The broad and highly multi-disciplinary research focus of the CPHB on native tree health allows for the training of students from many fields (including microbiology, entomology, ecology, plant physiology, plant biotechnology, plant pathology, molecular biology and bioinformatics). As a result, the CPHB has developed an excellent record with regards to the successful mentoring and education of MSc and PhD students. These valuable contributions of the CPHB and its partner programme, the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP), were recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry with the 2011 National award for "Human Resource Development - quantity and quality of students".

New Publications

Nethononda PD, Hurley BP, Slippers B, Makhura MN. (2026) Smallholder farmers’ knowledge, perception and management of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Zea mays at irrigation schemes in Limpopo province, South Africa. Crop Protection :107457. 10.1016/j.cropro.2025.107457
Wilson AM, Wingfield MJ, Duong TA, Wingfield BD. (2025) Thermotolerance and post-fire growth in Rhizina undulata is associated with the expansion of heat stress-related protein families. BMC Genomics 26:1041. 10.1186/s12864-025-11902-5
Fuchs T, Vismer HF, Visagie CM, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Low genotypic diversity and first reports of clinical Sporothrix from retrospective samples in South Africa. Medical Mycology 10.1093/mmy/myaf102
Yilmaz N, Verheecke-Vaessen C. (2025) Mycotoxins: An ongoing challenge to food safety and security. PLOS Pathogens 21(11) 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013672
Shaw PL, Slippers B, Wingfield BD, Laurent B, Penaud B, Wingfield MJ, Crous PW, Bihon W, Duong TA. (2025) Chromosome-level genome assemblies for the latent pine pathogen, Diplodia sapinea, reveal two accessory chromosomes with distinct genomic features and evolutionary dynamics. G3 Genes|Genomes|Genetics :jkaf239. 10.1093/g3journal/jkaf239 PDF