FMG Team
Academic Staff and Research Leaders Total:2
Prof Eshchar Mizrachi
Prof Sanushka NaidooExternal Research Associates Total:1
Dr Steven HusseyProfessional Support Staff Total:12
Dr Zelda Du Toit-Boshoff
Ms Grieta Mahlangu
Dr Ronishree Mangwanda
Ms Tersia Moabelo
Ms Tsholofelo Modise
Ms Patience Motaung
Ms Aysha Ndou
Ms Thandeka Ngondo
Ms Melissa ReynoldsBiochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Precision Tree Breeding Platform Manager
DNA Fingerprinting Platform Manager
Ms Doleen Sehlabane
Ms Nasiphi Siguca
Ms Adri VealeBiochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Tissue culture and Plant Transformation Platform Manager
Senior Research Assistant
Industry Secondments Total:1
Dr Marja O'NeillPostdoctoral Fellows Total:2
Dr Myriam Solis
Dr Demissew TeshomeDoctoral Students Total:8
Ms Nkosikhona Hlatshwayo
Mr Sung Hyu Luke Kim
Ms Nadine Kleinhans
Ms Anneri Lötter
Mr Nganea Nangammbi
Ms Ipeleng Randome
Ms Mary Ranketse
Ms Shae SwanepoelMasters Students Total:7
Mr Ryan Bosch
Ms Ruby May Ebbeling
Mr Thembela Lulane
Mx Anicka Nel
Mr Bernard Smit
Ms Hannah Tate
Mr Mondli XabaHonours Students Total:1
Ms Anmari van Buuren New Publications
Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield M.J, Naidoo S. (2025) Enhancing plantation forest sustainability: A review of Eucalyptus defence mechanisms to foliar fungal pathogens. Current Forestry Reports
10.1007/s40725-024-00243-3
Teshome DT, Zharare GE, Ployet R, Naidoo S. (2024) Molecular mechanisms underlying tree host-pathogen interactions under drought stress and subsequent rewatering in Eucalyptus grandis. Plant Stress
10.1016/j.stress.2024.100697
Solís M, Naidoo S, Wingfield MJ, Joubert J, Hammerbacher A. (2024) First line of defence: Eucalyptus leaf waxes influence infection by an aggressive fungal leaf pathogen. Plant Biology
10.1111/plb.13707
Backer R, Naidoo S, van den Berg N. (2023) The expression of the NPR1-dependent defense response pathway genes in Persea americana (Mill.) following infection with Phytophthora cinnamomi. BMC Plant Biology 23(1):548.
10.1186/s12870-023-04541-z 
Takawira LT, Mounet F, Mizrachi E, Myburg AA, Grima-Pettenati J, Rai A, Dupas A, Ladouce N, Christie N, San Clemente H, Thulloch J, Ployet R, Bachir H, Hussey SG. (2023) Functional investigation of five R2R3-MYB transcription factors associated with wood development in Eucalyptus using DAP-seq-ML. Plant Molecular Biology 113:33-57.
10.1007/s11103-023-01376-y