Dr Velushka Swart
Plant and Soil Sciences
Lecturer
Prof Noelani van den Berg
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology

Dr Robert Backer
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr Maryke Carstens
Plant and Soil Sciences
Researcher
Researcher
Ms Ncobile Kunene
Plant and Soil Sciences
Research Assistant

Dr Alicia Fick
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Postdoctoral Fellow PhD student
Dr Melissa Joubert
FABI
Postdoctoral Fellow Postdoctoral Fellow

Mr Aaron Harvey
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Ms Kayla Alexis Midgley
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Ms Tsakani Miyambo
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Ms Heike Möller
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Ms Alicia Vermeulen
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Ms Raven Wienk
FABI
PhD student

Ms Johane Cilliers
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Ms Julia Lutz
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Mr Johannes (JJ) Nelson
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student
Ms Annabel Norval
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
MSc student

Ms Palesa Kubayi
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Ms Chloe Launder
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Mr Ndumiso Mabuza
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Ms Danielle Rosner
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology

Ms Leanie De Beer
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology

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New Publications

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 PDF
Harvey A, van den Berg N, Swart V. (2025) In silico characterisation of the avocado WAK/WAKL gene family with a focus on genes involved in defence against Phytophthora cinnamomi. Frontiers in Plant Science 15:1474781. 10.3389/fpls.2024.1474781 PDF
Harvey A, van den Berg N, Swart V. (2024) Describing and characterizing the WAK/WAKL gene family across plant species: a systematic review. Frontiers in Plant Science 15:1467148. 10.3389/fpls.2024.1467148 PDF
Joubert M, van den Berg N, Theron J, Swart V. (2024) Global transcriptomic analysis in avocado nursery trees reveals differential gene expression during asymptomatic infection by avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd). Virus Research 339:199263. 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199263. PDF