolution of the iridoid biosynthetic pathway in plants and insects. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 119(48) (10.1073/pnas.2216444119)
- Mordue (Luntz), A. J., Pino-Marambio, J. and Pickett, J. A. 2022. Semiochemical tools for the management of sea lice. In: Treasurer, J., Bricknell, I. and Bron, J. eds. Sea Lice Biology and Control. European Association of Fish Pathologists (EAFP) 5M Books Ltd, pp. 109-133.
- Richards, D. P., Patel, R. N., Duce, I. R., Khambay, B. P. S., Birkett, M. A., Pickett, J. A. and Mellor, I. R. 2022. (−)-adaline from the adalia genus of ladybirds is a potent antagonist of insect and specific mammalian nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Molecules 27(20), article number: 7074. (10.3390/molecules27207074)
- Fuchs, L. K. et al. 2022. Genetic manipulation of biosynthetic pathways in mint. Frontiers in Plant Science 13, article number: 928178. (10.3389/fpls.2022.928178)
- Guest, C. et al. 2022. Using trained dogs and organic semi-conducting sensors to identify asymptomatic and mild SARS-CoV-2 infections: an observational study. Journal of Travel Medicine 29(3), article number: taac043. (10.1093/jtm/taac043)
- Showering, A. et al. 2022. Skin microbiome alters attractiveness to Anopheles mosquitoes. BMC Microbiology 22, article number: 98. (10.1186/s12866-022-02502-4)
- Cheruiyot, D., Chidawanyika, F., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J. O., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2022. Field evaluation of a new third generation push-pull technology for control of striga weed, stemborers, and fall armyworm in western Kenya. Experimental Agriculture 57(5-6), pp. 301-315. (10.1017/S0014479721000260)
2021
- Montgomery, C., Vuts, J., Woodcock, C. M., Withall, D. M., Birkett, M. A., Pickett, J. and Robert, D. 2021. Bumblebee electric charge stimulates floral volatile emissions in Petunia integrifolia but not in Antirrhinum majus. The Science of Nature 108(44) (10.1007/s00114-021-01740-2)
- Koczor, S. et al. 2021. Sex pheromone of the alfalfa plant bug, Adelphocoris lineolatus: pheromone composition and antagonistic effect of 1-hexanol (Hemiptera: Miridae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 47, pp. 525-533. (10.1007/s10886-021-01273-y)
- Michereff, M. F. F. et al. 2021. Priming of indirect defence responses in maize is shown to be genotype-specific. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 15(3), pp. 318-328. (10.1007/s11829-021-09826-4)
- Partridge, S. J., Withall, D. M., Caulfield, J. C., Pickett, J. A., Stockman, R. A., Oldham, N. J. and Birkett, M. A. 2021. Iridoid sex pheromone biosynthesis in aphids mimics iridoid‐producing plants. Chemistry - A European Journal 27(25), pp. 7231-7234. (10.1002/chem.202001356)
- Zhang, Z., Liu, Y., Portaluri, V., Woodcock, C., Pickett, J. A., Wang, S. and Zhou, J. 2021. Chemical identity and functional characterization of semiochemicals that promote the interactions between rice plant and rice major pest Nilaparvata lugens. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 69(16), pp. 4635–4644. (10.1021/acs.jafc.1c01135)
- Li, W. et al. 2021. Overexpression of the homoterpene synthase gene, OsCYP92C21, increases emissions of volatiles mediating tritrophic interactions in rice. Plant, Cell and Environment 44(3), pp. 948-963. (10.1111/pce.13924)
- Di Ilio, V., Birkett, M. A. and Pickett, J. A. 2021. Effects of nicotine and tobacco-related products on the feeding behavior of the German cockroach (Blattodea: Blattellidae). Journal of Insect Science 21(2), article number: 3. (10.1093/jisesa/ieaa147)
- Abagale, S. A. et al. 2021. Field validation of senesced banana leaf extracts for trapping banana weevils on smallholder banana/plantain farms. Journal of Applied Entomology 145(1-2), pp. 26-35. (10.1111/jen.12838)
2020
- Wamonje, F. O. et al. 2020. Three aphid-transmitted viruses encourage vector migration from infected common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plants through a combination of volatile and surface cues. Frontiers in Plant Science 11, article number: 613772. (10.3389/fpls.2020.613772)
- Parmezan, T. R. et al. 2020. Transcriptional profile of genes involved in the production of terpenes and glyceollins in response to biotic stresses in soybean. Genetics and Molecular Biology 43(4), article number: e20190388. (10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2019-0388)
- Hassemer, M. J. et al. 2020. Development of an attract-and-infect device for biological control of lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in poultry houses. Biological Control 149, article number: 104326. (10.1016/j.biocontrol.2020.104326)
- Cheruiyot, D., Midega, C. A., Pittchar, J. O., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2020. Farmers' perception and evaluation of brachiaria Grass (brachiaria spp.) genotypes for smallholder cereal-livestock production in East Africa. Agriculture 10(7), article number: 268. (10.3390/agriculture10070268)
- Ywaya, D. O. et al. 2020. Repellency and composition of essential oils of selected ethnobotanical plants used in Western Kenya against bites of Anopheles gambiae Sensu Stricto. Journal of Essential Oil Bearing Plants 23(3), pp. 432-441. (10.1080/0972060X.2020.1780954)
- Tamiru, A. et al. 2020. Genome wide association analysis of a stemborer egg induced "call-for-help" defence trait in maize. Scientific Reports 10(1), article number: 11205. (10.1038/s41598-020-68075-2)
- Radadiya, A. and Pickett, J. A. 2020. Characterizing human odorant signals: insights from insect semiochemistry and in silico modelling. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences 375(1800), article number: 20190263. (10.1098/rstb.2019.0263)
- Weeks, E. N. I. et al. 2020. Electrophysiologically and behaviourally active semiochemicals identified from bed bug refuge substrate. Scientific Reports 10(1), article number: 4590. (10.1038/s41598-020-61368-6)
- Robinson, A. et al. 2020. Responses of the putative trachoma vector, Musca sorbens, to volatile semiochemicals from human faeces. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 14(3), article number: e0007719. (10.1371/journal.pntd.0007719)
- Wamonje, F. O. et al. 2020. Different plant viruses induce changes in feeding behavior of specialist and generalist aphids on common bean that are likely to enhance virus transmission. Frontiers in Plant Science 10, article number: 1811. (10.3389/fpls.2019.01811)
- Sobhy, I. S., Caulfield, J. C., Pickett, J. A. and Birkett, M. A. 2020. Sensing the danger signals: cis-Jasmone reduces aphid performance on potato and modulates the magnitude of released volatiles. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 7, article number: 499. (10.3389/fevo.2019.00499)
2019
- Tolosa, T. A. et al. 2019. Molasses grass induces direct and indirect defense responses in neighbouring maize plants. Journal of Chemical Ecology 45(11-12), pp. 982-992. (10.1007/s10886-019-01122-z)
- Murage, A., Pittchar, J., Midega, C., Onyango, C., Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. 2019. Gender appropriateness of field days in knowledge generation and adoption of push-pull technology in eastern Africa. East African Agricultural and Forestry Journal 83(4), pp. 289-306. (10.1080/00128325.2019.1644145)
- Pickett, J. A., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2019. Removing constraints to sustainable food production: new ways to exploit secondary metabolism from companion planting and GM. Pest Management Science 75(9), pp. 2346-2352. (10.1002/ps.5508)
- Schlaeger, S., Pickett, J. A. and Birkett, M. A. 2019. Prospects for management of whitefly using plant semiochemicals, compared with related pests. Pest Management Science 74(11), pp. 2405-2411. (10.1002/ps.5058)
- Lopes Ferreira, L. et al. 2019. Identification of a non-host semiochemical from tick-resistant donkeys (Equus asinus) against Amblyomma sculptum ticks. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 10(3), pp. 621-627. (10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.02.006)
- Hassemer, M. J., Borges, M., Withall, D. M., Pickett, J., Laumann, R. A., Birkett, M. A. and Blassioli-Moraes, M. C. 2019. Development of pull and push–pull systems for management of lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus, in poultry houses using alarm and aggregation pheromones. Pest management Science 75(4), pp. 1107-1114. (10.1002/ps.5225)
- Stanczyk, N. M. et al. 2019. Species-specific alterations in Anopheles mosquito olfactory responses caused by Plasmodium infection. Scientific Reports 9, article number: 3396. (10.1038/s41598-019-40074-y)
- Michereff, M. F. F. et al. 2019. Variability in herbivore-induced defence signalling across different maize genotypes impacts significantly on natural enemy foraging behaviour. Journal of Pest Science 92(2), pp. 723-736. (10.1007/s10340-018-1033-6)
- Abagale, S. A. et al. 2019. Attractiveness of host banana leaf materials to the banana weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus in Ghana for development of field management strategies. Pest Management Science 75(2), pp. 549-555. (10.1002/ps.5182)
- Khan, Z. R., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J. and Pickett, J. A. 2019. Exploiting chemical ecology for developing novel integrated pest management strategies for Africa. Presented at: Indian Ecological Society International Conference 2016, Jammu, India, 18-20 Feb 2016 Presented at Peshin, R. and Dhawan, A. eds.Natural Resource Management: Ecological Perspectives, Vol. 11354. Sustainability in Plant and Crop Protection Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature Switzerland pp. 165-183., (10.1007/978-3-319-99768-1_10)
2018
- Renou, M. et al. 2018. Host shift induces changes in mate choice of the seed predator Acanthoscelides obtectus via altered chemical signalling. PLoS ONE 13(11), pp. e0206144. (10.1371/journal.pone.0206144)
- Leal, W. S. et al. 2018. Environmentally vulnerable noble chafers exhibit unusual pheromone-mediated behaviour. PLoS ONE 13(11), article number: e0206526. (10.1371/journal.pone.0206526)
- Pickett, J. A. and Weston, L. A. 2018. Possibilities for rationally exploiting co-evolution in addressing resistance to insecticides, and beyond. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 151, pp. 18-24. (10.1016/j.pestbp.2018.03.007)
- Khan, Z. R., Pittchar, J. O., Midega, C. A. O. and Pickett, J. A. 2018. Push-pull farming system controls fall armyworm: lessons from Africa. Outlooks on Pest Management 29(5), pp. 220-224. (10.1564/v29_oct_09)
- Vuts, J., Woodcock, C. M., Caulfield, J. C., Powers, S. J., Pickett, J. A. and Birkett, M. A. 2018. Isolation and identification of floral attractants from a nectar plant for the dried bean beetle, Acanthoscelides obtectus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Bruchinae). Pest Management Science 74(9), pp. 2069-2075. (10.1002/ps.4903)
- Oliveira Filho, J. G. d. et al. 2018. Persistence and efficacy of a new formulation based on dog allomonal repellents against Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato tick. Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinaria 27(3), pp. 313-318. (10.1590/s1984-296120180054)
- Cheruiyot, D., Midega, C. A., Ueckermann, E. A., Van den Berg, J., Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2018. Genotypic response of brachiaria (Urochloa spp.) to spider mite (Oligonychus trichardti ) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and adaptability to different environments. Field Crops Research 225, pp. 163-169. (10.1016/j.fcr.2018.06.011)
- Magalhães, D. M. et al. 2018. Identification of volatile compounds involved in host location by Anthonomus grandis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 6, article number: 98. (10.3389/fevo.2018.00098)
- Robinson, A. et al. 2018. Plasmodium-associated changes in human odor attract mosquitoes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115(18), pp. E4209-E4218., article number: 201721610. (10.1073/pnas.1721610115)
- Abagale, S. A. et al. 2018. (2R,5S)-Theaspirane Identified as the Kairomone for the Banana Weevil, Cosmopolites sordidus, from Attractive Senesced Leaves of the Host Banana, Musa spp.. Chemistry - a European Journal 24(37), pp. 9217-9219. (10.1002/chem.201800315)
- Fancelli, M., Borges, M., Laumann, R. A., Pickett, J., Birkett, M. A. and Blassioli-Moraes, M. C. 2018. Attractiveness of host plant volatile extracts to the Asian citrus psyllid, diaphorina citri, is reduced by terpenoids from the non-host cashew. Journal of Chemical Ecology 44(4), pp. 397-405. (10.1007/s10886-018-0937-1)
- Cheruiyot, D., Midega, C. A., Van den Berg, J., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2018. Suitability of brachiaria grass as a trap crop for management of Chilo partellus. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 166(2), pp. 139-148. (10.1111/eea.12651)
- Midega, C. A., Pittchar, J. O., Pickett, J., Hailu, G. W. and Khan, Z. R. 2018. A climate-adapted push-pull system effectively controls fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J E Smith), in maize in East Africa. Crop Protection 105, pp. 10-15. (10.1016/j.cropro.2017.11.003)
- Cheruiyot, D., Aura Odhiambo Midega, C., Van den Berg, J., Pickett, J. A. and Rahman Khan, Z. 2018. Genotypic responses of brachiaria grass (brachiaria spp.) accessions to drought stress. Journal of Agronomy 17(3), pp. 136-146. (10.3923/ja.2018.136.146)
- Koczor, S. et al. 2018. Conspecific and heterogeneric lacewings respond to (Z)-4-tridecene identified from Chrysopa formosa (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 44(2), pp. 137-146. (10.1007/s10886-017-0920-2)
- Li, F. et al. 2018. Expression of lima bean terpene synthases in rice enhances recruitment of a beneficial enemy of a major rice pest. Plant, Cell & Environment 41(1), pp. 111-120. (10.1111/pce.12959)
2017
- Solano, P. et al. 2017. Protecting cows in small holder farms in East Africa from tsetse flies by mimicking the odor profile of a non-host bovid. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases 11(10), article number: e0005977. (10.1371/journal.pntd.0005977)
- de Boer, J. G. et al. 2017. Odours of Plasmodium falciparum-infected participants influence mosquito-host interactions. Scientific Reports 7, article number: 9283. (10.1038/s41598-017-08978-9)
- Pereira, J. F. et al. 2017. DIMBOA levels in hexaploid Brazilian wheat are not associated with antibiosis against the cereal aphids Rhopalosiphum padi and Sitobion avenae. Theoretical and Experimental Plant Physiology 29(2), pp. 61-75. (10.1007/s40626-017-0084-z)
- O'Shea, B., Wadsworth, S., Pino Marambio, J., Birkett, M. A., Pickett, J. and Mordue Luntz, A. J. 2017. Disruption of host-seeking behaviour by the salmon louse,Lepeophtheirus salmonis,using botanically derived repellents. Journal of Fish Diseases 40(4), pp. 495-505. (10.1111/jfd.12526)
- Tamiru, A. et al. 2017. A maize landrace that emits defense volatiles in response to herbivore eggs possesses a strongly inducible terpene synthase gene. Ecology and Evolution 7(8), pp. 2835-2845. (10.1002/ece3.2893)
- Midega, C. A., Wasonga, C. J., Hooper, A. M., Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2017. Drought-tolerant Desmodium species effectively suppress parasitic striga weed and improve cereal grain yields in western Kenya. Crop Protection 98, pp. 94-101. (10.1016/j.cropro.2017.03.018)
- Aradottir, G., Martin, J., Clark, S., Pickett, J. and Smart, L. 2017. Searching for wheat resistance to aphids and wheat bulb fly in the historical Watkins and Gediflux wheat collections. Annals of Applied Biology 170(2), pp. 179-188. (10.1111/aab.12326)
- De Keyser, R. et al. 2017. Insecticidal effects of deltamethrin in laboratory and field populations of Culicoides species: how effective are host-contact reduction methods in India?. Parasites & Vectors 10, article number: 54. (10.1186/s13071-017-1992-0)
- Sobhy, I. S., Woodcock, C. M., Powers, S. J., Caulfield, J. C., Pickett, J. and Birkett, M. A. 2017. cis-Jasmone elicits aphid-induced stress signalling in potatoes. Journal of Chemical Ecology 43(1), pp. 39-52. (10.1007/s10886-016-0805-9)
- de Oliveira Filho, J. G. et al. 2017. Brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, infestation of susceptible dog hosts is reduced by slow release of semiochemicals from a less susceptible host. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 8(1), pp. 139-145. (10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.10.010)
- Ogah, E. O. et al. 2017. Electrophysiological and behavioral responses of female African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagné, to host plant volatiles. Journal of Chemical Ecology 43(1), pp. 13-16. (10.1007/s10886-016-0788-6)
2016
- Douris, V. et al. 2016. Resistance mutation conserved between insects and mites unravels the benzoylurea insecticide mode of action on chitin biosynthesis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113(51), pp. 14692-14697. (10.1073/pnas.1618258113)
- Khan, Z. R., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J. O., Murage, A. and Pickett, J. 2016. Climate-smart push-pull: a conservation agriculture technology for food security and environmental sustainability in Africa. In: Friedrich, T., Mkomwa, S. and Kassam, A. H. eds. Conservation agriculture for Africa: building resilient farming systems in a changing climate. CABI Publishing, pp. 151-166.
- Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2016. Plant volatile-mediated signalling and its application in agriculture: successes and challenges. New Phytologist 212(4), pp. 856-870. (10.1111/nph.14274)
- da Graça, J. P. et al. 2016. The natural plant stress elicitor cis-jasmone causes cultivar-dependent reduction in growth of the stink bug, Euschistus heros and associated changes in flavonoid concentrations in soybean, Glycine max. Phytochemistry 131, pp. 84-91. (10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.08.013)
- Nakashima, Y., Ida, T. Y., Powell, W., Pickett, J., Birkett, M. A., Taki, H. and Takabayashi, J. 2016. Field evaluation of synthetic aphid sex pheromone in enhancing suppression of aphid abundance by their natural enemies. BioControl 61(5), pp. 485-496. (10.1007/s10526-016-9734-3)
- Hassemer, M. J. et al. 2016. Revisiting the male-produced aggregation pheromone of the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae): identification of a six-component pheromone from a Brazilian population. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 64(36), pp. 6809-6818. (10.1021/acs.jafc.6b02235)
- Groen, S. C. et al. 2016. Virus infection of plants alters pollinator preference: A payback for susceptible hosts?. PLoS Pathogens 12(8), article number: e1005790. (10.1371/journal.ppat.1005790)
- Khan, Z., Midega, C. A. O., Hooper, A. and Pickett, J. 2016. Push-Pull: Chemical ecology-based integrated pest management technology. Journal of Chemical Ecology 42(7), pp. 689-697. (10.1007/s10886-016-0730-y)
- Mutyambai, D. M., Bruce, T. J. A., van den Berg, J., Midega, C. A. O., Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2016. An indirect defence trait mediated through egg-induced maize volatiles from neighbouring plants. PLoS ONE 11(7), pp. e0158744. (10.1371/journal.pone.0158744)
- Pickett, J. 2016. The essential need for GM crops. Nature Plants 2(6), pp. 16078. (10.1038/nplants.2016.78)
- Asudi, G. O., van den Berg, J., Midega, C. A. O., Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2016. The significance of Napier Grass Stunt Phytoplasma and Its transmission to cereals and sugarcane. Journal of Phytopathology 164(6), pp. 378-385. (10.1111/jph.12465)
- de Oliveira Filho, J. G. et al. 2016. Quantification of brown dog tick repellents, 2-hexanone and benzaldehyde, and release from tick-resistant beagles, Canis lupus familiaris. Journal of Chromatography B 1022, pp. 64-69. (10.1016/j.jchromb.2016.03.014)
- Lamb, A. et al. 2016. The potential for land sparing to offset greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. Nature Climate Change 6, pp. 488-492. (10.1038/nclimate2910)
- Hao, B. et al. 2016. Biosynthesis of natural and novel C-glycosylflavones utilising recombinant Oryza sativa C-glycosyltransferase (OsCGT) and Desmodium incanum root proteins. Phytochemistry 125, pp. 73-87. (10.1016/j.phytochem.2016.02.013)
- Hemingway, J. et al. 2016. Averting a malaria disaster: will insecticide resistance derail malaria control?. Lancet 387(10029), pp. 1785-1788. (10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00417-1)
- Magalhães, D. M., Borges, M., Laumann, R. A., Woodcock, C. M., Pickett, J., Birkett, M. A. and Blassioli-Moraes, M. C. 2016. Influence of two acyclic homoterpenes (Tetranorterpenes) on the foraging behavior of anthonomus grandis Boh. Journal of Chemical Ecology 42(4), pp. 305-313. (10.1007/s10886-016-0691-1)
- Vuts, J. et al. 2016. Responses of the two-spotted oak buprestid, Agrilus biguttatus (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), to host tree volatiles. Pest Management Science 72(4), pp. 845-851. (10.1002/ps.4208)
- Midega, C. A. O., Pickett, J., Hooper, A., Pittchar, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2016. Maize landraces are less affected by Striga hermonthica relative to hybrids in Western Kenya. Weed Technology Journal 30(1), pp. 21-28. (10.1614/WT-D-15-00055.1)
- Anderson, J. A. et al. 2016. Emerging agricultural biotechnologies for sustainable agriculture and food security. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 64(2), pp. 383-393. (10.1021/acs.jafc.5b04543)
- Asudi, G. O., Van den Berg, J., Midega, C. A. O., Schneider, B., Seemüller, E., Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2016. Detection, identification, and significance of phytoplasmas in wild grasses in East Africa. Plant Disease 100(1), pp. 108-115. (10.1094/PDIS-11-14-1173-RE)
2015
- Hao, B. et al. 2015. The biosynthesis of allelopathic di-C-glycosylflavones from the roots of Desmodium incanum (G. Mey.) DC. Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 13(48), pp. 11663-11673. (10.1039/C5OB01926E)
- Midega, C. A., Bruce, T. J., Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. R. 2015. Ecological management of cereal stemborers in African smallholder agriculture through behavioural manipulation. Ecological Entomology 40(S1), pp. 70-81. (10.1111/een.12216)
- Hooper, A., Caulfield, J., Hao, B., Pickett, J., Midega, C. and Khan, Z. 2015. Isolation and identification of Desmodium root exudates from drought tolerant species used as intercrops against Striga hermonthica. Phytochemistry 117, pp. 380-387. (10.1016/j.phytochem.2015.06.026)
- Midega, C. A., Bruce, T. J., Pickett, J., Pittchar, J. O., Murage, A. and Khan, Z. R. 2015. Climate-adapted companion cropping increases agricultural productivity in East Africa. Field Crops Research 180, pp. 118-125. (10.1016/j.fcr.2015.05.022)
- Borges, L. M. F., de Oliveira Filho, J. G., Ferreira, L. L., Louly, C. C. B., Pickett, J. A. and Birkett, M. A. 2015. Identification of non-host semiochemicals for the brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (Acari: Ixodidae), from tick-resistant beagles, Canis lupus familiaris. Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases 6(5), pp. 676-682. (10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.05.014)
- Bruce, T. J. et al. 2015. The first crop plant genetically engineered to release an insect pheromone for defence. Scientific Reports 5, article number: 11183. (10.1038/srep11183)
- Murage, A. W., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J. O., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2015. Determinants of adoption of climate-smart push-pull technology for enhanced food security through integrated pest management in eastern Africa. Food Security 7(3), pp. 709-724. (10.1007/s12571-015-0454-9)
- Koczor, S., Szentkirályi, F., Pickett, J. A., Birkett, M. A. and Tóth, M. 2015. Aphid sex pheromone compounds interfere with attraction of common green lacewings to floral bait. Journal of Chemical Ecology 41(6), pp. 550-556. (10.1007/s10886-015-0585-7)
- Touchet, S., Chamberlain, K., Woodcock, C. M., Miller, D. J., Birkett, M. A., Pickett, J. A. and Allemann, R. K. 2015. Novel olfactory ligands via terpene synthases. Chemical Communications 51(35), pp. 7550-7553. (10.1039/C5CC01814E)
- Zhang, Y. et al. 2015. Molecular characterization of two isoforms of a farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase gene in wheat and their roles in sesquiterpene synthesis and inducible defence against aphid infestation. New Phytologist 206(3), pp. 1101-1115. (10.1111/nph.13302)
- Asudi, G. O., van den Berg, J., Midega, C. A., Pittchar, J., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2015. Napier grass stunt disease in East Africa: Farmers' perspectives on disease management. Crop Protection 71, pp. 116-124. (10.1016/j.cropro.2015.02.008)
- Fernández-Grandon, G. M., Gezan, S. A., Armour, J. A. L., Pickett, J. and Logan, J. G. 2015. Heritability of attractiveness to mosquitoes. PLoS ONE 10(4), pp. e0122716. (10.1371/journal.pone.0122716)
- Tamiru, A., Bruce, T., Woodcock, C., Birkett, M., Midega, C., Pickett, J. and Khan, Z. 2015. Chemical cues modulating electrophysiological and behavioural responses in the parasitic wasp Cotesia sesamiae. Canadian Journal of Zoology 93(4), pp. 281-287. (10.1139/cjz-2014-0266)
- Mutyambai, D. M. et al. 2015. Responses of parasitoids to volatiles induced by Chilo partellus oviposition on teosinte, a wild ancestor of maize. Journal of Chemical Ecology 41(4), pp. 323-329. (10.1007/s10886-015-0570-1)
- Vuts, J., Powers, S. J., Caulfield, J. C., Pickett, J. A. and Birkett, M. A. 2015. Multiple roles of a male-specific compound in the sexual behavior of the dried bean beetle, acanthoscelides obtectus. Journal of Chemical Ecology 41(3), pp. 287-293. (10.1007/s10886-015-0560-3)
- Vuts, J. et al. 2015. Pheromone bouquet of the dried bean beetle, Acanthoscelides obtectus (Col.: Chrysomelidae), now complete. European Journal of Organic Chemistry 2015(22), pp. 4843-4846. (10.1002/ejoc.201500196)
2014
- Khan, Z. R., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J. O. and Pickett, J. A. 2014. Exploiting phytochemicals for developing sustainable crop protection strategies to withstand climate change: example from Africa. In: Singh, D. ed. Advances in Plant Biopesticides. New Delhi: Springer, pp. 35-46., (10.1007/978-81-322-2006-0_3)
- Khan, Z. R. et al. 2014. Farmers' knowledge and perceptions of the stunting disease of Napier grass in Western Kenya. Plant Pathology 63(6), pp. 1426-1435. (10.1111/ppa.12215)
- van Emden, H. F., Dingley, J., Dewhirst, S. Y., Pickett, J. A., Woodcock, C. M. and Wadhams, L. J. 2014. The effect of artificial diet on the production of alarm pheromone by Myzus persicae. Physiological Entomology 39(4), pp. 285-291. (10.1111/phen.12074)
- Mutyambai, D. M., Midega, C. A., Bruce, T. J., van den Berg, J., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2014. Behaviour and biology of Chilo partellus on maize landraces. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 153(2), pp. 170-181. (10.1111/eea.12237)
- Babikova, Z., Gilbert, L., Randall, K. C., Bruce, T. J. A., Pickett, J. A. and Johnson, D. 2014. Increasing phosphorus supply is not the mechanism by which arbuscular mycorrhiza increase attractiveness of bean (Vicia faba) to aphids. Journal of Experimental Botany 65(18), pp. 5231-5241. (10.1093/jxb/eru283)
- Khan, Z. R., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J. O. and Pickett, J. A. 2014. Push-Pull: A novel IPM strategy for the green revolution in Africa. In: Peshin R., . and Pimentel D., . eds. Integrated pest management. Springer, pp. 333-348., (10.1007/978-94-007-7802-3_13)
- Zhang, Y., Sun, Y., Yu, H., Zhou, J., Pickett, J. and Wu, K. 2014. Plant volatile analogues strengthen attractiveness to insect. PLoS ONE 9(6), pp. e99142. (10.1371/journal.pone.0099142)
- Birkett, M. A. and Pickett, J. 2014. Prospects of genetic engineering for robust insect resistance. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 19, pp. 59-67. (10.1016/j.pbi.2014.03.009)
- Chidawanyika, F., Midega, C. A., Bruce, T. J., Duncan, F., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2014. Oviposition acceptance and larval development of Chilo partellus stemborers in drought-stressed wild and cultivated grasses of East Africa. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 151(3), pp. 209-217. (10.1111/eea.12186)
- Pickett, J. A. et al. 2014. Delivering sustainable crop protection systems via the seed: exploiting natural constitutive and inducible defence pathways [Correction]. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences 369(1642), article number: 20140053. (10.1098/rstb.2014.0053)
- Siciliano, P. et al. 2014. Identification of pheromone components and their binding affinity to the odorant binding protein CcapOBP83a-2 of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 48, pp. 51-62. (10.1016/j.ibmb.2014.02.005)
- Pickett, J. A. 2014. Chemical ecology in the post genomics era. Journal of Chemical Ecology 40(4), pp. 319-319. (10.1007/s10886-014-0418-0)
- Pickett, J. A. et al. 2014. Delivering sustainable crop protection systems via the seed: exploiting natural constitutive and inducible defence pathways. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences 369(1639), article number: 20120281. (10.1098/rstb.2012.0281)
- Poppy, G. M., Jepson, P. C., Pickett, J. A. and Birkett, M. A. 2014. Achieving food and environmental security: new approaches to close the gap. Philosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences 369(1639), article number: 20120272. (10.1098/rstb.2012.0272)
- Khan, Z. R., Midega, C. A. O., Pittchar, J. O., Murage, A. W., Birkett, M. A., Bruce, T. J. A. and Pickett, J. 2014. Achieving food security for one million Sub-Saharan African poor through push-pull innovation by 2020. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 369(1639), article number: 20120284. (10.1098/rstb.2012.0284)
- Babikova, Z., Gilbert, L., Bruce, T., Dewhirst, S. Y., Pickett, J. A., Johnson, D. and Field, K. 2014. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and aphids interact by changing host plant quality and volatile emission. Functional Ecology 28(2), pp. 375-385. (10.1111/1365-2435.12181)
- Vuts, J. et al. 2014. Development of a female attractant for the click beetle pest Agriotes brevis. Pest Management Science 70(4), pp. 610-614. (10.1002/ps.3589)
- Pickett, J. A., Woodcock, C. M., Midega, C. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2014. Push-pull farming systems. Current Opinion in Biotechnology 26, pp. 125-132. (10.1016/j.copbio.2013.12.006)
- Farias, L. R. et al. 2014. Identification and expression profile of two putative odorant-binding proteins from the neotropical brown stink bug, Euschistus heros (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 43(2), pp. 106-114. (10.1007/s13744-013-0187-4)
- Cho, J. R., Lee, M. H., Park, C. G., Kim, J. H., Hooper, T., Woodcock, C. and Pickett, J. 2014. Behavioral response of the Lacewing Chrysopa cognata to both Aphis gossypii-induced plant volatiles and Chrysopa cognata-derived volatiles. Korean journal of applied entomology 53(1), pp. 7-13. (10.5656/KSAE.2013.09.0.028)
- Elek, H., Smart, L., Ahmad, S., Anda, A., Werner, C. and Pickett, J. 2014. A comparison of the levels of hydroxamic acids in Aegilops speltoidesand a hexaploid wheat and effects on Rhopalosiphum padibehaviour and fecundity. Acta Biologica Hungarica 65(1), pp. 38. (10.1556/ABiol.65.2014.1.4)
- Vuts, J., Imrei, Z., Birkett, M. A., Pickett, J. A., Woodcock, C. M. and Tóth, M. 2014. Semiochemistry of the Scarabaeoidea. Journal of Chemical Ecology 40(2), pp. 190-210. (10.1007/s10886-014-0377-5)
- Midega, C. A., Salifu, D., Bruce, T. J., Pittchar, J., Pickett, J. A. and Khan, Z. R. 2014. Cumulative effects and economic benefits of intercropping maize with food legumes on Striga hermonthica infestation. Field Crops Research 155, pp. 144-152. (10.1016/j.fcr.2013.09.012)
- Babikova, Z., Johnson, D., Bruce, T., Pickett, J. and Gilbert, L. 2014. Underground allies: How and why do mycelial networks help plants defend themselves?. Bioessays 36(1), pp. 21-26. (10.1002/bies.201300092)
- Pickett, J., Barasa, S. and Birkett, M. 2014. Vertebrate pheromones and other semiochemicals: the potential for accommodating complexity in signalling by volatile compounds for vertebrate management. Biochemical Society Transactions 42(4), pp. 846-850. (10.1042/BST20140134)
2013
- Babikova, Z., Johnson, D., Bruce, T., Pickett, J. and Gilbert, L. 2013. How rapid is aphid-induced signal transfer between plants via common mycelial networks?. Communicative and Integrative Biology 6(6), pp. e25904. (10.4161/cib.25904)
- Pickett, J. A., Hooper, A. M., Midega, C. A. O. and Khan, Z. R. 2013. Allelopathy. Parasitic Orobanchaceae, pp. 459-467. (10.1007/978-3-642-38146-1_25)
2002
- Ingvarsdóttir, A. et al. 2002. Semiochemical strategies for sea louse control: host location cues. Pest Management Science 58(6), pp. 537-545. (10.1002/ps.510)
1981
- Free, J. B., Pickett, J. A., Ferguson, A. W. and Smith, M. C. 1981. Synthetic pheromones to attract honeybee ( Apis mellifera) swarms. Journal of Agriculatural Science 97(2), pp. 427-431. (10.1017/S0021859600040879)
1980
- Griffiths, D. C. and Pickett, J. A. 1980. A potential application of aphid alarm pheromones. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 27(2), pp. 199-201. (10.1111/j.1570-7458.1980.tb02965.x)
- Pickett, J. A., Williams, I. H., Martin, A. P. and Smith, M. C. 1980. Nasonov pheromone of the honey bee,Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). Journal of Chemical Ecology 6(2), pp. 425-434. (10.1007/BF01402919)
- Pickett, J. A. and Griffiths, D. C. 1980. Composition of aphid alarm pheromones. Journal of Chemical Ecology 6(2), pp. 349-360. (10.1007/BF01402913)
- Pickett, J. A. and Stephenson, J. W. 1980. Plant volatiles and components influencing behavior of the field slug, Deroceras reticulatum (Müll.). Journal of Chemical Ecology 6(2), pp. 435-444. (10.1007/BF01402920)
1973
- Pickett, J. 1973. Use of micro-bead anion-exchange resin for direct estimation of flavour nucleotides in complex solutions. Journal of Chromatography A 81(1), pp. 156-159. (10.1016/S0021-9673(01)82330-X)
The research programme, based in the Biological Chemistry section, is in chemical ecology involving chemically mediated interactions between various organisms including pests attacking plants and animals. Having been the first to characterise, as novel molecular structures including isoprenoids, the sex related pheromones of insect vectors, e.g. aphids, mosquitoes and sand flies, of plant and human pathogens, chemical characterization of pheromones and other semiochemicals continues to underpin much of the research. This involves sophisticated technologies for capturing and handling the minute quantities of the chemicals involved and use of coupled high resolution chromatography to extremely sensitive mass spectrometry including the ThermoFisher Exactive Orbitrap system for tentative identification. Currently this approach is being directed at the identification of long range attractants of mosquitoes during daytime flight using also GC coupled antennal electrophysiological studies at the single olfactory sensillum level with collaborators in the School of Biosciences. There are other related areas of research:
- To identify, and exploit in pest management, we study stress related chemical signaling from plants, and vertebrates including human and farm animals, for example on: (i) the natural defense response of maize to pests that leads to increased attack on the pests by parasitic wasps, with collaborators in sub-Saharan Africa; (ii) non-host related signaling against arthropods attacking camels in traditional animal husbandry in Somaliland; (iii) chemical signals for the early diagnosis of the development of fungal and viral pathogens of plant and human health with various collaborators in the UK.
- Elucidating biosynthetic pathways to pheromones and other semiochemicals, together with associated molecular genetics, involves new studies on the biosynthesis of compounds attracting pests of commercial banana plants, and of irregular homosesquiterpenoids of sand fly sex pheromones in collaboration with Nottingham University.
- Exploiting pheromones and other semiochemicals in management of pests and beneficial organisms by ecology management and genetic modification (GM) involves chemical studies underpinning development of push-pull systems delivering defense against pests (re homoterpenes) and weeds (re di-C-glycosylatedflavonoids) with various collaborators including in sub-Saharan Africa and involving commercial agencies based in South Wales.
