FABI News
3 Jul 2025
FABI is serie-ous too
FABIans once again got the opportunity to share which TV series they really enjoyed watching over the past year.
20 Jun 2025
Strengthening mycology in South Africa: FABI hosts NICD researchers
FABI recently hosted a meeting to establish linkages between medical mycologists and those working mainly on fungi in the environment.
19 Jun 2025
FABIans conquer the 2025 Comrades Marathon
FABI is proud of Steven Shange and Josias Letaoana who conquered the gruelling Comrades Marathon.
13 Jun 2025
Science, culture, and collaboration: Mycobiomics Meeting at FABI
International visitors attending the Mycobiomics meeting at FABI also had a chance to go on several tours on the UP campus and visit the Pilanesberg National Park.
12 Jun 2025
FABI hosts an international Mycobiomics meeting highlighting global advances in fungal research
FABI recently hosted 40 international researchers from seven countries, where the team celebrated a successful 'Mycobiomics' project.
FABI in a nutshell
Research Features
Review emphasizes the importance of understanding the genetics of sex determination for effective genetic pest management in insects.
Eleven new Penicillium and Talaromyces species discovered in South African culture collections.
A new study reveals the presence of Mycotoxins in Eastern Cape maize in South Africa.
Eurotiales update: FABIans Prof. Cobus Visagie and Dr Neriman Yilmaz and their collaborators have published a review of recently described Eurotiales species, including the economically important Aspergillus, Penicillium, Paecilomyces and Talaromyces.
Da Vinci's Yeast: FABIans Prof. Cobus Visagie, Dr Neriman Yilmaz, and their collaborators have recently described and named a newly discovered yeast species of the famous Italian painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect Leonardo da Vinci.
The potential economic impact of the PSHB invasion in South Africa has been calculated to be a massive R275 billion over the next ten years, if nothing is done to stop the spread of this invasive beetle. Researchers from FABI collaborated with Stellenbosch University ecologists and economists to model the unmitigated economic impact of this invasion.
A recently published paper in the journal Current Forestry Reports documents a collaboration between an international team of forest pathologists and invasion scientists. Led by Dr Trudy Paap, the authors present a framework for conceptualizing and managing invasive forest pathogens.
A recently published review article by Dr Andi Wilson in a special issue of the journal 'Microbiology & Molecular Biology Reviews' provides details of the genes that are essential to the sexual cycle in filamentous Ascomycete fungi and further describes their functions in a variety of model and non-model species.
Penicillium section Canescentia re-evaluated and five new species described from the fynbos biome in South Africa.
In November 2019, the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology hosted a workshop on ‘Frameworks used in Invasion Science’. The workshop led to a NeoBiota special issue on this theme, and includes a review by FABI researchers and international colleagues, exploring frameworks in the context of forest pathology.
A doctoral study in FABI confirms for the first time the presence of Xylosandrus crassiusculus, a polyphagous ambrosia beetle and its fungal symbiont, Ambroseilla roeperi, in three provinces in South Africa. The authors warn that this beetle species could be a threat to native and plantation trees.
A review on invasive gall-forming wasps that threaten non-native Eucalyptus plantations by researchers in the TPCP appears in Agricultural and Forest Entomology. They profile several species of likely Australian origin that have established on non-native Eucalyptus plantations globally and discuss various challenges to their management.
A study in the TPCP confirms the identity of seven novel fungal species associated with Dendroctonus valens, the red turpentine beetle. The study follows on surveys on the fungal associates of the beetle in China and North America. Results from this work appear in Persoonia.
A postdoctoral study in the TPCP describes two novel Huntiella species in the African clade, bringing the number of known species in the genus to 31. Though closely related, the two species display different mating systems. Outcomes from this study appear in the journal MycoKeys.
A review of the invasion history and global management strategies of Eucalyptus snout beetles in the Gonipterus scutellatus species complex by researchers in the TPCP appears in the Journal of Pest Science.
In a collaborative venture with Dr Jos Houbraken (Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, the Netherlands), Prof. Cobus M Visagie, Dr Neriman Yilmaz (both from FABI) and others have recently completed and published a major study updating the taxonomy of the Eurotiales.
A study in the Forest Molecular Genetics (FMG) Programme at FABI interrogates the benefits of implementing genomic selection for growth and wood quality traits in an established Eucalyptus grandis breeding programme in South Africa. Outcomes from this study appear in an article.
The first study on alternative weed and cultivated hosts of Spongospora subterraneaf. sp. subterranea (Sss), in southern Africa identifies two species as ideal trap crops for rotation with potatoes. The study also introduces three new families to the known hosts of Sss in the region.
A consortium of microbiologists from around the globe, FABI included, is pushing for an overhaul in how scientific names are assigned to uncultivated bacteria and archaea. Despite their ecological, agricultural and medical importance, these organisms traditionally have not been recognized by the international body governing the nomenclature of prokaryotes.
Professor Cobus Visagie is a researcher in the Applied Mycology group at FABI. One of the group’s research goals is to discover fungal diversity in South Africa, and Cobus’ research is strongly focussed on the economically important genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Talaromyces.
Postdoctoral research by Dr Norman Muzhinji in the Potato Pathology Programme at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) sheds light on the genetic structure and diversity of Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea in four potato-growing regions in South Africa, providing valuable insights on its management.
An MSc study by Kira Lynn in the RGE-FABI Tree Health Programme at the University of Pretoria has described a new Fusarium species, Fusarium rekanum sp. nov., associated with Euwallacea perbrevis, an ambrosia beetle species infesting Acacia crassicarpa plantations in Riau, Indonesia.
FABI postdoctoral Fellow Dr Andi Wilson has established a CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing protocol for use in Huntiella omanensis, a tree-inhabiting fungus belonging to the Ceratocystidaceae family.
Research undertaken as part of a PhD study by Molly Malefo at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute sheds more light on the role of protease inhibitors in plants under drought stress.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) has funded a postdoctoral research project dedicated to monitoring plant health in botanical gardens and arboreta across South Africa. Two postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Pretoria’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute have held these fellowships.
The first comprehensive study mapping the distribution and genetic diversity of invasive Eucalyptus insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa confirms the presence of five major foliage-feeding species in 14 countries. The results of this study have implications on the quarantine, future research and management of these pests on the continent and beyond.
Dr Joey Hulbert broke new ground when he became the first candidate at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute to complete a PhD study incorporating citizen science. Citizen science is an approach that involves members of the public as active participants in scientific research.
FABI technology unravels the genetics behind fungal genome evolution The RIPper is a bioinformatics tool for the for quantifying genome-wide RIP mutations in fungal genomes. The strength of this software lies in the automation of laborious techniques to study the mutation process called Repeat-Induced Point mutations (RIP). The RIPper applies these technique
With the increased availability in genome data, inferences regarding evolutionary relationships among taxa can now be performed on a genome-wide scale. But it is widely accepted that not all parts of such massive datasets support the same evolutionary hypothesis. Because of this, a group of researchers at FABI recently investigated the effect of this.
The use of genome data to characterize species and elucidate relationships, particularly between problematic taxa, has become routine practice in bacteria. Recently, researchers from FABI joined in an international effort to describe two novel genera and characterize these within the larger context of the important bacterial group Burkholderia.
A PhD student in FABI, Runlei Chang, has discovered and described 19 new fungal species from China as part of the research for his thesis. These fungi are all associated with conifer-infesting bark beetles and their mites and belong to well-known genera such as Ophiostoma and Leptographium.
Two research papers from FABI were selected as cover stories in two consecutive issues of the international journal, Plant Pathology. The journal is published by Wiley for the British Society of Plant Pathology.
Plastids play an integral role in wood formation, and yet they are routinely ignored in the study of xylogenesis in forest trees. Desre Pinard and Dr Eshchar Mizrachi have published a review highlighting the unique biology of plastids in wood, suggesting that a new type of plastid, the xylopast, exists.
Approaches for characterizing metabolic potential from genomic sequences have previously been predicted to be useful in the description of bacterial taxa. Dr Marike Palmer, has recently employed these approaches for identifying biological processes contributing to the divergence of bacteria with a variety of lifestyles.
Comparative genomics is shaping our notion of what fungal species are. Based on current data, these unique evolutionary units are separated from one another by boundaries that are porous under certain conditions. This affects our expectations regarding their population biology and evolution, and our strategies for recognizing and controlling them.
The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer is an ambrosia beetle native to Southeast Asia. In 2017 this pest was detected in South Africa. Its presence has since been confirmed in all provinces except Limpopo. The beetle has a symbiotic relationship with the fungus Fusarium euwallaceae, which causes branch die-back and death of susceptible trees.
Pest/Pathogen of the Month: February
Scientific name: Elsinoe necatrix
Common name: Eucalyptus scab and shoot malformation
Elsinoe was introduced by Raciborski (1900) to accommodate a fungus that caused scab-like lesions on plant tissue. The genus name Elsinoe, interestingly, was taken from the name of the heroine in the play Iridion by the Polish poet and dramatist Zygmunt Krasiński.
The serious disease, recently named as Eucalyptus scab and shoot malformation, was first observed in North Sumatra, Indonesia in 2014. However, the causal agent was discovered only recently as a novel species of Elsinoe. The name of the pathogen is derived from the Latin word “necatrix” (killer, murderess) to refer to the destructive impact that the disease has on its Eucalyptus hosts.
The disease is characterized by black necrotic spots that initially appear on young leaves and petioles, which become scab‐like as the lesions age. Infected trees respond to infection by producing shoots with small leaves that commonly appear feathered. Severely affected clones usually die after a number of successive infection cycles, generally over a period of two to three years.
The origin of Elsinoe necatrix is unknown, but evidence suggests that this is likely from an area where its Eucalyptus species are native. The pathogen would then have been accidentally introduced into North Sumatra where it has encountered susceptible host trees and an environment conducive to infection. In this regard, it should be considered as a high-risk pathogen and efforts should be made to prevent its spread to new environments.
Click here for more information.
Pest/Pathogen of the Month: December
Scientific name: Approximately 1300 species distributed among five plant families e.g. Arceuthobium spp., Viscum spp., Phoradendron spp.
Common name: Mistletoe
In Nordic mythology the goddess of love and fertility, Frigg, had a premonition that her son Baldur would be killed. She went forth to obtain an oath from all object in the nine realms that they would avoid harming her son, but she overlooked mistletoe due to its small and innocent demeanour. Even though Baldur was invincible, a mistletoe dart created by the god of mischief, Loki, killed him where he stood. Today, mistletoe is considered an obligate aerial parasite of several cornerstone tree species in forestry. Berries of mistletoes are eaten by herbivores that spread the seeds through defecation, especially birds. Seeds may also be disseminated by wind or hydrostatic pressure. The seed of mistletoe is coated by a sticky substance called viscin that cements the seed and ensures the seed is not disturbed. In spring, the seed will germinate and produce a haustorium that penetrates the vascular tissues of the host plant to syphon water and photosynthetic metabolites. Leaves of the mistletoe are dark green, oval and rigid and flowers in summer may be white, yellow or red. White berries produced by this plant contain toxic compounds that are poisonous to humans and some animals. Mistletoe has been reported as a serious parasite of conifers, especially in Northern America and Europe. Infection leads to weakened trees which reduces growth and timber quality, allows for attack by insects and bole swelling at the base provides a home for decaying fungi. Infection at the crown may also impact the soil ecosystem and the optimal functioning of the ectomycorrhizal community of the tree. In the end, the tree may succumb to the combined damage of the different factors and this may lead to extensive yield losses. Mistletoes are distributed across several different plant families, however, in the Southern Hemisphere most of the species belong to the Loranthaceae and Viscaceae. Despite their fragile exterior, the oath of the mistletoe should never be treated as superfluous.
Pest/Pathogen of the Month: January
Scientific name: Pewenomyces kutranfy
Pewenomyces kutranfy is a recently-discovered fungal pathogen with the ability to girdle branches and trunks of the symbolic Araucaria araucana in Chile. This tree is of sacred importance to the indigenous Mapuche people in Chile, and from whose language, Mapudungun, the pathogen’s name was derived: Pewen being the name for A. araucaria, and kutran, meaning disease.
Pewenomyces is a monotypic genus inside the Coryneliaceae. This family contains other emergent canker pathogens including Caliciopsis pinea and C. Moriondi on Pinus species in North America and Europe respectively, and Hypsotheca pleomorpha on Eucalyptus spp. in Australia. Although Pewenomyces resembles these species morphologically, it is distinctly adapted to cold temperatures and, so far, has only been recorded from A. araucana. Research is still needed to disclose the rest of the story regarding P. kutranfy, although, the current hypothesis points to a native pathogen causing uncharacteristic disease epidemics as a result of climate change.
Click here to read the journal article.
Pest/Pathogen of the Month: November
Scientific name: Berkeleyomyces basciola and B. rouxiae
Common names: Black root rot
Black root rot is a fungal disease caused by two species from the genus Berkeleyomyces. These species are hemibiotrophic pathogens that penetrate living root tissue before killing them to obtain nutrients. Coalescing necrotic lesions lead to black discolouration of the roots, the character to which the disease attributes its name. Thus far, black root rot has been reported on more than 170 agricultural and ornamental plant species.
For nearly 100 years, the disease was thought to be caused by a single fungal species, Thielaviopsis basicola. However, in 2018 researchers at FABI showed that black root rot is caused by two cryptic sister species in a distinct generic lineage of the Ceratocystidaceae. Unfortunately, for most of the reported cases, the species responsible for the disease is unclear as identification relied on morphology rather than DNA evidence. With so little known regarding the true host range and distribution of these two species, concerns arise regarding their quarantine status and regulations surrounding their movement.
New Publications
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 
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
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