Job Title
Professor
Department
Life Sciences
Phone
+44(0)2476 575050
Research Interests
My research interests are in the mechanisms by which plants interact with the environment and the practical consequences of these interactions. I am particularly interested in the role of light and photoperiod in modulating developmental transitions, such as juvenility, flowering and bulb initiation. My current research includes a study of the control of juvenility, which is defined as the phase of early development during which plants are not competent to respond to environmental signals that induce flowering in adult plants. I work with Antirrhinum and Arabidopsis where flowering is photoperiod-sensitive and with Brassica where flowering is usually low-temperature-dependent. An important finding is that the length of the juvenile phase is regulated by light quantity, pointing to links between assimilate resource management and flowering capacity [1]
A second area of research is the genetic control bulbing in Allium species in response to daylength. The working hypothesis is that the mechanism is analogous to the photoperiodic regulation of flowering, which is well-characterised. We have identified components linked to the circadian clock that may be related to daylength sensitivity [2]. Future work aims to identify the intra-organ signals and target genes that mediate the vegetative to bulbing transition.
I also have a strong interest in climate change and crop development and have led several recent projects assessing the potential impact of predicted weather patterns on aspects of development in a range of crops. Current work involves a study of water and nutrient use efficiency in Brassica and wheat at ambient and elevated CO2 levels.
Biography
Brian obtained his first degree in Botany and a PhD in Plant Physiology at UCW Aberystwyth. He worked as a Postdoctoral Scientist in Carleton University, Ottawa and the University of Reading before becoming a research scientist at the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute in Littlehampton, which subsequently became part of Horticulture Research International. He moved to Wellesbourne in 1995 where he was latterly a Research Director responsible for the Crop Improvement and Biotechnology Research Theme. He joined the University of Warwick in 2004 as part of Warwick HRI. He became a member of the newly formed School of Life Sciences in 2010.
- Cheng, Wei, Rashid, Md. Harun Ar, Thomas, Brian, 2021. Changes in the expression of photoperiodic bulbing genes in response to increasing daylength in long-day and short-day onion varieties. The Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, 96 (6), pp. 718-727
- Rashid, Md. Harun Ar, Thomas, Brian, 2020. Diurnal expression of Arabidopsis gene homologs during daylength-regulated bulb formation in onion (Allium cepa L.). Scientia Horticulturae, 261
- Taylor, Andrew, Teakle, Graham R., Walley, Peter G., Finch-Savage, William E., Jackson, Alison C., Jones, Julie, Hand, Paul, Thomas, Brian, Havey, Michael J., Pink, David A. C., Clarkson, John P., 2019. Assembly and characterisation of a unique onion diversity set identifies resistance to Fusarium basal rot and improved seedling vigour. Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 132 (12), pp. 3245-3264
- Ar Rashid, Md. Harun, Cheng, Wei, Thomas, Brian, 2019. Temporal and spatial expression of Arabidopsis gene homologs control daylength adaptation and bulb formation in onion (Allium cepa L.). Scientific Reports, 9
- Taylor, Andrew, Pereira, Nicole, Thomas, Brian, Pink, David A. C., Jones, Julie, Bending, G. D., 2015. Growth and nutritional responses to arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are dependent on onion genotype and fungal species. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 51 (7), pp. 801-813
- Sgamma, Tiziana, Thomas, Brian, Muleo, Rosario, 2015. Ethylene inhibitor silver nitrate enhances regeneration and genetic transformation of Prunus avium (L.) cv Stella. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC), 120 (1), pp. 79-88
- Sgamma, Tiziana, Jackson, Alison C., Muleo, Rosario, Thomas, Brian, Massiah, Andrea J., 2014. TEMPRANILLO is a regulator of juvenility in plants. Scientific Reports, 4
- Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Massiah, Andrea J., Thomas, Brian, 2013. Starch metabolism and antiflorigenic signals modulate the juvenile-to-adult phase transition in Arabidopsis. Plant, Cell & Environment, 36 (10), pp. 1802-1811
- Taylor, Andrew, Vagany, V., Barbara, Dez J., Thomas, Brian, Pink, David, Jones, J. E., Clarkson, John P., 2013. Identification of differential resistance to six Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae isolates in commercial onion cultivars through the development of a rapid seedling assay. Plant Pathology, 62 (1), pp. 103-111
- Distefano, Gaetano, Cirilli, Marco, Las Casas, Giuseppina, La Malfa, Stefano, Continella, Alberto, Rugini, Eddo, Thomas, Brian, Long, Guiyou, Gentile, Alessandra, Muleo, Rosario, 2013. Ectopic expression of Arabidopsis phytochrome B in Troyer citrange affects photosynthesis and plant morphology. Scientia Horticulturae, 159, pp. 1-7
- Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Massiah, Andrea J., Thomas, Brian, 2012. Florigenic and Antiflorigenic Signalling in Plants. Plant and Cell Physiology
- Breeze, Emily, Harrison, Elizabeth, McHattie, Stuart, Hughes, Linda Karen, Hickman, Richard J., Hill, Claire, Kiddle, Steven J., Kim, Youn-sung, Penfold, Christopher A., Jenkins, Dafyd J., Zhang, Cunjin, Morris, Karl, Jenner, Carol E., Jackson, Stephen D., Thomas, Brian, Tabrett, Alex, Legaie, Roxane, Moore, Jonathan D., Wild, David L., Ott, Sascha et al (Select to open full list), 2011. High-resolution temporal profiling of transcripts during Arabidopsis leaf senescence reveals a distinct chronology of processes and regulation. Plant Cell, The, Vol.23 (No.3), pp. 873-894
- Wagstaff, Carol, Bramke, Irene, Breeze, Emily, Thornber, Sarah Elizabeth, Harrison, Elizabeth, Thomas, Brian, Buchanan-Wollaston, Vicky, Stead, Tony, Rogers, Hilary, 2010. A specific group of genes respond to cold dehydration stress in cut Alstroemeria flowers whereas ambient dehydration stress accelerates developmental senescence expression patterns. Journal of Experimental Botany, Vol.61 (No.11), pp. 2905-2921
- Taylor, Andrew, Massiah, Andrea J., Thomas, Brian, 2010. Conservation of Arabidopsis thaliana photoperiodic flowering time genes in onion (Allium cepa L.). Plant and Cell Physiology, Vol.51 (No.10), pp. 1627-1637
- Morris, Karl, Dr., Thornber, Sarah Elizabeth, Codrai, Lesley, Richardson, C. (Christine), Craig, A. (Adam), Sadanandom, Ari, Thomas, Brian, Jackson, Stephen D., 2010. Day Neutral Flowering represses Constans to prevent Arabidopsis flowering early in short days. Plant Cell, Vol.22 (No.4), pp. 1118-1128
- Mallor, C., Thomas, Brian, 2008. Resource allocation and the origin of flavour precursors in onion bulbs. Journal of Horticultural Science and Biotechnology, Vol.83 (No.2), pp. 191-198
- Collier, Rosemary, Fellows, J. R. (Jane R.), Adams, S. R. (Steven R.), Semenov, Mikhail, Thomas, Brian, 2008. Vulnerability of horticultural crop production toextreme weather events. Aspects of Applied Biology, Vol.88, pp. 3-14
- Huchette, O., Arnault, I., Auger, J., Bellamy, C., Trueman, L., Thomas, Brian, Ochatt, S. I., Kahane, R., 2007. Genotype, nitrogen fertility and sulphur availability interact to affect flavour in garlic (Allium sativum L.). Journal of Horticultural Science & Biotechnology, 82 (1), pp. 79-88
- Franklin, Keara A., Linley, Philip J., Montgomery, Beronda L., Lagarias, J. Clark, Thomas, Brian, Jackson, Stephen D., Terry, Matthew J., 2003. Misregulation of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in transgenic tobacco seedlings expressing mammalian biliverdin reductase. The Plant Journal, 35 (6), pp. 717-728
- Pettya, Lisa M., Harberdb, Nicholas P., Carré, Isabelle A., Thomas, Brian, Jackson, Stephen D., 2003. Expression of the Arabidopsis gai gene under its own promoter causes a reduction in plant height in chrysanthemum by attenuation of the gibberellin response. Plant Science, 164 (2), pp. 175-182
- Montgomery, Beronda L., Franklin, Keara A., Terry, Matthew J., Thomas, Brian, Jackson, Stephen D., Crepeau, Marc W., Lagarias, J. Clark, 2001. Biliverdin reductase-induced phytochrome chromophore deficiency in transgenic tobacco. Plant Physiology, 125 (1), pp. 266-277
- Yanovsky, Marcelo J., Izaguirre, Miriam, Wagmaister, Javier A., Gatz, Christiane, Jackson, Stephen D., Thomas, Brian, Casal, Jorge J., 2000. Phytochrome A resets the circadian clock and delays tuber formation under long days in potato. The Plant Journal, 23 (2), pp. 223-232
- Jackson, Stephen D., James, Pat E., Carrera, Esther, Prat, Salomé, Thomas, Brian, 2000. Regulation of transcript levels of a potato gibberellin 20-oxidase gene by light and phytochrome B. Plant Physiology, 124 (1), pp. 423-430
- Carter, Charlotte E., Szmidt-Jaworska, A., Hughes, M., Thomas, Brian, Jackson, Stephen D., 2000. Phytochrome regulation of phytochrome A mRNA levels in the model short-day-plant Pharbitis nil. Journal of Experimental Botany, 51 (345), pp. 703-711
- Jackson, Stephen D., James, Pat, Prat, Salome, Thomas, Brian, 1998. Phytochrome B affects the levels of a graft-transmissiblesignal involved in tuberization. Plant Physiology, 117 (1), pp. 29-32
- Jackson, Stephen D., Thomas, Brian, 1997. Photoreceptors and signals in the photoperiodic control of development. Plant, Cell and Environment, 20 (6), pp. 790-795
- Thomas, Brian, Carré, Isabelle A., Jackson, Stephen D., 2006. Photoperiodism and flowering. Jordan, B. (ed.), The Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Flowering, CAB International
- Petty, L. M., Harberd, N., Thomas, Brian, Jackson, Stephen D., 2001. Manipulating the gibberellin response to reduce plant height in Chrysanthemum morifolium. In Sorvari, S.; Karhu, S.; Kanervo, E.; Pihakaski , S. (eds.), Acta Horticulturae 560 IV International Symposium on In Vitro Culture and Horticultural Breeding, International Society for Horticultural Science, pp. 87-90
- Jackson, Stephen D., Thomas, Brian, 1999. The photoperiodic control of plant reproduction. In Singhal, G. S.; Renger , G.; Sopory, S. K.; Irrgang, K.-D.; Govindjee, (eds.), Concepts in Photobiology, Springer Netherlands, pp. 868-896
- Jackson, Stephen D., Thomas, Brian, 1998. The photoperiodic control of tuberisation in potato. In Biological Rhythms and Photoperiodism in Plants, Oxford, UK, Bios Scientific Publishers, pp. 183-193
- Jackson, Stephen D., Prat, S., Thomas, Brian, 1997. Regulation of tuber induction in potato by daylength and phytochrome. In Cockshull, K. E.; Langton, F. A.; Lumsden, P. J. (eds.), ISHS Acta Horticulturae 435: II Workshop on Environmental Regulation of Plant Morphogenesis, International Society for Horticultural Science, pp. 159-170
- Jackson, Stephen D., Thomas, Brian, 1997. Manipulating the photoperiodic control of plant reproduction. In Cockshull, K.; Gray, D.; Seymour, G.; Thomas, Brian (eds.), Genetic and environmental manipulation of horticultural crops, Wallingford, CABI Publishing, pp. 133-142
- Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Massiah, Andrea J., Adams, S. R. (Steven R.), Jackson, Alison C., Valdes, V. M., Thomas, Brian, 2010. Physiological and genetic control of the juvenile phasein plants. 5th EPSO Conference Plants For Life 2010, Olos, Finland, 18-22 April 2010, Published in 5th EPSO Conference Book of Abstracts
- Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Thomas, Brian, Valdes, V. M., Jackson, Stephen D., Jackson, Alison C., Adams, S. R., Massiah, Andrea J., 2009. Juvenile phase change: towards a physiological and genetic understanding. Society for Experimental Biology, Annual Main Meeting, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 28 June - 01 July 2009
- Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Massiah, Andrea J., Adams, S. R., Jackson, Alison C., Jackson, Stephen D., Ruiz, Veronica Valdes, Thomas, Brian, 2009. Ge?et??? ?a? f?s???????? a????s? t?? ?ea????t?ta?. 24? ?a?e?????? S???d??? ????????? ?ta??e?a? ?p?st?µ?? ?p?????pe?t????, ?????a, ?????-Greece, 20-23 ??t?ß???? 2009
- Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Massiah, Andrea J., Thomas, Brian, 2008. Towards understanding the genetic mechanism of temporal response to photoperiod in Arabidopsis. Control of Flowering Time and Applications for Plant Breeding, University of Kiel, Salzau. Germany, September 22nd - 24th 2008
- Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Massiah, Andrea J., Adams, S. R., Jackson, Alison C., Valdes, V. M., Morris, Karl, Thomas, Brian, 2008. Study of the genetic and physiological control of juvenility in plants. 4th European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO) Conference, Toulon (Côte d?Azur), France, 22 - 26 June 2008
- Massiah, Andrea J., Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Morris, Karl, Codrai, L, Thomas, Brian, Jackson, Stephen D., 2006. els : an early ?owering Arabidopsis thaliana mutant. Annual Symposium on Photomorphogenesis UK, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK, 17 - 21 Dec 2006
- Thomas, Brian, 2006. Light signals and flowering. Symposium of the Society-for-Experimental-Biology held in Honour of Georges Bernier, Canterbury, ENGLAND, APR, 2006, Published in JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, pp. 3387-3393
- Matsoukas, Ioannis G., Thomas, Brian, Massiah, Andrea J., 2005. ????a?? ?a? f?s???????? a????s? t?? ????s??. 22? ?a?e?????? S???d??? ????????? ?ta??e?a? ?p?st?µ?? ?p?????pe?t????, ??t?a, ?????-Greece, 19-21 October 2005
- Thomas, Brian, Massiah, Andrea J., Jackson, Stephen D., Morris, K., Adams, S., 2006. Light signals in flowering. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Elsevier Inc
| Title | Funder | Award start | Award end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support for a Base Collection for use in Vegetable Research: GRU renewal tender; Defra GC0148 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 Apr 2014 | 31 Mar 2024 |
| Assesssing the challenges around the variability of nutritional density in vegetables which can impact on food quality and the impact of processing linked to VeGIN 57617 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 Sept 2018 | 31 Mar 2019 |
| Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network (VeGIN) Tender - Sep 2014 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 28 Nov 2014 | 31 Dec 2017 |
| Extension to VeGIN: Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network for leafy and field vegetables CH0101 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 Mar 2014 | 30 Sept 2014 |
| Adaption of interacting factors associated with climate change | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 Apr 2010 | 30 Apr 2013 |
| DEFRA Warwick Guarantee Projects Inflation 2010/11. | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 14 Apr 2011 | 31 Dec 2011 |
| AC0310 Climate change impacts and adaptation - a risk based approach | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 May 2009 | 30 Apr 2010 |
| Supplement/Amendment 2 to DEFRA AC0309 Scoping Study on the Potential Impact of Envrionmental Factors Associated with Climate Change on Major UK crops | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 Dec 2008 | 31 Mar 2009 |
| DW: HH3728SX: Developing tools for growers and breeders to enable the predictable manipulation of flowering | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 Apr 2005 | 31 Mar 2009 |
| Scoping Study on the Potential Impact of Environmental Factors Associated with Climate Change on Major UK Crops | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 Apr 2008 | 30 Sept 2008 |
| Extension to vulnerability of UK agriculture to extreme events CSA7128/AC0301 RHRBT0290 | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 May 2007 | 31 Mar 2008 |
| Vulnerability of UK Agriculture to Extreme Events. | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 May 2006 | 30 Apr 2007 |
| Scoping Study on maintaining the quality of fruit and veg in the supply chain (core grant) | Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs | 01 Dec 2006 | 31 Mar 2007 |