FABI welcomes IFSS delegates
Delegates participating in the International Forestry Students Symposium (IFSS) 2017 visited FABI on Sunday 16 July.
20 Jul 2017
19 Jul 2017
FABI hosts IFSS 2017 closing ceremony
The 45th International Forestry Students Symposium (IFSS) held its closing ceremony at the University of Pretoria (UP) on 16 July. FABI Director, Prof. The IFSS closing ceremony was attended by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, General Bheki Cele, University of Pretoria Vice-Principal Prof. Incoming IFSA President Salina Abraham spoke passionately of the role of the youth and particularly IFSA members in the future of forestry in her welcome speech. Addressing the delegates and invited guests, Gen. Gen.
13 Jul 2017
Lots of wild and outrageous science at SPOOF 2017!
On 7 July, the University of Pretoria’s Rautenbach Hall was transformed into “Piney Town”, a small town in the Wild West, for the 21st Annual Meeting of the Society for the Presentation of Outrageous Findings (SPOOF). Scientists presented their findings of varying degrees of outrageousness at this year’s SPOOF meeting. In the "eyes" of the audience, two presentations stood out as most exceptional. The Best Dressed Female award went to Josephine Queffelec. For the second year running, Quentin Guignard took home the Best Dressed Male award for his costume as one of the villainous Sirex Brothers terrorising the trees of Piney Town.
12 Jul 2017
FABIans celebrate the sixth prestige seminar of 2017
FABI congratulates Aquillah Kanzi who successfully defended his PhD thesis at his oral examination on 11 July, a day after presenting his prestige seminar. The aim of his study was to provide insight regarding the mating systems and evolution of Chrysoporthe species, which are economically important fungal pathogens that cause canker diseases on Eucalyptus species and indigenous tree species such as Syzygium. Whole genome sequences of Chrysoporthe austroafricana, C. Dr.
11 Jul 2017
FABI’s members shine in Chess Championship 2017
FABI MSc student Thapelo Maboko showed that he is not just and aspiring scientist but also a skilled chess player. The USSA Chess tournament was attended by 198 men and a 99 ladies from 23 institutions from across South Africa with the TuksChess team comprising 10 men and six women. Godfrey also points out that a chess player can burn up to 6,000 calories during an intense chess game.
8 Jul 2017
FABI flag flies high at SASSB congress
Several FABI staff members and students participated in the recent SASSB conference in Pretoria.
30 Jun 2017
FABI engages youth from Philippi in research at Cape Point
The FABI and DST-NRF Centre for Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) sponsored project, Cape Citizen Science, has partnered with the South African Education and Environment Project (SAEP) to engage youth from two schools in Philippi, Cape Town.
28 Jun 2017
UP researchers on top of the world over fungi research
Read this feature article on the Research Matters webpage of the University of Pretoria.
27 Jun 2017
Passing of Martha Mahlangu
It was with great sadness that the staff of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) learned of the sudden and unexpected death of our receptionist and long-time FABI team member Martha Thandi Mahlangu on 26 June. Martha will be remembered by FABIans for her friendly smile and sense of humour - always laughing and enjoying a good joke.
23 Jun 2017
FABI Director receives Leadership Award
FABI Director, Prof. Mike Wingfield received the Distinguished Leadership Award for Internationals from his alma mater, the University of Minnesota where he completed a PhD in plant pathology in 1983.
21 Jun 2017
FABI PhD student flies the UP and country flag high
FABI PhD student, Osmond Mlonyeni, recently attended the 2nd Commonwealth Science Conference in Singapore.
20 Jun 2017
IUFRO Forest Landscape Restoration Workshop In Puerto Rico
During the week of 5 May, FABI Director Prof. Mike Wingfield, in his capacity as IUFRO President, represented the Union at an international workshop on Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) in Puerto Rico.
19 Jun 2017
Fabian attends launch of Kenya-South Africa research projects
Prof. Dave Berger of the Molecular Plant Pathogen Interactions research group in FABI attended a workshop in Nairobi to launch the new set of joint bilateral Kenya-South Africa research projects.
18 Jun 2017
Cooking up Plant Pathology
Three FABIans are enjoying research visits in the USA at Penn State University in the Department of Plant Pathology and Applied Microbiology, Kay Bophela, Andi Wilson and Prof. Brenda Wingfield.
13 Jun 2017
Australian plant pathologist visits FABI
On 5 and 6 June Prof. The aim of this week’s visit was to spent time with Dr Gerda Fourie in order to discuss future collaboration with the Macadamia Protection Programme that was launched earlier this year.
9 Jun 2017
FABI partners with Akanani to deliver winter woollies to communities in need
FABIans collected warm winter clothes, linen and 135 blankets during the 2017 Annual Blanket Drive, which kicked off in March. Akanani provides not only food and toiletries to homeless children, women and men in Tshwane, but also referrals to health and legal services. Staff, students and visitors to FABI contribute to the campaign for blankets and winter woollies every year.
9 Jun 2017
Research Visit to Penn State University, Home of the Nittany Lions
FABI PhD student Andi Wilson relates her experiences while on a two month research visit to Department of Plant Pathology at Pennsylvania State University.
8 Jun 2017
Learning to speak American and other tales
Prof. Brenda Wingfield gives us an insight of campus life while on sabbatical at Pennsylvania State University.
6 Jun 2017
FABIans elected to provincial branch of the SAIF
Two FABIans were re-elected to the executive committee of the Gauteng branch of the Southern African Institute of Forestry (SAIF). The SAIF is a professional association of forestry-related experts geared towards delivering a professional service to forestry. Four FABIans were among six presenters at the meeting who rose to the challenge of PechaKucha style talks on forestry matters. George Dowse of Hans Merensky’s presentation was titled Breeding Eucalyptus sawtimber, Kassahun Maru of UP discussed “The importance of agroforestry in Ethiopia”, Izette Greyling presented “Field extension: Linking industry to world class research”, Darryl Herron presented “Plant clinics in the Anthropocene”, Tayo Adenigba’s presented her talk “Can we use mating factors to manage pitch canker?
2 Jun 2017
Rhizobium researchers visit FABI
Two leading Rhizobium researchers, Dr Sofie de Meyer form the Centre for Rhizobium Studies at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia and Dr Euan James from the James Hatton Institute in Scotland presented a special seminar at FABI as part of their visit to the Institute. Dr de Meyer explained how researchers at the Centre for Rhizobium Studies is focused on finding new legumes better adapted to future climatic conditions in Australia. Dr James spoke of his research work on the diversity of Beta-rhizobia on Mimosa species in South America with the principle questions i) who are these symbionts, ii) what is their origin and iii) are they associated with specific legume hosts?
2 Jun 2017
Colleagues say farewell to Zandile Mngadi
FABIans got together on 30 May to bid farewell and to wish Zandile Mngadi well on her last day at the Institute.
31 May 2017
CTHB Outreach Team participates in Career Guidance Week in Mpumalanga
During the first week of May an Outreach Team of the CTHB participated in the annual Career Guidance Week hosted by the Mondi Science, Career Guidance and FET Skills Centre in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga.
29 May 2017
TUKS showcases international tree health research at the annual TPCP symposium
The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) in FABI hosted its 28th annual symposium on 16 and 17 May at the University of Pretoria.
28 May 2017
Research on indigenous tree health highlighted at the 2017 annual meeting of the CTHB
Indigenous tree health was brought under the spotlight at the annual meeting of the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology at FABI on 15 May.
19 May 2017
FABIans celebrate Velushka Swart’s prestige seminar
Congratulations to Velushka Swart on the successful defence of her PhD degree on 18 May! Her project was supervised by Prof. Velushka’s research sought to understand the role of cercosporin, a phytotoxin that was thought to be essential for pathogenicity in Cercospora species that are pathogens on different hosts.
17 May 2017
The Tree Protection Co-operative Programme: 31 years of serving the forestry industry
The situation the world’s population currently finds itself in with the global-spread of the COVID-19 virus - just one invisible pathogen - bears direct parallels to the research work that has been done in the TPCP over the past 31 years in combatting plantation tree pests and diseases. The TPCP’s research activities support the development of integrated pest management strategies for the South African forestry industry. When dealing with a new disease outbreak the first response is containment to limit its spread - not unlike the lockdown implemented in most parts of the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The next step is to identify the causal agent (bacterium, fungus, insect or virus) of the epidemic. All of this research, taken together, will help the TPCP and its partners to develop integrated pest and pathogen management strategies/or control for the South African forestry industry. The TPCP also takes a pro-active approach to consider possible future threats to the domestic forestry industry in order to prepare for them. View a recording of Prof.
13 May 2017
FABI puts UP on the Mycological World Map
The University of Pretoria ranks second in the world in Mycology based on the research output of FABI over the past ten years.
12 May 2017
FABIans celebrate James Mehl’s PhD prestige seminar
James Mehl is the fourth doctoral candidate in FABI to complete a PhD degree in 2017.
12 May 2017
More accolades for FABI researchers at UP’s 2017 Academic Achievers’ Award
Seven researchers affiliated with FABI were among those honoured at the University of Pretoria’s annual Academic Achievers’ Awards ceremony on 9 May.
10 May 2017
Undergraduate students visit FABI Biocontrol Centre
As part of their course in Crop Protection, second and third year students from the University of Pretoria visited the FABI Biocontrol Centre. The stops were: 1. 2. 3. 4. The practical was organised by Dr Michelle Schröder, with assistance from Ms Samantha Bush, Ms Zandile Mngadi, Mr Osmond Mlonyeni, Mr Joseph Khadile and Dr Brett Hurley.
9 May 2017
FABIans host farewell braai for Drs Stuart Fraser and Birhan Abate
FABIans bid farewell to two of their own – Drs Stuart Fraser and Birhan Abate – on 4 May.
5 May 2017
Autumn graduation honours for FABI
FABI would like to congratulate the 25 FABIans that graduated at the University of Pretoria’s Autumn Graduation ceremony on 2 May.
4 May 2017
FABI PhD student wins Whitehead Scientific Award
Danielle Roodt, a FABI PhD student, won a Whitehead Scientific travel grant.
26 Apr 2017
FABIans break a record at 2017 TPCP-CTHB tree planting
More than fifty students and postdoctoral fellows used nearly 200 bags of potting soil to replant a record-breaking 4800 cuttings and seedlings into potting bags at the FABI nursery on 21 April.
24 Apr 2017
FABI hosts expert on insect genomes
For two weeks in March, FABIans will be privy to the skills and knowledge of Dr. Robert Waterhouse, an expert on comparative evolutionary and functional genomics of arthopods, and particularly disease-vector mosquitoes, from the Department of Ecology and Evolution at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.
21 Apr 2017
Spreading the news about Fall Armyworm to small-holder maize farmers
FABI’s Molecular Plant-Pathogen Interactions (MPPI) research group added value to their ongoing survey of fungal diseases in small-holder maize farms in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Provinces by disseminating information about FAW to provincial agricultural extension officers and small-holder farmers.
