FABI tree-health sleuths explore the Cederberg 2022-08-29
Members of the FABI tree health team and collaborators led by Prof. Mike Wingfield recently visited various sites in South Africa’s Cederberg mountain range. The primary aim of this third annual visit was to consider various disease and insect problems in the area including the dramatic decline of the iconic Widdringtonia (cederbergensis) wallitchii. The group included Dr Trudy Paap, Prof. Brenda Wingfield, Dr Kenneth Oberlander and Mr Felipe Balocchi based at the University of Pretoria and were joined by collaborators Prof. Francois Roets, Dr Gaby Kietzka, Dr Janneke Aylward and Dr Casper Crous from the University of Stellenbosch. Other than sampling declining cedar trees, work focused on the possible cause of dying Rafnia triflora and making collections relating to research projects on Phytophthora and the role that these organisms might play in the health of plants in the region.