My research focuses on plant genomics and bioinformatics, with an emphasis on generating high-quality genome assemblies for ecologically and economically important African tree species. I employ long-read sequencing technologies, genome assembly and annotation as well as comparative genomics to support research in forestry, conservation and agricultural biotechnology. My work contributes to the development of genomic resources relevant to sustainable forestry and biodiversity research in Africa.

Research interests: Genome assembly and annotation; long-read sequencing; comparative genomics and transcriptomics;secondary metabolites

Publications:

• Mgwatyu, Y., Cornelissen, S., van Heusden, P., Stander, A., Ranketse, M. & Hesse, U. (2022). Establishing MinION sequencing and genome assembly procedures for the analysis of the rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) genome. Plants, 11(16): 2156. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162156

• Malmir, N., Fard, N. A., Mgwatyu, Y. & Mekuto, L. (2021). Cyanide hydratase modification using computational design and docking analysis for improved binding affinity in cyanide detoxification. Molecules, 26(6): 1799. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061799

• Stander, E. A., Williams, W., Mgwatyu, Y., van Heusden, P., Rautenbach, F., Marnewick, J., Roes?Hill, M. L. & Hesse, U. (2020). Transcriptomics of the rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) species complex. BioTech, 9(4): 19. 

• Mgwatyu, Y., Stander, A. A., Ferreira, S., Williams, W. & Hesse, U. (2020). Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) genome size estimation using flow cytometry and k?mer analyses. Plants, 9(2): 270. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9020270

• Stander, E. A., Williams, W., Stander A., Rautenbach, F., Marnewick, J., Mgwatyu, Y. & Hesse, U. (2019). Visualization of Aspalathin in Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) plant and herbal tea extracts using thin?layer chromatography. Molecules, 24(5): 938.