Congratulations to all the FABI graduates that were capped at the recent Autumn Graduation. This ceremony saw the biggest group of FABIans yet capped with nine PhD, 29 MSc and 40 Honours degrees being conferred! This is an excellent achievement, and we wish all the graduates success in their future endeavours – either continuing their academic journey in the Institute or professional careers and further studies elsewhere. Once a FABIan, always a FABIan!

Listed below are all the graduates and the titles of their dissertations as well as the Honours students with projects in FABI over the past year.

PhD

Dr Mamokete Bokhale

Thesis: The PhoP regulator is involved in carbon utilisation and metabolite secretion

in Pectobacterium brasiliense 1692

Supervisor: Prof. LN Moleleki

External Co-supervisor: Dr MI Mhlongo (University of Johannesburg)

Dr Claudette Dewing

Thesis: The mycobiota of Eastern Cape dairy pastures, including the characterisation and implications of novel Fusarium species

Supervisor: Prof. CM Visagie

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

Dr Ginna Granados

Thesis: Epidemiology and population genetics of the pine needle pathogen, Dothistroma septosporum, in Colombia

Supervisor: Prof. I Barnes

Co-supervisor: Prof. MJ Wingfield

Dr Johannes Christoff Joubert

Thesis: Chemical ecology of Gonipterus sp. n. 2: the role of constitutive and induced foliar metabolites, sugars, and volatiles in mediating host susceptibility, larval development and parasitoid attraction

Supervisor: Prof. A Hammerbacher

Co-supervisors: Prof. JD Allison, Prof. BP Hurley, Dr ML Schröder

Dr Maxwell Kibor

Thesis: Diversity and agroecology of thrips (Thysanoptera) in the Levubu region of Limpopo province, South Africa

Supervisor: Prof. CW Weldon

Co-supervisor: Prof. CL Sole

External Co-supervisor: Dr GFHvG Bekker (Stellenbosch University)

Dr Anneri Lötter

Thesis: The pangenome of Eucalyptus grandis

Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo

Co-supervisor: Dr RE Pierneef

External Co-supervisors: Prof. AA Myburg (Stellenbosch University), Prof. JL Wegrzyn (University of Connecticut, United States of America), Dr JT Lovell (HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, United States of America)

Dr Phophi Nethononda

Thesis: Management of Spodoptera frugiperda on Zea mays in irrigation schemes in Limpopo province, South Africa

Supervisor: Prof. BP Hurley

Co-supervisors: Prof. B Slippers, Dr MN Makhura

Dr Phumlani Nzuza

(Jointly awarded with the Ghent University, Belgium as Doctor of Philosophy in Entomology)

Thesis: Detection of Gonipterus damage in Eucalyptus plantations in South Africa using unmanned aerial vehicle and satellite remote sensing

Supervisor: Prof. WH Maes

Co-supervisors: Prof. B Slippers, Dr ML Schröder

Dr Brenda Salasini

Thesis: Functional and structural insights into tryptophan-tyrosine (WY) domain containing core RxLR Phytophthora effectors

Supervisor: Prof. LN Moleleki

 

MSc (* with Distinction)

Lindokuhle Biyela*

Dissertation: Comparative analyses of extracellular vesicles from Dickeya dadantii and Pectobacterium brasiliense

Supervisor: Prof. LN Moleleki

Co-supervisor: Dr S Maphosa

Simoné Bornman*

Dissertation: Mycovirome of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum in South Africa

Supervisor: Dr PM Wilken

Co-supervisors: Prof. BD Wingfield, Dr DA Read

Eneri Botha*

Dissertation: Determining the efficacy of biocontrol agents and GRAS compounds against the Phytophthoraspecies causing brown rot of citrus

Supervisor: Prof. TA Coutinho

Co-supervisor: Prof. JE van der Waals

Vida Burger

Dissertation: Diversity, distribution and transmission of viruses associated with sunflower in South Africa

Supervisor: Dr DA Read

Sarah Burnett*

Dissertation: Photosynthesis in wheat during heat stress: an exploratory study using fluorometry

Supervisor: Prof. TPJ Krüger

Co-supervisor: Prof. A Hammerbacher

Johané Cilliers*

Dissertation: Heterodichogamy and flowering type differentiation in Persea americana (Mill.)

Supervisor: Prof. N van den Berg

Co-supervisor: Dr R Backer

Gabriélla Clara

Dissertation: Response of tobacco to transient expression of the late expressed ECP2-like effector from the fungus Cercospora zeina

Supervisor: Prof. DK Berger

External Co-supervisor: Dr DB Kidanemariam (University of Queensland, Australia)

Christiaan Grobler

Dissertation: Diversity and molecular genetics of prominent Botryosphaeriaceae pathogens of Pinus and Eucalyptus

Supervisor: Prof. B Slippers

Co-supervisors: Prof. AT Duong

External Co-supervisor: Prof. A Fleissner

Brittney-Aidan Jamieson

Dissertation: Screening South African commercial Eucalyptus provenances for resistance to Quambalaria eucalypti

Supervisor: Dr T Bose

Co-supervisor: Prof. A Hammerbacher

Wisely Kola

Dissertation: Biofilm formation and structure in the maize fungal pathogen Exserohilum turcicum in South Africa

Supervisor: Dr TE Motaung

Co-supervisor: Dr DL Nsibo

Nigel Kombora*

Dissertation: Investigating the impact of defoliation on Eucalyptus dunnii growth using artificial defoliation trials and 3-PG model

Supervisor: Prof. BP Hurley

External Co-supervisors: Dr l Germishuizen (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Dr BJ Sivparsad (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

Thembela Lulane

Dissertation: Effects of fipexide and oncogenes on callus induction and de novo meristem development from wounded Eucalyptus tissues

Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo

Co-supervisors: Prof. DK Berger

External Co-supervisor: Prof. AA Myburg (Stellenbosch University)

Jabulile Mahlangu

Dissertation: Field and country-based genetic diversity of Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs on maize

Supervisor: Dr DL Nsibo

Co-supervisor: Prof. DK Berger

Ndalama Mashava

Dissertation: Roles of soil nutrients and tree condition on thrips (Thysanoptera) abundance and damage to avocados in the Levubu region, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Supervisor: Prof. CW Weldon

Co-supervisor: Prof. CL Sole

Otlotleng Moloto

Dissertation: Development of translation initiation factor-based resistance to sweet potato virus disease using CRISPR Cas9 technology

Supervisor: Dr TE Motaung

External Co-supervisors: Dr T Mahlanza (Agricultural Research Council), Dr MJ Mulabisana (Agricultural Research Council)

Tshoganyetso Motete

Dissertation: Mechanisms influencing resistance of a Eucalyptus host to the leaf blight pathogen Teratosphaeria destructans

Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo

Co-supervisor: Dr MA Solís Garcia

Tuelo Motloba

Dissertation: Host status and suppressive effect of cover crops against Phytophthora

nicotianae in a citrus glasshouse study

Supervisor: Dr KN Bophela-Dimpe

External Co-supervisor: Dr T Ramakuwela (Agricultural Research Council)

Nwabisa Ngwentle

Dissertation: Isolation, identification and characterisation of plant growth promoting microbes associated with the rhizosphere of wheat

Supervisor: Prof. TA Coutinho

Co-supervisor: Dr NN Mehlomakulu

Bianca Prozesky

Dissertation: Overexpression of AtNPR1 in Eucalyptus nitens hairy roots

Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo

Co-supervisor: Dr SG Hussey

Vera Röder*

Dissertation: Transcriptional regulation of the style elongation during secondary pollen presentation in Helianthus annuus L

Supervisor: Dr NM Creux

Co-supervisors: Prof. E Mizrachi, Dr NA Olivier

Sean Schultze*

Dissertation: Investigation and characterisation of putative virulence factors of Fusarium circinatum

Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo

Co-supervisors: Prof. DK Berger, Prof. ET Steenkamp, Prof. BD Wingfield

Aviwe Simandla

Dissertation: Trade and pathway associated risks of Eucalyptus and Pinus pest introductions into South Africa

Supervisor: Prof. BP Hurley

Co-supervisor: Prof. B Slippers

External Co-supervisor: Ms MJ Theyse (Phytosolutions)

Bernard Smit

Dissertation: VvrGRF4-GIF1 morphogene mediated transformation and regeneration of Eucalyptus

Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo

External Co-supervisor: Prof. AA Myburg (Stellenbosch University)

Megan Smit

Dissertation: Investigating the genetic basis of Phytophthora capsici resistance in Cucurbita moschata

Supervisor: Dr DA Read

Co-supervisor: Prof. I Barnes

External Co-supervisor: Dr GD Ascough (Starke Ayres Seed (Pty) Ltd)

Marne van Butzelaar

Dissertation: Evaluation of Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.) Leonard and Suggs to difenoconazole and propiconazole fungicides in Kenya, South Africa and the United States

Supervisor: Dr DL Nsibo

Co-supervisor: Prof. DK Berger

Bernice van Pletzen

Dissertation: DNA barcoding, medicinal activity and evaluating the biological species concept in the tree genus Greyia Hook. & Harv.

Supervisor: Prof. DK Berger

Co-supervisor: Dr MN de Canha

Hannah Verolini*

Dissertation: Chloroplast haplotype diversity in eucalypt species with a focus on Eucalyptus grandis

Supervisor: Prof. S Naidoo

External Co-supervisors: Prof. AA Myburg (Stellenbosch University), Dr MM Mostert (Mondi South Africa)

Rodé Visser

Dissertation: In vitro phenotyping of Cercospora zeina from maize in five African countries

Supervisor: Prof. DK Berger

Co-supervisor: Dr DL Nsibo

Nomakula Zim

Thesis: Genomic adaptations and functional dynamics of Xanthomonas vasicola

Supervisor: Prof. TA Coutinho

External Co-supervisor: Dr AEJ Yssel (University of Cape Town)

 

Honours (* with Distinction)

Carla Botha*

Kaylen Botha*

Anya Cilliers*

Zandri Coetzee*

Sydney Cohen

Janhvi Dayah

Paul Els*

Martin Errenrich*

Nandus Grobbelaar

Nadia Gürtel*

Palesa Kubayi

Chloe Launder*

Oratile Lekalakala

Ndumiso Mabuza

Mamello Machusi

Damei McCue*

Leanne Meyer

Nondumiso Mngomezulu*

Tiisetso Moiloa

Karabelo Mokoena

Cebo Nkosi

Pearl Nkosi

Rabia Omar

Ayanda Phulula*

Albert  Retief

Danielle Rosner*

Monique Saayman*

Kiara Schutte 

Jessie Sherriffs*

Maxine Short*

Agreanette Sibanyoni

Anna Tendenedzai

McKayla Tobias

Nicole Umutoni

Cairin van 't Hof*

Nicki van Aardt*

Wesley van der Wel*

Melissa Venter

Jandré Verster*

Keegan Walton*