I completed my BSc degree in Microbiology at the University of Pretoria and joined FABI in my Honours year. I am currently busy with my MSc (Microbiology) degree at the Center for Advanced Mycological Studies, CAMS, situated in FABI.  My supervisors are Dr G Marais and Dr E Barros.

 

South Africa is suitable for the cultivation of a large variety of crops.  Maize comprises the largest area of farmland, followed by wheat and on a smaller scale oats, sugar cane and sunflowers.  Due to the large size of the maize industry, it plays a very important role in the economy.  It is the largest locally produced field crop

 

In my project, I will be comparing 49 commercially produced maize cultivars in South Africa based on fungal infestation and mycotoxin levels.  From there I will further investigate the resistance of commercially produced maize cultivars against the infestation of 10 mycotoxigenic fungi.

 

Dawlal P, Marais G. J & Lübben A. 2005. Comparison of maize cultivars against the infestation of mycotoxigenic fungi. South African Association for Food Science and Technology. September 2006. Cape Town, South Africa.

  

Dawlal P & Marais G. J. 2006. Resistance of maize cultivars against the infestation of mycotoxigenic fungi. The 14^th Biennial Conference of the South African Society for Microbiology. April 2006. Pretoria, South Africa

 

Dawlal P & Marais G. J. 2007. Resistance of commercially produced maize cultivars against mycotoxigenic fungi during storage. Proceedings of 45th Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology. January 2006. Benoni, South Africa.