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.

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20 Apr 2017

An egg-cellent Easter Tea party to beat all others!

FABI’s 2017 social calendar set off to a cracking start with an Easter-egg themed party on 19 April.

20 Apr 2017

Exciting the next generation about the future of agriculture

The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Johannesburg aims to help build South Africa’s science, engineering and technology capacity, especially through activities with learners.

17 Apr 2017

FABI scores a second publication century in 2016

FABIans set a new record in 2016 for the highest number of publications since the Institute was established in 1998.

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31 Mar 2017

FMG tree planting day

The Forestry Molecular Genetics (FMG) research group in FABI had its first tree planting day of the year.

29 Mar 2017

FABIans attend international Phytophthora meeting

A delegation of five postdoctoral and doctoral students, and a technical staff member from FABI presented at the 8th IUFRO Phytophthora in Forests and Natural Ecosystems Meeting in Vietnam.

24 Mar 2017

FABIans celebrate the third PhD prestige seminar of the year!

Phathi Sibanda is the latest postgraduate student at FABI to complete a PhD degree in 2017. She marked the occasion by delivering her prestige seminar in front of her family, friends and colleagues on 22 March.

17 Mar 2017

FABI Director meets Minister of Forestry in Baden-Württemberg (Germany) and sees ash die-back

During the week of 13th March, FABI Director Prof. Mike Wingfield visited Freiburg in Germany, primarily to meet with colleagues responsible for organising the IUFRO 125th Anniversary Congress to be held in Freiburg from 18-22 September 2017.

14 Mar 2017

FABI Postdoctoral Fellow hunting biocontrol agents Down Under

Dr. Michelle Schroder, a postdoctoral fellow at FABI is spending two months collaborating with researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast’s (USC) Forest Industries Research Centre.

10 Mar 2017

FABIans participate in a spruce-bark beetle workshop

The European spruce bark beetle, Ips typographus, is the most damaging insect pest of palearctic forests.

8 Mar 2017

CTHB mentorship students welcomed to FABI

FABI welcomed 17 DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health (CTHB) mentorship students at a function on 3 March.

3 Mar 2017

FABI academics participate in landmark international Practical Synthetic Biology workshop

Several FABI academics participated in a recent landmark International Practical Synthetic Biology Workshop sponsored by the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).

2 Mar 2017

FABI launches its Annual Blanket Drive for winter 2017

FABI has launched its Annual Blanket Drive in aid of those in need of warmth this coming winter. FABIans donated 200 blankets last year to Meet and Eat, an initiative run by six church dominations that provides meals for homeless people in the Hatfield and Hillcrest suburbs.

25 Feb 2017

Growing collaborations between FABI and Japanese Forest and Forest Products Research Institute

FABI has been developing relationships and collaborations with researchers at the Forest and Forest Product Research Institute (FFPRI) in Japan since 2007.

24 Feb 2017

Macadamia Protection Programme launched at FABI

The Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) and Southern African Macadamia Growers’ Association (SAMAC) have established a collaborative research partnership, the Macadamia Protection Programme (MaPP). This programme will address the threats posed by pests and diseases to Macadamia farming in South Africa.

19 Feb 2017

French collaborator visits FABI

During the past week, Prof. David Sillam-Dussès from the University of Paris visited FABI to do some field work as part of a collaborative research project.

17 Feb 2017

FABIan participates in camp for Zoology Honours students

Quentin Guignard, a PhD student in FABI, attended a camp for new Honours students organised by the University of Pretoria’s Department of Zoology and Entomology at the Kwalata Lodge in the Dinokeng Reserve from 7-10 February.

10 Feb 2017

FABI hosts the second PhD prestige seminar in 2017

Jacqueline Meyer delivered her prestige seminar at FABI and successfully defended her PhD thesis on 8 February. The title of her presentation was: “RNA-Seq and metabolic profiling of resistant and susceptible sub-tropical maize lines reveals a role for kauralexins in resistance to grey leaf spot disease caused by Cercospora zeina”.

9 Feb 2017

TPCP/CTHB team members outline strategy for 2017

Members of the TPCP and CTHB at FABI gathered at the Uitspan Personnel Centre at the University of Pretoria’s LC de Villiers sports grounds for a day of discussions, feedback and sports on 3 February. The team was also introduced to Esna du Plessis, Ginna Granados, Rachel Mkandawire and Emeldah Rikhotso, who form part of the 2017 cohort of students working in the TPCP/CTHB Diagnostic Clinic.

9 Feb 2017

TPCP celebrates students’ first publications

A celebration was held at FABI on 6 February to mark the first publication in an ISI Rated Journal by five members of the TPCP research team.