Congratulations to 20 graduates affiliated with FABI whose degrees were conferred at the University of Pretoria ’s virtual Spring Graduation Ceremony on 29 September. The virtual ceremony took the place of the graduation ceremonies scheduled for 29 September to 2 October. Because COVID-19 physical distancing protocols prohibit mass gatherings, UP has held virtual graduation ceremonies in 2020. Vice-chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe said a “physical graduation” to honour all the 2020 graduates would take place in May 2021. FABI congratulates the following graduates: PhD Dr Akua Antwi-Agyakwah Thesis: Development of semiochemical-based tools for the management of the African citrus triozid (ACT) Trioza erytreae Del Guercio (Hemiptera: Triozidae) Supervisor: Prof CWW Pirk Co-supervisors: Prof B Torto, Dr AA Yusuf Dr Estiene Jordaan Thesis: Triangulating charcoal rot in South Africa Supervisor: Prof JE van der Waals External co-supervisor: Prof NW McLaren (University of the Free State) Dr Jieqiong Li Thesis: Taxonomy, mating type distribution and population biology of Calonectria species Supervisor: Prof S Chen Co-supervisor: Prof I Barnes , Prof. MJ Wingfield Dr Yewande Orubuloye Thesis: Chemical ecology of Equid-Tsetse interactions for improved control of African Trypanosomosis Supervisor: Dr AA Yusuf Co-supervisors: Prof CWW Pirk , Prof B Torto Dr Stephanie Van Wyk Thesis: Repeat-induced point mutations in the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex Supervisor: Prof ET Steenkamp Co-supervisors: Prof BD Wingfield , Prof NA van der Merwe , Dr L de Vos MSc Cameron Cullinan (with distinction) Dissertation: The response of Soybean Cysteine Protease CP3 to drought Supervisor: Prof BJ Vorster Claudette Dewing (with distinction) Dissertation: Comparative genomics reveal processes implicated in host-specificity in species within the American clade of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex Supervisor: Dr L de Vos Co-supervisors: Prof ET Steenkamp , Prof BD Wingfield , Dr MA van der Nest Stephanus Engelbrecht (with distinction) Dissertation: Allele-specific expression in xylogenic tissues of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla hybrids Supervisor: Prof AA Myburg Co-supervisor: Prof E Mizrachi Mathew Harris (with distinction) Dissertation: Characterising patterns in fungal community ecology at local and global scales Supervisor: Dr M Greve Co-supervisor: Prof B Slippers External co-supervisor: Dr M Kemler (Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany) Jesse Hartley (with distinction) Dissertation: Surveillance and isolation of Rosellinia necatrix in South African avocado orchards Supervisor: Prof N van den Berg Eugene Kabwe Dissertation: Discovery and genomic architecture of Cercospora zeina (Crous & U. Braun) effector genes Supervisor: Prof DK Berger Co-supervisor: Dr A Duong Nico le Roux Dissertation: Soil surface temperature effects on the establishment of three grass-legume seed mixtures used in surface mine rehabilitation Supervisor: Prof WF Truter Co-supervisor: Prof TAS Aveling Kira Lynn (with distinction) Dissertation: Fusarium spp. associated with ambrosia beetles on Acacia crassicarpa in Indonesia Supervisor: Prof I Barnes Co-supervisors: Prof. MJ Wingfield , Prof ZW de Beer External co-supervisor: Dr AJ Durán Sandoval ( Royal Golden Eagle International , Indonesia) Thapelo Maboko Dissertation: A genetic transformation system for Chrysoporthe austroafricana Supervisor: Prof NA van der Merwe Co-supervisor: Dr BG Crampton External co-supervisor: Prof E Kunjeku ( University of Venda ) Teresia Macharia Dissertation: Response of potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) to challenge by root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica Supervisor: Prof LN Moleleki Co-supervisor: Dr D Bellieny-Rabelo Tsakani Miyambo (with distinction) Dissertation: Identification and characterization of polygalacturonases in Phytophthora cinnamomi Supervisor: Prof N van den Berg Co-supervisor: Dr SA Prabhu Fezile Mthunzi Dissertation: Identification and characterisation of terpene synthase genes in the fungal genus Armillaria, with special reference to A.mellea Supervisor: Prof MPA Coetzee Co-supervisors: Prof BD Wingfield , Dr A Hammerbacher Lufuno Mudau Dissertation : Development of an effective phytosanitary regulatory system for onion ( Allium cepa ) export in South Africa Supervisor: Prof TAS Aveling Co-supervisor : Dr MT Mutengwe External examiners: Prof MA Antwi (University of South Africa), Dr JC Meitz-Hopkins (Stellenbosch University) Alex Nepomuceno Dissertation: Inferred evolutionary relationships of the dung beetle tribe Scarabaeini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) using gland morphology and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) Supervisor: Prof CL Sole Co-supervisor: Prof CWW Pirk Robyn Smith Dissertation: The partial characterisation of the terpene synthase genes implicated in the defence response by Pinus patula and Pinus tecunumanii to Fusarium circinatum Supervisor: Prof S Naidoo Co-supervisor: Prof MPA Coetzee