Mr Aaron Harvey
| PhD student | |
Department |
|
Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology |
|
| This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
Member of:
My Supervisor/s
| 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 included a genome-wide in silico chracterisation of the wall-associated kinase (WAK) and WAK-Llike (WAKL) gene family within four avocado rootstock genomes, and implicated a subset in defence against Phytophthora cinnamomi.
I am currently doing my PhD in the Hans Merensky chair for Avocado research.
Conference presentations
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.
Harvey A., van den Berg N., Swart V. In silico characterisation of the WAK/WAKL gene family in avocado and implication in defense against Phytophthora cinnamomi. Oral presentation at the XX International Plant Protection Congress; 1-5 July 2024, Megaron Athens International Convention Center, Athens, Greece.
Harvey A., van den Berg N., Swart V. This is your WAK up call: Keeping avocados healthy, one gene at a time. Oral presentation at the Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology Postgraduate Symposium 2024; 29 November 2024, University of Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
My Journal Articles
| Publication |
|---|
Harvey A, van den Berg N, Swart V. (2025) In silico characterisation of the avocado WAK/WAKL gene family with a focus on genes involved in defence against Phytophthora cinnamomi. Frontiers in Plant Science 15:1474781.
10.3389/fpls.2024.1474781  |
| Harvey A, van den Berg N, Swart V. (2024) Describing and characterizing the WAK/WAKL gene family across plant species: a systematic review. Frontiers in Plant Science 15:1467148.
10.3389/fpls.2024.1467148 |