The broad and highly multi-disciplinary research focus of the CPHB on native tree health allows for the training of students from many fields (including microbiology, entomology, ecology, plant physiology, plant biotechnology, plant pathology, molecular biology and bioinformatics). As a result, the CPHB has developed an excellent record with regards to the successful mentoring and education of MSc and PhD students. These valuable contributions of the CPHB and its partner programme, the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP), were recognized by the Department of Trade and Industry with the 2011 National award for "Human Resource Development - quantity and quality of students".

New Publications

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 PDF
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 PDF
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 PDF
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 PDF