Prof. André Fleißner is a respected member of the international fungal genetics research community. He is a world expert on cell-cell communication and fusion, predominantly using Neurospora crassa as a model organism. Prof. Fleißner has also applied his knowledge on these topics to the plant pathogenic species Botrytis cinerea and Trichoderma artroviride. Recently his lab started to work on the tree pathogen Diplodia sapinea. This work included novel method developments that have already led to unique insights into the biology of this organism. This project has led to rapidly growing collaborations with researchers at FABI at the University of Pretoria. This collaboration has already led to multiple staff and student exchanges. The complimentary approaches between Prof. Fleißner’s lab and researchers at FABI holds significant potential to advance the field of forest pathology with relation to pathogen genetics, fungal interactions and pathobiome development.

FABI welcomes Prof Fleißner with enthusiasm and we look forward to future collaborations with his lab