FMG Team

Academic Staff and Research Leaders Total:2

Prof Eshchar Mizrachi
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Associate Professor
Prof Sanushka Naidoo
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology

External Research Associates Total:1

Dr Steven Hussey
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Extra-ordinary Professor

Professional Support Staff Total:12

Dr Zelda Du Toit-Boshoff
FABI
Research Assistant
Ms Grieta Mahlangu
FABI
Research Assistant
Research Assistant
Dr Ronishree Mangwanda
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Programme Manager (FMG)
Ms Tersia Moabelo
FABI
Senior Laboratory Technician
Ms Tsholofelo Modise
FABI
Research Assistant
Precision Tree Breeding Platform Analyst
Ms Patience Motaung
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Ms Aysha Ndou
FABI
Laboratory Technician
Ms Thandeka Ngondo
FABI
Genetics
Ms Melissa Reynolds
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Precision Tree Breeding Platform Manager
DNA Fingerprinting Platform Manager
Ms Doleen Sehlabane
FABI
Laboratory Technician
Ms Nasiphi Siguca
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Laboratory Technician
Ms Adri Veale
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Tissue culture and Plant Transformation Platform Manager
Senior Research Assistant

Industry Secondments Total:1

Dr Marja O'Neill
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Postdoctoral Fellow
Project Coordinator

Postdoctoral Fellows Total:3

Dr Mary Ranketse
FABI
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr Myriam Solis
FABI
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr Demissew Teshome
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Postdoctoral Fellow

Doctoral Students Total:6

Mr Sung Hyu Luke Kim
FABI
PhD student
Ms Nadine Kleinhans
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Ms Anneri Lötter
FABI
PhD student
Mr Nganea Nangammbi
FABI
PhD student
Ms Ipeleng Randome
FABI
PhD student PhD student
Ms Shae Swanepoel
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student

Masters Students Total:8

Mr Ryan Bosch
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Ms Ruby May Ebbeling
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Ms Monique Horn
Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
MSc student
Mr Thembela Lulane
Plant and Soil Sciences
MSc student
Mx Anicka Nel
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Mr Bernard Smit
FABI
MSc student
Ms Hannah Tate
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Mr Mondli Xaba
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student

Honours Students Total:1

Ms Anmari van Buuren
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
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New Publications

Anneri Lötter, Jill L Wegrzyn, Jeremy Schmutz, John T Lovell, Justin Borevitz, Jayson Talag, Jerry W Jenkins, Jane Grimwood, Yuko Yoshinaga, Chris Daum, Anna Lipzen, Kerrie Barry, Tuan A Duong, Tomas Bruna, Alexander A Myburg. (2025) A haplotype-resolved reference genome for Eucalyptus grandis. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics 10.1093/g3journal/jkaf112
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 PDF