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Research Features

This research programme focuses on bacterial diseases of trees, both plantation and native tree species and to a lesser extent, fruit trees. We have two major research focuses – one on taxonomy and the other on pathogenicity factors exhibited by a select group of pathogens. The taxonomic research involves identifying new species using modern approaches, mainly in the Enterobacteriaceae. The majority of bacteria we have identified thus far have been opportunistic plant pathogens whilst others have been associated with plants as endophytes. This has led to a number of studies where we have attempted to understand how these opportunists can function as successful plant pathogens despite the fact that they occur in other ecological niches which are often diverse, such as in diesel fuel.

Our interest has primarily been on Pantoea ananatis and related Pantoea species, although we do have research projects on Xanthomonas spp. and Ralstonia solanacearum. P. ananatis is responsible for bacterial blight and die-back of Eucalyptus, brown stalk rot of maize and occurs on onion seed in South Africa. Our studies have centred on taxonomy and on developing rapid and reliable methods of distinguishing between the species of Pantoea. We are now expanding this research and are using a phylogenomic approach to examine this genus. Other elements currently under investigation include understanding the epidemiology and biology of primarily P. ananatis, but this has been expanded to include the other pathogens mentioned above as well. We have identified a number of pathogenicity factors in P. ananatis and this has given us some insight into its life as a phytopathogen. The approach we have used has involved both comparative and functional genomics. The pathogenicity factors investigated have included motility, Type VI secretion system, quorum sensing and exopolysaccharide production.

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
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
Nel WJ, Duong TA, Fell S, Herron DA, Paap T, Wingfield MJ, de Beer ZW, Hulcr J, Johnson AJ. (2025) A checklist of South African bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, Platypodinae). Zootaxa 5648(1):1-101. 10.11646/zootaxa.5648.1.1
Dewing C, Yilmaz N, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD, Visagie CM. (2025) Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures. Mycological Progress 24:38. 10.1007/s11557-025-02059-2 PDF
Chang R, Yan Z, Jiang J, Wang Y, Si H, Bose T, Miao C. (2025) Four novel endolichenic fungi from Usnea spp. (Lecanorales, Parmeliaceae) in Yunnan and Guizhou, China: Taxonomic description and preliminary assessment of bioactive potentials. MycoKeys 118:55–80. 10.3897/mycokeys.118.155248
Lötter A, Bruna T, Duong TA, Barry K, Lipzen A, Daum C, Yoshinaga Y, Grimwood J, Jenkins JW, Talag J, Borevitz J, Lovell JT, Schmutz J, Wegrzyn JL, Myburg AA. (2025) A haplotype-resolved reference genome for Eucalyptus grandis. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics 10.1093/g3journal/jkaf112
Wingfield MJ, Pham NQ, Marincowitz S, Wingfield BD. (2025) Cryphonectriaceae: Biodiverse and threatening tree pathogens in the tropics and southern hemisphere. Annual Review of Phytopathology 63 10.1146/annurev-phyto-121823-030316
Magagula P, Swart V, Fourie A, Vermeulen A, Nelson JH, van Rooyen Z, van den Berg N. (2025) Avocado rhizosphere community profiling: white root rot and its impact on microbial composition. Frontiers in Microbiology 16 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1583797
Marincowitz S, Pham NQ, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Microfungi associated with dying quiver trees (Aloidendron dichotomum) in South Africa. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 16:71–80. 10.3114/fuse.2025.16.5 PDF