Prof Eshchar Mizrachi
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Associate Professor
Prof Zander Myburg
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Professor and Chair in Forest Genomics and Biotechnology
Programme Director and Chair in Forest Genomics and Biotechnology
Prof Sanushka Naidoo
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology

Dr Steven Hussey
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Extra-ordinary Professor

Dr Nanette Christie
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr Zelda Du Toit-Boshoff
FABI
Research Assistant
Ms Grieta Mahlangu
FABI
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Dr Ronishree Mangwanda
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Programme Manager (FMG)
Ms Tersia Moabelo
FABI
Senior Laboratory Technician
Ms Patience Motaung
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Ms Aysha Ndou
FABI
Laboratory Technician
Ms Thandeka Ngondo
FABI
Genetics
Ms Melissa Reynolds
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Precision Tree Breeding Platform Manager
DNA Fingerprinting Platform Manager
Ms Doleen Sehlabane
FABI
Laboratory Technician
Ms Nasiphi Siguca
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Laboratory Technician
Ms Adri Veale
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Tissue culture and Plant Transformation Platform Manager
Senior Research Assistant

Dr Marja O'Neill
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Postdoctoral Fellow
Project Coordinator

Dr Erik Visser
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Postdoctoral Fellow

Ms Julia Candotti
FABI
PhD student
Ms Nkosikhona Hlatshwayo
Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
PhD student
Ms Anneri Lötter
FABI
PhD student
Mr Nganea Nangammbi
FABI
PhD student
Ms Ipeleng Randome
FABI
PhD student PhD student
Ms Mary Ranketse
FABI
PhD student
Ms Myriam Solis
FABI
PhD student
Ms Shae Swanepoel
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Mr Lazarus Takawira
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Mr Demissew Teshome
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student

Mr Ryan Bosch
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Ms Ruby May Ebbeling
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Mr Sung Hyu Luke Kim
FABI
MSc student
Mr Thembela Lulane
Plant and Soil Sciences
MSc student
Mx Anicka Nel
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Mr Bernard Smit
FABI
MSc student
Ms Hannah Tate
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Mr Mondli Xaba
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student

Ms Catherina Ngongni-Kuetezang
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Ms Kelebogile Happy Sathekge
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Ms Anmari van Buuren
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology

Mr James Smith
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology

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New Publications

Backer R, Naidoo S, van den Berg N. (2023) The expression of the NPR1-dependent defense response pathway genes in Persea americana (Mill.) following infection with Phytophthora cinnamomi. BMC Plant Biology 23(1):548. 10.1186/s12870-023-04541-z PDF
Anneri Lötter, Tuan A Duong, Julia Candotti, Eshschar Mizrachi, Jill L Wegrzyn, Alexander A Myburg. (2023) Haplogenome assembly reveals structural variation in Eucalyptus interspecific hybrids. GigaScience 12 10.1093/gigascience/giad064
Swanepoel S, Visser EA, Shuey SS, Naidoo S. (2023) The In Planta Gene Expression of Austropuccinia psidii in Resistant and Susceptible Eucalyptus grandis. Phytopathology 113(6):1066-1076. 10.1094/PHYTO-07-22-0257-R PDF
Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield MJ, Naidoo S. (2023) A robust disease scoring method to screen Eucalyptus for resistance against the aggressive leaf blight pathogen, Teratosphaeria destructans. Plant Disease:1418 - 1424. 10.1094/PDIS-06-22-1347-RE PDF
Teshome DT, Zharare GE, Ployet R, Naidoo S. (2023) Transcriptional reprogramming during recovery from drought stress in Eucalyptus grandis. Tree Physiology 10.1093/treephys/tpad022
Candotti J, Christie N, Ployet R, Mostert-O’Neill MM, Reynolds SM, Neves LG, Naidoo S, Mizrachi E, Duong TA, Myburg AA. (2023) Haplotype mining panel for genetic dissection and breeding in Eucalyptus. The Plant Journal 113:174-185. 10.1111/tpj.16026
Swanepoel S, Visser E, Shuey L, Naidoo S. (2023) The In Planta Gene Expression of Austropuccinia psidii in Resistant and Susceptible Eucalyptus grandis. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 10.1094/PHYTO-07-22-0257-R
Visser EA, Kampmann TP, Wegrzyn JL, Naidoo S. (2022) Multispecies comparison of host responses to Fusarium circinatum challenge in tropical pines show consistency in resistance mechanisms. Plant, Cell & Environment 46(5):1705-1725. 10.1111/pce.14522 PDF
Solís M, Wingfield MJ, Hammerbacher A, Naidoo S. (2022) Comparison of the infection biology of Teratosphaeria destructans and Teratosphaeria epicoccoides on Eucalyptus. Plant Disease 10.1094/PDIS-09-21-1877-RE PDF
Messal M, Vivas M, Kemler M, Begerow D, Brachmann A, Witfeld F, Naidoo S, Slippers B. (2022) Fungal Communities of Eucalyptus grandis Leaves Are Influenced by the Insect Pest Leptocybe invasa. Frontiers in Microbiology 13(3:841621) 10.3389/fmicb.2022.841621 PDF
Ranketse M, Hefer CA, Pierneef R, Fourie G, Myburg AA. (2022) Genetic diversity and population structure analysis reveals the unique genetic composition of South African selected macadamia accessions. Tree Genetics and Genomes 18(15):12. 10.1007/s11295-022-01543-0
Karannagoda N, Spokevicius A, Hussey SG, Cassan-Wang H, Grima-Pettenati J, Bossinger B. (2022) Eucalyptus grandis AUX/INDOLE‑3‑ACETIC ACID 13 (EgrIAA13) is a novel transcriptional regulator of xylogenesis. Plant Molecular Biology 10.1007/s11103-022-01255-y
Hussey SG. 2022. Transcriptional regulation of secondary cell wall formation and lignification. In: Advances in Botanical Research. Academic Press, Cambridge, MA, pp .
Jackson C, Christie N, Reynolds SM, Marais GC, Tii-kuzu Y, Caballero M, Kampman T, Visser EA, Naidoo S, Kain D, Whetten RW, Isik F, Wegrzyn J, Hodge GR, Acosta JJ, Myburg AA. (2021) A genome- wide SNP genotyping resource for tropical pine tree species. Molecular Ecology Resources 10.1111/1755-0998.13484 PDF
Swanepoel S, Oates CN, Shuey SS, Pegg GS, Naidoo S. (2021) Transcriptome analysis of Eucalyptus grandis implicates brassinosteroid signaling in defense against myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii). Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4(200):778611. 10.3389/ffgc.2021.778611 PDF
Teshome DT, Zharare GE, Naidoo S. (2020) The threat of the combined effect of biotic and abiotic stress factors in forestry under a changing climate. Frontiers in Plant Science 10.3389/fpls.2020.601009 PDF
Berger DK, Mokgobu T, De Ridder K, Christie N, Aveling TAS. (2020) Benefits of maize resistance breeding and chemical control against northern leaf blight in smallholder farms in South Africa. South African Journal of Science 12(11) 10.17159/sajs.2020/8286
Oates C, Denby K, Myburg A, Slippers B, Naidoo S. (2020) Insect egg‐induced physiological changes and transcriptional reprogramming leading to gall formation. Plant, Cell & Environment 10.1111/pce.13930
Mostert-O'Neill MM, Reynolds SM, Acosta JJ, Lee DJ, Borevitz JO, Myburg AA. (2020) Genomic evidence of introgression and adaptation in a model subtropical tree species, Eucalyptus grandis. Molecular Ecology 00(00):1-14. 10.1111/mec.15615 PDF
Karannagoda N, Spokevicius A, Hussey S, Bossinger G. (2020) Microanalytical techniques for phenotyping secondary xylem. IAWA Journal 41(3):356-389. 10.1163/22941932-bja10034