The David Miller Travel Bursary Award aims to give early career plant scientists or horticulturists the opportunity of travel in connection with their horticultural careers. Maria Pattichis was awarded one of the 2025 David Miller Travel Bursaries to attend the "International Symposium on Plant Pathogenic Sclerotiniaceae" in Thessaloniki, Greece. Read her report below.
"With the aid of the David Miller Travel Bursary, I was able to attend the International Symposium on Plant Pathogenic Sclerotiniaceae in Thessaloniki, Greece. Set on the background of this historic region, the symposium explored many aspects of the biology of this group of prolific plant pathogens, including their interactions with hosts, from both the pathogen and plant perspective, to genetics and disease management strategies. Attending this conference was incredibly useful for both my academic and personal development. It gave me a deep dive into the pathogen I study, fantastic networking opportunities, and the opportunity to present my research to an international audience of experts.
"This conference was the first time I have given an oral presentation at an external event, which was an incredible opportunity for me. I study the plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea, which can infect over a thousand species of plants, including many crops, both pre- and post-harvest. It is hard to control through the application of fungicides alone and causes upwards of $10 billion in crop losses, annually. My research focuses on understanding the regulation of virulence in the pathogen, which I have done through conducting transcriptomic analysis, network modelling, and dsRNA-mediated silencing. The application of dsRNA has emerged as a sustainable alternative to fungicide application, so finding new targets is important for the continued control of the pathogen.
Maria presenting at the conference
"As well as being able to present my own research, I had the opportunity to hear the cutting-edge research happening in my field. Some of the highlights of the conference for me included meeting Barbara Blanco-Ulate and hearing about her research that focuses on fruit susceptibility to B. cinerea and how it changes upon ripening. I also particularly enjoyed the talks focusing on the wide range of virulence mechanisms that B. cinerea employs to infect its hosts, from inducing cell death to mimicking and hijacking host defence pathways. One of the aspects of the pathogen that I am particularly interested in is what determines host-specificity and preference in the Botrytis species, and I enjoyed having conversations with other delegates about this!
"I enjoyed meeting other researchers during the conference, from PIs to early career researchers, from all around the world, including from the Netherlands, USA, South Africa, Australia, and Spain. As part of the conference timetable, one day was reserved for a field trip, which was an excellent opportunity to connect with others in a more informal setting. During this trip, we toured the Museum of the Tombs of Aigai, where Alexander the Great’s father and son were buried, and a local vineyard. Lunch was at a local taverna, which was delicious and in an incredibly scenic place. It was a great opportunity to learn about the history of the area and experience some local culture!
"I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Thessaloniki, where I was able to share my research, expand my knowledge, and meet some great people. I would like to thank the SCI Horticulture group for selecting me to receive the David Miller Travel Bursary to support my attendance at this conference."
Maria Pattichis
PhD Student
University of York
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