FTBP Team
Dr Velushka Swart
Prof Noelani van den Berg
Dr Robert Backer
Dr Maryke Carstens
Ms Ncobile Kunene
Dr Alicia Fick
Dr Melissa Joubert
Ms Heike Beukes
Mr Aaron Harvey
Ms Kayla Alexis Midgley
Ms Tsakani Miyambo
Ms Alicia Vermeulen
Ms Raven Wienk
Ms Johane Cilliers
Ms Julia Lutz
Ms Mamello Machusi
Mr Johannes (JJ) Nelson
Ms Annabel Norval
Ms Danielle Rosner
Ms Arya Govender
Ms Leanie De BeerNew Publications
Joubert M, van den Berg N, Theron J, Swart V. (2026) Leaf bleaching is associated with extensive transcriptional reprogramming in avocado trees with sunblotch disease. Virology 620:110903.
10.1016/j.virol.2026.110903 
Joubert M, van den Berg N, Theron J, Swart V. (2025) Small RNAs derived from avocado sunblotch viroid and their association with bleaching symptoms: implications for pathogenesis in avocado sunblotch disease. Archives of Virology 170(10):205.
10.1007/s00705-025-06360-z
Prabhu AS, Naicker P, Duong TA, Govender IS, Engelbrecht J, Backer R, Stoychev SH, van den Berg N. (2025) Phosphite inhibits Phytophthora cinnamomi by downregulating oxidoreductases and disrupting energy metabolism. Frontiers in Microbiology 16:1632726.
10.3389/fmicb.2025.1632726
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
van den Berg N, Magagula P, Backer R, Swart V. (2025) Towards developing an integrated approach for the treatment of white root rot in commercial avocado orchards. Phytoparasitica 53(32)
10.1007/s12600-025-01250-1