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Born in Germany.

Julia Kreiss lived in South Africa from 2005 to 2008 together with her mycologist husband, Wolfgang Mayer, while his was doing research on rust fungi in FABI as a postdoctoral fellow.

Prior to their time in South Africa, Julia received her formal training in Classical Art Restoration in Germany. However, after spending one year on restoring a one square meter roof painting in a gothic cathedral, her creative spirit became frustrated and she started teaching art to children. During her stay in South Africa, FABI commissioned her to create the artwork for three of FABI’s annual Seasonal Greeting cards on themes related to research projects in FABI. The works on display are the original works created for these cards.


Acacia karoo (2006) 


Blister beetle on rust gall (2006) 


King Protea (02/2007)


New Publications

Nzuza P, Schröder ML, Heim RJ, Daniels L, Slippers B, Hurley BP, Germishuizen I, Sivparsad B, Roux J, Maes WH. (2025) Assessing Gonipterus defoliation levels using multispectral unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data in Eucalyptus plantations. Ecological Informatics 90:103301. 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2025.103301
Kunene S, Mmushi TJ, Steenkamp E, Motaung T. (2025) Pinus-derived membrane vesicles disrupt pathogenic metabolism in fungi. plant biology 10.1111/plb.70069 PDF
Theron CA, Wingfield MJ, Ahumada R, Carnegie AJ, Fraser S, Rodas C, Barnes I. (2025) Diversity and distribution of Lophodermium species on non-native Pinus species in the southern hemisphere. Mycological Progress 24(44) 10.1007/s11557-025-02056-5
Msweli D, Geerts S, Nndanduleni M, Paap T. (2025) Evaluation of phosphite to protect a South African Proteaceae from Phytophthora root rot. Journal of Plant Pathology 10.1007/s42161-025-01945-8 PDF
Dewing C, Yilmaz N, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD, Visagie CM. (2025) Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures. Mycological Progress 24(1):38. 10.1007/s11557-025-02059-2