Mrs Gerda Fourie
PhD Student
Tree Protection Co-operative Programme
Research Interests
I am a PhD student in the TPCP program and my research interest involves the evolution of the genetic determinants of fitness and pathogenicity of Fusarium circinatum. Very little is known about virulence, pathogenicity and fitness in F. circinatum and the aim of this study is therefore to identify the genetic factors or genes involved in pathogenesis and fitness. Once genes have been identified and characterized, their evolution will be compared to species evolution in order to gain insight into the influence of the evolutionary forces on genes under selection. My PhD also focus on sequencing the mitochondrial genomes of some species within the Gibberella fujikuroi species complex, and apart from its importance in terms of shedding light on evolution it will also shed light on how mitochondrial elements influence the biology and ecology of these fungi.This PhD will be conducted under the supervision of Profs Emma Steenkamp and Mike and Brenda Wingfield.
Conference proceedings
Fourie G, Wingfield BD, Bogale M, Wingfield MJ, Steenkamp ET. 2011 Complete mitochondrial genomes for the plant pathogenic fungi Fusarium circinatum and F.verticillioides. 9th Southern African Society for Systematic Biology. Rhodes University, Grahamstown, 16 to 21 January 2011 (poster).
Fourie G, Steenkamp ET, Gordon, TR, Viljoen A. 2008 Multi-gene sequencing and microsatellite markers reveal genetic diversity among vegetative compatibility groups of F. oxysporum f.sp. cubense. 10th International Fusarium workshop and the International Fusarium Genomics Workshop. Sardinia, Italy, 30-4 September 2008 (presentation).
Fourie G, Steenkamp ET, Gordon TR, Viljoen A. 2008 Assessment of genetic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense using microsatellite markers. 9th International international conference of Plant Pathologen. Torino, Italy 24-29 August 2008 (poster).
Fourie, G, Steenkamp, ET, Gordon, TR, Viljoen A. 2008 Genetic relatedness in a worldwide collection of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of banana. 9th International international conference of Plant Pathologen. Torino, Italy 24-29 August 2008 (poster and short presentation).
Rose LJ, Viljoen A, Fourie
G. 2008.
Fusarium proliferatum appears to comprise a unique sub-population that does not contain the Fum1 gene. 20th Biennial Congress of the South African Genetics Society. University of
Pretoria, Pretoria 20-27 March (poster).
Molina A, Fabregar E, Sinohin VG, Fourie G and Viljoen A. 2007. Recent occurrence of Fusarium oxysporum f sp. cubense tropical race 4 in Asia. ISHS/ProMusa 27th
international symposium on: Recent advances in banana crop protection for sustainable production and improved livelihoods. Greenway Woods Resort, White River, South Africa, 10-14 September
(presentation).
Fourie G, Steenkamp ET, Gordon TR,
Viljoen A. 2007. Speciation within the
Fusarium oxysporum complex, with specific reference to the banana wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense. ISHS/ProMusa 27th international symposium on: Recent
advances in banana crop protection for sustainable production and improved livelihoods. Greenway Woods Resort, White River, South Africa, 10-14 September 2007 (poster).
Fourie G. Steenkamp ET, Gordon TR, and Viljoen A. 2006. A multigene phylogeny determines the genetic relatedness among the lineages of the polymorphic fungus Fusarium
oxysporum f.sp. cubense. European Fusarium Seminar 9, Wageningen, The Netherlands, 19-22 September 2006 (poster).
Munro C, Fourie G, Viljoen A. 2005. The application of PCR-RFLP’s for rapid identification of Mycosphaerella species from banana in South Africa. 43th Congress of South
African Society of Plant Pathology, Hartenbos, South Africa, 24-27 January 2005 (poster).
Fourie G, Steenkamp ET, Gordon TR and Viljoen A.
2005. A multigene phylogeny determines the relatedness among vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) within Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense. 43th Congress of South African
Society of Plant Pathology, Hartenbos, South Afirca, 24-27 January 2005 (poster).
