Miss Draginja Pavlic

PhD Student
Tree Protection Co-operative Programme

Research Interests

I completed BSc (Agric) in Plant and Food Protection at The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia. I obtained my MSc degree (cum laude) in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, where I continued my PhD study.

My research interest is on botryosphaeriaceous fungi. The species of the Botryosphaeriaceae are pathogens of Eucalyptus worldwide, but also occur on native trees within the Eucalyptus family Myrtaceae. During my MSc project I have been investigating the Botryosphaeriaceae that occur on native Syzygium cordatum in South Africa and their potential threat to Eucalyptus. The project included identification of species using morphological and molecular data, description of the new species, Lasiodiplodia gonubiensis, and pathogenicity trials. This knowledge is important when considering management strategies of forestry crops, as well as for the protection of indigenous flora. For my PhD project I am focusing on the origin, population genetics and biology of species of the Botryosphaeriaseae and their movement between native and non-native hosts. My PhD project also includes taxonomy and population diversity of Botryosphaeriaseae associated with variety of woody hosts in Southern African countries and Western Australia.

Beside my study I am passionate about literature, writing, dancing, music, travelling and photography.

Posters and Presentations

National Congresses

Pavlic D, Slippers B, Coutinho TA, Wingfield MJ. 2005. Botryosphaeria on native and introduced Myrtaceaes hosts: Identification of potential co-infecting pathogens. Proceedings of 43^rd Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 23-26 January 2005, Hartenbos, South Africa. South African Journal of Science 101, July/August 2005.

Pavlic D. 2005. Botryosphaeria species composition on Syzygium and Eucalyptus in South Africa. 15th Annual Conference of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), 19-20 April 2005, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Pavlic D, Slippers B, Coutinho TA, Wingfield MJ. 2006. Botryosphaeria spp. from native Syzygium cordatum and introduced Eucalyptus trees in South Africa. Proceedings of 44^th Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 22-25 January 2006, Magalies Park, Hartbeespoort, South Africa.

Hinze B, Pavlic D, Coutinho TA, Wingfield MJ. 2006. Identification of Botryosphaeria spp. occurring on Schizolobium parahybum in South Africa. Proceedings of 44^th Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 22-25 January 2006, Magalies Park, Hartbeespoort, South Africa.

Maleme H, Pavlic D, Slippers B, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. 2006.Identification of Botryosphaeria spp. from Eucalyptus plantedto feed Koalabearsat the Pretoria Zoo Proceedings of 44^th Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 22-25 January 2006, Magalies Park, Hartbeespoort, South Africa.

Hinze B, Slippers B, Pavlic D, Wingfield MJ. 2007. Identification and characterization of Botryosphaeriaceae associated with native Marula trees in South Africa. Proceedings of 45^th Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 21-24 January 2007, Benoni, South Africa.

Maleme H, Pavlic D, Slippers B, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. 2007. Identification of Botryosphaeriaceae from Eucalyptus planted to feed Koala bears at the Pretoria Zoo. Proceedings of 45^th Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 21-24 January 2007, Benoni, South Africa.

Pavlic D. 2007. Neofusicoccum parvum-N. ribis complex on waterberry, eucalypts and mango in South Africa. 17th Annual Conference of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), 8-9 May 2007, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Chen SF, Pavlic D, Zhou XD, Roux J, Xie YJ, Wingfield MJ. 2008. Botryosphaeriaceae from diseased Eucalyptus species in Chinese plantations. South African Genetics Society Congress (SAGS), 27-29 March 2008, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Hinze B, Slippers B, Pavlic D, Wingfield MJ. 2008. Botryosphaeriaceae associated with Marula and Mango in South Africa. South African Genetics Society Congress (SAGS), 27-29 March 2008, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Maleme H, Pavlic D, Slippers B, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. 2008. Identification of five species of the Botryosphaeriaceae affecting Eucalyptus in a small plantation in Pretoria. South African Genetics Society Congress (SAGS), 27-29 March 2008, University of Pretoria, South Africa.

International Congresses

Pavlic D, Slippers B, Coutinho TA, Wingfield MJ. 2005. Botryosphaeria spp. that co-infect native Syzygium and introduced Eucalyptus trees in South Africa: implications for disease management. IUFRO World Congress, 8-13 August 2005, Brisbane, Australia.

Pavlic D, Slippers B, Coutinho TA, Wingfield MJ. 2006. Speciation and gene flow in the Neofusicoccum parvum-N. ribis complex on native and introduced hosts in South Africa. 8^th International Mycological Congress, Cairns Convention Centre, 20-25 August 2006, Cairns, Australia.

Slippers B, Pavlic D, Maleme H, Wingfield MJ. 2007. A diverse assemblage of Botryosphaeriaceae infect Eucalyptus in introduced and native environments. Proceedings of IUFRO Conference, 22-26 August, Durban, South Africa.

Pavlic D, Wingfield MJ, Slippers B, Barber P, Hardy GEStJ, Burgess TI. 2008. New species of the Botryosphaeriaceae discovered on baobabs and other native trees in Western Australia. 9^th International  Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP 2008), 24-29 August 2008, Torino, Italy.

Pavlic D, Slippers B, Coutinho TA, Wingfield MJ. 2008. Cryptic species in the Neofusicoccum parvum / N. ribis complex revealed by multiple gene genealogies. 9^th International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP 2008), 24-29 August 2008, Torino, Italy.

Piškur B, Pavlic D, Slippers B, Ogris N, Maresi G, Wingfield, Jurc D. 2008. Botryosphaeriaceae involved in die-back of Ostrya carpinifolia in Slovenia and Italy following drought. 9^th International Congress of Plant Pathology (ICPP 2008), 24-29 August 2008, Torino, Italy.