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

Ms Alicia Fick
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student PhD student
Mr Aaron Harvey
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
PhD student
Ms Melissa Joubert
FABI
PhD student MSc Student
Mr Phinda Magagula
FABI
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 Chloe Launder
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Mr Ndumiso Mabuza
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Ms Danielle Rosner
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology

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New Publications

D’Angelo D, Hu H, Lahoz E, Risteski J, Steenkamp E T, Viscardi M, van der Nest M A, Wu Y, Yu H, Zhou J, Karandeni Dewage C S, Kotta-Loizou L I, Stotz H U, Fitt B D L, Huang Y, Hu Y, Kiss L, Sorrentino R, Nkomo T, Zhou X, Vaghefi N, Sonnekus B, Bose T, Cerrato D, Cozzolino L, Creux N, D’Agostino N, Fourie G, Fusco G, Hammerbacher A, Idnurm A, Wingfield BD. (2025) IMA GENOME - F20 A draft genome assembly of Agroathelia rolfsii, Ceratobasidium papillatum, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, Neopestalotiopsis macadamiae, Sphaerellopsis filum and genomic resources for Colletotrichum spaethianum and Colletotrichum fructicola. IMA Fungus 16:e141732. 10.3897/imafungus.16.141732
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
Hlongwane NL, Dzomba EF, Hadebe K, van der Nest MA, Pierneef R, Muchadeyi FC. (2024) Identification of signatures of positive selection that have shaped the genomic landscape of South African pig populations. Animals 14:235. 10.3390/ani14020236
De Vos L, van der Nest MA, Santana QC, van Wyk S, Leeuwendaal KS, Wingfield BD, Steenkamp ET. (2024) Chromosome-level assemblies for the pine pitch canker pathogen Fusarium circinatum. Pathogens 13(1):70. 10.3390/pathogens13010070
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
Anbu SP, Swart V, van den Berg N. (2023) Unmasking the invaders: NLR-mal function in plant defense. Frontiers in Plant Science 14:1307294. 10.3389/fpls.2023.1307294 PDF
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
Kooverjee BB, Soma P, van der Nest MA, Scholtz MM, Neser FWC. (2023) Copy Number Variation Discovery in South African Nguni-Sired and Bonsmara-Sired Crossbred Cattle. Animals 13(15):2513. 10.3390/ani13152513
Dzomba EF, Van der Nest MA, Mthembu JNT, Soma P, Snyman MA, Chimonyo M, Muchadeyi FC. (2023) Selection signature analysis and genome-wide divergence of South African Merino breeds from their founders. Frontiers in Genetics 13:932272. 10.3389/fgene.2022.932272