Drs Cristina Marques and Catarina Gonclaves visited FABI from 12 to 13 August to discuss future collaborations with FABI's Forest Molecular Genetics (FMG) and Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP). Cristina and Catarina work at RAIZ, which is a private research institute under the Portucel forestry group in Portugal. Cristina is the Research Director at RAIZ and her expertise are in various eucalypt research applications, including tissue culture, genomics / genetic improvement and vegetative propagation. Catarina's focus is on monitoring pests and diseases and developing IPM tools, with particular emphasis on biological control. Portucel has recently acquired land for Eucalyptus plantations in Mozambique and thus there are likely to be many areas of shared interest and potential collaboration between the research groups.

Photos 

Top: Drs Catarina Gonclaves and Cristina Marques (2nd and 3rd from left) with staff from FABI Biocontrol Centre (left to right: Ms Samantha Bush, Mrs Marlene Harney and Mr Joseph Khadile)

Bottom: Prof Mike Wingfield, Drs Catarina Gonclaves and Cristina Marques, Prof Bernard Slippers, Drs Jeff Garnas and Brett Hurley.