Mr Renaan Thompson

MSc Student

Research Interests

My research interests are on developing low (media) and high tech (molecular) methods to detect the presence or absence of Fusarium spp. in crop seed. I am completing the low-tech method and will be focusing on the high-tech method which will be much more accurate in the identification of the Fusarium spp. within seed.

Development and evaluation of seed health testing methods for the detection of Fusarium spp. in maize seed

I completed my undergrad and honours in Microbiology and Plant pathology at the University of Pretoria. In my Honours I worked on developing a method to test for Fusarium verticillioides in maize seed. My masters project is focused on developing and evaluating current seed health testing methods for the detection of Fusarium spp. in maize seed and to ultimately have my method tested and validated by ISTA (International Seed Testing Association). ISTA currently does not have a single protocol for the detection of any Fusarium spp. in maize seed even though it is impossible to obtain maize seed anywhere in south Africa that is free of Fusarium spp. I am focusing on Fusarium graminearum, F. proliferatum, F. subglutinans and F. verticillioides as these species are constant companions of maize seed and the most proliferous producers of mycotoxins. The method I am developing is a low-tech method by using a media that allows sufficient sporulation of the Fusarium spp. allowing accurate identification while inhibiting the growth of other fungi such as saprophytes.