EPPI Team
Academic Staff and Research Leaders Total:1
Prof Sanushka NaidooExternal Research Associates Total:1
Ms Nomathemba MajolaProfessional Support Staff Total:3
Dr Ronishree Mangwanda
Ms Adri VealeBiochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology
Tissue culture and Plant Transformation Platform Manager
Dr Avhashoni ZwanePostdoctoral Fellows Total:3
Dr Myriam Solis
Dr Demissew Teshome
Dr Erik VisserDoctoral Students Total:2
Mr Lihan Esterhuizen
Ms Shae SwanepoelMasters Students Total:10
Mr Ryan Bosch
Ms Ruby May Ebbeling
Ms Bianca Hattingh
Ms Valencia Mogashoa
Mr Tebogo Molemela
Mr Tshoganyetso Motete
Mx Anicka Nel
Mr Sean Schultze
Mr Michal Slupski
Mr Bertus van RooyHonours Students Total:2
Mr Kaliwe Sindazi
Ms Itha WesselsNew Publications
Teshome DT, Zharare GE, Ployet R, Naidoo S. (2024) Molecular mechanisms underlying tree host-pathogen interactions under drought stress and subsequent rewatering in Eucalyptus grandis. Plant Stress
10.1016/j.stress.2024.100697
Solís M, Naidoo S, Wingfield MJ, Joubert J, Hammerbacher A. (2024) First line of defence: Eucalyptus leaf waxes influence infection by an aggressive fungal leaf pathogen. Plant Biology
10.1111/plb.13707
Backer R, Naidoo S, van den Berg N. (2023) The expression of the NPR1-dependent defense response pathway genes in Persea americana (Mill.) following infection with Phytophthora cinnamomi. BMC Plant Biology 23(1):548.
10.1186/s12870-023-04541-z 
Swanepoel S, Visser EA, Shuey SS, Naidoo S. (2023) The In Planta Gene Expression of Austropuccinia psidii in Resistant and Susceptible Eucalyptus grandis. Phytopathology 113(6):1066-1076.
10.1094/PHYTO-07-22-0257-R
Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield MJ, Naidoo S. (2023) A robust disease scoring method to screen Eucalyptus for resistance against the aggressive leaf blight pathogen, Teratosphaeria destructans. Plant Disease:1418 - 1424.
10.1094/PDIS-06-22-1347-RE
Teshome DT, Zharare GE, Ployet R, Naidoo S. (2023) Transcriptional reprogramming during recovery from drought stress in Eucalyptus grandis. Tree Physiology
10.1093/treephys/tpad022
Swanepoel S, Visser E, Shuey L, Naidoo S. (2023) The In Planta Gene Expression of Austropuccinia psidii in Resistant and Susceptible Eucalyptus grandis. PHYTOPATHOLOGY
10.1094/PHYTO-07-22-0257-R
Visser EA, Kampmann TP, Wegrzyn JL, Naidoo S. (2022) Multispecies comparison of host responses to Fusarium circinatum challenge in tropical pines show consistency in resistance mechanisms. Plant, Cell & Environment 46(5):1705-1725.
10.1111/pce.14522
Solís M, Wingfield MJ, Hammerbacher A, Naidoo S. (2022) Comparison of the infection biology of Teratosphaeria destructans and Teratosphaeria epicoccoides on Eucalyptus. Plant Disease
10.1094/PDIS-09-21-1877-RE
Messal M, Vivas M, Kemler M, Begerow D, Brachmann A, Witfeld F, Naidoo S, Slippers B. (2022) Fungal Communities of Eucalyptus grandis Leaves Are Influenced by the Insect Pest Leptocybe invasa. Frontiers in Microbiology 13(3:841621)
10.3389/fmicb.2022.841621
Jackson C, Christie N, Reynolds SM, Marais GC, Tii-kuzu Y, Caballero M, Kampman T, Visser EA, Naidoo S, Kain D, Whetten RW, Isik F, Wegrzyn J, Hodge GR, Acosta JJ, Myburg AA. (2021) A genome- wide SNP genotyping resource for tropical pine tree species. Molecular Ecology Resources
10.1111/1755-0998.13484
Swanepoel S, Oates CN, Shuey SS, Pegg GS, Naidoo S. (2021) Transcriptome analysis of Eucalyptus grandis implicates brassinosteroid signaling in defense against myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii). Frontiers in Forests and Global Change 4(200):778611.
10.3389/ffgc.2021.778611
Teshome DT, Zharare GE, Naidoo S. (2020) The threat of the combined effect of biotic and abiotic stress factors in forestry under a changing climate. Frontiers in Plant Science
10.3389/fpls.2020.601009
Oates C, Denby K, Myburg A, Slippers B, Naidoo S. (2020) Insect egg‐induced physiological changes and transcriptional reprogramming leading to gall formation. Plant, Cell & Environment
10.1111/pce.13930
Mhoswa L, O'Neill M, Makobatjatji MM, Oates CN, Payn KG, Slippers B, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2020) A Genome-Wide Association Study for resistance to the insect pest Leptocybe invasa in Eucalyptus grandis reveals genomic regions and positional candidate defence genes. Plant & Cell Physiology (pcaa057)
10.1093/pcp/pcaa057
du Toit Y, Coles DW, Mewalal R, Christie N, Naidoo S. (2020) eCALIBRATOR: A Comparative Tool to Identify Key Genes and Pathways for Eucalyptus Defense Against Biotic Stressors. Frontiers in Microbiology 11:216.
10.3389/fmicb.2020.00216
Messal M, Slippers B, Naidoo S, Bezuidt O, Kemler M. (2019) Active fungal communities in asymptomatic Eucalyptus grandis stems differ between a susceptible and resistant clone. Microorganisms 7(10):375.
10.3390/microorganisms7100375
Visser EA, Wegrzyn JL, Steenkamp ET, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2019) Dual RNA-Seq Analysis of the Pine-Fusarium circinatum Interaction in Resistant (Pinus tecunumanii) and Susceptible (Pinus patula) Hosts. Microorganisms 7:315.
10.3390/microorganisms7090315
Solís M, Salas A, Lagos C, Valenzuela S, Emhart V, Fernández M. (2019) De Novo Transcriptome Assembly of Eucalyptus nitens and the Expression of R2R3-MYB Genes in Response to Cold Acclimation in Eucalyptus Spp.. Plant Molecular Biology Reporter 37(4):376–388.
10.1007/s11105-019-01160-7
Naidoo S, Slippers B, Plett JM, Coles D, Oates CN. (2019) The road to resistance in forest trees. Frontiers in Plant Science 10:273.
10.3389/fpls.2019.00273
Backer R, Naidoo S, van den Berg N. (2019) The NONEXPRESSOR OF PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENES 1 (NPR1) and Related Family: Mechanistic Insights in Plant Disease Resistance. Frontiers in Plant Science 10:102.
10.3389/fpls.2019.00102
Myriam Solís. 2019. Sensibilidad de Botrytis cinera a Switch en viveros forestales . Editorial academica española.
Visser EA, Wegrzyn JL, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2018) Defence transcriptome assembly and pathogenesis related gene family analysis in Pinus tecunumanii (low elevation). BMC Genomics 19:632.
10.1186/s12864-018-5015-0
Naidoo S, Christie N, Acosta JJ, Mphahlele MM, Payn KG, Myburg AA, Külheim C. (2018) Terpenes associated with resistance against the gall wasp, Leptocybe invasa, in Eucalyptus grandis. Plant, Cell & Environment 41(8):1840-1851.
10.1111/pce.13323
McTaggart AR, Shuey LS, Granados GM, du Plessis E, Fraser S, Barnes I, Naidoo S, Wingfield MJ, Roux J. (2018) Evidence that Austropuccinia psidii may complete its sexual life cycle on Myrtaceae. Plant Pathology 67:729-734.
10.1111/ppa.12763
Zwart L, Berger DK, Moleleki LN, Van der Merwe NA, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2017) Evidence for salicylic acid signalling and histological changes in the defence response of Eucalyptus grandis to Chrysoporthe austroafricana. Scientific Reports 7:45402.
10.1038/srep45402
Tobias PA, Christie N, Naidoo S, Guest DI, Külheim C. (2017) Identification of the Eucalyptus grandis chitinase gene family and expression characterization under different biotic stress challenges. Tree Physiology 37(5):565-582.
10.1093/treephys/tpx010
Marsberg A, Kemler M, Jami F, Nagel JH, Postma-Smidt A, Naidoo S, Wingfield MJ, Crous PW, Spatafora J, Hesse CN, Robbertse B, Slippers B. (2017) Botryosphaeria dothidea: A latent pathogen of global importance to woody plant health. Molecular Plant Pathology 18:477–488.
10.1111/mpp.12495
Oates CN, Denby KJ, Myburg AA, Slippers B, Naidoo S. (2016) Insect gallers and their plant hosts: From omics data to systems biology. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 17(11):1891.
10.3390/ijms17111891
Roux J, Granados GM, Shuey L, Barnes I, Wingfield MJ, McTaggart AR. (2016) A unique genotype of the rust pathogen, Puccinia psidii, on Myrtaceae in South Africa. Australasian Plant Pathology 45:645-652.
10.1007/s13313-016-0447-y
Kanzi AM, Wingfield BD, Steenkamp ET, Naidoo S, Van der Merwe NA. (2016) Intron derived size polymorphism in the mitochondrial genomes of closely related Chrysoporthe species. PLOS ONE 11(6):e0156104.
10.1371/journal.pone.0156104
Oelofse D, Gazendam I, Veale A, Djami-Tchatchou A, Berger D, Dubery I. (2016) Functional characterization of a defense-related class-III chitinase promoter from Lupinus albus, active in legume and monocot tissues. European Journal of Plant Pathology 146(4):923-936.
10.1007/s10658-016-0970-2
McTaggart AR, van der Nest MA, Steenkamp ET, Roux J, Slippers B, Shuey LS, Wingfield MJ, Drenth A. (2016) Fungal Genomics Challenges the Dogma of Name-Based Biosecurity. PLoS Pathogens 12(5):e1005475.
10.1371/journal.ppat.1005475
Meyer FE, Shuey LS, Ramsuchit S, Mamni T, Berger DK, van den Berg N, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2016) Dual RNA-sequencing of Eucalyptus nitens during Phytophthora cinnamomi challenge reveals pathogen and host factors influencing compatibility. Frontiers in Plant Science 7:191.
10.3389/fpls.2016.00191
Kwenda S, Gorshkov V, Ramesh AM, Naidoo S, Rubagotti E, Birch PRJ, Moleleki LN. (2016) Discovery and profiling of small RNAs responsive to stress conditions in the plant pathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum. BMC Genomics 17(1)
10.1186/s12864-016-2376-0
Onkendi EM, Ramesh AM, Kwenda S, Naidoo S, Moleleki LN. (2016) Draft Genome Sequence of a Virulent Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense Isolate Causing Soft Rot of Cucumber. Genome Announcements 4(1)
10.1128/genomeA.01530-15
Ronishree Magwanda, Lizahn Zwart, Nicolaas A. van der Merwe, Lucy Moleleki, Dave Kenneth Berger, Alexander A. Myburg, Sanushka Naidoo. (2016) Localization and Transcriptional Responses of Chrysoporthe austroafricana in Eucalyptus grandis Identify Putative Pathogenicity Factors. Front. Microbiol.
10.3389/fmicb.2016.01953
Christie N, Tobias P, Naidoo S, Guest D, Külheim C. (2016) The Eucalyptus grandis NBS-LRR Gene Family: Physical Clustering and Expression Hotspots. Frontiers in Plant Science 6(1238)
Visser EA, Wegrzyn JL, Steenkamp ET, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2015) Combined de novo and genome guided assembly and annotation of the Pinus patula juvenile shoot transcriptome. BMC Genomics 16:1057.
10.1186/s12864-015-2277-7
Oates CN, Külheim C, Myburg AA, Slippers B, Naidoo S. (2015) The transcriptome and terpene profile of Eucalyptus grandis reveals mechanisms of defence against the insect pest, Leptocybe invasa. Plant & Cell Physiology 56(7):1418-1428.
10.1093/pcp/pcv064
Mangwanda R, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2015) Transcriptome and hormone profiling reveals Eucalyptus grandis defence responses against Chrysoporthe austroafricana. BMC Genomics 16:319.
10.1186/s12864-015-1529-x
Visser EA, Mangwanda R, Becker JVW, Külheim C, Foley WJ, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2015) Foliar terpenoid levels and corresponding gene expression are systemically and differentially induced in Eucalyptus grandis clonal genotypes in response to Chrysoporthe austroafricana challenge. Plant Pathology 64(6):1320-1325.
10.1111/ppa.12368
Naidoo S, Külheim C, Zwart L, Mangwanda R, Oates CN, Visser EA, Wilken FE, Mamni TB, Myburg AA. (2014) Uncovering the defence responses of Eucalyptus to pests and pathogens in the genomics age. Tree Physiology 34(9):931-943.
10.1093/treephys/tpu075
Van der Linden L, Bredenkamp J, Naidoo S, Fouche-Weich J, Denby KJ, Genin S, Marco Y, Berger DK. (2013) Gene-for-Gene Tolerance to Bacterial Wilt in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 26:398-406.
10.1094/MPMI-07-12-0188-R
Fitza K, Payn KG, Steenkamp ET, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2013) Chitosan application improves resistance to Fusarium circinatum in Pinus patula. South African Journal of Botany 85:70-78.
Deepika R, Veale A, Capling M, Strauss SH, Myburg AA. 2013. Genetic transformation of Eucalyptus – Challenges and future perspective. In: Tree Biotechnology. Ramawat KG, Mérillon J-M, Ahuja MR. (eds). CRC Press, pp .
Naidoo R, Ferreira L, Berger DK, Myburg AA, Naidoo S. (2013) The identification and differential expression of Eucalyptus grandis pathogenesis-related genes in response to salicylic acid and methyl jasmonate. Frontiers in Plant Science 4:43.
10.3389/fpls.2013.00043
Fitza KNE, Steenkamp E, Payn K, Naidoo S. (2011) Induced resistance and associated defence gene responses in Pinus patula. BMC Proceedings 5:82.
10.1186/1753-6561-5-S7-P82
Naidoo S, Fouche-Weich J, Law P, Denby KJ, Marco Y, Berger DK. (2011) A Eucalyptus bacterial wilt isolate from South Africa is pathogenic on Arabidopsis and manipulates host defences. Forest Pathology 41:101-113.
10.1111/j.1439-0329.2010.00642.x
Pegg GS, Shuey LS, Carnegie AJ, Wingfield MJ, Drenth A. (2011) Potential gains through selecting for resistance in spotted gum to Quambalaria pitereka. Australasian Plant Pathology 40(2):197-206.
10.1007/s13313-011-0030-5