Dr Wilma Nel
| Diagnostic Clinic Manager | |
Department |
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FABI |
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| Full CV | |
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Research Profiles
I am the manager of the TPCP Diagnostic Clinic, responsible for the day-to-day activities of the Diagnostic Clinic. I am responsible for the processing of samples submitted to the TPCP Diagnostic Clinic including the isolation and identification of bacterial and fungal pathogens, as well as the identification on insect pests. I also manage a team of post-graduate students and interns that assist in the duties of the Clinic.
I joined FABI in 2015 as an Honours student working under Prof. Wilhelm de Beer, Dr. Tuan Duong and Prof. Mike Wingfield. I completed both my Honours and master's degrees under the primary supervision of Prof. Wilhelm de Beer and my PhD under the primary supervision of Dr. Tuan Duong co-supervised by Profs. Mike Wingfield and Wilhelm de Beer.
My research has primarily focused on investigating insect-fungal interactions that exist between bark and ambrosia beetles and their fungal associates in the Ophiostomatales, Microascales and Fusarium. However, working on these fungal groups have also led me to do study various plant and tree pathogens. My most recent research has been focused on finding biological control methods against the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB - Euwallacea fornicatus). This involved investigating various biological control approaches including entomopathogenic fungi, mycoparasites, and parasitoids. I was also involved in establishing a successful rearing colony of PSHB that could be used in future research on this pest.
Conferences
Presentations
50th Anniversary Congress of the South African Society of Plant Pathology (SASPP) 2017
Title: Multigene sequence analyses reveal a new genus and a new species in a globally important, multi-host root pathogen
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, B.D. Wingfield, M.J. Wingfield, Z.W. de Beer
South African Society for Systematic Biology (SASSB) 2017
Title: Multigene sequence data reveals that the root rot pathogen Thielaviopsis basicola constitutes two sister species in a new genus
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, B.D. Wingfield, M.J. Wingfield, Z.W. de Beer
South African Association of Botanists (SAAB) Conference 2018
Title: Cryptic heterothallic mating system discovered in the important root pathogens previously known as Thielaviopsis basicola (Award: Best lightning presentation)
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, A. Hammerbacher, B.D. Wingfield, M.J. Wingfield, Z.W. de Beer
Joint conference of the South African Society for Bioinformatics and the South African Genetics Society (SASBi/SAGS) 2018
Title: Genomic basis of convergent evolution in beetle-associated Sordariomycete fungi.
Authors: W.J. Nel, B.D. Wingfield, A. McTaggart, M.J. Wingfield, Z.W. de Beer, H-J. Lim, M. van der Nest, T.A. Duong
51st Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology (SASPP) 2019
Title: Genomic patterns of convergently evolved bark and ambrosia beetle associated fungi reveal patterns of genome reduction and gene loss
Authors: Nel, W.J., Wingfield, B.D., McTaggart, A.R., Wingfield, M.J., de Beer, Z.W., Lim, H.J., van der Nest, M.A., Duong, T.A.
Posters
50th Anniversary Congress of the SASPP 2017
Title: Fungiculous species of Ophiostomatales, including three new species from Termitomyces fungus combs
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, M. Poulsen, D. Aanen, S. Vreebrug, Z.W. de Beer
The 29th Fungal Genetics Conference 2017
Title: The important root rot pathogen Thielaviopsis basicola shown to be heterothallic
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, B.D. Wingfield, M.J. Wingfield, A. Hammerbacher, Z.W. de Beer
XIX International Botanical Congress 2017
Title: A new genus and sister species described for the globally important, multi-host root pathogen, Thielaviopsis basicola
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, B.D. Wingfield, M.J. Wingfield, Z.W. de Beer
Genome Research Institute (GRI) Symposium 2017
Genome sequencing reveals the root pathogens, previously known as Thielaviopsis basicola, to possess the genes required for heterothallic mating
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, A. Hammerbacher, B.D. Wingfield, M.J. Wingfield, Z.W. de Beer
SAAB Conference 2018
Title: A new genus and sister species for the globally important, multi-host root pathogen, Thielaviopsis basicola (Award: Runner-up best poster)
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, B.D. Wingfield, M.J. Wingfield, Z.W. de Beer
International Mycological Congress (IMC) 2018
Title: Taxonomy and mating strategy of Thielaviopsis basicola, a globally important pathogen of agricultural crops
Authors: W.J. Nel, T.A. Duong, A. Hammerbacher, B.D. Wingfield, M.J. Wingfield, Z.W. de Beer
51st Congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology (SASPP) 2019
Title: Berkeleyomyces basicola and Berkeleyomyces rouxiae: Black root-rot pathogens of globally important crop plants.
Authors: Nel, W.J., Duong, T.A., Hammerbacher, A., Wingfield, B.D., Wingfield, M.J., de Beer, Z.W
Co-authored contributions
Combined Congress of the Entomological and Zoological Societies of Southern Africa (ESSA/ZSSA) 2017
Title: A survey of entomopathogenic Beauveria spp. in South African plantations
Authors: Z.W. de Beer, H. de Bruin, W.J. Nel, B. Slippers
SAAB Conference 2018
Title: First report of the polyphagous shothole borer (PHSB) and its fungal symbiont in South Africa
Authors: T. Paap, Z.W. De Beer, D. Migliorini, W.J. Nel, M.J. Wingfield
Title: Subspecies of the Dutch Elm Disease fungus cannot be distinguished based on multigene sequences
Authors: F. Mthunzi, R. Chang, W.J. Nel, Z.W. de Beer
Scholarships
2018-2020: Freestanding Scholarship for Doctoral students (NRF)
2016-2017: Scarce Skills Scholarship for Masters students (NRF)
Memberships
2016 - Current: South African Society for Plant Pathology (SASPP)
2017 - 2018: South African Society for Systematic Biology (SASSB)
2016 & 2018: FABI social club
2018: International Mycological Association (IMA)
2018: The Mycological Society of America (MSA)
2018: South African Association of Botanists (SAAB)
2018:African Mycological Association (AMA)
Awards
2018: Mentorship award (FABI)
2018: Mentorship student travel award (Mycological Society of America)
2018: Best lightning presentation (SAAB)
News
Members of the TPCP joined forestry industry partners to investigate the cause of the sudden decline of Eucalyptus clones in Mpumalanga.
Two new pests of Wattle (Acacia mearnsii) plantation trees have been detected by the TPCP field extension and diagnostic services.
Dr Wilma Nel, manager of the TPCP Diagnostic Clinic, was invited to give a presentation on the PSHB at the WESSA Friends Groups AGM.
Dr Wilma Nel has been appointed as the TPCP Diagnostic Clinic Manager as from 1 June.
Three FABI researchers visited Vietnam to collect material from trees infested by PSHB with the objective of finding, identifying, rearing and testing natural enemies.
Nine South Africans took part in the 2022 Bark & Ambrosia Beetle Academy held in Gainesville, Florida during late October.
From 1-4 August, FABI researchers took part the in 54th Annual meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology.
Four FABI researchers went on a field trip to visit two sites in KZN to collect material for various research projects.
A team of FABIans recently visited various regions in Durban to collect material infested with Euwallacea sp. ambrosia beetles.
The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer Research Network hosted a meeting on 23 November, chaired by FABI’s Dr Trudy Paap.
After an 18 month hiatus, FABI celebrated the first publications in an ISI-rated scientific journal of three FABI postgraduate students in the TPCP and CTHB groups
On Wednesday 29 September, the Bark Beetle Mycobiome International Research Coordination Network held their 12th online meeting.
A team from FABI visited various sites in the greater Durban area to scout for native natural enemies of the PSHB that can be used in a biological control programme
Congratulations to Wilma Nel on completing all requirements for her PhD on 13 July.
FABI and the Southern African Society of Systematic Biology (SASSB) jointly hosted a webinar with the theme ‘Fungal evolution’ on 1 July.
FABI labs are buzzing again with activity, albeit within strict schedules to manage the number of people in the building and to adhere to safety regulations during the COVID-19 lockdown.
On 2 September, several FABIans that form part of the bark beetle mycobiome research network took part in their 9th virtual meeting.
FABI students and their co-authors contributed 37 posters/graphical abstracts of the 157 of these presentations at the MSA conference.
With the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, many hospitals are running low on personal protective equipment, not only for their staff but also for their incoming patients. If anyone would like to contribute to this good cause, please contact FABI Deputy Director Prof.
The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) in FABI hosted a “Data Jamboree” on 7 February that saw 44 students in the research programme spend the day capturing historical data from the disease clinic.
My Journal Articles
| Publication |
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| Nel WJ, Duong TA, Fell S, Herron DA, Paap T, Wingfield MJ, de Beer ZW, Hulcr J, Johnson AJ. (2025) A checklist of South African bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae, Platypodinae). Zootaxa 5648(1):1-101.
10.11646/zootaxa.5648.1.1 |
| Hulcr J, Barnes I, Barnes M, Gazis R, Hammerbacher A, Johnson AJ, Lynch S, Lynn K, Marais GC, Mayers CG, Nel W, Villari C, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. (2025) From forest to fungus: A roadmap to bark beetle mycobiome research. Phytoparasitica 53(45)
10.1007/s12600-025-01246-x |
| Nel WJ, Randolph C, Paap T, Hurley BP, Slippers B, Barnes I, Wingfield MJ. (2024) Fusarium species associated with Euwallacea xanthopus in South Africa, including two novel species. Mycologia :1-20.
10.1080/00275514.2024.2394758 |
| Nel WJ, Slippers B, Wingfield MJ, Yilmaz N, Hurley BP. (2023) Efficacy of commercially available Entomopathogenic agents against the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer in South Africa. Insects 14(4)
10.3390/insects14040361 |
| Crous PW, Osieck ER;J, Shivas RG;Z, Bañares A;B, Burgess TI, Cabero J;C, Ferreira RJ;F, Ivanova DD;I, Lebeuf R;L, McTaggart AR, Mehrabi-Koushki M;M, Nel WJ, Nguyen TH;N, Reul M;R, Sato T;S, Tonegawa C;T, Visagie CM, C.M.; Vizzini A;V. (2022) Fungal Planet description sheets: 1284-1382. Persoonia - Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi 47(6):1284-1382.
10.3767/persoonia.2021.47.06 |
| Van Rooyen E, Paap T, De Beer ZW, Townsend G, Fell S, Nel WJ, Morgan S, Hill M, Roets F. (2021) The polyphagous shot hole borer beetle: Current status of a perfect invader in South Africa. South African Journal of Science 117(11/12)
10.17159/sajs.2021/9736 |
| Nel WJ, De Beer ZW, Wingfield MJ, Poulsen M, Aanen DK, Wingfield BD, Duong TA. (2021) Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses reveal two new genera and three new species of ophiostomatalean fungi from termite fungus combs. Mycologia 113(6):1199-1217.
10.1080/00275514.2021.1950455 |
Crous PW, Hernández-Restrepo M, Schumacher RK, Cowan DA, Maggs-Kölling G, Marais E, Wingfield MJ, Yilmaz N, Adan OCG, Akulov A, Álvarez Duarte E, Berraf-Tebbal A, Bulgakov TS, Carnegie AJ, de Beer ZW, Decock C, Dijksterhuis C, Duong TA, Eichmeier A, Hien LT, Houbraken JAMP, Khanh TN, Liem NV, Lombard L, Lutzoni FM, Miadlikowska JM, Nel WJ, Pascoe IG, Roets F, Roux J, Samson RA, Shen M, Spetik M, Thangavel R, Thanh HM, Thao LD, van Nieuwenhuijzen EJ, Zhang JQ, Zhang Y, Zhao LL, Groenewald JZ. (2021) New and Interesting Fungi. 4. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 7:255-343.
10.3114/fuse.2021.07.13  |
| Nel WJ, Wingfield MJ, De Beer ZW, Duong TA. (2021) Ophiostomatalean fungi associated with wood boring beetles in South Africa including two new species. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 114(6):667-686.
10.1007/s10482-021-01548-0 |
| Nel WJ, De Beer ZW, Wingfield MJ, Duong TA. (2020) The granulate ambrosia beetle, Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae), and its fungal symbiont found in South Africa. Zootaxa 4838(3):427-435.
10.11646/zootaxa.4838.3.7 |
| Procter M, Nel WJ, Marincowitz S, Crous PW, Wingfield MJ. (2020) A new species of Raffaelea from beetle-infested Leucaena leucocephala. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 6:305-314.
10.3114/fuse.2020.06.16 |
| Nel WJ, Duong TA, De Beer ZW, Wingfield MJ. (2019) Black root rot: A long known but little understood disease. Plant Pathology 68(5):834-842.
10.1111/ppa.13011 |
| Nel WJ, Duong TA, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD, Hammerbacher A, De Beer ZW. (2018) Heterothallism revealed in the root rot fungi Berkeleyomyces basicola and B. rouxiae. Fungal Biology 122(11):1031-1040.
10.1016/j.funbio.2018.08.006 |
| Wingfield BD, Bills GF, Dong Y, Huang W, Nel WJ, Swalarsk-Parry BS, Vaghefi N, Wilken PM, An Z, de Beer ZW, De Vos L, Chen L, Duong TA, Gao Y, Hammerbacher A, Kikkert JR, Li Y, Li H, Li K, Li Q, Liu X, Ma X, Naidoo K, Pethybridge SJ, Sun J, Steenkamp ET, van der Nest M, van Wyk S, Wingfield MJ, Xiong C, Yue Q, Zhang X. (2018) IMA Genome-F 9 Draft genome sequence of Annulohypoxylon stygium, Aspergillus mulundensis, Berkeleyomyces basicola (syn. Thielaviopsis basicola), Ceratocystis smalleyi, two Cercospora beticola strains, Coleophoma cylindrospora, Fusarium fracticaudum, Phialophora cf. hyalina, and Morchella septimelata. IMA Fungus 9(1):199-223.
10.5598/imafungus.2018.09.01.13 |
| Paap T, de Beer ZW, Migliorini D, Nel W, Wingfield MJ. (2018) The polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB) and its fungal symbiont Fusarium euwallaceae: a new invasion in South Africa. Australasian Plant Pathology 47(2):231-237.
10.1007/s13313-018-0545-0 |
 Nel WJ, Duong TA, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ, De Beer ZW. (2018) A new genus and species for the globally important, multi-host root pathogen Thielaviopsis basicola. Plant Pathology 67:871-882.
10.1111/ppa.12803 |