Researcher
I am a Researcher in the Avocado Research Programme (ARP) at FABI, working under Prof. Noëlani van den Berg, and serve as the programme’s head bioinformatician. My research interests include the molecular mechanisms of avocado resistance to Phytophthora root rot, the expression and function of the NPR1 gene family in avocado, avocado genomics, and the development of molecular breeding tools for avocado improvement. I provide bioinformatics support to ARP students and staff, including data analysis, server maintenance and training, and am actively involved in student mentorship and co-supervision. Recent work includes the avocado pangenome and a SPET-based genotyping panel for avocado. My current focus is a five-year project to establish molecular breeding in the avocado industry. I enjoy collaborating with other researchers and contributing to the advancement of avocado science.
Prabhu AS, Naicker P, Duong TA, Govender IS, Engelbrecht J, Backer R, Stoychev SH, van den Berg N. (2025) Phosphite inhibits Phytophthora cinnamomi by downregulating oxidoreductases and disrupting energy metabolism. Frontiers in Microbiology 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1632726
van den Berg N, Magagula P, Backer R, Swart V. (2025) Towards developing an integrated approach for the treatment of white root rot in commercial avocado orchards. Phytoparasitica 10.1007/s12600-025-01250-1
Backer R, Naidoo S, van den Berg N. (2023) The expression of the NPR1-dependent defense response pathway genes in Persea americana (Mill.) following infection with Phytophthora cinnamomi. BMC Plant Biology 10.1186/s12870-023-04541-z
Backer R, Engelbrecht J, van den Berg N. (2022) Differing Responses to Phytophthora cinnamomi Infection in Susceptible and Partially Resistant Persea americana (Mill.) Rootstocks: A Case for the Role of Receptor-Like Kinases and Apoplastic Proteases. Frontiers in Plant Science 10.3389/fpls.2022.928176
Miyambo TM, Backer R, Engelbrecht J, Joubert F, van der Merwe NA, van den Berg N. (2022) The Identification and Characterization of Endopolygalacturonases in a South African Isolate of Phytophthora cinnamomi. Microorganisms 10.3390/microorganisms10051061
Fick A, Swart V, Backer R, Bombarely A, Engelbrecht J, van den Berg N. (2022) Partially Resistant Avocado Rootstock Dusa® Shows Prolonged Upregulation of Nucleotide Binding-Leucine Rich Repeat Genes in Response to Phytophthora cinnamomi Infection. Frontiers in Plant Science 10.3389/fpls.2022.793644
Joubert M, Backer R, Engelbrecht J, Van den Berg N. (2021) Expression of several Phytophthora cinnamomi putative RxLRs provides evidence for virulence roles in avocado. PLoS ONE 10.1371/journal.pone.0254645
van den Berg, N, Swart, V, Backer, R, Fick, A, Wienk, R, Engelbrecht, J, Prabhu, SA. (2021) Advances in understanding defense mechanisms in Persea americana against Phytophthora cinnamomi. Frontiers in Plant Science 10.3389/fpls.2021.636339
Backer R, Naidoo S, van den Berg N. (2019) The NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES 1 (NPR1) and Related Family: Mechanistic Insights in Plant Disease Resistance. Frontiers in Plant Science 10.3389/fpls.2019.00102
Backer R, Mahomed W, Reeksting B, Engelbrecht J, Ibarra-Laclette E, van den Berg N. (2015) Phylogenetic and expression analysis of the NPR1-like gene family from Persea americana (Mill.). Frontiers in Plant Science 10.3389/fpls.2015.00300