Applied Mycology group visits Bayer Crop Science
On 6 May, members of the Applied Mycology group within the bigger Grain Research Program at FABI, visited the Bayer Crop Science experimental farm in Petit, Gauteng.
26 May 2021
24 May 2021
Pictures speak 1000 words about plant health
To celebrate the International Year of Plant Health 2020 and the role plants play in our lives, the South African National Seed Organization (SANSOR) organised a photo competition for professionals and amateurs alike.
11 May 2021
Three Mad-Macs in KZN
The Macadamia Protection Programme’s (MPP) ‘Mad-Macs’ team went on another field trip, this time to the KwaZulu-Natal south coast!
10 May 2021
32nd Annual Symposium of the TPCP and CPHB
The 32nd Annual Symposium of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) and DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology (CPHB) in FABI was hosted as a six-hour long hybrid meeting on 4 May.
9 May 2021
Student training through the SANBI-funded Sentinel Plant Project in South African botanical gardens
Drs. Mesfin Gossa and Trudy Paap initiated a link with the Department of Horticulture at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to discuss possibilities of student training via the Sentinel Plant Project.
6 May 2021
The PSHB takes FABI researchers to Somerset West
FABI Field extension officer Shawn Fell, joined by PhD candidate Josephine Queffelec and field extension intern Jabulile Mahlangu travelled to Somerset West during the week of 26 April.
5 May 2021
Farewell to Darryl Herron
On Thursday 29 April, a small group of FABIans gathered to say an emotional farewell FABI stalwart and PhD candidate Darryl Herron who leaves the Institute after 14 years to take up a research position at Scion in New Zealand.
3 May 2021
Record turnout for FABI’s International Seminar Series
FABI was proud to host it’s monthly International Seminar on 29 April with more than 200 participants from across the globe, all keen to hear US Forest Services’ Dr Andrew “Sandy” Liebhold speak on the “Macroecology of insect invasions”.
23 Apr 2021
FABI's Internship Programme is growing
Two more candidates joined the FABI Internship programme on 1 April.
22 Apr 2021
Contributing to the USDA Beech Leaf Disease Workshop
Dr. Katrin Fitza and other international speakers from were given the opportunity to present on their work on an online workshop hosted by the USDA.
21 Apr 2021
Tree planting day for the Mad Macs team
On Tuesday 20 April, members of the Macadamia Protection Programme (MPP) in FABI planted approximatively 300 macadamia trees from various different cultivars that are grown commercially by the industry.
13 Apr 2021
Brett Hurley appointed as ICFR Research Associate
Professor Brett Hurley has been appointed as a Research Associate of the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) strengthening the long and close association between the Institute, especially with the ICFR’s Dr Ilaria Germishuizen, and the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme in FABI.
8 Apr 2021
Engaging small holder farmers to use digital disease diagnostic support tools
FABI has partnered with Grain SA and Social Coding to engage smallholder farmers to connect with the Institute’s diagnostic clinic via its digital platform.
6 Apr 2021
FABI bids Fahimeh farewell
A small group of FABIans attended a farewell function for Dr Fahimeh Jami who leaves the Institute after 14 years to join the Agricultural Research Council (ARC).
2 Apr 2021
Discovering biologically-active fungal metabolites from unexplored species
The March guest presenter of the FABI International Seminar Series was the world-renown Prof. Marc Stadler who present on his research activities linked to the discovery of biologically active fungal metabolites from new and hitherto unexplored species.
1 Apr 2021
Partnership to bring big data techniques to Africa’s agriculture and forestry sectors
Advance.io is partnering with Innovation Africa @UP to bring artificial intelligence and big data techniques to the continent’s agricultural and forestry sectors.
29 Mar 2021
Mike Wingfield participates in the Australian Myrtle Rust Symposium
FABI Professor and Advisor to the Executive of the University of Pretoria joined the Australian Plant Biosecurity Science Foundation's National Symposium on Myrtle Rust to present a keynote presentation.
25 Mar 2021
Prof Brenda Wingfield and Dr. Tuan Dong to receive prestigious UP awards
The FABI team was delighted to learn this past week that the University of Pretoria (UP) will recognise Prof Brenda. Wingfield and Dr Tuan Duong for their research excellence.
23 Mar 2021
Augmentative biological control of the Sirex woodwasp continues in 2021
FABI technical staff, Sophie Nyoni and Pritty Khumalo, have again produced millions of nematodes for the control of the Sirex woodwasp.
15 Mar 2021
Online launch of forestry pests and diseases book
The official launch of the recently-published book “Important insect pests and diseases of Pinus and Eucalyptus in Colombia” by Dr Carlos Rodas and Prof. A PDF of the book is freely available for download by clicking here.
12 Mar 2021
Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer online resource
The PSHB Research Network in FABI has been at the forefront of research and field extension work, and to this end has created an online resource for use by both the public and academia.
10 Mar 2021
Many hands make light work at the TPCP tree planting
Some 50 students linked to the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) in FABI replanted more than 1700 Eucalyptus and 200 pine seedlings on the morning of 5 March.
8 Mar 2021
GRP team visits farms in the Eastern Cape and KZN
The Grain Research Program (GRP) team in collaboration with the University of the Free State’s Department of Plant Sciences team embarked on a field trip to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.
3 Mar 2021
FABI researchers work with Sappi in KwaZulu-Natal
FABI team members visited various Sappi holdings in KwaZulu-Natal during the week of 22 February.
26 Feb 2021
Drivers and brakes of pathogen emergence
Professor Daniel Croll of the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland was the guest presenter of this month’s FABI International Seminar Series on 25 February.
19 Feb 2021
In memoriam: Professor Stefan Neser
Stefan passed away on Wednesday, 17 February 2021. Our deepest condolences to his wife Ottilie, his children, other members of his family, and the many special friends that he had in South Africa and abroad.
19 Feb 2021
Macadamia research program’s field visit to Mpumalanga
The Macadamia Protection Program (MPP) is back in the field! MPP research group leader Dr Gerda Fourie, joined by MSc candidate Dee Twiddy and PhD candidate Elisa Pal travelled to the Mpumalanga area during the week of 9 February.
18 Feb 2021
FABI biocontrol centre imports Anaphes nitens from Australia
Despite travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a shipment of Anaphes nitens collected in Queensland, Australia was received by the FABI biocontrol facility at the University of Pretoria’s experimental farm last week.
17 Feb 2021
Two FABIans attend the Leadership Academy for Agriculture
During the first week of February, two FABIans, Drs Mahlane Godfrey Kgatle and Miekie Human attended the first of three sessions of the “Leadership in the Connection Economy Programme”.
15 Feb 2021
New internship programme begins at FABI
n 1 February, a new internship programme was launched at FABI under the auspices of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology (CPHB).
12 Feb 2021
Professor Ströh addresses FABI MMM
Professor Anton Ströh, Vice-Principal: Institutional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and acting Vice-Principle for Research and Post-graduate Educationat the University of Pretoria was the guest speaker at the FABI Monday Morning Meeting (MMM) of 8 February. Innovation Africa @UP is an important part of this plan to drive transdisciplinary research and FABI is a core part of this flagship project. FABI Director Prof.
12 Feb 2021
US collaborators visit FABI to plan a joint research project
Long-time FABI research collaborator and extraordinary staff member of the Institute, Prof. Francois Roets from Stellenbosch University visited FABI on 11 February to meet various colleagues and to discuss numerous collaborative projects.
11 Feb 2021
Disease screening of maize genotypes in the Eastern Cape
Drs David Nsibo and Mahlane Godfrey Kgatle of the Grain Research Program (GRP) travelled to the Rocky Park Farm in Ugie, Eastern Cape, from 25-27 January 2021. The team would like to thank Sinelizwi Fakade and Lesego Selokela for assisting the team with the planting and maintenance of the MCT at Rocky Park Farm and the University of Pretoria, respectively.
8 Feb 2021
The FABI diagnostics team is growing
Thirty-two years ago the first diagnostic clinic to service the South African forestry industry was established as part of the birth of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP). The FABI Diagnostic Clinic continues to grow to serve the increasing needs of its industry partners. Gabrielle has been a part of the FABI family since 2009, where her research focused on phytobacteria, and for her PhD and postdoc she studied bacterial wilt on Eucalyptus. Shawn Fell is nearing completion of his MSc degree which focused on the PSHB and its associated fungi on pecan trees. The FABI Diagnostic Clinic also welcomes six students and two interns to the team.
4 Feb 2021
Congratulations to Ntombikayise Nkomo on completing her PhD
FABI celebrated the completion of the second PhD in 2021 with Ntombi Nkomo producing what FABI Director Prof. Ntombi’s primary supervisor was Prof. Several members of the soft rot Pectobacteriaceae family such as Pectobacterium brasiliense1692 (Pb1692) attack a wide range of crops worldwide with P. The objective of Ntombi’s PhD study was to determine the role of two transcriptional regulators SlyA and PhoP in the biology of Pb1692.
1 Feb 2021
Industry partners seconded to the University of Pretoria
Dr Miekie Human and Stefan Links are employed by Grain SA, but have been seconded to the University of Pretoria with effect from 1 February for part of their time.