Mr Gilbert Kamgan Nkuekam

PhD Student

Research Interests

I completed my BSc (Hons) in Microbiology at the University of Pretoria in 2003. During my honours, my research project was focused on the isolation and characterization of putative rhizobia in the rhizosphere of various Lotononis (give common name) spp. The potential value behind the project was to identify good nitrogen fixators adapted to a wide variety of environmental conditions. These could assist with the development of more effective inoculum to enhance nitrogen fixation in cropping systems.

In 2004, I joined the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), based at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) where I completed my MSc degree in Plant Pathology. During my MSc, my research focused on the study of Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma spp. infecting wounds on several native tree species in South Africa. I described several new species of each and also conducted a pilot population diversity study using microsattelites on one of the Ceratocystis spp.

Currently I am a PhD student at the same institute (FABI). My research project focuses on the study of ophiostomatoid fungi, their insect associates and wounds on Eucalyptus trees in Australia and South Africa. Ophiostomatoid fungi require wounds for infection of trees and are being more commonly reported from Eucalyptus trees, also as important pathogens. These fungi are known to have associations with insects, that either create wounds, resulting in fungal infection, or visit fresh wounds and thereby introducing fungi to trees. For my PhD study I will specifically investigate the interaction between these three factors on Eucalyptus trees. My study will include collaboration with Australian colleagues, as Eucalyptus trees are native to that continent, yet very little is known regarding the ophiostomatoid fungi in Australia.

Posters and Oral Presentations

• Roux, J., Labuschagne, L., Heath, R.N., Nkuekam, G.K. & Wingfield, MJ. 2004. The Wattle wilt pathogen, Ceratocystis albifundus on native South African tree. Proceedings of the American Phytopathological Society Meeting, July 31 – August 4, Anaheim, California. Phytopathology 94, S89.
• G. Kamgan Nkuekam, J. Roux, K. Jacobs,MJ. Wingfield& R. Ahumada. Pesotum species associated with tree wounds in Chile, South Africa and Uganda. Southern African Society of Plant Pathology Congress. 23th – 26th January 2005, P25. Hartenbos, Republic of South Africa. 
• Kamgan-Nkuekam G, Roux J & Wingfield MJ. Wound infecting Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma species on trees in the Kruger National Park. The 3rd Kruger National Park Science Networking Meeting, 4th – 8th April 2005, P34. Skukuza, Mpumalanga, Republic of South Africa.
• G. Kamgan Nkuekam, J. Roux, K. Jacobs, MJ. Wingfield. Ophiostoma and Ceratocystis species associated with wounds on native South African trees species. Southern African Society of Plant Pathology Congress. 23th – 25th January 2006, p25. Magalie Park Country Club, republic of South Africa.
• Kamgan-Nkuekam G, Roux J & Wingfield MJ. A new Ceratocystis species from wounds made by elephants on trees in the Kruger National Park. The 4th Kruger National Park Science Networking Meeting, 13th – 17th March 2006, P34. Skukuza, Mpumalanga, Republic of South Africa.
• G. Kamgan Nkuekam, J. Roux, K. Jacobs and M.J. Wingfield. Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma species associated with wounds on native South African trees. Ophiostomatoid fungi: expanding frontiers, 16th–18th August 2006, p41. Morton Bay Research Station, North Stradbroke Island, Brisbane, Australia.
• G. Kamgan Nkuekam, J. Roux, K. Jacobs and MJ. Wingfield. Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma species associated with wounds on native South African trees. 8th International Mycological Congress (IMC8), 21th–25th August 2006 (PS1-104-0537), P41. Cairns Convention Centre, Queensland, Australia.
• G. Kamgan Nkuekam, J. Roux, H. Solheim and MJ. Wingfield,2006. Ophiostoma species associated with wounds on native broad-leaved trees in Norway. 8th International Mycological Congress (IMC8), 21th–25th August 2006 (PS1-106-0547), P55. Cairns Convention Centre, Queensland, Australia.
• J. Roux, H. Solheim, G. Kamgan Nkuekam, MJ. Wingfield. Sporendocladia bactrospora associated with native broad-leaved trees in Norway. 8th International Mycological Congress (IMC8), 21th–25th August 2006 (PS1-65-0339), P41. Cairns Convention Centre, Queensland, Australia.
• NG. Kamgan, K. Jacobs, MJ. Wingfield and J. Roux. Ophiostomatoid fungi, including three new taxa, on native South African trees. Joint Conference of the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB) and Southern African Society for Systematic Biology (SASSB), 14-18 January 2008, P23. Drakensville Mountain Resort, Republic of South Africa.
• G. Kamgan Nkuekam, M.J. Wingfield, C. Mohammed, A. Carnegie, G. Pegg & J. Roux . Ophiostomatoid fungi and their insect associates infesting eucalypts in Australia. Southern African Society of Plant Pathology Congress. 25th – 28th January 2009, p106. Villa Via Hotel, Gordon’s Bay, Cape Town, republic of South Africa.