Plant Virology Team
Dr David Read
Prof Gerhard Pietersen
Ms Vida BurgerNew Publications
Hough B, Wingfield B, Read DA. (2024) Identification and characterization of mycoviruses in transcriptomes from the fungal family Ceratocystidaceae. Virus Genes
10.1007/s11262-024-02112-4 
Read DA, Pietersen G, Slippers B, Steenkamp E. (2024) Genomic characterization of novel viruses associated with Olea europaea L. in South Africa. Archives of Virology 169
10.1007/s00705-024-06132-1
Pietersen G, Morgan S, Read DA. (2024) First report of Citrus concave gum-associated virus (CCGaV) on apple (Malus spp.) in South Africa. Journal of Plant Pathology
10.1007/s42161-024-01629-9
Robert R, Robberste N, Thompson GD, Read DA. (2024) Characterization of macadamia ringspot‑associated virus, a novel Orthotospovirus associated with Macadamia integrifolia in South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology
10.1007/s10658-024-02832-1
Read DA, Thompson GD, Swanevelder DZH, Pietersen G. (2023) Metaviromic Characterization of Betaflexivirus Populations Associated with a Vitis cultivar Collection in South Africa. Viruses 15(7):1474.
10.3390/v15071474
Hough B, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield B, Read DA. (2023) Fungal viruses unveiled: A comprehensive review of Mycoviruses. Viruses 15(5):1202.
10.3390/v15051202
Morgan SW, Read DA, Burger JT, Pietersen G. (2023) Diversity of viroids infecting grapevines in the South African Vitis germplasm collection. Virus Genes
10.1007/s11262-023-01971-7
David Read, Bernard Slippers, Emma Steenkamp. (2022) Genomic characterization of a novel potyvirus infecting Barleria repens in South Africa. Archives of Virology
10.1007/s00705-022-05662-w
David Read, Ronel Roberts, Goddy Prinsloo, Genevieve Thompson. (2022) Genomic and phylogenetic characterization of wheat yellows virus, a novel tenuivirus infecting wheat in South Africa. Archives of Virology
10.1007/s00705-022-05649-7
Read DA, Pietersen G, Slippers B, Steenkamp ET. (2022) Chrysanthemum virus B and chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid infect chrysanthemum in South Africa. Australasian Plant Disease Notes
10.1007/s13314-022-00478-8
David A Read, Elrea Strydom, Bernard Slippers, Emma Steenkamp, Gerhard Pietersen. (2022) Genomic characterization of soybean blotchy mosaic virus, a cytorhabdovirus from South Africa. Archives of Virology
10.1007/s00705-022-05526-3
Otlotleng Moloto, Gerhard Pietersen, Dirk Swanevelder, Genevieve Thompson, David Read. (2022) First report of grapevine polerovirus 1 in South Africa. Australasian Plant Disease Notes 17(1)
10.1007/s13314-022-00459-x
David A. Read, Genevieve D. Thompson, Nathan Le Cordeur, Dirk Swanevelder, David Read. (2022) Genomic characterization of grapevine viruses N and O: novel vitiviruses from South Africa. Archives of Virology
10.1007/s00705-021-05333-2
Read DA, Thompson GD, Swanevelder D, Pietersen G. (2021) Detection and diversity of grapevine virus L from a Vitis cultivar collection in Stellenbosch, South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology
10.1007/s10658-021-02380-y
Read DA, Roberts R, Swanevelder D, Pietersen G, Thompson GD. (2021) Novel viruses associated with plants of the family Amaryllidaceae in South Africa. Archives of Virology
10.1007/s00705-021-05170-3
Read DA, Roberts R, Thompson GD. (2021) Genomic characterization of two novel viruses infecting Barleria cristata L. from the genera Orthotospovirus and Polerovirus. Archives of Virology
10.1007/s00705-021-05150-7
Welgemoed T, Pierneef R, Read DA, Schulze SE, Pietersen G, Berger DK. (2020) Next generation sequencing reveals past and current widespread occurrence of maize yellow mosaic virus in South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology 158(1):237-249.
10.1007/s10658-020-02070-1
Roberts R, Pietersen G. (2016) A novel subspecies of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter africanus’ found on native Teclea gerrardii (Family: Rutaceae) from South Africa. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek :1-8.
10.1007/s10482-016-0799-x
Kleynhans J, Pietersen G. (2016) Comparison of multiple viral population characterization methods on a candidate cross-protection Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) source. Journal of Virological Methods 237:92-100.
10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.09.003
Read DA, Pietersen G. (2016) PCR bias associated with conserved primer binding sites, used to determine genotype diversity within Citrus tristeza virus populations. Journal of Virological Methods 237:107-113.
10.1016/j.jviromet.2016.09.004
New SA, van Heerden SW, Pietersen G, Esterhuizen LL. (2016) First report of a Turnip Yellows virus in association with the Brassica Stunting Disorder in South Africa. Plant Disease 100(11):2341.
10.1094/PDIS-12-15-1443-PDN
Lin H, Pietersen G, Han C, Read DA, Lou B, Gupta G, Civerolo EL. (2015) Complete genome sequence of “Candidatus Liberibacter africanus,” a bacterium associated with Citrus Huanglongbing. Genome Announcements 3(4):e00733-15.
10.1128/genomeA.00733-15
Read DA, Pietersen G. (2015) Genotypic diversity of Citrus tristeza virus within red grapefruit, in a field trial site in South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology 142(3):531-545.
10.1007/s10658-015-0631-x
Roberts R, Steenkamp ET, Pietersen G. (2015) Three novel lineages of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter africanus’ associated with native rutaceous hosts of Trioza erytreae in South Africa. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology 65:723-731.
10.1099/ijs.0.069864-0
Zablocki O, Pietersen G. (2014) Characterization of a novel citrus tristeza virus genotype within three cross-protecting source GFMS12 sub-isolates in South Africa by means of Illumina sequencing. Archives of Virology 159(8):2133-2139.
10.1007/s00705-014-2041-3
Almeida RPP, Daane KM, Bell VA, Blaisdell GK, Cooper ML, Herrbach E, Pietersen G. (2013) Ecology and management of grapevine leafroll disease.. Frontiers of Microbiology 4(94):1-13.
3389/fmicb.2013.00094
Pietersen G, Spreeth N, Oosthuizen T, Van Rensburg A, Van Rensburg M, Lottering D, Rossouw N, Tooth D. (2013) A case study of control of Grapevine Leafroll Disease spread at a commercial wine estate in South Africa. American Journal of Enology and Viticulture 64:296-305.
10.5344/ajev.2013.12089
Scott KA, Hlela Q, Zablocki ODJ, Read DA, Van Vuuren SP, Pietersen G. (2013) Genotype composition of populations of Citrus tristeza virus grapefruit cross-protecting GFMS12 in different host plants and aphid-transmitted sub-isolates. Archives of Virology 158(1):2-37.
10.1007/s00705-012-1450-4
Walsh HA, Pietersen Gerhard. (2013) Rapid detection of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus type 3 using a reverse transcription loop-mediated amplification method. Journal of Virological Methods 194:308-316.
Phaladira MNB, Viljoen R, Pietersen G. (2012) Widespread occurrence of “Candidatus Liberibacter africanus subspecies capensis” in Calodendrum capense in South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology 124:39-47.
Rey MEC, Ndunguru J, Berrie LC, Paximadis A, Berry S, Cossa N, Nuaila VN, Mabasa KG, Abraham N, Rybicki EP, Martin DP, Pietersen G, Esterhuizen L. (2012) Diversity of Dicotyledenous-Infecting Geminiviruses and Their Associated DNA Molecules in Southern Africa, Including the South-West Indian Ocean Islands.. Viruses 4(9):1753-1791.
10.3390/v4091753
Jooste AEC, Pietersen G, Burger JT. (2011) Distribution of grapevine leafroll associated virus-3 variants in South African vineyards. European Journal of Plant Pathology 131(3):371-381.
Kruger K, De Klerk A, Douglas-Smit N, Joubert J, Pietersen G, Stiller M. (2011) Aster yellows phytoplasma in grapevines: identification of vectors in South Africa. Bulletin of Insectology 64:S137-S138.
Van Vuuren SP, Cook G, Pietersen G. (2011) Lack of Evidence for Seed Transmission of . Plant Disease 95(8):1026-1026.
10.1094/pdis-02-11-0104
Jooste A, Maree H, Bellstedt D, Goszczynski D, Pietersen G, Burger J. (2010) Three genetic grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 variants identified from South African vineyards show high variability in their 5'UTR. Archives of Virology :1-10.
Lamprecht RL, Kasdorf GGF, Stiller M, Staples SM, Nel LH, Pietersen G. (2010) Soybean blotchy mosaic virus, a New Cytorhabdovirus Found in South Africa. Plant Disease 94(11):1348-1354.
10.1094/pdis-09-09-0598
Pietersen G, Arrebola E, Breytenbach JHJ, Korsten L, Le Roux HF, La Grange H, Lopes SA, Meyer JB, Pretorius MC, Schwerdtfeger M, Van Vuuren SP, Yamamoto P. (2010) A Survey for . Plant Disease 94(2):244-249.
10.1094/pdis-94-2-0244
De Graca JV, Pietersen G, Van Vuuren SP. (2009) Research on HLB in South Africa. Phytopathology 99:S157.
Doddapaneni H, Liao H, Lin H, Bai X, Zhao X, Civerolo EL, Irey M, Coletta-Filho H, Pietersen G. (2008) Comparative phylogenomics and multi-gene cluster analyses of the Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB)-associated bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter'. BMC Research Notes 1(75)
Lamprecht R, Pietersen G, Kasdorf G, Nel L. (2008) Characterisation of a proposed Nucleorhabdovirus new to South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology 123(1):105-110.
10.1007/s10658-008-9339-5
Meyer JB, Kasdorf GGF, Nel LH, Pietersen G. (2008) Transmission of activated-episomal Banana streak OL (badna)virus (BSOLV) to cv. Williams banana (Musa sp.) by three mealybug species. Plant Disease 92(8):1158-1163.
Saccaggi DL, Ger K, Pietersen G. (2007) A multiplex PCR assay for the simultaneous identification of three mealybug species (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 98:27-33.
Stewart K, Pietersen G. (2007) Dynamics and molecular characterization of citrus tristeza virus (CTV) strains within the South African GFMS 12 cross-protecting population. South African Journal of Science 103(1-2):II-II.
Pietersen G. (2004) Spread of grapevine leafroll disease in South Africa-a difficult but not insurmountable problem. Wineland (South Africa)
Pietersen G, Morris J. (2002) Natural occurrence of groundnut ringspot virus on soybean in South Africa. Plant Disease 86(11):1271.
Pietersen G, Smith MF. (2002) Tomato yellow leaf curl virus resistant tomatoes show resistance to Tomato curly stunt virus. Plant Disease 86(5):528-534.
Jooste AEC, Pietersen G, Kasdorf GGF, Goszczynski DE. (2001) Identification of three viruses from Pisum sativum in South Africa. African Plant Protection 7(2):59-65.
Pietersen G, Idris AM, Kruger K, Brown JK. (2000) Characterization of Tomato curly stunt virus: a new tomato-infecting begomovirus from South Africa. Plant Pathology 57(5):809-818.
10.1111/j.1365-3059.2008.01882.x
Pietersen G, Idris AM, Kruger K, Brown JK. (2000) Tomato curly stunt virus, a New Begomovirus of Tomato Within the Tomato yellow leaf curl virus-IS Cluster in South Africa. Plant Disease 84(7):810-810.
10.1094/pdis.2000.84.7.810b
Cook G, Kasdorf GGF, Pietersen G. (1999) Synopsis of a virus survey on groundnut in South Africa. African Plant Protection 5(1):1-3.
Cook G, Miranda JR, Roossinck MJ, Pietersen G. (1999) Tobacco streak ilarvirus detected on groundnut in South Africa. African Plant Protection 5(1):13-19.
Higgins CM, Cook G, Pietersen G, Dietzgen RG. (1999) Molecular characterisation of a strain of peanut stripe potyvirus from groundnut germplasm imported into South Africa. African Plant Protection 5(1):5-12.
Cook G, Rybicki EP, Pietersen G. (1998) Characterization of a new potyvirus isolated from peanut Arachis hypogaea. Plant Pathology 47(3):348-354.
Pietersen G, Staples MS, Kasdorf GGF, Thomas JE. (1998) First report of cucumber mosaic cucumovirus subgroup 1 in South Africa, from banana with infectious chlorosis. Plant Disease 82(10):1171.
Pietersen G, Staples SM, Kasdorf GGF, Jooste AEC. (1998) Relative abundance of soybean viruses in South Africa. African Plant Protection 4(2):65-70.
Goszczynski DE, Kasdorf GGF, Pietersen G. (1997) Production and use of an antiserum to grapevine virus B capsid protein purified from SDS-polyacrylamide gels. Vitis 36(4):191-194.
Liu L, Tonder TV, Pietersen G, Davies JW, Stanley J. (1997) Molecular characterization of a subgroup I geminivirus from a legume in South Africa. Journal of General Virology 78(8):2113-2117.
Goszczynski D, Kasdorf G, Pietersen G, Tonder H. (1996) Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2)- mechanical transmission, purification, production and properties of antisera, detection by ELISA. South African Journal for Enology and Viticulture 17(1)
Goszczynski DE, Kasdorf GGF, Pietersen G, Tonder HV. (1996) Detection of two strains of grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2. Vitis 35(3):133-135.
Goszczynski DE, Kasdorf GGF, Pietersen G. (1996) Western blots reveal that grapevine viruses A and B are serologically related. Journal of Phytopathology 144(11-12):581-583.
Pietersen G, Staples MS, Swart G, Korsten L. (1996) Non-confirmation of banana bunchy top virus in South Africa. African Plant Protection 2(1):1-8.
Pietersen G, Garnett HM. (1992) Properties and strain identity of soybean mosaic virus isolates from the Transvaal, South Africa. Phytophylactica 24(3):279-283.
Pietersen G, Garnett HM. (1992) Some properties of a peanut mottle virus (PeMotV) isolate from soybeans in South Africa. Phytophylactica 24(2):211-215.
Pietersen G, Garnett HM. (1990) A survey for the viruses of soybeans (Glycine max) in the Transvaal, South Africa. Phytophylactica 22(1):35-40.
Thompson AH, Pietersen G. (1988) Witches' broom of lucerne associated with mycoplasma-like organisms in South Africa. Phytophylactica 20(3):297-303.
Vroon CW, Pietersen G, Tonder HJ. (1988) Seed transmission of soybean mosaic virus in Lupinus albus L. Phytophylactica 20(2):169-175.
Maury Y, Bossennec JM, Boudazin G, Hampton R, Pietersen G, Maguire J. (1987) Factors influencing ELISA evaluation of transmission of pea seed-borne mosaic virus in infected pea seed: seed-group size and seed decortication. Agronomie 7(4):225-230.
Pietersen G, Engelbrecht DJ, Kotz‚ JM. (1985) Characterization of two isolates of alfalfa mosaic virus in South Africa. Phytophylactica 17(2):61-65.
Pietersen G. (1985) Potato spindle tuber viroid found absent in South African nuclear potato sources. Phytophylactica 17(2):107.