New Diagnostic Clinic structure
As part of the services that the TPCP provides to industry, the research team runs a diagnostic clinic for the analyses of forestry samples for pathogens and pests. For the past 12 years, this clinic has been managed and run by Prof Teresa Coutinho. It has also had the reputation of being one of the best of such functions in the world. Teresa made use of students in the group to assist her in the isolation and identification of pathogens from diseased material. In this manner students also received training and experience in the analyses of plant samples and the identification of pathogens.
The clinic not only serves to provide foresters with answers regarding the death of trees and guidelines to reduce these problems, but it also forms an important component of the disease monitoring function of the TPCP. This is extremely important as effective monitoring is a key component of disease management. Not only is monitoring important for the early detection of new pests and diseases, and thus early implementation of management and research systems, but it also provides valuable information on the susceptibility of different clones etc. to pests and diseases. Monitoring, however, requires the entire industry’s participation, relying not only on TPCP research staff, but also the diagnostic clinic, farmers, foresters and students. As diseases and pests affect the entire industry, it must be everyone’s responsibility to help protect the industry as a whole and thereby the interests of individual companies, or farms.
The TPCP research team continuously strives to improve our services to industry, just as we strive to improve our research quality. In
this spirit, the Diagnostic Clinic structure was changed in February 2006. The clinic is now managed and run by Izette Greyling (photo), under the guidance of Prof Jolanda
Roux. This addresses the issue that Teresa has assumed substantial new responsibility for pitch canker screening and the new structure would more closely link field services (Jolanda’s
responsibility) with laboratory diagnostics. Assigning full responsibility of all diagnostics work to a single person, will ensure easier quality control and hopefully more effective
service to industry. Izette is currently completing her M.Sc. degree in the TPCP and previously worked in the diagnostic clinic under the guidance of Prof Coutinho. Through her research
project, she has already become a familiar face to foresters in the Zululand area, where she has been collecting samples of Coniothyrium and conducting trials for her research project.
In future, we would be obliged if our members would use the following channels to send samples for analyses.
- Izette Greyling (izette.greyling@fabi.up.ac.za); 012 420 3938/9/3933 as clinic manager should be your first stop in sending samples to FABI. She will provide you with a reference number for your sample and keep you updated with progress. She will also send out a letter with the results of the analyses.
- Jolanda Roux (jolanda.roux@fabi.up.ac.za); 082 9093202 guides Izette in the clinic and manages field extension for the TPCP. If Izette is thus not available, you can talk to Jolanda. Jolanda will also most likely be the one to do field visits in cases where it is not possible to send samples.
- Entomological samples are logged by Izette who then liaises with Brett Hurley and Bernard Slippers for identification and report writing. Brett Hurley (brett.hurley@fabi.up.ac.za); 082 9093211
We will respond to the receipt of samples (preferably by e-mail), but please always check that samples have been received. These are sometimes lost during dispatch.
If you are unsure of the problem being encountered or need advice on collection of samples, please phone Izette or Jolanda and discuss the problem before collecting and sending the samples.
