Denis Garrett
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Stephen Denis Garrett (1 November 1906 – 26 December 1989) was a British plant pathologist and
mycologist Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungi, including their taxonomy, genetics, biochemical properties, and use by humans. Fungi can be a source of tinder, food, traditional medicine, as well as entheogens, poison, and ...
who did pioneering work on soil-borne pathogens,
root In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...
pathology and
soil ecology Soil ecology studies interactions among soil organisms, and their environment. It is particularly concerned with the cycling of nutrients, soil aggregate formation and soil biodiversity. Overview Soil is made up of a multitude of physical, ch ...
. He was the first to apply ecological concepts to interactions in the soil. Much of his research used as a model system the fungus '' Gaeumannomyces graminis'', which causes the important cereal disease
take-all Take-all is a plant disease affecting the roots of grass and cereal plants in temperate climates caused by the fungus ''Gaeumannomyces tritici'' (previously known as ''Gaeumannomyces graminis ''var. ''tritici''). All varieties of wheat and barle ...
. He also studied ''Armillaria'' root rot of trees, among other plant diseases. Garrett spent most of his career at
Rothamsted Experimental Station Rothamsted Research, previously known as the Rothamsted Experimental Station and then the Institute of Arable Crops Research, is one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world, having been founded in 1843. It is located at Harp ...
(1936–48) and the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
's school of botany (1949–73), where he was professor of mycology and acting head of department, and also held a fellowship at
Magdalene College Magdalene College ( ) is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary ...
. He was president of the British Mycological Society and was instrumental in founding the forerunner of the
British Society for Plant Pathology The British Society for Plant Pathology, or BSPP, is a UK-based organisation of British plant pathologists but accepts members from all countries. It was founded in 1981 and publishes three scientific journals: ''Plant Pathology'', ''Molecular P ...
. He published four books, of which ''Root Disease Fungi'' (1944) and ''Biology of Root-infecting Fungi'' (1956) were the most influential, and was the editor of ''
Annals of Applied Biology The Association of Applied Biologists (AAB) is a United Kingdom biological science learned society. From its foundation in 1904 until 1934, the institution was the Association of Economic Biologists. It publishes research and holds conferences i ...
'' and '' Transactions of the British Mycological Society''.


Early life and education

Denis Garrett was born in 1906 at
Leiston Leiston ( ) is a town and civil parish in the East Suffolk (district), East Suffolk district of Suffolk, England. It is close to Saxmundham and Aldeburgh, north-east of Ipswich and north-east of London. The town had a population of 5,508 at th ...
,
Suffolk Suffolk ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and East Anglia. It is bordered by Norfolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Essex to the south, and Cambridgeshire to the west. Ipswich is the largest settlement and the county ...
, to Mary (née Marples), from a
Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, situated south of Leeds and east of Manchester. The city is the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire and some of its so ...
tool-making family, and Stephen Garrett (1878–1915), a director in the family's agricultural machinery business in Leiston,
Richard Garrett & Sons Richard Garrett & Sons was a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, steam engines and trolleybuses. Their factory was Leiston Works, in Leiston, Suffolk, England. The company was founded by Richard Garrett (1755–1839), Richard Garrett in ...
. He was the eldest of four children. His father was killed in action at the
Battle of Neuve Chapelle The Battle of Neuve Chapelle (10–13 March 1915) took place in the First World War in the Artois region of France. The attack was intended to cause a rupture in the German lines, which would then be exploited with a rush to the Aubers Ridge an ...
during the First World War when he was eight, and his mother moved the family to
Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...
, where her sister lived, and later to
Eastbourne Eastbourne () is a town and seaside resort in East Sussex, on the south coast of England, east of Brighton and south of London. It is also a non-metropolitan district, local government district with Borough status in the United Kingdom, bor ...
. Garrett attended the
Dragon School The Dragon School is a private school across two sites in Oxford, England. The Dragon Pre-Prep (children aged 4–7) and Prep School (children aged 8–13) are both co-educational schools. The Dragon Prep School was founded in 1877 as the Oxfo ...
in Oxford, and briefly Wellington College, from which he ran away, and
Eastbourne College Eastbourne College is a co-educational Private schools in the United Kingdom, fee-charging school in the English Public school (United Kingdom), public school tradition, for boarding school, boarding and Day school, day pupils aged 13–18, in ...
, where he became interested in plant biology, despite a lack of biology classes, as well as mathematics. He read
natural sciences Natural science or empirical science is one of the branches of science concerned with the description, understanding and prediction of natural phenomena, based on empirical evidence from observation and experimentation. Mechanisms such as peer ...
at
Magdalene College Magdalene College ( ) is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1428 as a Benedictine hostel, in time coming to be known as Buckingham College, before being refounded in 1542 as the College of St Mary ...
,
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
in 1926–29, gaining a second-class degree in botany and also studying chemistry and geology. He was taught by the botanist Sir Albert Seward, the plant physiologist F. F. Blackman, the mycologist and plant pathologist F. T. Brooks, and was particularly influenced by the ecologist
Harry Godwin Sir Harry Godwin, FRS (9 May 1901 – 12 August 1985) was a prominent English botanist Botany, also called plant science, is the branch of natural science and biology studying plants, especially Plant anatomy, their anatomy, Plant taxon ...
.


Career

On the recommendation of Brooks, Garrett took up a post as an assistant plant pathologist at the Waite Research Institute in
Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...
, South Australia (1929–33), under Geoffrey Samuel. He started to research two fungal diseases of cereals,
take-all Take-all is a plant disease affecting the roots of grass and cereal plants in temperate climates caused by the fungus ''Gaeumannomyces tritici'' (previously known as ''Gaeumannomyces graminis ''var. ''tritici''). All varieties of wheat and barle ...
and no-growth diseases, and published his first research paper with Samuel in 1932. On his return to the UK, Garrett received a
Leverhulme Fellowship The Leverhulme Trust () is a large national grant-making organisation in the United Kingdom. It was established in 1925 under the will of the 1st Viscount Leverhulme (1851–1925), with the instruction that its resources should be used to cover ...
in 1934, with which he researched at
Imperial College Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a cultural district in South Kensington that included museums ...
, London under the plant pathologist William Brown, whom Garrett took as a model, stating that Brown had taught him "the art of scientific investigation". Garrett received a diploma from Imperial College (1935), but the fellowship did not permit the granting of a PhD degree. In 1936, he moved to the
plant pathology Plant pathology or phytopathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Plant pathology involves the study of pathogen identification, disease ...
department at
Rothamsted Experimental Station Rothamsted Research, previously known as the Rothamsted Experimental Station and then the Institute of Arable Crops Research, is one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world, having been founded in 1843. It is located at Harp ...
, where he remained for twelve years, mainly under the plant virologist Frederick Bawden. He continued to work there during the Second World War, serving as a member of the Home Guard and a fire attendant. He was awarded an
Sc.D. A Doctor of Science (; most commonly abbreviated DSc or ScD) is a science doctorate awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. Africa Algeria and Morocco In Algeria, Morocco, Libya and Tunisia, all universities accredited by the s ...
degree by the
University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...
in 1947 for the work he did at Rothamsted. In 1948, he spent around six months as a plant pathologist at the West Indian Banana Research Scheme in Jamaica studying Panama disease, a fungal disease of bananas, but found the climate unbearable and was forced by illness to return prematurely. In 1949, Garrett took up a lectureship in
mycology Mycology is the branch of biology concerned with the study of fungus, fungi, including their Taxonomy (biology), taxonomy, genetics, biochemistry, biochemical properties, and ethnomycology, use by humans. Fungi can be a source of tinder, Edible ...
at the University of Cambridge's school of botany (now the plant sciences department), where he remained for the rest of his career, rising to reader in botany (1961–71) and then professor of mycology (1971–73). He was the head of the small but widely respected mycology sub-department (1952–73), and also served as acting head of the botany school. He became a fellow of Magdalene College in 1962. In 1963–64 he held a visiting professorship at
Cairo University Cairo University () is Egypt's premier public university. Its main campus is in Giza, immediately across the Nile from Cairo. It was founded on 21 December 1908;"Brief history and development of Cairo University." Cairo University Faculty of En ...
. He retired in 1973, remaining an emeritus professor, and despite failing health, continued to publish until 1984, carrying out experiments in a laboratory at his home. He was the editor of the journals ''
Annals of Applied Biology The Association of Applied Biologists (AAB) is a United Kingdom biological science learned society. From its foundation in 1904 until 1934, the institution was the Association of Economic Biologists. It publishes research and holds conferences i ...
'' and '' Transactions of the British Mycological Society'' (1956–62). He served as president of the British Mycological Society (1953–54) and, with Philip H. Gregory, was instrumental in founding the Federation of British Plant Pathologists in 1966, which became the
British Society for Plant Pathology The British Society for Plant Pathology, or BSPP, is a UK-based organisation of British plant pathologists but accepts members from all countries. It was founded in 1981 and publishes three scientific journals: ''Plant Pathology'', ''Molecular P ...
in 1981. He was the chair of the organising committee of the inaugural International Congress of Plant Pathology, held in London in 1968.


Research and writings

Garrett's research focused on plant
root In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...
disease caused by soil-borne pathogens, particularly fungi, and aimed to elucidate the pathogen's natural activity with a view to preventing or controlling plant disease. He is acknowledged as "the founding father of root pathology." Recognising that root pathology is complex and multifactorial, and describing then-current methodology as "crude and inadequate", he used an experimental approach that changed one factor against a constant background. Most of his experiments were simple and eschewed technology to use only basic equipment; for example, he preferred jam jars and glass tumblers to specialist soil containers because they were less expensive, and even once purchased rejected plastic lavatory cisterns for his laboratory to use. His colleagues at Cambridge described him as "one of the last 'string and sealing wax' scientists." He also studied the
saprophytic Saprotrophic nutrition or lysotrophic nutrition is a process of chemoheterotrophic extracellular digestion involved in the processing of decayed (dead or waste) organic matter. It occurs in saprotrophs, and is most often associated with fungi ...
and survival stages of the pathogen's life cycle, in addition to the parasitic stage. Much of his work focused on '' Gaeumannomyces graminis'' (previously classified in the genus ''Ophiobolus''), a soil-borne fungus that is the causative agent of
take-all Take-all is a plant disease affecting the roots of grass and cereal plants in temperate climates caused by the fungus ''Gaeumannomyces tritici'' (previously known as ''Gaeumannomyces graminis ''var. ''tritici''). All varieties of wheat and barle ...
, the principal root disease of wheat, which Garrett employed as a model disease system. His early papers on soil conditions and ''G. graminis'', based on work at Rothamsted before the Second World War, are described by the Indian mycologist C. V. Subramanian as "very original in approach, content and technique, and are classic." Garrett showed that the level of bacteria in the soil influences infection with ''G. graminis'', an early demonstration of Howard S. Fawcett's concept of biological antagonism or competition in the soil. He showed that the fungus was unable to spread through soil, requiring direct
hyphal A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one or ...
contact with a root; this was later shown by Garrett's laboratory and others to be the result of limited oxygen. He examined how the fungus could nevertheless persist in soil, finding that in the presence of sufficient nitrogen it was able to grow using
cellulose Cellulose is an organic compound with the chemical formula, formula , a polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to many thousands of glycosidic bond, β(1→4) linked glucose, D-glucose units. Cellulose is an important s ...
from cereal stubble as a carbon source. He studied how likely individual fungal spores are to infect. In 1950–60, Garrett worked mainly on ''
Armillaria mellea ''Armillaria mellea'', commonly known as honey fungus, is an edible basidiomycete fungus in the genus ''Armillaria''. It is a plant pathogen and part of a cryptic species complex of closely related and Morphology (biology), morphologically simila ...
'', a fungus which causes ''Armillaria'' root rot in trees, and its prevention by fumigating the soil. He also researched other plant pathogens during his career, including other cereal foot-rot fungi; '' Helicobasidium purpureum'', which causes violet root rot in
sugar beet A sugar beet is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of sucrose and that is grown commercially for sugar production. In plant breeding, it is known as the Altissima cultivar group of the common beet (''Beta vulgaris''). Together with ...
s; and ''Plasmodiophora brassicae'', an organism now classified as protist-like which causes
clubroot Clubroot is a common disease of cabbages, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, radishes, turnips, Matthiola, stocks, Erysimum, wallflowers and other plants of the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae). It is caused by ''Plasmodiophora brassicae'' ...
in
brassicas ''Brassica'' () is a genus of plants in the cabbage and mustard family (Brassicaceae). The members of the genus are informally known as cruciferous vegetables, cabbages, mustard plants, or simply brassicas. Crops from this genus are sometim ...
. From 1960, he researched the utilisation of cellulose substrates under different conditions by a range of fungi that infect roots, finding wide variation, and used these differences to classify soil fungi into functional groups. These depended on whether the host plant was woody (high cellulose-lysing activity) or
herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...
(very low cellulose-lysing activity). He proposed that there are
commensal Commensalism is a long-term biological interaction (symbiosis) in which members of one species gain benefits while those of the other species neither benefit nor are harmed. This is in contrast with mutualism, in which both organisms benefit f ...
fungi that require other microorganisms to break down cellulose, which were later discovered by H. T. Tribe. His research contributed to understanding
soil ecology Soil ecology studies interactions among soil organisms, and their environment. It is particularly concerned with the cycling of nutrients, soil aggregate formation and soil biodiversity. Overview Soil is made up of a multitude of physical, ch ...
, a field in which Garrett was an early investigator, and his work has been acknowledged as the foundation of the field of soil-borne plant pathogen ecology. He was the first to apply the ecological concepts developed for surface communities, such as
succession Succession is the act or process of following in order or sequence. Governance and politics *Order of succession, in politics, the ascension to power by one ruler, official, or monarch after the death, resignation, or removal from office of ...
, to the underground interplay between plant roots, soil fungi and other soil microorganisms, an approach described as "innovative". Sally E. Smith, one of his students, said that he "gave a real feel to the cold, dark, wet world below." He published "influential" classifications of soil fungi in the 1950s, based on their ecological niche, defining root-inhabiting, root-infecting and soil-inhabiting groups. In 1973, he published an essay on how pathogenic fungi infect and reproduce in the face of
plant disease resistance Plant disease resistance protects plants from pathogens in two ways: by pre-formed structures and chemicals, and by infection-induced responses of the immune system. Relative to a susceptible plant, disease resistance is the reduction of pathogen ...
, focusing on nutritional requirements, and later extended his ideas to include competition or antagonism. Although some researchers found these ideas valuable, this work was criticised by R. K. S. Wood as using terms such as "energy" so loosely as to make the work "almost meaningless". He was an early supporter of exploiting antagonism for the biological control of plant diseases, for example in a 1963 presentation, but warned that many applications were not practical. He was described by Peter J. Grubb, E. Anne Stow and S. Max Walters as having "an ability to extract from complex systems simple concepts that could be approached experimentally."


Books

Garrett is described by J. W. Deacon as a "naturally gifted writer" whose "flair" and "flowing but precise style" render "even the most difficult concept easy to understand", while R. C. Cooke criticises his "quaint and old-fashioned" writing. The first of Garrett's four books, ''Root Disease Fungi'' (1944), draws together existing research on root-infecting pathogens, mainly by others, focusing on well-researched species that cause economically significant disease. A contemporary review by G. Metcalfe describes it as "authoritative and very readable", praising its emphasis on practical information as well as its organisation of earlier work. Deacon later describes it as "a ''tour de force'' in assembling and synthesizing all the then known information on effects of environmental factors on soilborne plant pathogens". Subramanian describes it as "timely", stating that it sparked international research on the fungi causing root diseases. ''Biology of Root-infecting Fungi'' (1956) and ''Pathogenic Root-infecting Fungi'' (1970) review more-recent work by Garrett and others and expound his ideas; Garrett writes in the first person and employs "parables" to make his points. A contemporary review of ''Biology of Root-infecting Fungi'' by the mycologist
John Webster John Webster (c. 1578 – c. 1632) was an English Jacobean dramatist best known for his tragedies '' The White Devil'' and ''The Duchess of Malfi'', which are often seen as masterpieces of the early 17th-century English stage. His life and car ...
praises its "holistic approach", and writes that it introduces "useful generalizations and new concepts" that elucidate "previously puzzling data", and that its "crystallization of ideas ... put the subject on a more sound theoretical basis", predicting that they will provide a basis for future experiments. Cooke, writing in 1971, calls the earlier book highly influential, with "new and exciting ideas" that stimulated research by many other scientists in the field, and praises the follow-up for maintaining the focus on fungal activity and interactions in the natural environment, rather than in the laboratory. ''Soil Fungi and Soil Fertility'' (1963) is an undergraduate introductory textbook.


Personal life

On the boat returning from Australia in 1933 or 1934 Garrett met Jane Perkins, who was returning from New Zealand, and they married in 1934. She was the daughter of the artist Christopher Perkins, known for his paintings set in New Zealand. Jane Garrett became a psychiatric social worker, rising to lead that department in Cambridge, and in retirement wrote non-fiction. The couple had three daughters. He had a life-long interest in natural history, especially birds, and after his appointment in Cambridge became an avid and organised plant observer, keeping track of the species that he had observed locally and in Europe using a card index. Garrett was diagnosed with
coeliac disease Coeliac disease (British English) or celiac disease (American English) is a long-term autoimmune disorder, primarily affecting the small intestine. Patients develop intolerance to gluten, which is present in foods such as wheat, rye, spelt ...
and
diabetes Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of th ...
in 1964, and in later life began to lose his sight and was disabled by
diabetic neuropathy Diabetic neuropathy includes various types of nerve damage associated with diabetes mellitus. The most common form, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, affects 30% of all diabetic patients. Studies suggests that cutaneous nerve branches, such as the s ...
. He died on 26 December 1989 at Cambridge.


Awards and honours

Garrett was elected a
fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...
(1967) and of the
Indian Academy of Sciences The Indian Academy of Sciences, Bangalore was founded by Indian Physicist and List of Nobel laureates, Nobel Laureate Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, C. V. Raman, and was registered as a society on 27 April 1934. Inaugurated on 31 July 1934, it ...
(1973); he was also a fellow of the
Institute of Biology The Institute of Biology (IoB) was a professional body for biologists, primarily those working in the United Kingdom. The Institute was founded in 1950 by the Biological Council: the then umbrella body for Britain's many learned biological societie ...
(1964), an honorary fellow of the British Mycological Society (1975), and one of the first two honorary fellows of the British Society for Plant Pathology (1984). An issue of the journal ''
Plant Pathology Plant pathology or phytopathology is the scientific study of plant diseases caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Plant pathology involves the study of pathogen identification, disease ...
'' was dedicated to him in commemoration of his eightieth birthday, and after his death, the British Society for Plant Pathology instituted an annual lecture in his memory.


Selected publications

Books *S. D. Garrett. ''Pathogenic Root-infecting Fungi'' (
Cambridge University Press Cambridge University Press was the university press of the University of Cambridge. Granted a letters patent by King Henry VIII in 1534, it was the oldest university press in the world. Cambridge University Press merged with Cambridge Assessme ...
; 1970) *S. D. Garrett.
Soil Fungi and Soil Fertility
' (
Pergamon Press Pergamon Press was an Oxford-based publishing house, founded by Paul Rosbaud and Robert Maxwell, that published scientific and medical books and journals. Originally called Butterworth-Springer, it is now an imprint of Elsevier. History The c ...
; 1963, 1981) () *S. D. Garrett. ''Biology of Root-infecting Fungi'' (Cambridge University Press; 1956) *S. D. Garrett. ''Root Disease Fungi'' (Chronica Botanica/Wm. Dawson and Sons; 1944) Reviews, conference papers Sources: *S. D. Garrett. "Toward biological control of soil-borne plant pathogens", in ''Ecology and Management of Soil-borne Plant Pathogens'' (K. F. Baker, W. C. Snyder, eds), pp. 4–17 ( John Murray; 1965); originally presented in 1963 *S. D. Garrett (1952). "The soil fungi as a microcosm for ecologists", ''Science Progress'' 40: 436–450 *S. D. Garrett (1951). "Ecological groups of soil fungi: a survey of substrate relationships", ''
New Phytologist ''New Phytologist'' is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published on behalf of the New Phytologist Foundation by Wiley-Blackwell. It covers all aspects of botany and was established in 1902 by Arthur Tansley, who served as editor until 1931. M ...
'' 50: 149–166 Research paper His highest-cited research paper is: *S. D. Garrett (1938). "Soil conditions and the take-all disease of wheat: III. Decomposition of the resting mycelium of ''Ophiobolus graminis'' in infected wheat stubble buried in the soil", ''
Annals of Applied Biology The Association of Applied Biologists (AAB) is a United Kingdom biological science learned society. From its foundation in 1904 until 1934, the institution was the Association of Economic Biologists. It publishes research and holds conferences i ...
'' 25: 742–766


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Garrett, Denis 1906 births 1989 deaths People from Leiston People educated at The Dragon School People educated at Eastbourne College Alumni of Magdalene College, Cambridge Rothamsted Experimental Station people Academics of the University of Cambridge Fellows of Magdalene College, Cambridge English mycologists British phytopathologists Fellows of the Royal Society British Mycological Society 20th-century British agronomists