Research projects have dealt with the use of plants to provide sustainable, nature-based solutions to issues like the promotion and protection of biodiversity; the protection of agricultural crops from pest, pathogens and environmental stresses; and building sustainable urban communities with tree-rich green spaces.

My research has been funded by Science Foundation Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, Irish Research Council, Department of Agriculture and University College Cork.

Specific research interests include:

• Chemical signalling in the Potato – Potato Cyst Nematode (Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis) – Soil Rhizobacteria interaction.
• Biological control of PCN using bacteria, novel crops (e.g. Solanum sisymbriifolium) and soil amendments.
• Community-level physiological profiling of the rhizobiome.
• Biological control of plant pests and pathogens.
• Organic and sustainable horticulture.
• Environmental and societal impacts of urban trees.
• The impact of soil compaction on plant growth.

Dr Lettice welcomes discussion with prospective collaborators (industry or academia) who wish to explore research opportunities. He also welcomes enquiries from prospective postgraduate students who are interested in carrying out a project within the research group. You can contact Dr Lettice at e.lettice[at]ucc.ie

Recent Publications:

Antonelli, A., Fry, C., Smith, R.J., Simmonds, M.S.J., Kersey, P.J.,
Pritchard, H.W., … Lettice, E., … (2020). State of the World’s Plants and Fungi 2020. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.34885/172

Kersey, .J.; Collemare, J.; Cockel, C.; Das; Dulloo, E.M.; Kelly, L.J.; Lettice, E.; Malécot, V.; Maxted, N.; Metheringham, C.; Thormann, I.; Leitch, I.J. (2020) Selecting for useful properties of plants and fungi – Novel approaches, opportunities, and challenges. Plants, People, Planet 2 (5) p. 409–420. Link

Griffin, A., Doyle Prestwich, B. and Lettice, E. (2019). UCC Open Arboretum Project: Trees as a Teaching and Outreach Tool for Environmental and Plant Education. In: Supple, B. and Delahunty, T. (Eds), Proceedings of Learning Connections 2019: Spaces, People, Practice pp 122-128.

Lettice, EP (2019). The rhizosphere: measuring the zone of interaction. Annual Plant Reviews Online 2: 1-17 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119312994.apr0683

de Lacey, J & Lettice, EP (2018). Analysis of historic climate data for Ireland and its impact on Late Blight of potatoes. In: Gleeson and Whelan (Eds) MERA Workshop Proceedings, Met Eireann, Met Eireann, Dublin. p13-17. Link

Doyle Prestwich B, Lettice EP (eds) (2018) Special Issue, International Association for Plant Biotechnology 2018. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology- Plant. Springer, Berlin. (132 pp). Link

Lettice, EP; Jones, PW (2017). Bacterial functional diversity in Irish potato field soil, as determined by community-level physiological profiling. Biology and Environment: Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Vol. 117B, No. 2: 107-119 Link

Hearne, R; Lettice, EP & Jones, PW (2017). Interspecific and intraspecific competition in potato cyst nematodes (Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis). Nematology 19(4): 463-475 Link

Lettice, EP; Jones, PW (2016). Effect of soil and soil bacteria on hatching activity towards potato cyst nematodes (Globodera spp.). Nematology, 18(7): 803-810. Link

Lettice, EP; Jones, PW (2015). Evaluation of rhizobacterial colonisation and the ability to induce Globodera pallida hatch. Nematology, 17 (2):203-212. Link