Dr Martin Coetzee
Academic Staff
Tree Protection Co-operative Programme
Research Interests
As a biologist with strong background in microbiology and biochemistry, it is difficult for me to pinpoint precisely what my interests are. However, in the last few years I have discovered that some research areas interest me more than others. Such areas include the mechanisms involved in the evolution of organisms, the dynamics of speciation and the phylobiogeography of taxa. I am therefore involved in research projects of diverse nature, all motivated by “the pleasure of finding things out”*.
My current research projects and activities can be grouped under the following headings:
- The taxonomy and phylogeny of Ganoderma species from Africa,
- The mitochondrial genomes of plant pathogenic fungi: molecular characterisation and evolution,
- Molecular phylogenetic workshops.
Taxonomy and phylogeny of Ganoderma
In this project we are investigating the identity and phylogeny of species in the genus Ganoderma from South Africa and other countries in Africa. This fungal genus includes species that cause wood rot and eventually death of coniferous and hardwood trees. The disease caused by these fungi is generally known as Ganoderma root rot and has been reported on a variety of trees and other plants throughout the world. Two species, G. lucidum and G. applanatum, have been reported from various indigenous trees from South Africa. It is, however, known that each of these two species actually represents a species complex and may therefore include several species not previously identified. Also, very little attention has been afforded to elucidating the species occurring in the rest of Africa. The taxonomic status and the distribution of Ganoderma species on this continent are currently uncertain and we hope to solve this problem in this research project.
Molecular characterisation and evolution of mitochondrial genomes
Mitochondria are cytoplasmic organelles found in all eukaryotes. Their primary function is to supply energy to the cell through the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). In fungi they play a role in senescence (predictable degenerative process leading to death of an organism) and virulence. For example, mutations in the mitochondrial genome cause mitochondrial hypovirulence (reduction of virulence) of the chestnut blight fungus, Cryphonectria parasitica. Currently, the complete mitochondrial genomes of only a few fungi have been determined. My aim with this project is to expand the database of sequenced mitochondrial genomes for phytopathogenic fungi. I strongly believe that the complete genome of these fungi will yield valuable insight about the variation of mitochondrial genomes among species, the evolution of mithochondrial genes and possibly their role in senescence and virulence.
Phylogenetics workshops
I am responsible for developing, coordinating and presenting phylogenetic workshops. These workshops focus on theoretical and applied aspects of methods used in inferring phylogenetic relationships amongst organisms. The workshops were initiated after the realization that most researchers have limited experience in the practical application of evolutionary models and tree building algorithms as well as the execution of computer software used for the analyses. My major objective with the workshops is to provide "hands on" experience in the use of databases and the range of software currently available for evolutionary biologists and systematicists.
*From: “The best short works of Richard P. Feynman. The pleasure of finding things out”.
Phylogenetic datasets
- Coetzee, M.P.A., Wingfield, B.D., Roux, J., Crous, P.W., Denman, S. & Wingfield, M.J. (2003) Discovery of two northern hemisphere Armillaria species on Proteaceae in South Africa. Plant Pathology, 52, 604-612. (ITS nexus file, IGS-1 nexus file)
- Coetzee, M.P.A., Wingfield, B.D., Bloomer, P. & Wingfield, M.J. (2005) Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences reveal species partitions amongst isolates of Armillaria from Africa. Mycological Research, 109, 1223-1234. (ITS nexus file, IGS-1 nexus file)
- Maphosa, L., Wingfield, B.D., Coetzee, M.P.A., Mwenje, E. & Wingfield, M.J. (2006) Phylogenetic relationships among Armillaria species inferred from partial elongation factor 1-alpha DNA sequence data. Australasian Plant Pathology, 35, 513-520. (EF1-a nexus file)
