FABI News

FABI Events

FABI in a nutshell

Research Features

PROGRAMME AND INDIVIDUAL ABSTRACTS

THURSDAY 10 MAY

7:30-8:15 REGISTRATION

INTRODUCTORY PERSPECTIVES
8:15-8:30 Mike Wingfield (FABI, UP, South Africa) - Welcome
8:30-9:00 Mike Edwards (FSA, South Africa) - Opening address

REGIONAL OVERVIEWS: Past and future perspective
AUSTRALIA
9:00-9:20 Dennis Haugen (USA) - Sirex management in response to the green triangle outbreak: Lessons for other countries
9:20-9:40 Dick Bashford (Australia) - The current status of S. noctilio distribution, impact and control in Australia

EUROPE
9:40-10:00 Iben Thomsen (Denmark) - A review of Siricids and their fungi in Europe
10:00-10:20 Jan Stenlid (Sweden) - Genetic variation in Amylostereum in Northern and Central Europe

10:20-10:40 Discussion time

10:40-11:10 TEA BREAK

ASIA
11:10-11:30 Mashanobu Tabata (Japan) - A review of Siricid woodwasps, their fungi, and interactions with trees in Japan

SOUTH AMERICA
11:30-11:50 Edson Iede (Brazil) - The woodwasp Sirex noctilio in Brazil - monitoring and control
11:50-12:10 Marcos Beeche (Chile) - Official Program for the detection and control of Sirex noctilio (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) in Chile
12:10-12:30 Rodrigo Ahumada (Chile) - The control of Sirex noctilio in Pinus plantations of the Arauco companies
12:30-12:50 Vicky Klasmer (Argentina) - The introduction, impact and control of S. noctilio in southern Argentina

12:50-13:10 Discussion time

13:10-14:10 LUNCH

NORTH AMERICA
14:10-14:30 Noel Schneeberger (USA) - Response to the recent find of Sirex noctilio in the United States
14:30-14:50 Vic Mastro (David Williams) (USA) - A research update on Sirex noctilio for North America
14:50-15:10 Nathan Schiff (USA) - Siricid diversity, biology and tools for identification
15:10-15:30 Kevin Dodds (USA) - Sirex noctilio detection and behaviour in North American pine ecosystem

15:30-16:00 TEA BREAK

16:00-16:20 Pieter de Groot (Canada) - An overview of the survey for, and research activities on, Sirex noctilio in Canada
16:20-16:40 Isabel Leal (Canada) - Siricid-Fungal-Nematode interactions in Canada
16:40-17:00 David Williams (USA) - Establishment of Beddingia siricidicola for biological control of Sirex noctilio in the Unired States: questions, issues, and challenges
17:00-17:20 Darek Czokajlo (USA) - Optimized Sirex surveillance technology: Designing lures and traps for pest and program needs
17:20-17:40 Discussion time

17:40 OPTIONAL TOUR OF FABI LABS AND NEMATODE-FUNGUS-SIREX RESEARCH


FRIDAY, 11 MAY

AFRICA
8:00-8:20 Colin Dyer (South Africa) - An overview of the national Sirex control strategy in South Africa
8:20-8:40 Phillip Croft (South Africa) - Monitoring the introduction, development and damage of Sirex infestation levels in KwaZulu-Natal
8:40-9:00 Brett Hurley (South Africa) - The Sirex control program in the eastern parts of South Africa: Lessons from research efforts between 2004-2006
9:00-9:20 Grant Boreham (South Africa) - Silvicultural measures to reduce the impact of S. noctilio in Kwazulu-Natal: Challenges and opportunities
9:20-9:40 Marcel Verleur (South Africa) - Validation for mass inoculations with Beddingia siricidicola, despite apparent low inoculation generated parasitism rates
9:40-10:00 Marius du Plessis (South Africa) - Influence of Sirex infestation of P. patula TMP pulp properties

10:00-10:20 Discussion time

10:20-11:00 TEA BREAK

11:00-11:20 Member Mushongahande (Zimbabwe) - The potential threat of Sirex noctilio F. to Zimbabwe�s forestry industry
11:20-11:40 Clement Chilima (Tanzania) - The threat of Sirex noctilio and other alien invasives species in Africa

OVERARCHING THEMES & EXPANDING FRONTIERS
11:40-12:00 Gillian Allard (Italy) - Perspectives on the impending threat of Sirex noctlio in Africa
12:00-12:20 Alan Cameron (USA) - The role of parasitoids in management of Sirex: Looking back and looking ahead
12:20-12:40 Dolly Lanfranco (Chile) - Key biological factors in the management of Sirex noctilio: a review

12:40-13:00 Discussion time

13:00-14:00 LUNCH BREAK

14:00-14:20 Jeffrey Dean (USA) - Opportunities for Sirex research in the genomics era
14:20-14:40 Magriet van der Nest (South Africa) - The genetics of recognition in Amylostereum species
14:40-15:00 Kier Klepzig (USA) - Competitive interactions among forest insect associated fungi: Implications to biology, population dynamics, and control
15:00-15:20 Diana Six (USA) - Climate change and the threat of forest insect and their associated fungi
15:20-15:40 Bernard Slippers (South Africa) - The spread and establishment of Sirex noctilio and Amylostereum areolatum in new environments
15:40-16:00 Simon Lawson (Australia) - A focus on pathways to stop the threat of invasive forest pests: Sirex as an example

16:00-16:20 Discussion time

16:20-17:00 Mike Wingfield (South Africa) - Summary and concluding remarks


SATURDAY, 12 MAY
Early departure to Kruger National Park.
Spend day in Kruger Park.
Overnight at Berg en Dal Rest Camp.

SUNDAY, 13 MAY
Spend day in Kruger Park.
Overnight at Skukuza Rest Camp.

MONDAY, 14 MAY
Early departure, through Mpumalanga Pine and Eucalyptus plantation areas.
Field stop to view plantations, and diseases and pests in these.
Stay in Ascot Inn and associated accommodation, Pietermaritzburg.

TUESDAY, 15 MAY
Field day. Visit Sirex infested sites in the Kwazulu-Natal midlands.
Discussions and demonstrations of biological control. Organized by the ICFR in collaboration with Private Forestry companies.
Stay in Ascot Inn and associated accommodation, Pietermaritzburg.

WEDNESDAY, 16 MAY
Sirex workshop, summarizing views from the symposium held in Pretoria, and critically analyzing the South African situation. Organized by the ICFR.
Stay in Ascot Inn and associated accommodation, Pietermaritzburg.

THURSDAY, 17 MAY
Depart. South African delegation drive to Pretoria.
International guests have option to fly out of Durban airport to OR Tambo (Johannesburg) International airport, and from their onwards.

New Publications

Mavima L, Steenkamp ET, Beukes CW, Palmer M, De Meyer SE, JAMES EK, Venter SN, Coetzee MPA. (2025) Estimated timeline for the evolution of symbiotic nitrogen fixing Paraburkholderia. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 213:108447. 10.1016/j.ympev.2025.108447
Pham NQ, Liu FF, Duong TA, Wingfield BD, Chen SF, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Genetic diversity of Calonectria reteaudii isolates from infected Eucalyptus leaves and associated soils indicates a phyllosphere origin of the pathogen. Forest Pathology 55:e70037. 10.1111/efp.70037
Schröder ML, Hurley BP, Wingfield MJ, Slippers B, Garnas JR. (2025) Thermal limitations to the biological control of Gonipterus sp. n. 2 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in South African Eucalyptus plantations. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 10.1111/afe.70002
Lynn KMT, Wingfield MJ, Tarigan M, Durán A, Santos SA, Nel WJ, Barnes I. (2025) Investigating bark, ambrosia and nitidulid beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytinae and Nitidulidae) communities and their potential role in the movement of Ceratocystis manginecans in commercial forestry plantations in Riau, Indonesia. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 10.1111/afe.12698
Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield MJ, Naidoo S. (2025) Transcriptional responses of Eucalyptus to infection by an aggressive leaf blight pathogen reveal the role of host secondary metabolites during pathogen germination. Plant Molecular Biology 115 10.1007/s11103-025-01625-2
Coertze S, Coetzee B, Basson E, de Villiers D, Makhura T, Moster D, Slippers B, Rose LJ, Visagie CM, Read D. (2025) First Report of Clavibacter nebraskensis Causing Goss’s Bacterial Leaf Blight on Maize (Zea mays) in South Africa. Plant Disease 109:1580. 10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0164-PDN
Overy DP, Frisvad JC, Witte TE, Hicks CL, Hermans A, Sproule A, Louis-Seize G, Seifert KA, Yilmaz N, Price J, van Vuuren NI, Visagie CM. (2025) Chemodiversity of Penicillium isolated from alpine and arctic environments, including ten new species. Studies in Mycology 112:75–116. 10.3114/sim.2025.112.03
Harris MA, Kemler M, Slippers B, Hassel N, Tsamba J, Arthan W, Kellogg EA, AuBuchon-Elder T, Vorontsova MS, Archibald S, Hempson GP, Lehmann CER, Besnard G, Bergerow D, Brachmann A, Solofondranohatra CL, Greve M. (2025) Productivity drives leaf mycobiome diversity patterns at global and continetal scales. Global Ecology and Biogeography 34:e70094. 10.1111/geb.70094
Gao M, Yan Z, Liu Z, Jiang Y, Liu T, Miao X, Dai M, Bose T, Chang R. (2025) A novel Arthrobotrys species: Taxonomic characterization, nematicidal activity, and multi-omics insights into nematode predation. Biological Control 208:105853. 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2025.105853
Esterhuizen HJ, Slippers B, Bosman AS, Roux J, Jones W, Bose T, Hammerbacher A. (2025) Early detection of Phytophthora root rot in Eucalyptus using hyperspectral reflectance and machine learning. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 237:110761. 10.1016/j.compag.2025.110761
Pham NQ, Wingfield BD, Marincowitz S, Brawner JT, Hulcr J, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Cryphonectria canker on Eucalyptus in Florida reconsidered. Forest Pathology 55:e70031. 10.1111/efp.70031
Crous PW, Catcheside DEA, Catcheside PS, Alfenas AC, Alfenas RF, Barreto RW, Lebel T, Balashov S, Broadbridge J, Jurjević Å, De la Peña-Lastra S, Hoffmann R, Mateos A, Riebesehl J, Shivas RG, Soliz Santander FF, Tan YP, Altés A, Bandini D, Carriconde F, Cazabonne J, Czachura P, Gryta H, Eyssartier G, Larsson E, Pereira OL, Rigueiro-Rodríguez A, Wingfield MJ, Ahmad W, Bibi S, Denman S, Esteve-Raventós F, Hussain S, Illescas T, Luangsa-ard JJ, Möller L, Mombert A, Noisripoom W, Olariaga I, Pancorbo F, Paz A, PiÄ…tek M, Polman-Short C, Suárez E, Afshan NS, Ali H, Arzanlou M, Ayer F, Barratt J, Bellanger J, Bidaud A, Bishop-Hurley SL, Bohm M, Bose T, Campo E, Chau NB, Çolak ÃF, Cordeiro TRL, Cruz MO, Custódio FA, Couceiro A, Darmostuk V, Dearnaley JDW, De Azevedo Santiago ALCM, De Freitas LWS, Yáñez-Morales MDJ, Domnauer C, Dentinger B, Dhileepan K, De Souza JT, Dovana F, Eberhardt U, Eisvand P, Erhard A, Fachada V, García-Martín A, Groenewald M, Hammerbacher A, Harms K, Haroon S, Haqnawaz M, Henriques S, Hernández AJ, Jacobus LM, Jaen-Contreras D, Jangsantear P, Kaygusuz O, Knoppersen R, Kumar TKA, Lynch MJ, Mahiques R, Maraia GL, Marbach PAS, Mehrabi-Koushki M, Miller PR, Mongkolsamrit S, Moreau P, Oberlies NH, Oliveira JA, Orlovich D, Pérez-Méndez AS, Pinto A, Raja HA, Ramírez GH, Raphael B, Rodrigues A, Rodrigues H, Ramos DO, Safi A, Sarwar S, Saar I, Sánchez RM, Santana JS, Scrace J, Sales LS, Silva LNP, Stryjak-Bogacka M, Tacconi A, Thanh VN, Thomas A, Thuy NT, Toome M, Valdez-Carrazco JM, Van Vuuren NI, Vasey J, Vauras J, Vila-Viçosa C, Villarreal M, Visagie CM, Vizzini A, Whiteside EJ, Groenewald JZ. (2025) Fungal Planet description sheets: 1781–1866. Persoonia 54:327–587. 10.3114/persoonia.2025.54.10
Nzuza P, Schröder ML, Heim RJ, Daniels L, Slippers B, Hurley BP, Germishuizen I, Sivparsad B, Roux J, Maes WH. (2025) Assessing Gonipterus defoliation levels using multispectral unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data in Eucalyptus plantations. Ecological Informatics 90:103301. 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2025.103301
Kunene S, Mmushi TJ, Steenkamp E, Motaung T. (2025) Pinus-derived membrane vesicles disrupt pathogenic metabolism in fungi. plant biology 10.1111/plb.70069 PDF
Theron CA, Wingfield MJ, Ahumada R, Carnegie AJ, Fraser S, Rodas C, Barnes I. (2025) Diversity and distribution of Lophodermium species on non-native Pinus species in the southern hemisphere. Mycological Progress 24(44) 10.1007/s11557-025-02056-5
Msweli D, Geerts S, Nndanduleni M, Paap T. (2025) Evaluation of phosphite to protect a South African Proteaceae from Phytophthora root rot. Journal of Plant Pathology 10.1007/s42161-025-01945-8 PDF
Dewing C, Yilmaz N, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD, Visagie CM. (2025) Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures. Mycological Progress 24(1):38. 10.1007/s11557-025-02059-2
Nel WJ, Duong TA, Fell S, Herron DA, Paap T, Wingfield MJ, de Beer ZW, Hulcr J, Johnson AJ. (2025) A checklist of South African bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, Platypodinae). Zootaxa 5648(1):1-101. 10.11646/zootaxa.5648.1.1
Dewing C, Yilmaz N, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD, Visagie CM. (2025) Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures. Mycological Progress 24:38. 10.1007/s11557-025-02059-2 PDF
Chang R, Yan Z, Jiang J, Wang Y, Si H, Bose T, Miao C. (2025) Four novel endolichenic fungi from Usnea spp. (Lecanorales, Parmeliaceae) in Yunnan and Guizhou, China: Taxonomic description and preliminary assessment of bioactive potentials. MycoKeys 118:55–80. 10.3897/mycokeys.118.155248
Lötter A, Bruna T, Duong TA, Barry K, Lipzen A, Daum C, Yoshinaga Y, Grimwood J, Jenkins JW, Talag J, Borevitz J, Lovell JT, Schmutz J, Wegrzyn JL, Myburg AA. (2025) A haplotype-resolved reference genome for Eucalyptus grandis. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics 10.1093/g3journal/jkaf112
Wingfield MJ, Pham NQ, Marincowitz S, Wingfield BD. (2025) Cryphonectriaceae: Biodiverse and threatening tree pathogens in the tropics and southern hemisphere. Annual Review of Phytopathology 63 10.1146/annurev-phyto-121823-030316
Queffelec J, Allison JD, Slippers B, Greeff JM. (2025) Determinants of mating success in a lek-mating species. Agricultural and Forest Entomology :1-10. 10.1111/afe.12692
Magagula P, Swart V, Fourie A, Vermeulen A, Nelson JH, van Rooyen Z, van den Berg N. (2025) Avocado rhizosphere community profiling: white root rot and its impact on microbial composition. Frontiers in Microbiology 16 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1583797
Marincowitz S, Pham NQ, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Microfungi associated with dying quiver trees (Aloidendron dichotomum) in South Africa. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 16:71–80. 10.3114/fuse.2025.16.5 PDF
Pham NQ, Marincowitz S, Crous PW, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Diversity of soil-borne Gliocladiopsis from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 16:81–92. 10.3114/fuse.2025.16.6 PDF
Tanney JB, Kemler M, Vivas M, Wingfield MJ, Slippers B. (2025) Silent invaders: The hidden threat of asymptomatic phytobiomes to forest biosecurity. New Phytologist 10.1111/nph.70209
Fick A, Swart V, Van den Berg N. (2025) In silico prediction method for plant Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat- and pathogen effector interactions. The Plant Journal 122:e70169. 10.1111/tpj.70169
Bose T, Wingfield MJ, Brachmann A, Witfeld F, Begerow D, Kemler M, Dovey S, Roux J, Slippers B, Vivas M, Hammerbacher A. (2025) Removal of organic biomass in Eucalyptus plantations has a greater impact on fungal than on bacterial networks. Forest Ecology and Management 586:122734. 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122734
Woodward S, Amin H, Mártin-Gárcia J, Solla A, Diaz-Vazquez R, Romeralo C, Alves A, Pinto G, Herron D, Fraser S, Zas R, Doğmuş-Lehtijärvi HT, Bonello P, Wingfield MJ, Witzell J, Diez JJ. (2025) Host-pathogen interactions in the Pine-Fusarium circinatum pathosystem and the potential for resistance deployment in the field. Forest Pathology 55(2):e70020. 10.1111/efp.70020