Anna Brown, BSc, PhD

Project Manager, Centre for Forestry and Climate Change

Dr Anna Brown graduated from the University of Wales, Bangor in 1998 with a BSc (Hons) in Forestry. She joined the Tree Health section of Forest Research in 1998, obtaining a PhD in 2001 in collaboration with Imperial College studying the potential of bluestain fungi as biocontrol agents of decay fungi. In October 2001 she worked as a scientific officer in the silviculture branch, returning a year later to the Tree Health section.

Current role

Project Manager, Centre for Forestry and Climate Change

Current programmes

Dothistroma (red band) needle blight
Project Manager within the Advice and Scientific Support for Tree Health Programme.

Affiliations and achievements

• Member of the British Mycological Society
• Member of the British Society for Plant Pathology
• Member of the IUFRO Working party 7.02.02. ‘Foliage, shoot and stem diseases of forest trees’
• Founder member of the International Dothistroma Alliance
• Proposer of the recently accepted EU Cost Action Determining Invasiveness And Risk Of Dothistroma (DIAROD)
• Scientific adviser on the Forestry Commission Red Band Needle Blight Programme Board and Forest Enterprise working groups

Research areas

Investigations into the biology and ecology of Dothistroma septosporum, causing Dothistroma (red band) blight including monitoring of the disease extent, severity and impact and establishment of disease management practices.

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Main recent publications

Peer reviewed journal papers and conference proceedings

Vettraino A.M., Brasier, C.M., Brown, A.V. & Vannini, A.  (2011).  Phytophthora himalsilva sp. nov. an unusually phenotypically variable species from a remote forest in Nepal. Fungal biology, 115:3, 275-287

Sturrock. R.N., Frankel, S.J., Brown, A.V., Hennon, P.E., Kliejunas, J.T., Lewis, K.J., Worrall, J. J. & Woods, A.J.  (2011).  Climate Change and Forest Diseases.  Plant Pathology, 60, 133-149

Vannini, A., Brown, A.V., Vettraino A.M. & Brasier, C.M.  (2009). The search for Phytophthora centres of origin: Phytophthora species in mountain ecosystems in Nepal. 4th Workshop of the IUFRO Working Party 7.02.09 “Phytophthoras in Forests and Natural Ecosystems”, 54-55.

Brown, A.V. and Webber, J.F. (2009).  Biological control of decay in seasoning utility poles.  I. Growth rate and colonising ability of bluestain and decay fungi in vivo and in vitro. Forest Pathology, 56, 145-156. 

Watt, M.S., Kriticos, D.J., Alcaraz, S., & Brown, A.V and Leriche, A. (2009).  The hosts and potential geographic range of Dothistroma needle blight. Forest Ecology and Management, 257:6, 1505-1519.

Brown, A.V. and Brasier, C.M.  (2007). Colonisation of tree xylem by Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae and other Phytophthora species.  Plant Pathology, 56, 227-241. 

Groenewald, M., Barnes, I, Bradshaw, R.E., Brown, A.V., Dale, A., Groenewald J. Z., Lewis, K. J., Wingfield, B.D., Wingfield, M.J., Crous, P.W.  (2007).    Characterisation and worldwide distribution of the mating type genes in the Dothistroma needle blight pathogens.  Phytopathology, 97:7, 825-834.

Brown, A.V. (2007).  The Status of Red Band Needle Blight in Great Britain.  Proceedings of the 54th Western International Forest Disease Work Conference, 61-64. 

Brasier, C.M., Denman, S, Webber, J.F and Brown, A.V..  (2006).  Sudden Oak Death: recent developments on trees in Europe.  Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Second Science Symposium: The state of our knowledge, 31-33.

Brown, A.V., Brasier, C.M., and Webber, J.F.  (2006). Aetiology and distribution of Phytophthora kernoviae and P. ramorum stem lesions on European beech in south-west England. In, Brasier, C., Jung, T. and Oßwald (eds.).  Progress in research on Phytophthora diseases of forest trees, London, UK: HMSO and Forest Research Agency, 139-142.

Brown, A.V., Brasier, C.M.  Denman, S., Rose, J., Kirk, S.A., and Webber, J.F. (2006).  Tree hosts of aerial Phytophthora infections with particular reference to P. ramorum and P. kernoviae at two UK survey sites.  In, Brasier, C., Jung, T. and Oßwald (eds.).  Progress in research on Phytophthora diseases of forest trees, London, UK: HMSO and Forest Research Agency, 122-125.

Brown, A.V., Brasier, C.M., Kirk, S.A., Rose, J., Denman, S. and Webber, J.F. (2006).  Hosts, aetiology and distribution of aerial stem infections of P. ramorum and P. kernoviae at three woodland sites in the UK. Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Second Science Symposium: The state of our knowledge, 105-108.

Brasier, C.M., Denman, S., Brown, A.V. and Webber, J.F.  (2004).  Sudden Oak Death (Phytophthora ramorum) discovered on trees in Europe.  Mycological Research, 108:10, 1107-1110.

Brown, A.V. Willoughby, I, Clay, D, V and Moore, R.  (2003).  The use of dye markers as a method of reducing herbicide use and potential environmental impacts.  Forestry, 76:4, 371-384.

Popular articles

Brown, A.V.  (2008).  Britain - forever blighty?  The status of red band needle blight in Britain.  Forestry and Timber News, June 2008, 22-23.

Brown, A.V. and Thorpe, K, V.  (2008).  Red band needle blight.  Tree Damage Alert No. 124.  The Tree Advice Trust. 

Brown A.V.  (2005). Seeing Red! Red band needle blight and its impact on UK pines.  Forestry and British timber, 6, 16 -18.

Brown, A.V.  (2005).  Report on the selected highlights of the Sudden Oak Death Second Science Symposium, January 18-21 2005, Monterey, California, USA.  British Society of Plant Pathology Newsletter, 29-32.

Forestry Commission publications

Brown, A.V. and Webber, J. F.  (2008).  Red band needle blight of Conifers in Britain ^(PDF-1200K).  Forestry Commission Research Note 002.  Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. 

Denman, S.,  Webber, J., Brown, A.V and Brasier, C.  (2008). New findings on the threat from Phytophthoras. Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2007-8, 46 ^(PDF-1416K).

Brown, A.V. (2007). Researching the spread of red band needle blight. Forest Research Annual Report and Accounts 2006-7, 47 ^(PDF-2807K).

Brown, A.V. and Macaskill, G.  (2005).  Shoot diseases of Pine ^(PDF-377K).  Forest Research Information Note 69.  Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Brown, A.V. Green, S., Hendry, S. (2005). Needle diseases of pine. Forestry Research Information Note 67. Edinburgh, Scotland.

Brown, A.V., Rose, D, R., and Webber, J. F.  (2003).  Red band needle blight of pine ^(PDF-1376K).  Forest Research Information Note 49.  Forestry Commission, Edinburgh.

Published abstract, extended abstracts and posters

Archibald, S. and Brown, A.V.  (2007).  A comparison of Dothistroma septosporum isolates from two Forest Districts in Britain.  Workshop of the IUFRO Working party 7.02.02. “Foliage, shoot and stem diseases of forest trees”, 21-24 May 2007, Sopron, Hungary.

Archibald, S. and Brown, A.V.  (2007).  The relationship between climate and the incidence of red band needle blight in the East Anglia Forest District, Britain.  Workshop of the IUFRO Working party 7.02.02. “Foliage, shoot and stem diseases of forest trees”, 21-24 May 2007, Sopron, Hungary.

Brasier, C.M., Brown, A.V.,  Rose, J., and Kirk, S.A. (2007). Infection of Tree Stems by Zoospores of Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae. Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Third Science Symposium, 5-9 2007 March, Santa Rosa, California, USA.

Brown, A.V. and  Brasier, C.M.  (2007).   Invasion of Xylem of Mature Tree Stems by Phytophthora ramorum and P. kernoviae. Proceedings of the Sudden Oak Death Third Science Symposium, 5-9 March 2007, Santa Rosa, California, USA.

Denman, S., Kirk, S.A., Orton, E., Whybrow, A., Rose, J., Brasier C.M., Brown, A., & Webber, J.F. (2007). Emerging diseases at the interface between horticultural nurseries and natural ecosystems. SASPP Western Cape Regional Branch meeting, 12 June 2007, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Brown, A.V. (2006).   International and national disease trends of red band needle blight. Proceedings of the 1st International Dothistroma Alliance Workshop, 6-7 October 2006, Smithers, British Columbia, Canada.

Denman, S., Brasier, C.M., Brown, A.V., Kirk, S.A., Webber, J.F.  (2006).  Preliminary results of foliage susceptibility to Phytophthora taxon C sp. nov.: A new pathogen of forest trees in the UK. Proceedings of the 3rd Workshop of the IUFRO Working Party 7.02.09 “Phytophthoras in Forests and Natural Ecosystems”, 11-18 September 2004, Freising, Germany.

Denman, S., Kirk, S.A., Orton, E., Whybrow, A., Rose, J., Brasier C.M., Brown, A., & Webber, J.F. (2006). New Phytophthora quarantine pathogens in the UK: Current status on trees in the UK and implications for SA. FABI seminar, 22 June 2006, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Denman, S., Kirk, S.A., Orton, E., Whybrow, A., Rose, J., Brasier C.M., Brown, A., & Webber, J.F. (2006). New Phytophthora quarantine pathogens: Current status on trees and future concerns. Plant Health and Seed Inspectorate (PHSI) conference, 16–18 January 2006, Cheshire.

Vettraino A.M., Brown, A.V., Brasier, C.M., Patrizi, E., and Vannini, A.  (2006).  Phytophthora species in forest and agriculture ecosystems of Western Nepal.  Eighth International Mycological Congress, 20-25 August 2006, Cairns, Australia.

Brown, A.V. (2004).  Biological control of decay fungi in seasoning utility poles.  Proceedings of Cost Action E22, 21 - 23 September 2003, Zagreb, Croatia

Brown, A.V., Webber, J.F. and Dickinson, D.J. (2003).  Factors affecting the biocontrol of decay fungi in freshly felled pine.  Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Plant Pathology, 2-8 February, 2003, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Brown, A.V. and Webber, J.F. (2003).  Selection of biocontrol agents to combat decay in freshly felled pine. Proceedings of the Eighth International Congress of Plant Pathology, 2-8 February, 2003, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Commissioned  reports

Braiser, C.M., Brown, A.V. and Webber J.F. (2009) Assessment of the Outcome of Infection by Phytophthora kernoviae on Woodland Trees in Cornwall, Delivered to Defra June 2009

Turner. J, Jennings, P., Humphries, H., Brown, A.V, and Denman, S. and Lockley D, (2007).  Investigation of Eradication and Control Strategies for Phytophthora kernoviae (PtC) in natural environments.  Final report to Defra, SID Project PH0318. 

Brown, A.V. and Webber, J.F.  (2004). Sub-task 1.2 - Biological control of fungi causing pre-treatment decay of poles - laboratory studies.  In, ‘Integrating the processes involved in the production of creosoted woodpoles’, FAIR-CT98-3933. 

Brown, A.V. and Webber, J.F.  (2004). Sub-task 1.2 - Biological control of fungi causing pre-treatment decay of poles - field studies. In, ‘Integrating the processes involved in the production of creosoted woodpoles’, FAIR-CT98-3933

Brown, A.V.  (2003). Report on the current position and research on Red Band Needle Blight in the UK, with particular reference to the East Anglia Forest District.  Delivered to Forest Commission, December 2003.