Dr Seonju Marincowitz

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Research Interests

Research Interests

I was introduced to microfungi as a fourth-year student in a Forest Pathology course in 1988. Since then I have been trained as a mycologist and exposed to various groups of fungi, such as tree pathogens, soil fungi, andinsect-related and litter fungi. My favourite pastime in the laboratory is to identify unknown fungi and classify them with regard to an appropriate taxonomic group. I use both morphology and molecular data to address these questions. Most of the time, I work with microscopic ascomycetes and their mitosporic states (coelomycetes and hyphomycetes). Besides taxonomic practice my other research interest is to study the distribution patterns offungi in macro- and microniches, their interactions with other organisms and their ecological role in nature.

My most recent research was on saprobic microfungi occurring on Proteaceae in fynbos. Fynbos is one of five Mediterranean-type ecosystems in the world and is located in the south-western part of South Africa. From thisresearch a total of 141 fungal taxa including 59 new species was identified. All these species are illustratedin my book published in 2008. In March 2008 a new project was started with the support of Rufford SmallGrant Organization. In this project the research focus was on surveying any pathogenic fungi causing disease symptoms on indigenous trees in the Pondoland Centre of Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany (MPA) biodiversityhotspot. The MPA is islocated on the east coast of southern Africa. It is the second richest floristic region in Africaand is known to shelter about 600 tree species, which is the highest tree richness of any known temperate forestsand comprises 80 % of South Africa's remaining forests. The target trees are members of the Myrtales and somerelic trees.

A detailed overview of my research background and experience is provided in my CV, which is available on request.