I am a second-year doctoral candidate in the Avocado Research Programme. My research focuses on understanding the role of the Botryosphaeriaceae in causing significant diseases in avocado, including dieback, branch and trunk cankers, and stem-end rot of fruit.

In 2024, I conducted an extensive survey of nurseries and orchards across South Africa's primary avocado-growing regions—Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape. This work involved collecting diseased avocado material to identify the Botryosphaeriaceae species prevalent in these regions, contributing to improved disease management strategies for the avocado industry.

I hold a Master’s degree in Plant Pathology from the University of Stellenbosch, completed in March 2024. My Master’s research investigated genomic changes linked to fungicide resistance in two Phytophthora species responsible for citrus destruction in South Africa. This project deepened my interest in the genetics of plant pathogens and addressed critical challenges in sustainable agriculture.