FABI congratulates the 13 FABIans that were capped at the University of Pretoria’s Spring Graduation Ceremony on 1 September. The Institute is proud of their achievements and we wish them well in their future endeavours. 

PhD

Dr Caitlin Gevers

Thesis: Changes in genetic diversity of Leptocybe invasa populations in South Africa and its impact on pest management

Supervisor: Prof. BP Hurley

Co-supervisors: Prof. B Slippers, Dr G Dittrich-Schröder

Dr Mathew Harris

Thesis: Spatial patterns of C4 grass-associated fungal endophyte communities

Supervisor: Prof. M Greve

Co-supervisor: Prof. B Slippers

External co-supervisor: Dr M Kemler (University of Hamburg, Germany)

Dr Darryl Herron

Thesis: Fusarium diversity associated with Poaceae in the Pinus nursery and plantation environment

Supervisor: Prof. ET Steenkamp

Co-supervisors: Prof. BD Wingfield, Prof. MJ Wingfield, Dr N Yilmaz

Dr Melissa Joubert

Thesis: Investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying avocado sunblotch disease

Supervisor: Dr V Swart

Co-supervisors: Prof. J Theron, Prof. N van den Berg

Internal examiner: Dr DA Read

Dr Fanele Mnguni

Thesis: Taxonomy and comparative genomics of bacterial species associated with onion bulb rot focusing on Rahnella species

Supervisor: Prof. TA Coutinho

External co-supervisor: Dr G-Y Shin (University of California, Davis, USA)

Internal examiner: Dr KN Bophela-Dimpe

Dr Mary Ranketse

Thesis: Genome sequences and molecular resources for Macadamia tree breeding in South Africa

Supervisor: Prof. AA Myburg

Co-supervisors: Prof. G Fourie, Dr RE Pierneef

External co-supervisor: Dr CA Hefer (AgResearch Ltd, New Zealand)

Dr Garyn Townsend

Thesis: Ecology, impact and potential parasitoids of the polyphagous shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus, in South African forests

Supervisor: Prof. BP Hurley

External co-supervisors: Prof. MP Hill (Rhodes University), Prof. F Roets (Stellenbosch University)

 

MSc (* with distinction)

Angelique de Wet

Dissertation: Exploring the impact of agricultural practices, temperature, and CO₂ on potato health and soil microbiome biodiversity

Supervisor: Prof. JE van der Waals

Co-supervisors: Prof. TA Coutinho, Prof. JM Steyn, Dr PH Bixirao Neto Marinho Lebre

 

Taygen Fuchs*

Dissertation: Sporothrix schenckii and its possible origins in South Africa

Supervisor: Prof. BD Wingfield

Co-supervisors: Prof. CM Visagie, Prof. MJ Wingfield

 

Thembeka Mkhize

Dissertation: Exploring alternative pest management options for Bathycoelia distincta in Macadamia orchards

Supervisor: Prof. G Fourie

Co-supervisors: Prof. B Slippers, Prof. SN Venter

 

Sinethemba Nkosi*

Dissertation: CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing towards the resistance to Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) in banana

Supervisor: Dr TE Motaung

External co-supervisor: Dr T Mahlanza (Agricultural Research Council)

 

Anja Piso*

Dissertation: Population structure and diversity of two pine needle pathogens in Colombia

Supervisor: Prof. I Barnes

Co-supervisor: Prof. MJ Wingfield

Mondli Xaba

Dissertation: Draft long read assembly of the Acacia mearnsii genome

Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo

Co-supervisors: Prof. AT Duong, Prof. F Joubert, Prof. AA Myburg