Mr Aaron Harvey



MSc student

Department

Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
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Primary Supervisor
Velushka Swart

Co Supervisor
Noelani van den Berg

I completed my BSc Human Physiology, Genetics and Psychology undergraduate degree in 2021 and a BScHons Genetics in 2022 through the University of Pretoria. I am currently doing my MSc Genetics through the Hans Merensky Chair in Avocado research at the University of Pretoria.

My Honours research was focused on the Callose synthase (CalS) gene family within avocado and predicting which subset may be involved in the defense response against Phytophthora cinnamomi.

My MSc research will include a genome-wide in silico chracterisation of the wall-associated kinase (WAK) and WAK-Llike (WAKL) gene family within four avocado rootstock genomes, and will aim to implicate a subset in defence against Phytophthora cinnamomi.

Harvey A., van den Berg N., Swart V. Genome-wide in silico characterisation of the avocado WAK and WAKL gene family. Oral presentation at the 53rd biennial congress of the Southern African Society for Plant Pathology; 22-25 January 2024, Golden Gate National park, Free state, South Africa.