FABI News
22 Apr 2025
FABIans enjoy an Easter Tea
FABIans took some time off to enjoy the traditional annual Easter Tea on the morning of 16 April.
18 Apr 2025
Congratulations to Tanay Bose on receiving his Y1 NRF rating
Congratulations to Dr Tanay Bose on receiving his Y1 rating from the NRF.
17 Apr 2025
FABI's Prof. Irene Barnes presents her inaugural address
Professor Irene Barnes presented her inaugural address in the University of Pretoria’s Senate Chamber on 9 April, marking the inauguration of her acceptance as a full Professor.
16 Apr 2025
FABI participates in the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute's Spring Symposium
Prof. Cobus Visagie represented FABI at the recent Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute's Spring Symposium.
16 Apr 2025
Congratulations to Chris Weldon on being promoted to a full Professor!
Congratulations to Prof. Chris Weldon on presented his inaugural lecture as full Professor.
FABI in a nutshell
Research Features
Review emphasizes the importance of understanding the genetics of sex determination for effective genetic pest management in insects.
Eleven new Penicillium and Talaromyces species discovered in South African culture collections.
A new study reveals the presence of Mycotoxins in Eastern Cape maize in South Africa.
Eurotiales update: FABIans Prof. Cobus Visagie and Dr Neriman Yilmaz and their collaborators have published a review of recently described Eurotiales species, including the economically important Aspergillus, Penicillium, Paecilomyces and Talaromyces.
Da Vinci's Yeast: FABIans Prof. Cobus Visagie, Dr Neriman Yilmaz, and their collaborators have recently described and named a newly discovered yeast species of the famous Italian painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect Leonardo da Vinci.
The potential economic impact of the PSHB invasion in South Africa has been calculated to be a massive R275 billion over the next ten years, if nothing is done to stop the spread of this invasive beetle. Researchers from FABI collaborated with Stellenbosch University ecologists and economists to model the unmitigated economic impact of this invasion.
A recently published paper in the journal Current Forestry Reports documents a collaboration between an international team of forest pathologists and invasion scientists. Led by Dr Trudy Paap, the authors present a framework for conceptualizing and managing invasive forest pathogens.
A recently published review article by Dr Andi Wilson in a special issue of the journal 'Microbiology & Molecular Biology Reviews' provides details of the genes that are essential to the sexual cycle in filamentous Ascomycete fungi and further describes their functions in a variety of model and non-model species.
Penicillium section Canescentia re-evaluated and five new species described from the fynbos biome in South Africa.
In November 2019, the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biology hosted a workshop on ‘Frameworks used in Invasion Science’. The workshop led to a NeoBiota special issue on this theme, and includes a review by FABI researchers and international colleagues, exploring frameworks in the context of forest pathology.
A doctoral study in FABI confirms for the first time the presence of Xylosandrus crassiusculus, a polyphagous ambrosia beetle and its fungal symbiont, Ambroseilla roeperi, in three provinces in South Africa. The authors warn that this beetle species could be a threat to native and plantation trees.
A review on invasive gall-forming wasps that threaten non-native Eucalyptus plantations by researchers in the TPCP appears in Agricultural and Forest Entomology. They profile several species of likely Australian origin that have established on non-native Eucalyptus plantations globally and discuss various challenges to their management.
A study in the TPCP confirms the identity of seven novel fungal species associated with Dendroctonus valens, the red turpentine beetle. The study follows on surveys on the fungal associates of the beetle in China and North America. Results from this work appear in Persoonia.
A postdoctoral study in the TPCP describes two novel Huntiella species in the African clade, bringing the number of known species in the genus to 31. Though closely related, the two species display different mating systems. Outcomes from this study appear in the journal MycoKeys.
A review of the invasion history and global management strategies of Eucalyptus snout beetles in the Gonipterus scutellatus species complex by researchers in the TPCP appears in the Journal of Pest Science.
In a collaborative venture with Dr Jos Houbraken (Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, the Netherlands), Prof. Cobus M Visagie, Dr Neriman Yilmaz (both from FABI) and others have recently completed and published a major study updating the taxonomy of the Eurotiales.
A study in the Forest Molecular Genetics (FMG) Programme at FABI interrogates the benefits of implementing genomic selection for growth and wood quality traits in an established Eucalyptus grandis breeding programme in South Africa. Outcomes from this study appear in an article.
The first study on alternative weed and cultivated hosts of Spongospora subterraneaf. sp. subterranea (Sss), in southern Africa identifies two species as ideal trap crops for rotation with potatoes. The study also introduces three new families to the known hosts of Sss in the region.
A consortium of microbiologists from around the globe, FABI included, is pushing for an overhaul in how scientific names are assigned to uncultivated bacteria and archaea. Despite their ecological, agricultural and medical importance, these organisms traditionally have not been recognized by the international body governing the nomenclature of prokaryotes.
Professor Cobus Visagie is a researcher in the Applied Mycology group at FABI. One of the group’s research goals is to discover fungal diversity in South Africa, and Cobus’ research is strongly focussed on the economically important genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Talaromyces.
Postdoctoral research by Dr Norman Muzhinji in the Potato Pathology Programme at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) sheds light on the genetic structure and diversity of Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea in four potato-growing regions in South Africa, providing valuable insights on its management.
An MSc study by Kira Lynn in the RGE-FABI Tree Health Programme at the University of Pretoria has described a new Fusarium species, Fusarium rekanum sp. nov., associated with Euwallacea perbrevis, an ambrosia beetle species infesting Acacia crassicarpa plantations in Riau, Indonesia.
FABI postdoctoral Fellow Dr Andi Wilson has established a CRISPR-Cas9-based genome editing protocol for use in Huntiella omanensis, a tree-inhabiting fungus belonging to the Ceratocystidaceae family.
Research undertaken as part of a PhD study by Molly Malefo at the University of Pretoria’s Department of Plant and Soil Sciences and Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute sheds more light on the role of protease inhibitors in plants under drought stress.
The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) has funded a postdoctoral research project dedicated to monitoring plant health in botanical gardens and arboreta across South Africa. Two postdoctoral Fellows at the University of Pretoria’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute have held these fellowships.
The first comprehensive study mapping the distribution and genetic diversity of invasive Eucalyptus insect pests in sub-Saharan Africa confirms the presence of five major foliage-feeding species in 14 countries. The results of this study have implications on the quarantine, future research and management of these pests on the continent and beyond.
Dr Joey Hulbert broke new ground when he became the first candidate at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute to complete a PhD study incorporating citizen science. Citizen science is an approach that involves members of the public as active participants in scientific research.
FABI technology unravels the genetics behind fungal genome evolution The RIPper is a bioinformatics tool for the for quantifying genome-wide RIP mutations in fungal genomes. The strength of this software lies in the automation of laborious techniques to study the mutation process called Repeat-Induced Point mutations (RIP). The RIPper applies these technique
With the increased availability in genome data, inferences regarding evolutionary relationships among taxa can now be performed on a genome-wide scale. But it is widely accepted that not all parts of such massive datasets support the same evolutionary hypothesis. Because of this, a group of researchers at FABI recently investigated the effect of this.
The use of genome data to characterize species and elucidate relationships, particularly between problematic taxa, has become routine practice in bacteria. Recently, researchers from FABI joined in an international effort to describe two novel genera and characterize these within the larger context of the important bacterial group Burkholderia.
A PhD student in FABI, Runlei Chang, has discovered and described 19 new fungal species from China as part of the research for his thesis. These fungi are all associated with conifer-infesting bark beetles and their mites and belong to well-known genera such as Ophiostoma and Leptographium.
Two research papers from FABI were selected as cover stories in two consecutive issues of the international journal, Plant Pathology. The journal is published by Wiley for the British Society of Plant Pathology.
Plastids play an integral role in wood formation, and yet they are routinely ignored in the study of xylogenesis in forest trees. Desre Pinard and Dr Eshchar Mizrachi have published a review highlighting the unique biology of plastids in wood, suggesting that a new type of plastid, the xylopast, exists.
Approaches for characterizing metabolic potential from genomic sequences have previously been predicted to be useful in the description of bacterial taxa. Dr Marike Palmer, has recently employed these approaches for identifying biological processes contributing to the divergence of bacteria with a variety of lifestyles.
Comparative genomics is shaping our notion of what fungal species are. Based on current data, these unique evolutionary units are separated from one another by boundaries that are porous under certain conditions. This affects our expectations regarding their population biology and evolution, and our strategies for recognizing and controlling them.
The Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer is an ambrosia beetle native to Southeast Asia. In 2017 this pest was detected in South Africa. Its presence has since been confirmed in all provinces except Limpopo. The beetle has a symbiotic relationship with the fungus Fusarium euwallaceae, which causes branch die-back and death of susceptible trees.
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The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme symposium 2020
FameLab Speed Talks
Field Trips
SPOOF Productions
2021-2023
Dr Felipe Balocchi
Dr Chrizelle Beukes
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Dr Katrin Fitza
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Dr Michal Gwizdala
Dr Agil Katumanyane
Dr Godfrey Kgatle
Dr DAwit Kindanemariam
Dr Privilege Makunde
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2019-2021
Dr Sreedhara Ashok Prabhu
Dr Janneke Aylward
Dr Robert Backer
Dr Chrizelle Beukes
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Dr Tanay Bose
Dr Gabrielle Carstensen
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Dr David Read
Dr Danielle Roodt
Dr Michelle Schröder
Dr Gi Yoon Shin
Dr Melissa Simpson
Dr Hiroyuki Suzuki
Dr Stephanie van Wyk
Dr Erik Visser
Dr Andi Wilson
2017-2019
Dr Janneke Aylward
Dr Daniel Bellieny-Rabelo
Dr Tanay Bose
Dr Marc Bouwer
Dr Vuyiswa Bushula-Njah
Dr Gabrielle Carstensen
Dr Runlei Chang
Dr Nanette Christie
Dr Lieschen de Vos
Dr Gudrun Dittrich-Schröder
Dr Stuart Fraser
Dr Felix Fru
Dr Mesfin Gossa
Dr Fahimeh Jami
Dr Aquillah Kanzi
Dr Mahlane Godfrey Kgatle
Dr Riikka Linnakoski
Dr FeiFei Liu
Dr Mark Maistry
Dr Vicki MAloney
Dr Alistair McTaggart
Dr Osmond Mlonyeni
Dr Esther Muema
Dr Awelani Mutshembele
Dr Sarah Mwangi
Dr Caryn Oates
Dr Letrisha Padayachee
Dr Trudy Paap
DR Marike Palmer
Dr Raphael Ployet
Dr Laure-Anne Poissonnier
Dr Sreedhara Ashok Prabhu
Dr Danielle Roodt
Dr Quentin Santana
Dr Michelle Schröder
Dr Louise Shuey
Dr Divine Shyntum
Dr Siphathele Sibanda
Dr Melissa Simpson
Dr Hiroyuki Suzuki
Dr Velushka Swart
Dr Magriet van der Nest
Dr Erik Visser
Dr Maria Vivas
Dr Markus Wilken
Dr Neriman Yilmaz
2015-2017
Dr Ramesh Aadi Moolam
Dr Marc Bouwer
Dr Martie CArstens
Dr Nanette Christie
Dr Elsie Druywagen
Dr Lieschen de Vos
Dr Gudrun Dittrich-Schröder
Dr Stuart Fraser
Dr Gerda Fourie
Dr Mesfin Gossa
Dr DongHyeon Lee
Dr Mark Maistry
Dr Victoria Maloney
Dr Gaby Nkouaya Mbanjo
Dr Alistair McTaggart
Dr Duccio Migliorini
Dr Bilal Mir
Dr Awelani Mutshembele
Dr Trudy Paap
Dr Sonia Phillips
Dr Sreedhara Ashok Prabhu
Dr Sonali Ranade
Dr Bianca Reeksting
Dr Michelle Schröder
Dr Louise Shuey
Dr Divine Shyntum
Dr Stephen Taerum
Dr Libert Brice Tonfack
Dr Maria Vivas
Dr Lydia Wahba
Dr TAnia Weller-Stuart
Dr Markus Wilken
2014/15/16/17/18
Dr Maria Vivas
Environmental maternal effects on the resistance of Eucalyptus grandis to pathogens and the structuring of fungal endophytic communities.
Dr Duccio Migliorini
Taxonomical description and ecological assessment of the plant pathogens Phytophthora and Botryosphaeriaceae of cultivated and natural Proteaceae in South Africa, Western Australia and Europe.
2011/12/13
Dr. Wubetu Bihon
Population studies in Diplodia pinea
Dr. Maryke Carstens
Genomics of quantitative disease resistance in African maize varieties
Dr. Shuaifei Chen
Cryphonectriaceae associated with native trees in the Western Cape province
Dr. Pieter de Maayer
Comparative and functional genomics of Pantoea spp.
Dr. Lieschen de Vos
Characterization of the Fusarium circinatum genome
Dr. Raj Deepika Kaul
Development and optimization of an in vitro regeneration and genetic transformation protocol for genetic modification of cellulose biosynthesis in Eucalyptus clones grown in South Africa
Dr. Gilbert Kamgan Nkuekam
Cryphonectriaceae in Myrtales in Hawaii
Dr. Martin Kemler
Molecular ecology and evolution of Botryosphaerieaceae
Dr. Boney Kuriakose
Genomics of quantitative disease resistance in African maize varieties
Dr. Rikka Linnakoski
Bark beetles and their fungal associates
Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles
Dr. Sonia Phillips
Genomics of quantitative disease resistance in African maize varieties
Dr. Pedro Romon
Conifer bark beetles and associated phytopathogenic fungi
Dr. Lucas Shuttleworth
Botryosphaeria spp. associated with the Myrtales
Dr. Stephanie Slinski
Characterization of the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium circinatum
Dr. Daleen van Dyk
Genetic dissection of gene expression regulation, metabolite profiles and wood fibre traits in Eucalyptus hybrid tree populations
Dr. Sze Huei Yek
Host reponse of Sirex to nematode infection
Dr. Chongzing Zhang
Diversity and genetics of nematodes for biological control of forest pests
2009/10
Dr. Wubetu Bihon
Understanding the global population genetics of Diplodia pinea and its life cycle in plantation pines
Dr. Emilie Boissin
Molecular ecology and evolution of tree pests and pathogens, with a particular focus on the Sirex-Amylostereum symbiosis
Dr. Carrie Brady
Taxonomy of plant associated members of the Enterobacteriaceae
Dr. Shuaifei Chen
Cryphonectriaceae associated with native trees in the Western Cape Province
Dr. Bridget Crampton
Genomics of quantitative disease resistance in African maize varieties
Dr. Pieter de Maayer
Comparative and functional genomics of Pantoea spp.
Dr. Raj Deepika Kaul
Development and optimisation of an in vitro regeneration and genetic transformation protocol for genetic modification of cellulose biosynthesis in Eucalyptus clones grown in South Africa
Dr. Martin Kemler
The influence of climate on latent pathogens of native South African trees, with a particular focus on the Botryosphaeriaceae
Dr. Boney Kuriakose
High quality Solanaceous crops for consumer, processors and producers by exploration of natural biodiversity through Diversity Array Technology
Dr. Lu Min
Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles
Dr. Eunsung Oh
Phytophthora species in the indigenous forests of South Africa
Dr. Donovan Porter
Survival of Pantoea ananatis in the environment
Dr. Pedro Romon
Conifer bark beetles and associated phytopathogenic fungi: diagnostics, epidemiology and integrated control
Dr. Francois Roets
Phylogeny of the Ophiostomatales on Protea species in South Africa
Dr. Urte Schlüter
Nodule senescence under drought stress
Dr. Daleen van Dyk
Genetic dissection of gene expression regulation, metabolite profiles and wood fibre traits in Eucalyptus hybrid tree populations
Dr. Juan Vorster
Protein modeling and design
Dr. Chongxing Zhang
The diversity and genetics of nematodes for biological control of forest insects
2007/8
Dr. Yoseph Beyene
Genetic characterization of resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana to an African isolate of the bacterial wilt pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum
Dr. Irene Barnes
Mating strategies in the native fungal pathogen, Ceratocystis albifundus
Dr. Mesfin Bogale
Mitochondrial sequencing of Fusarium
Dr. Emilie Boisson
The molecular ecology and evolution of the Amylostereum – Siricid mutualism
Dr. Carrie Brady
Taxonomy of plant associated members of the Enterobacteriaceae
Dr. Marieka Gryzenhout
The taxonomy of relevant fungi, focusing on the pathogen group Cryphonectriaceae and endophytes of Eucalyptus and Syzygium
Dr. Wolfgang Maier
Global phylogeny of rust fungi with specific focus on African species
Dr. Seonju Marinkowitz
Fungi on Protea species
Dr. Lu Min
Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles
Dr. Eunsung Oh
Phytophthora species in the indigenous forests of South Africa
Dr. Donovan Porter
Survival of Pantoea ananatis in the environment
Dr. Francois Roets
Phylogeny of the Ophiostomatales on Protea species in South Africa
Dr. Barbara Ros
Genomics of quantitative disease resistance in African maize varieties
Dr. Urte Schlüter
Nodule senescence under drought stress
Dr. Christell van der Vyver
Radiation-induced genome changes
Dr. Antoinette van Schalkwyk
High quality Solanaceous crops for consumer, processors and producers by exploration of natural biodiversity through Diversity Array Technology
Dr. Juan Vorster
Protein modelling and design
Dr. Jane Wright
The global population biology of Fusarium circinatum
2005/6
Dr. Yoseph Beyene
Genetic characterization of resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana to an African isolate of the bacterial wilt pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum
Dr. Leanne Forsyth
Global gene expression profiling in banana against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc)
Dr. Solomon Kebede
Development and use of microarray technology for genotyping and gene expression analysis in Eucalyptus trees
Dr. Seonju Lee
Fungi on Protea species
Dr. Wolfgang Maier
Global phylogeny of rust fungi with specific focus on African species
Dr. Barbara Ros
Genomics of quantitative disease resistance in African maize varieties
Dr. Urte Schlüter
Nodule senescence under drought stress
Dr. Noëlani van den Berg
Identification of defence-related genes in Cavendish bananas to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense
Dr. Christell van der Vyver
Radiation-induced genome changes
Dr. Antoinette van Schalkwyk
High quality solanaceous crops for consumer, processors and producers by exploration of natural biodiversity through Diversity Array Technology
Dr. Jane Wright
The global population biology of Fusarium circinatum
Dr. Lawrie Wright
Population dynamics of Cylindrocladium pauciramosum
Dr. Xudong Zhou
Fungi associated with bark beetles
2003/4
Dr. Martin Coetzee
Population genetics of Armillaria fuscipes in South African pine plantations
Dr. Solomon Gebeyehu
Studies on Pissodes nemorensis and its possible role in vectoring Fusarium circinatum
Dr. Karin Jacobs
Molecular taxonomic studies on Ophiostoma and Ceratocystis, particularly of species linked to forest biosecurity
Dr. Solomon Kebede
Development and use of microarray technology for genotyping and gene expression analysis in Eucalyptus trees
Dr. Seonju Lee
Fungi on Protea species
Dr. Wolfgang Maier
Global phylogeny of rust fungi with specific focus on African species
Dr. Adele McLeod
Genetic studies of resistance to the bacterial pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum, in Arabidopsis thaliana
Dr. Dharini Sivakumar
Improving litchi quality and shelf life through the export chain focussing on all aspects from production to consumption
Dr. Retha Slabbert
The effect of cold stress on the physiology of banana plants during infestation by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense
Dr. Ana Slaughter
Genetic improvement of maize to enhance food safety by introducing resistance to Fusarium moniliforme
Dr. Marlene van der Merwe
A phylogenetic study of Eugenia (Myrtaceae)
Dr. Jane Wright
The global population biology of Fusarium circinatum
Dr. Xudong Zhou
Fungi associated with bark beetles
2002/3
Dr. Dilzara Agayeva
Insect/fungal pathogen associations
Dr. Marcus Conradt
Scientific consultant: plant gene discovery using SAGE (Serial analysis of gene expression)
Dr. Alan Gaume
Genetic studies of resistance to the bacterial pathogen, Ralstonia solanacearum, in Arabidopsis thaliana
Dr. Solomon Gebeyehu
Studies on Pissodes nemorensis and its possible role in vectoring Fusarium circinatum
Dr. Karin Jacobs
Molecular taxonomic studies on Ophiostoma and Ceratocystis, particularly of species linked to forest biosecurity
Dr. Ntsane Moleleki
Pathogenic determinants of Fusarium circinatum
Dr. Retha Slabbert
The effect of cold stress on Fusarium wilt development in banana
Dr. Ana Slaughter
Genetic improvement of maize to enhance food safety by introducing resistance to Fusarium moniliforme
Dr. Marlene van der Merwe
A phylogenetic study of Eugenia (Myrtaceae)
2000/1
Dr. Treena Burgess
Studies on the population diversity of Sphaeropsis sapinea
Dr. Percy Chimwamurombe
Genetic improvement of maize to enhance food safety by introducing resistance to Fusarium verticillioides
Dr. Gwen Koning
Sphaeropsis sapinea on Pinus spp. in South Africa: seed infection, its impact and management
Dr. Linda Meyer
Black spot of citrus
Dr. Thierry Regnier
Markers for disease resistance in Eucalyptus
Dr. Marlien van der Merwe
Molecular systematics and phylogenetics of the genera Eugenia and Syzygium (Myrtaceae) in southern Africa
1998/9
Dr. Treena Burgess
Population genetics of Sphaeropsis sapinea
Dr. Jingua Chen
Selection of disease (especially Ceratocystis albofundus) tolerant wattle
Dr. Anupama Gaur
Studies on Ceratocystis spp. infecting different crops
Dr. Hong Li
Identification of Mycosphaerella leaf blotch pathogens of eucalypts
Dr. Oliver Preisig
Hypovirulence and biological control of Cryphonecria cubensis and Sphaeropsis sapinea
Dr. Dennis Wilson
Endophytic fungi associated with eucalypts
New Publications
Bose T, Wingfield MJ, Brachmann A, Witfeld F, Begerow D, Kemler M, Dovey S, Roux J, Slippers B, Vivas M, Hammerbacher A. (2025) Removal of organic biomass in Eucalyptus plantations has a greater impact on fungal than on bacterial networks. Forest Ecology and Management 586:122734.
10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122734
Maduke N, Slippers B, Van der Linde E, Wingfield M, Fourie G. (2025) Botryosphaeriaceae associated with racemes, fruits and leaves of macadamia in South Africa. Plant Pathology 0:1–15:1–15.
10.1111/ppa.14107
Knoppersen RS, Bose T, Coutinho TA, Hammerbacher A. (2025) Inside the Belly of the Beast: Exploring the Gut Bacterial Diversity of Gonipterus sp. n. 2. Microbial Ecology 88:27.
10.1007/s00248-025-02524-1
Bose T, Roux J, Titshall L, Dovey SB, Hammerbacher A. (2025) Mulching of post-harvest residues and delayed planting improves fungal biodiversity in South African Eucalyptus plantations and enhances plantation productivity. Applied Soil Ecology 210:106091.
10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106091
Wychkuys KA, Giron E, Hyman G, Barona E, Castro-Llanos FA, Sheil D, Yu L, Du Z, Hurley BP, Slippers B, Germishuizen I, Bojacá CR, Rubiano M, Sathyapala S, Verchot L, Zhang W. (2025) Biological control protects carbon sequestration capacity of plantation forests. Entomologia Generalis
10.1127/entomologia/2025/3015 
Balocchi F. (2025) Risk Analysis for Alien Taxa (RAAT) for Phytophthora cinnamomi in South Africa.
10.5281/zenodo.14858265
Paap T, Balocchi F, Wingfield MJ. (2025) The root rot pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi: a long-overlooked threat to the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. Biological Invasions 27(4)
10.1007/s10530-025-03570-z
Harikrishnan K, Rajeshkumar KC, Patil PM, Jeewon R, Visagie CM. (2025) Aspergillus dhakephalkarii and A. patriciawiltshireae spp. nov., two new species in Aspergillus sect. Nigri ser. Japonici (Eurotiales, Aspergillaceae) from India. Phytotaxa 695:57–79.
10.11646/phytotaxa.695.1.2
Dewing C, Visagie CM, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD, Yilmaz N. (2025) Three new species of Fusarium (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales) isolated from Eastern Cape dairy pastures in South Africa. MycoKeys 115:241–271.
10.3897/mycokeys.115.148914
Coertze S, Visagie CM, Rose L, Slippers B, Mostert D, Makhura T, de Villiers D, Basson E, Coetzee B, Read D. (2025) First report of Clavibacter nebraskensis, causing Goss’s bacterial leaf blight on maize (Zea mays L.) in South Africa. Plant Disease
10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0164-PDN
van der Merwe E, Slippers B, Dittrich-Schröder G. (2025) Exploring artificial diets for the laboratory rearing of Sirex noctilio late-instar larvae: a qualitative study. Zenodo
10.5281/zenodo.15049303
Mapfumo P, Archer E, Swanevelder ZH, Wilken M, Creux N, Read DA. (2025) Plant Pathology. Genomic Characterisation of Bidens mottle virus in South Africa and an Assessment of the Impact on Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) in an Open Field Setting
10.1111/ppa.14089
Brasier CM, Grünwald NJ, Bourret TB, Govers F, Scanu B, Cooke DEL, Bose T, Hawksworth DL, Abad ZG, Albarracin MV, Alsultan W, Altamirano-Junqueria AE, Arifin AR, Arnet MJ, Aumentado HDR, Bakonyi J, Belisle WH, Benigno A, Bienapfl JC, Bilodeau GJ, Blair JE, Botella L, Brandano A, Cacciola SO, Carbone I, Castroagudin VL, Chaendaekattu N, Consford JD, Corcobado T, Covey PA, Daniels HA, Deidda A, Dorrance AE, Dort EN, Drenth A, Drizou F, Evangelisti E, Fajardo SN, Fang Y, Ference CM, Frankel SJ, Goss EM, Guest DI, Hardy GESJ, Harris ARH, Hawku MD, Heungens K, Hong C, Horner IJ, Horta Jung M, Iyanda OJ, Jamieson B, Jeffers SN, Judelson HS, Junaid M, Kalogeropoulou E, Kamoun S, Kang S, Kasuga T, Kudláček T, LeBoldus J, Lee CA, Li D, Llanos AK, Lopez-Nicora HD, Machado H, Di San Lio GM, Maia C, Mandal K, Manosalva P, Martin FN, Matson MEH, McDougal RL, McDowell JM, Michelmore RW, Milenković I, Moricca S, Mostowfizadeh-Ghalamfarsa R, Nagy Z, Nikolaeva EV, Ortega-López P, Paap T, Parada-Rojas CH, Peduto Hand F, Perez-Sierra A, Pettersson M, Prasad P, Puig AS, Raco M, Rajput NA, Ristaino JB, Rooney-Latham S, Seidl MF, Shamoun SF, Solla A, Spies CFJ, Sudermann MA, Swiecki TJ, Tian M, Tripathy S, Uematsu S, Van Poucke K, Vichou AE, Walter M, Webber JF, Williams NM, Wingfield MJ, Yadav D, Yang X, Jung T. (2025) Preserving the Biologically Coherent Generic Concept of Phytophthora, ‘Plant Destroyer’. Phytopathology
10.1094/PHYTO-11-24-0372-LE
Stazione L, Corley JC, Allison JD, Hurley BP, Lawson SA, Lantschner MV. (2025) Novel associations among insect herbivores and trees: Patterns of occurrence and damage on pines and eucalypts. Ecological Applications 35:e70018.
10.1002/eap.70018
Townsend G, Hill M, Hurley BP, Roets F. (2025) Escalating threat: increasing impact of the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle, Euwallacea fornicatus, in nearly all major South African forest types. Biological Invasions 27
10.1007/s10530-025-03551-2
Makunde PT, Slippers B, Bush S, Hurley BP. (2025) Host specificity and host stage preference of Psyllaephagus species (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) towards invasive eucalypt psyllids (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae). Agricultural and Forest Entomology :1-13.
10.1111/afe.12679
Tarigan M, Wingfield MJ, Jami F, Oliveira LSS, Saha MA, Durán A, Pham NQ. (2025) Pathogenicity of Pythium myriotylum on Acacia crassicarpa and Acacia mangium × Acacia auriculiformis clones in Indonesia. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 87:1–5.
10.2989/20702620.2024.2432863
D’Angelo D, Hu H, Lahoz E, Risteski J, Steenkamp E T, Viscardi M, van der Nest M A, Wu Y, Yu H, Zhou J, Karandeni Dewage C S, Kotta-Loizou L I, Stotz H U, Fitt B D L, Huang Y, Hu Y, Kiss L, Sorrentino R, Nkomo T, Zhou X, Vaghefi N, Sonnekus B, Bose T, Cerrato D, Cozzolino L, Creux N, D’Agostino N, Fourie G, Fusco G, Hammerbacher A, Idnurm A, Wingfield BD. (2025) IMA GENOME - F20 A draft genome assembly of Agroathelia rolfsii, Ceratobasidium papillatum, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, Neopestalotiopsis macadamiae, Sphaerellopsis filum and genomic resources for Colletotrichum spaethianum and Colletotrichum fructicola. IMA Fungus 16:e141732.
10.3897/imafungus.16.141732
Espach A, Esterhuizen L, Africander N, Thiart S, Read DA, Pietersen G. (2025) First report of pepper ringspot virus on potato (Solanum tuberosum) in South Africa. Journal of Plant Pathology
10.1007/s42161-025-01887-1
Muema EK, van Lill M, Venter SN, Claassens R, Steenkamp ET. (2025) Mesorhizobium salmacidum sp. nov. and Mesorhizobium argentiipisi sp. nov. are symbionts of the dry-land forage legumes Lessertia diffusa and Calobota sericea. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 19(3):1-20.
10.1007/s10482-025-02063-2
Motaung TE, Ratsoma FM, Kunene S, Santana QC, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD. (2025) Harnessing exogenous membrane vesicles for studying Fusarium circinatum and its biofilm communities. Microbial Pathogenesis
10.1016/j.micpath.2025.107368
van Dijk A, Wilson AM, Marx B, Hough B, Swalarsk-Parry BS, De Vos L, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD, Steenkamp ET. (2025) CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing reveals that the Pgs gene of Fusarium circinatum is involved in pathogenicity, growth and sporulation.. Fungal Genetics and Biology
10.1016/j.fgb.2025.103970
Balocchi F, Wingfield MJ, Paap T. (2025) First record of the white root rot fungus Dematophora necatrix on indigenous South African trees. Journal of Plant Pathology
10.1007/s42161-025-01861-x
Coelho MA, David-Palma M, Aylward J, Pham NQ, Visagie CM, Fuchs T, Yilmaz N, Roets F, Sun S, Taylor JT, Wingfield BD, Fisher MC, Wingfield MJ, Heitman J. (2025) Decoding Cryptococcus: From African biodiversity to worldwide prevalence. PLOS Pathogens 21:e1012876.
10.1371/journal.ppat.1012876
Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield M.J, Naidoo S. (2025) Enhancing plantation forest sustainability: A review of Eucalyptus defence mechanisms to foliar fungal pathogens. Current Forestry Reports
10.1007/s40725-024-00243-3
Ratsoma MF, Santana QC, Wingfield BD, Steenkamp ET, Motaung TE. (2025) Understanding cargo sorting and interactive effects of membrane vesicles in fungal phytopathogens: Current knowledge and research gaps. Fungal Biology Reviews 51
10.1016/j.fbr.2025.100411
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
Botes J, Ma X, Chang J, Van de Peer Y, Berger DK. (2025) Flavonoids and anthocyanins in seagrasses: implications for climate change adaptation and resilience. Frontiers in Plant Science 15(1520474):1-17.
10.3389/fpls.2024.1520474
Wondafrash M, Wingfield MJ, Hurley BP, Slippers B, Mutitu EK, Jenya H, Paap T. (2025) DNA sequence data confirms the presence of two closely related cypress-feeding aphid species on African cypress (Widdringtonia spp.) in South Africa. Southern Forests 86:278-285.
10.2989/20702620.2024.2390863
Mangani R, Mazarura J, Matlou S, Marquart A, Archer E, Creux N. (2025) The impact of past and current district-level climatic shifts on maize production and the implications for South African farmers. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 156:109.
10.1007/s00704-024-05334-6