News

9 Sep 2015

Youth Features Prominently at the WFC2015

The youth are the future of the forestry industry. Leading the cause is the International Forestry Student’s Association (IFSA) that hosted a workshop on Forestry education in Africa at the WFC2015. South Africa will host the IFSA International Forestry Students Symposium (IFSS) in 2017 so it was apt that such a large group of students, especially those from across Africa were in attendance. IFSA President, May Anne Then, welcomed everyone saying that she was excited to learn more about African students and researchers’ experiences in Africa and to further the cause of forestry education for the youth. Addressing the large group of students at the opening of the IFSA pre-side event workshop, IUFRO President and FABI Director, Prof. Prof. Again addressing the students at the wrap-up session of the workshop, Prof.

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8 Sep 2015

FABI Presents a World Café Session on Forest Health at the World Forestry Congress in Durban

As with many inter-disciplinary and wide-encompassing congresses like the 14th World Forestry Congress, there were many break-away sessions to home in on subject-specific forestry crises. Moderated by Dr Crous, the panelists of this session were left to freely comment on the topic: Is one tree worth the forest? The panelists consisted of the following people, and it was a privilege to have them join this most important discussion: Prof. Dr Brett Hurley (Forest Entomologist, FABI) Dr Clement Chilima (Director of Forestry, Government of Malawi) Roger Coppock (Head of Analysts, Forestry Commission, UK) Rory Mack (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: KwaZulu-Natal Division) Philip Ivey (South African National Biodiversity Institute, Cape Town) Joey Hulbert (PhD candidate, Forest Pathology, FABI) This topic was chosen to help us re-assess how to deal with the massive increase in forest invasive pests due to the import and export of live plants. Some key discussion points raised were that there needs to be more investment in human infrastructure (forest researchers) and physical infrastructure (quarantine facilities) to ensure that developing nations can also more rapidly and accurately detect new invasions. The dialogue session was a success, with the only draw-back being the 90 minute allotted time we were given to have this session – many things were left unsaid.

7 Sep 2015

IUFRO President Opens IFSA Workshop

International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO) President Prof. More than 60 students from across the world including numerous African delegates from the Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria and South Africa met in Durban to discuss the current state of forestry education in Africa. IUFRO sponsored 10 African forestry students’ attendance at the WFC 2015 as part of Prof. In his opening address Prof. He also encouraged them to use their time well to communicate their experiences from this workshop and, later, their professional work worldwide through writing editorials and thereby increase awareness about forestry.

4 Sep 2015

FABIans make an impact at ICFR symposium

FABI was well represented at the one-day Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) symposium “Underpinning sustainable tree plantations in southern Africa,” held in association with the International Union of Forest Research Organisations (IUFRO), on 4 September in Durban. The symposium showcased the depth and breadth of forestry research across South Africa, highlighting how research provides innovation, knowledge and technology to advance operational and management objectives, and influence policy and strategic decision-making, while growing the skills and knowledge base The symposium was opened by South Africa’s National Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor, who emphasised the importance of scientific research in South Africa and outlined how local research was making an impact in the international scientific community. FABI Director, Prof. Prof. Prof.

3 Sep 2015

Nine FABIans graduate at Spring Graduation Ceremony 2015

FABI applauds the nine graduates who made the Institute proud at the Spring Graduation Ceremony of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences on September 3. PhD Dr. Supervisor: Prof Dave Berger  Co-supervisor: Dr. Dr. Supervisor: Dr. External co-supervisor: Prof Chris Cullis (Case Western Reserve University, USA)  Dr. Supervisor: Prof. Co-advisor: Dr. Dr. Supervisor: Prof. Co-supervisors: Prof. Dr. Supervisor: Dr. Co-supervisors: Dr. MSc Francois Boshoff – Diversity and evolution of rhizobia associated with native and non-native Acacia species in South Africa  Supervisor: Prof Emma Steenkamp Co-supervisor: Prof Fanus Venter  Jackie Lubbe – Molecular and biological characterization of three Citrus tristeza virus candidate cross-protection sources  Supervisor: Prof Gerhard Pietersen  Johan Liversage – Functional characterisation of the Cercospora zeina crp1 gene in pathogenesis  Supervisor: Dr. Co-supervisor: Prof Dave Berger  Molly Malefo – Characterisation of selected pathogenicity factors in Cercospora zeina  Supervisor: Dr. Co-supervisor: Prof Dave Burger 

2 Sep 2015

FABIan awarded one of four SARChI chairs to be hosted at UP

Prof. Brenda Wingfield is one of four University of Pretoria incumbents of SARChI chairs announced by the Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor.

1 Sep 2015

FABIAns present research at Workshop on Genetics of Tree-Parasite Interactions in France

Two PhD students, Ronishree Mangwanda and Caryn Oates, postdoctoral fellow María Vivas, and a senior lecturer, Irene Barnes, attended and presented their research findings at the 5th International Workshop on the Genetics of Tree-Parasite Interactions. The main topics of the Workshop were: • Resistance / tolerance and virulence / aggressiveness mechanisms • Breeding and management strategies for durable resistance in a changing environment • Host-parasite co-evolution • Novel host-parasite interactions due to emerging or non-native pests and pathogens • Population genetics of pests, pathogens and vectors. • New frontiers in tree-parasite interactions: from genes to landscape and communities The FABIans also visited public and a private forests, where they had the opportunity to have a closer look at pine red band needle blight, poplar rust and oak dieback. The titles of their presentations were: Caryn Oates, Myburg A, Slippers B, Naidoo S, Denby K. Ronishree Mangwanda, Van der Merwe A, Myburg A, Naidoo S. Maria Vivas, Kemler M, Slippers B. Irene Barnes, Rodas CA, Granados GM, Wingfield MJ.

1 Sep 2015

Goodbye winter, welcome spring!

In keeping with tradition, FABIans celebrated the first day of September with tea, cakes and other treats in the FABI courtyard.  A banner above the entrance to the courtyard inscribed "Goodbye Winter, Welcome Spring" summed up the sentiments of many at the tea who looked forward to warmer and brighter days to come.  FABI Director Professor Mike Wingfield thanked the Social Club for organising the event and Esco Technologies (Pty) Ltd for sponsoring the delectable food.

31 Aug 2015

Invasion Biologist Visits FABI

Invasion biologist Prof. He briefed FABI academics on the International Plant Sentinel Network (IPSN) that has membership of over 3000 botanical gardens. The International Plant Sentinel Network (IPSN) is being developed to facilitate collaboration amongst institutes around the world, with a focus on linking botanic gardens and arboreta, National Plant Protection Organisations and plant health scientists. Negotiations are underway to determine in which ways plant pathologists and entomologists at FABI can assist in identifying pathogens and pests in the South African Boitanical Gardens.

28 Aug 2015

Nature Publishing Group visits UP to explore exciting opportunities for promoting science in Africa

Representatives of the Nature Publishing Group (NPG) visited FABI to discuss the establishment of an online portal with a focus on Africa, with the UP principal and other staff members.

26 Aug 2015

Celebrating Science success

During their quarterly meeting, the management committee of the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP) in FABI, celebrated the success of the first publication in the journal Science by three of their colleagues. Further north, FABI colleagues at the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcutures in Utrecht, The Netherlands, also held a small celebration to mark the appearance of the FABI publication in Science. Read more here. Wingfield MJ, Brockerhoff EG, Wingfield BD, Slippers B.

25 Aug 2015

UP with Science introduces school children to hidden world of plant disease

Students from the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) in FABI showcase the exciting world of plant disease research to 50 learners from various Pretoria schools.

25 Aug 2015

New report of a serious fungal pathogen on Eucalyptus in SA

The TPCP team has recently confirmed the presence of a very serious pathogen of Eucalyptus in South Africa. Symptoms of the disease include chlorotic (yellow) lesions with red coloration of the lesion margins and veins on the top surface of leaves. Destructans leaf blight was first described from Indonesia in 1996. To help us gather information on the spread and host range of T. Photos: (A & B): Chlorotic (yellow) lesions with red coloration at the lesion margins and veins on the upper surface of leaves.

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24 Aug 2015

International seed pathologist visits FABI

Prof.  

21 Aug 2015

FABI paper on forest health published in Science

The journal Science this week published a special issue focusing on forest health in a changing world, to which three authors of FABI contributed. The paper draws from decades of research experience of the authors on pest and disease problems of plantation forestry, contextualized against a backdrop of increasing globalisation, international trade, and changing climate patterns. FABI at the University of Pretoria hosts the single largest team of scientists working on tree health problems in the world. Attached to this news item is a full PRESS RELEASE that accompanied the online publication of the paper. Wingfield MJ, Brockerhoff EG, Wingfield BD, Slippers B (2015). An introduction to the special issue of Science and the other review papers is available here.

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20 Aug 2015

FABIans act as judges at Northern Gauteng Senior Expo for Young Scientists

FABIans lent their time and expertise to the participants of the Northern Gauteng Senior Expo for Young Scientists held at the University of Pretoria’s LC de Villiers Sports Campus from 14-15 August 2015. This year’s judges included: Drs Gudrun Dittrich-Schröder, Jeanne Korsman and Kershney Naidoo as well as postgraduate students Esna du Plessis, Arista Fourie, Darryl Herron, Brittany Mitchell, Dorah Mwangola, Caryn Oates, Liezl Potgieter, Danielle Roodt and Ariska van der Nest. The expo is held annually and showcases the research projects of Pretoria learners from grades 6 to 12. This included Carla Hollamby and Roenita Grove, who were mentored by members of the DST-NRF Centre in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) earlier this year. As one of the sponsors, the University of Pretoria provides the venue for the expo.  

20 Aug 2015

TPCP researchers release biocontrol agent for the red gum lerp psyllid

August 2015 marked the first releases of the parasitoid wasp Psyllaephagus bliteus in eucalypt plantations in South Africa. Glycapsis brimblecombei is native to Australia but has become a serious pest of eucalypt trees in regions where it has been accidentally introduced. Populations of P. The initial releases of P.

20 Aug 2015

FABI celebrates 7th prestige seminar for 2015

FABIans celebrated another milestone on August 14. David was supervised by Extraordinary Professor Gerhard Pietersen, leader of the Plant Virology Group in FABI. In his talk titled "Improving co-existence of the citrus industry and citrus tristeza virus through better genotype detection and understanding populations", David highlighted the contribution his research would have on the citrus industry with improvements to the control measures of the citrus tristeva virus (CTV). CTV is the most destructive viral pathogen with citrus, with grapefruit cultivars being most sensitive to infections.

19 Aug 2015

FABI participates in the South African Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan

Dr Brett Hurley of FABI was invited to participate in the South African Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (SAEPPRP) workshop that took place at the Protea Hotel Fire and Ice, Pretoria from 11-14 August. The SAEPPRP provides an outline on the effective detection, identification, rapid response and mitigation of new plant pest arrivals in South Africa. The development of an effective national strategy to respond to the increasing rate of plant pest introductions is crucial.  

17 Aug 2015

FABIAns attend 48th Congress of the Brazilian Phytopathology Society

 Two of FABI’s researchers recently attended the 48th meeting of the Brazilian Phytopathology Society in São Pedro, Brazil. During the week in Brazil they also had the opportunity to visit some field sites with one of their hosts, Dr Ana Carolina Firmino, who works on Ceratocystis species in Brazil. Photo captions (top down, L-R): Drs. Jolanda sharing information on diseases caused by Ceratocystis species in Africa and Asia with congress attendees. Ana Carolina showing Irene and undergraduate students a root disease of fig trees.

15 Aug 2015

FABI academics hit the airwaves

FABI Professors Zander Myburg and Bernard Slippers participated in a two-hour live broadcast on radio station SAfm as guest speakers at the NRF Science for Society lecture series discussing the topic “Biotechnology: Productive forest plantations as a possible answer to our energy and material needs”. Guests from academia, industry and government packed the Senate Hall at the University of Pretoria where Vice Chancellor and Principle of the University of Pretoria, Prof. Veteran radio presenter Ike Phaahla hosted the lecture on SAfm’s “The Talkshop” radio programme. Prof. Prof. This is the fourth year that the NRF has been running the Science for Society lecture series as a means of bridging the divide that exists between science and community issues and to help society relate to how science, research and technology positively impact on our day-to-day lives and on future generations.  

13 Aug 2015

Two FABIans attend phytopathology congress in the USA

Professor Lucy Moleleki and her PhD student, Edward Onkendi, attended and presented their research findings at the American Phytopathological Society (APS) meeting which was held from 1-5 August in the city of Pasadena, California, USA.  

11 Aug 2015

FABIans participate in the National Science Week

Five PhD and MSc students from FABI represented the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) at the National Science Week, an annual science fair for learners from 3-7 August 2015 in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga province. The FABI tent was run by Juanita Avontuur, Arista Fourie, Palesa Madupe, Benedicta Swalarsk-Parry and Markus Wilken. The team conducted a wide range of experiments showcasing knowledge in fields such as physics, biology and mathematics. A member of the team would break a glass tube with a hammer and then put theshards in a glassbowl filled with cooking oil. With the number of learners nearly twice of those who attended last year, the organisers said this year’s event was the most successful since its inception in 2007.

10 Aug 2015

Two new Extraordinary Lecturers appointed at FABI-UP

Two FABI PhD graduates, Drs Draginja Pavlic-Zupanc and Wubetu Bihon have been appointed Extraordinary Lecturers at the University of Pretoria. Their appointment as extraordinary lecturers sees them working together again with some of their former supervisors at FABI, Professors Bernard Slippers, Mike Wingfield, and Jolanda Roux on a three-year project. The aim of the project is to survey the distribution and diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae, which causes cankers on forest and fruit trees, in woody plants in China and South Africa.

7 Aug 2015

Postdoc available on macroecology of fungal diversity 

We are seeking to recruit a motivated post-doctoral fellow to explore macroecological patterns of fungal diversity. The successful candidate would be required to start by the end of 2015. The University of Pretoria is one of Africa's leading research institutes as measured by the quality, diversity and extent of its research outputs. Interested candidates should contact Bernard Slippers (bernard. Deadline for applications is 30 August 2015.  

6 Aug 2015

IUFRO President joins forestry students for the 2015 IFSA International Symposium in Manila

The International Forestry Students’ Association (IFSA), the world’s major body connecting forestry students globally, meet in different countries of the world for their International Forestry Students Symposium (IFSS). Forestry students from many countries around the world, including seven South African delegates, attended this year’s IFSS and it was clear how important this forum has become to the world’s forestry agenda. Prof. The first of these was to provide IFSA students with some background regarding the activities of IUFRO and to highlight some of the key elements of a deep and growing collaboration between IFSA and IUFRO. His second goal was to share with the student delegates some views regarding the dynamic and rapidly changing global research environment. Prof. Mike also used the opportunity to hold discussions with IFSA President, May Anne Then and some members of her leadership team regarding opportunities to establish a robust and long-term international mentorship programme for forestry students. Photos Include: Mike Wingfield and May Anne Then (IFSA President) with South African student delegates (Thabo Ngubeni, Tatenda Mapeta, Lulrich Hechter, Daniel Boehnke, Heinrich Hecther and Mmetje (Trudy) Sebelebele); Heinrich Hechter with Mmetje (Trudy) Sebelebele presenting their talk on Leptocybe; a number of photos illustrating a nationally held earthquake evacuation practice session (the Philippines is preparing for the eventuality of a major earthquake in the future!

5 Aug 2015

FABI Postdoc attends Botany 2015 meeting in USA

Dr Stephen Taerum, a post-doctoral Fellow at FABI, recently attended Botany 2015, which was a joint meeting between the Botanical Society of America, the Mycological Society of America and numerous other botanical and mycological societies. Stephen presented a poster, titled "Microsatellites and symbiont assemblages support different invasion histories for the red turpentine beetle, Dendroctonus valens," and a talk, titled "The worldwide movement of the fungus Leptographium procerum, symbiont of the red turpentine beetle".

3 Aug 2015

SAIF acknowledges members’ contributions to forestry at AGM in FABI

The Gauteng branch of the Southern African Institute of Forestry (SAIF) held its annual general meeting at the FABI Auditorium on July 29. Gauteng SAIF members elected a new chairperson, Dr Steve Verryn, as well as new committee members including Prof. SAIF also honoured members who had served the association for 25 years and more. Dr Phillip Frost of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) accepted the Continuous Service Excellence Award on behalf of the Earth Observation Group for their work in the development of Advanced Fire Information System (AFIS) and their contribution to fire management in afforested areas. Director of the Albert Luthuli Centre for Responsible Leadership in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences at the University of Pretoria, Prof. Prof de Jongh said responsible leadership in forestry meant finding interdisciplinary solutions with long-term effects that would also benefit future generations. As an example, he pointed out climate change as a challenge to forestry and scientists that could not be addressed without considering population growth as the "elephant in the room" and its effects on food security. He made the point that the conversation about leadership is framed in views of the past – who is to blame – and motivated why it should rather be framed in terms of the future – what is the future we want, and what do we need to do to get there. (Photo credits: Marc Raath)

29 Jul 2015

FABI joins 110th anniversary of the SA National Collection of Fungi

Several FABIans joined in celebrating of the 110th anniversary of the South African National Fungi Collection (PREM). An open day was arranged to mark the anniversary and included a number of presentations by South African mycologists on their contributions to the National Collection of Fungi (NCF) and their knowledge of South African fungal biodiversity. Guests were welcomed by the Curator of the National Collection of Fungi (PREM), Dr Riaana Jacobs, who did her PhD some years ago at FABI. Visitors were given a tour of the Fungarium and shown type specimens of fungi, several supplied by FABI during their long association. Today PREM has more than 61000 specimens and 18000 living cultures dating back to the 1800s.

28 Jul 2015

FMG hosts high level delegation

The Forest Molecular Genetics (FMG) Programme and FABI hosted a visit by a high level delegation, welcoming representatives from several Government departments and industry associations. The FMG Programme is one of the flagship genomics platforms funded by the Department of Science and Technology's (DST) Biotechnology Programme and the visit gave all delegates first hand insight into the research being conducted by the FMG at FABI. The delegates included the Deputy Director General: Technology Innovation of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Dr Mmboneni Muofhe as well as senior representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), the University of Pretoria, Forestry South Africa, Sappi, the ARC and GrainSA. The DST is currently identifying suitable research platforms to fund under the new Bio-Economy Strategy and the FMG’s partnership is held up as one of the most successful partnering of University (academia), industry and Government institutions to conduct world-class scientific research. The guests were welcomed by the University of Pretoria’s Vice Principal for Institutional Planning, Prof Anton Ströh, while the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences was represented by the Deputy Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies, Prof. FMG Director, Prof.

27 Jul 2015

FABIans present at plant pathology congress in Mexico

The 2015 Plant Pathology Joint Meeting: LV American Phytopathological Society-Caribbean Division (APS-CD); XVIII Latin American Phytopathological Association (ALF) and; XVII International Congress and XLII National Congress of the Mexican Society, was held in Mexico City, D. The four-strong South African contingency (see photo) at the congress included past and present Fabians, Profs Pedro Crous and Terry Aveling, as well as Drs Ewald Groenewald and Lorenzo Lombard. Terry Aveling: "Advances in seed treatment technology" Pedro Crous: "Are cryptic species real? Lorenzo Lombard: "Generic concepts in Nectriaceae" Ewald Groenewald: "Barcoding quarantine fungi: Lessons from the European QBOL project and Q-bank database"

27 Jul 2015

Celebrating the outrageous at SPOOF 2015

The 19th annual meeting of the Society for the Presentation of Outrageous Findings (SPOOF) was held at Uitspan on the LC de Villiers sports ground of the University of Pretoria on July 24. Themed: "If I never became a scientist. Scientists presented their findings of varying absurdity, from the feeding and hoarding habits of a small population of Homo fabiensis to how Google searches revealed South Africans’ collective love for pizza and the attempts of superhero Mad Mike to save the last remaining research group in Africa. Awards were given to: - Andi Wilson for Best Dressed Female - Riaan Swanepoel for Best Dressed Male - The Molecular Plant Pathogen Interactions (MPPI) and Cereal Foliar Pathogen Research (CFPR) groups for the Best Oral Presentation - Bear Attenborough (aka Darryl Herron) for the Best Multimedia Presentation Professor Mike Wingfield congratulated all FABIans for staging another successful and fun SPOOF evening! See more photographs in our Galleries

24 Jul 2015

FABI students help organise the 2015 DuPont Plant Breeding Symposium

After the success of the first DuPont Plant Breeding Symposium hosted in 2014, the University of Pretoria will again be hosting the symposium on 29 September 2015.  The topic for this year’s symposium is "Current innovations in insect resistance management and pest control".  All interested participants are invited to register online to attend or to view faculty, industry and student presentations.  The deadline for Abstract submission is 3 August 2015 and we would like to encourage all FABIans to participate in this symposium.  

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21 Jul 2015

2015 poster on South African forestry pests and diseases released

The 2015 edition of the annual poster on South African forestry pests and diseases has been released as a supplement to the June issue of the SA Forestry Magazine. Copies of the poster can be ordered here.   In addition to the poster, this month's issue of SA Forestry also contains an article (pdf attached) about the recent annual meetings of the Tree Protection Co-operative Program (TPCP) held at the University of Pretoria.

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21 Jul 2015

FABIan making the news

We recently reported on Prof.

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16 Jul 2015

Extraordinary Professor from Australia visits FABI

FABI is thrilled to welcome back Prof. Treena Burgess, a longtime friend and collaborator of FABI, for a three week visit.