Members of the Grain Research Programme (GRP), Dr Lavinia Kisten, Ms Ntombizodwa Maduna, Ms Jenna-Lee Price and Ms Carlynn Jacobs, visited the Bayer Crop Science experimental farm in Petit, Gauteng on 11 July. The purpose of this trip was to help assess maize ear rot diseases in the field and learn more about scoring disease severities. The team was warmly welcomed by Dr Cheusi Mutawila and Ms Mulweli Mudau who provided a guided tour through the maize fields and assisted with disease identifications. Dr Cheusi Mutawila is a distinguished pathologist who shared valuable information with the GRP members, leaving the team enriched with new knowledge.

The team would like to thank the Bayer Crop Science team for their hospitality and we look forward to strengthening our collaboration.