Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) · University of Pretoria
Email: almuth.hammerbacher@up.ac.za
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?hl=en&user=w3Ur1h8AAAAJ&view_op=list_works
Research groups: DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology · Tree Protection Co-operative Programme · Applied Chemical Ecology · Remote Sensing of Plant Health
Prof Almuth Hammerbacher
Associate Professor
About
I am specifically interested in the chemical interactions of forest trees with insects and microorganisms. My research combines methodologies from diverse fields of specialization, including ecology, natural product biosynthesis and analysis, enzymology, genetics, plant physiology, genetic engineering and microbiology.
In trees, chemical signals are used for communicating with pests and pathogens as well as with beneficial organisms. In some cases, the chemical makeup of a tree tells the pest or pathogen that the tree is a good food source that can be utilized for its own survival and spread. In other cases, specific chemicals can stop an attack by a pathogen or insect due to its toxicity or its bad taste. My research is focused on unravelling the chemical signals of plantation trees and to study which chemical signals are beneficial or detrimental to important South African forestry pests and pathogens. Following analysis of many different varieties and species, the goal is to identify compounds in Eucalyptus, pine or wattle that stimulate and deter insect feeding or pathogen infection. These data can then be used to make accurate predictions on how resistant each variety is to a pest or pathogen. This research can be applied for tree breeding, by creating chemical marker panels for each tree genus (pine, eucalypt or wattle), where a simple chemical analysis can reveal the likelihood of susceptibility or resistance of a newly developed variety to multiple different pests and pathogens. These chemical marker panels do not rely on labor intensive screening trials or subjective measurements and are less costly than other screening methods. The material used for the analyses can be as small as a single detached leaf, and thus the logistics to grow and transport material for the analyses is straight forward.
In addition to the chemical analysis, we are also working on developing methods and models for using spectral techniques, such as NIRA, for distinguishing resistant from susceptible varieties. This non-destructive diagnostic methodology can also be used to identify diseased plants, such as Phytophthorainfection of Eucalyptus roots. This project has enormous potential for transferring the capacity identify early pathogen infection to commercial nurseries and farmers.
Jamieson B-A, Paap T, Pegg GS, Carnegie AJ, Wingfield MJ, Roux J, Hardy GEStJ, Drenth A, Hammerbacher A, Bose T (2026) Quambalaria spp.: Emerging Tree Pathogens of Concern. Current Forestry Reports. 12. doi: 10.1007/s40725-026-00274-y
Motete T, Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Naidoo S (2026) Gene expression profiling in Eucalyptus associates Phenylpropanoid resistance to Teratosphaeria destructans. Plant Pathology. doi: 10.1111/ppa.70207
Mailula DM, Wingfiled BD, Van Der Nest MA, Hammerbacher A (2025) Production of fusel alcohols and fusel acetates by pathogenic fungi in the Ceratocystidaceae. Fungal Ecology. 76. doi: 10.1016/j.funeco.2025.101427
Solís, M, Hammerbacher, A, Wingfield, M.J, Naidoo, S (2025) Transcriptional responses of Eucalyptus to infection by an aggressive leaf blight pathogen reveal the role of host secondary metabolites during pathogen germination. Plant Molecular Biology. 115. doi: 10.1007/s11103-025-01625-2
Crous, P W, Catcheside, D E A, Catcheside, P S, Alfenas, A C, Alfenas, R F, Barreto, R W, Lebel, T, Balashov, S, Broadbridge, J, Jurjević, Ž, De la Peña-Lastra, S, Hoffmann, R, Mateos, A, Riebesehl, J, Shivas, R G, Soliz Santander, F F, Tan, Y P, Altés, A, Bandini, D, Carriconde, F, Cazabonne, J, Czachura, P, Gryta, H, Eyssartier, G, Larsson, E, Pereira, O L, Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A, Wingfield, M J, Ahmad, W, Bibi, S, Denman, S, Esteve-Raventós, F, Hussain, S, Illescas, T, Luangsa-ard, J J, Möller, L, Mombert, A, Noisripoom, W, Olariaga, I, Pancorbo, F, Paz, A, Piątek, M, Polman-Short, C, Suárez, E, Afshan, N S, Ali, H, Arzanlou, M, Ayer, F, Barratt, J, Bellanger, J-M, Bidaud, A, Bishop-Hurley, S L, Bohm, M, Bose, T, Campo, E, Chau, N B, Çolak, Ö F, Cordeiro, T R L, Cruz, M O, Custódio, F A, Couceiro, A, Darmostuk, V, Dearnaley, J D W, de Azevedo Santiago, A L C M, de Freitas, L W S, Yáñez-Morales, M de J, Domnauer, C, Dentinger, B, Dhileepan, K, De Souza, J T, Dovana, F, Eberhardt, U, Eisvand, P, Erhard, A, Fachada, V, García-Martín, A, Groenewald, M, Hammerbacher, A, Harms, K, Haroon, S, Haqnawaz, M, Henriques, S, Hernández, A J, Jacobus, L M, Jaen-Contreras, D, Jangsantear, P, Kaygusuz, O, Knoppersen, R, Kumar, T K A, Lynch, M J, Mahiques, R, Maraia, G L, Marbach, P A S, Mehrabi-Koushki, M, Miller, P R, Mongkolsamrit, S, Moreau, P-A, Oberlies, N H, Oliveira, J A, Orlovich, D, Pérez-Méndez, A S, Pinto, A, Raja, H A, Ramírez, G H, Raphael, B, Rodrigues, A, Rodrigues, H, Ramos, D O, Safi, A, Sarwar, S, Saar, I, Sánchez, R M, Santana, J S, Scrace, J, Sales, L S, Silva, L N P, Stryjak-Bogacka, M, Tacconi, A, Thanh, V N, Thomas, A, Thuy, N T, Toome, M, Valdez-Carrazco, J M, van Vuuren, N I, Vasey, J, Vauras, J, Vila-Viçosa, C, Villarreal, M, Visagie, C M, Vizzini, A, Whiteside, E J, Groenewald, J Z (2025) Fungal Planet description sheets: 1781–1866. Persoonia. 54. doi: 10.3114/persoonia.2025.54.10
Esterhuizen HJ, Slippers B, Bosman AS, Roux J, Jones W, Bose T, Hammerbacher A (2025) Early detection of Phytophthora root rot in Eucalyptus using hyperspectral reflectance and machine learning. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 237. doi: 10.1016/j.compag.2025.110761
Hulcr J, Barnes I, Barnes M, Gazis R, Hammerbacher A, Johnson AJ, Lynch S, Lynn K, Marais GC, Mayers CG, Nel W, Villari C, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ (2025) From forest to fungus: A roadmap to bark beetle mycobiome research. Phytoparasitica. 53. doi: 10.1007/s12600-025-01246-x
Bose T, Vivas M, Slippers B, Roux J, Dovey S, Kemler M, Begerow D, Witfeld F, Brachmann A, Wingfield MJ, Hammerbacher A (2025) Removal of organic biomass in Eucalyptus plantations has a greater impact on fungal than on bacterial networks. Forest Ecology and Management. 586. doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2025.122734
Knoppersen RS, Bose T, Coutinho TA, Hammerbacher A (2025) Inside the Belly of the Beast: Exploring the Gut Bacterial Diversity of Gonipterus sp. n. 2. Microbial Ecology. 88. doi: 10.1007/s00248-025-02524-1
Bose T, Roux J, Titshall L, Dovey SB, Hammerbacher A (2025) Mulching of post-harvest residues and delayed planting improves fungal biodiversity in South African Eucalyptus plantations and enhances plantation productivity. Applied Soil Ecology. 210. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2025.106091
D’Angelo D, Sorrentino R, Nkomo T, Zhou X, Vaghefi N, Sonnekus B, Bose T, Cerrato D, Cozzolino L, Creux N, D’Agostino N, Fourie G, Fusco G, Hammerbacher A, Idnurm A, Kiss L, Hu Y, Hu H, Lahoz E, Risteski J, Steenkamp E T, Viscardi M, van der Nest M A, Wu Y, Yu H, Zhou J, Karandeni Dewage C S, Kotta-Loizou L I, Stotz H U, Fitt B D L, Huang Y, Wingfield BD (2025) IMA GENOME - F20 A draft genome assembly of Agroathelia rolfsii, Ceratobasidium papillatum, Pyrenopeziza brassicae, Neopestalotiopsis macadamiae, Sphaerellopsis filum and genomic resources for Colletotrichum spaethianum and Colletotrichum fructicola. IMA Fungus. 16. doi: 10.3897/imafungus.16.141732
Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield M.J, Naidoo S (2025) Enhancing plantation forest sustainability: A review of Eucalyptus defence mechanisms to foliar fungal pathogens. Current Forestry Reports. doi: 10.1007/s40725-024-00243-3
Knoppersen R, Hammerbacher A, Bose T (2024) Fungal Planet description sheets: 1697–1780 (Description of Sporisorium enterogonipteri). Fungal Systematics and Evolution. 14. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.14.19
Bose T, Mahomed TG, Mbatha KC, Joubert JC, Hammerbacher A (2024) Tissue ontogeny and chemical composition influence bacterial biodiversity in the wood and shoot tip of Populus nigra. Plant Biology. doi: 10.1111/plb.13724
Nkomo T, Bose T, Wingfield BD, Knoppersen R, Mbhele O, Nemesio‐Gorriz M, Rodas CA, Paetz C, Cilliers CT, Ferreira MA, Hammerbacher A (2024) Geographic location shapes fungal communities associated with Epidendrum roots. Mycological Progress. 23. doi: 10.1007/s11557-024-01990-0
Solís M, Naidoo S, Wingfield MJ, Joubert J, Hammerbacher A (2024) First line of defence: Eucalyptus leaf waxes influence infection by an aggressive fungal leaf pathogen. Plant Biology. doi: 10.1111/plb.13707
Lynn KMT, Wingfield MJ, Hammerbacher A, Barnes I (2024) High-resolution melting curve analysis: A detection assay for Ceratocystis eucalypticola and C. manginecans in infected Eucalyptus. Fungal Biology. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2024.07.011
Kandasamy D, Zaman R, Nakamura Y, Zhao T, Hartmann H, Andersson MN, Hammerbacher A, Gershenzon J (2023) Conifer-killing bark beetles locate fungal symbionts by detecting volatile fungal metabolites of host tree resin monoterpenes. PLoS biology. 21.
Bose T, Hammerbacher A, Spies CFJ, Coutinho TA (2023) Phytophthora: an underestimated threat to agriculture, forestry, and natural ecosystems in sub-Saharan Africa. Mycological Progress. 22. doi: 10.1007/s11557-023-01926-0
Johannes Joubert, Benice Sivparsad, Michelle Schroder, Ilaria Germishuizen, Jingyuan Chen, Brett Hurley, Jeremy Allison, Almuth Hammerbacher (2023) Susceptibility of Eucalyptus trees to defoliation by the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus sp. n. 2, is enhanced by high foliar contents of 1,8-cineole, oxalic acid and sucrose and low contents of palmitic and shikimic acid. Plant, Cell & Environment. doi: 10.1111/pce.14696
Makunde PT, Joubert JC, Slippers B, Hurley BP, Hammerbacher A (2023) Leaf surface traits may influence host specificity in psyllids of Eucalyptus, Spondyliaspis cf. plicatuloides (Froggatt) and Glycaspis brimblecombei Moore (Hemiptera: Aphalaridae). Chemoecology. 33. doi: 10.1007/s00049-023-00387-x
Crous, PW, Osieck, ER, Shivas, RG, Tan, YP, Bishop-Hurley, SL, Esteve-Raventós, F, Larsson, E, Luangsa-ard, JJ, Pancorbo, F, Balashov, S, Baseia, IG, Boekhout, T, Chandranayaka, S, Cowan, DA, Cruz, RHSF, Czachura, P, De la Peña-Lastra, S, Dovana, F, Drury, B, Fell, J, Flakus, A, Fotedar, R, Jurjević, Ž, Kolecka, A, Nkomo T, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield BD, Bose T (2023) Fungal Planet description sheets: 1478–1549. Persoonia. 50. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.50.05
Bose T, Hammerbacher A, Slippers B, Roux J, Wingfield MJ (2023) Continuous replanting could degrade soil health in short-rotation plantation forestry. Current Forestry Reports. doi: 10.1007/s40725-023-00188-z
Bose T, Hammerbacher A, Jones W, Roux J, Slippers B, Wingfield MJ (2023) Hybrid vigor in Eucalyptus increases resistance against Phytophthora root rot. Mycological Progress. 22. doi: 10.1007/s11557-023-01877-6
Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield MJ, Naidoo S (2023) A robust disease scoring method to screen Eucalyptus for resistance against the aggressive leaf blight pathogen, Teratosphaeria destructans. Plant Disease. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-06-22-1347-RE
Bose T, Hammerbacher A (2023) The first report of Phytophthora multivesiculata causing black rot of Cymbidium and Ansellia africana from South Africa. Plant Disease. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-03-22-0623-PDN
Kreuzenbeck NB, Seibel E, Schwitalla JW, Fricke J, Conlon BH, Schmidt S, Hammerbacher A, Köllner TG, Poulsen M, Hoffmeister D, Beemelmanns (2022) Comparative genomic and metabolomic analysis of Termitomyces species provides insights into the terpenome of the fungal cultivar and the characteristic odor of the fungus garden of Macrotermes natalensis termites. Msystems. 7.
Wood M, Chamaillé-Jammes S, Hammerbacher A, Shrader AM (2022) African elephants can detect water from natural and artificial sources via olfactory cues. Animal Cognition. 25.
Nagel R, Hammerbacher A, Kunert G, Phillips MA, Gershenzon J, Schmidt A (2022) Bark beetle attack history does not influence the induction of terpene and phenolic defenses in mature Norway spruce (Picea abies) trees by the bark beetle-associated fungus Endoconidiophora polonica. Frontiers in Plant Science. 13.
Swalarsk Parry BS, Steenkamp ET, Van Wyk S, Santana QC, van der Nest MA, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield BD, De Vos L (2022) Identification and characterization of a QTL for growth of Fusarium circinatum on pine-based medium. Journal of Fungi. 8. doi: 10.3390/jof8111214
Soal, Nicole C, Coetzee, Martin P A, van der Nest, Magriet A, Hammerbacher, Almuth, Wingfield, Brenda D (2022) Phenolic degradation by catechol dioxygenases is associated with pathogenic fungi with a necrotrophic lifestyle in the Ceratocystidaceae. G3. 12. doi: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac008
Makwela MC, Hammerbacher A, Vivas M, Coetzee MPA, Wingfield BD, van Ede G, Bose T (2022) Uncovering the mycorrhizal community of two Habenaria orchids in South Africa. South African Journal of Botany. doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2022.02.020
Makwela MC, Hammerbacher A, Coetzee MPA, Wingfield BD, van Ede G, Bose T (2022) Fungal diversity associated with the mycorrhizosphere soil of Brachycorythis conica subsp. transvaalensis, a critically endangered and endemic terrestrial orchid from South Africa. South African Journal of Botany. 00. doi: 10.1016/j.sajb.2022.01.019
Solís M, Wingfield MJ, Hammerbacher A, Naidoo S (2022) Comparison of the infection biology of Teratosphaeria destructans and Teratosphaeria epicoccoides on Eucalyptus. Plant Disease. doi: 10.1094/PDIS-09-21-1877-RE
Huang JB, Hammerbacher A, Gershenzon J, van Dam NM, Sala A, McDowell NG, Chowdhury S, Gleixner G, Trumbore S, Hartmann H (2021) Storage of carbon reserves in Spruce trees is prioritized over growth in the face of carbon limitation. PNAS. 118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2023297118
Laoué J, Depardieu C, Gérardi S, Lamothe M, Bomal C, Azaiez A, Gros-Louis MC, Laroche J, Boyle B, Hammerbacher A, Isabel N, Bousquet J (2021) Combining QTL mapping and transcriptomics to decipher the genetic architecture of phenolic compounds metabolism in the conifer white spruce. Frontiers in Plant Science. 12.
Chen J, Ullah C, Vassao D, Reichelt M, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2021) Sclerotinia sclerotiorum Infection Triggers Changes in Primary and Secondary Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana. Phytopathology. 111.
Phasha MM, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ, Coetzee MPA, Hammerbacher A, Steenkamp ET (2021) Deciphering the effect of FUB1 disruption on fusaric acid production and pathogenicity in Fusarium circinatum. Fungal Biology. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2021.07.002
Sayari M, van der Nest MA, Steenkamp ET, Rahimlou S, Hammerbacher A, Wingfield BD (2021) Characterization of the Ergosterol Biosynthesis Pathway in Ceratocystidaceae. Journal of Fungi. 7.
Chen J, Ullah C, Reichelt M, Beran F, Yang ZL, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A, Vassao D (2020) The phytopathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum detoxifies plant glucosinolate hydrolysis products via an isothiocyanate hydrolase. Nature Communications. 11.
Nemesio-Gorriz M, Menezes RC, Paetz C, Hammerbacher A, Steenackers M, Schamp K, Douglas GC (2020) Metabolomics in Fraxinus excelsior; identification and validation of biochemical markers for tolerance to ash dieback. Journal of Experimental Botany. 71.
Eberl F, Fernandez de Bobadilla M, Reichelt M, Hammerbacher A, Gershenzon J, Unsicker SB (2020) Herbivory meets fungivory: insect herbivores feed on plant pathogenic fungi for their own benefit. Ecology Letters. 23.
Huang J, Kautz M, Towbridge AM, Hammerbacher A, Raffa KF, Adams HD, Goodsman DW, Chonggang X, Meddens AJH, Kandasamy D, Gershenzon J, Seidel R, Hartmann H (2020) Tree defence and bark beetles in a drying world: carbon partitioning, functioning and modelling. New Phytologist. 225.
Ullah C, Unsicker SB, Reichelt M, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2019) Accumulation of catechin and proanthocyanidins in black poplar stems after infection by Plectosphaerella populi: hormonal regulation, biosynthesis and antifungal activity. Frontiers in Plant Science. 10.
Hammerbacher A, Coutinho TA, Gershenzon J (2019) Roles of plant volatiles in defense against microbial pathogens and microbial exploitation of volatiles. Plant Cell and Environment. 42.
Biedermann P, Müller J, Grégoire JC, Gruppe A, Hagge J, Hammerbacher A, Hofstetter RW, Kandasamy D, Kolarik M, Kostovcik M, Krokene P, Salle A, Six DL, Turrini T, Vanderpool D, Wingfield MJ, Bässler C (2019) ). Bark Beetle Population Dynamics in the Anthropocene: Challenges and Solutions. Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 34.
Chen J, Ullah C, Reichelt M, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2019) Sclerotinia sclerotiorum circumvents flavonoid defences by catabolizing flavonol glycosides and aglycones. Plant Physiology. 180.
Kandasamy D, Gershenzon J, Andersson MN, Hammerbacher A (2019) Volatile organic compounds influence the interaction of the Eurasian spruce bark beetle (Ips typographus) with its fungal symbionts. The ISME Journal. 13.
Huang J, Hammerbacher A, Weinhold A, Reichelt M, Gleixner G, Behrendt T, van Dam NM, Sala A, Gershenzon J, Trumbore S, Hartmann H (2019) Eyes on the future–evidence for trade‐offs between growth, storage and defense in Norway spruce. New Phytologist. 222.
Hammerbacher A, Kandasamy D, Ullah C, Wright LP, Schmidt A, Gershenzon J (2019) Flavanone-3-hydroxylase plays an important role in the biosynthesis of spruce phenolic defences against bark beetles and their fungal associates. Frontiers in Plant Science. 10.
Ullah C, Tsai CJ, Unsicker SB, Xue L, Reichelt M, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2019) Salicylic acid activates poplar defense against the biotrophic rust fungus Melampsora larici‐populina via increased biosynthesis of catechin and proanthocyanidins. New Phytologist. 221.
Zhao T, Kandasamy D, Krokene P, Chen J, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2019) Fungal associates of the tree-killing bark beetle, Ips typographus, vary in virulence, ability to degrade conifer phenolics and influence bark beetle tunneling behavior. Fungal Ecology. 38.
Eberl F, Perreca E, Vogel H, Wright LP, Hammerbacher A, Veit D, Gershenzon J, Unsicker SB (2018) Rust Infection of Black Poplar Trees Reduces Photosynthesis but does Not Affect Isoprene Biosynthesis or Emission. Frontiers in Plant Science. 9.
Otto M, Hammerbacher A, Petersen Y, Pierneef R, Coutinho TA (2018) Phenolic compound degradation by Pseudomonas syringae phylogroup 2 strains. Journal of Plant Pathology. 100.
Hammerbacher A, Wright L, Raguschke R, Gershenzon J (2018) Gallocatechin biosynthesis via a flavonoid 3′, 5′-hydroxylase is a defense response in Norway spruce against infection by the bark beetle-associated sap-staining fungus Endoconidiophora polonica. Phytochemistry. 148.
Eberl F, Hammerbacher A, Gershenzon J, Unsicker SB (2018) Leaf rust infection reduces herbivore‐induced volatile emission in black poplar and attracts a generalist herbivore.. New Phytologist. 220.
Nel WJ, Duong TA, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD, Hammerbacher A, De Beer ZW (2018) Heterothallism revealed in the root rot fungi Berkeleyomyces basicola and B. rouxiae. Fungal Biology. 122. doi: 10.1016/j.funbio.2018.08.006
Wingfield BD, Bills GF, Dong Y, Huang W, Nel WJ, Swalarsk-Parry BS, Vaghefi N, Wilken PM, An Z, de Beer ZW, De Vos L, Chen L, Duong TA, Gao Y, Hammerbacher A, Kikkert JR, Li Y, Li H, Li K, Li Q, Liu X, Ma X, Naidoo K, Pethybridge SJ, Sun J, Steenkamp ET, van der Nest M, van Wyk S, Wingfield MJ, Xiong C, Yue Q, Zhang X (2018) IMA Genome-F 9 Draft genome sequence of Annulohypoxylon stygium, Aspergillus mulundensis, Berkeleyomyces basicola (syn. Thielaviopsis basicola), Ceratocystis smalleyi, two Cercospora beticola strains, Coleophoma cylindrospora, Fusarium fracticaudum, Phialophora cf. hyalina, and Morchella septimelata. IMA Fungus. 9. doi: 10.5598/imafungus.2018.09.01.13
Ullah C, Unsicker SB, Fellenberg C, Constabel CP, Schmidt A, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2017) Flavan-3-ols are an Effective Chemical Defense against Rust infection. Plant Physiology. 175.
Nemesio-Gorriz M, Blair PB, Dalman K, Hammerbacher A, Arnerup J, Stenlid J, Mukhtar SM, Elfstrand M (2017) Identification of Norway Spruce MYB-bHLH-WDR Transcription Factor Complex Members Linked to Regulation of the Flavonoid Pathway. Frontiers in Plant Science. 8. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00305
Franziska Eberl, Almuth Hammerbacher, Jonathan Gershenzon, Sybille B Unsicker (2017) Leaf rust infection reduces herbivore‐induced volatile emission in black poplar and attracts a generalist herbivore. New Phytologist. In press.
Kerstin Dalman, Julia Johanna Wind, Miguel Nemesio-Gorriz, Almuth Hammerbacher, Karl Lundén, Ines Ezcurra, Malin Elfstrand (2017) Overexpression of PaNAC03, a stress induced NAC gene family transcription factor in Norway spruce leads to reduced flavonol biosynthesis and aberrant embryo development. BMC plant biology. 17.
Bettina Ohse, Almuth Hammerbacher, Carolin Seele, Stefan Meldau, Michael Reichelt, Sylvia Ortmann, Christian Wirth (2017) Salivary cues: simulated roe deer browsing induces systemic changes in phytohormones and defence chemistry in wild‐grown maple and beech saplings. Functional Ecology. 31.
Jianbei Huang, Michael Reichelt, Somak Chowdhury, Almuth Hammerbacher, Henrik Hartmann (2017) Increasing carbon availability stimulates growth and secondary metabolites via modulation of phytohormones in winter wheat. Journal of Experimental Botany. 68.
Jianbei Huang, Almuth Hammerbacher, Lenka Forkelová, Henrik Hartmann (2017) Release of resource constraints allows greater carbon allocation to secondary metabolites and storage in winter wheat. Plant, cell & environment. 40.
Kandasamy D, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2016) Volatile organic compounds emitted by fungal associates of conifer bark beetles and their potential in bark beetle control. Journal of Chemical Ecology. doi: 10.1007/s10886-016-0768-x
Nemesio-Gorriz M, Hammerbacher A, Ihrmark K, Källman T, Olsen A, Lascoux M, Stenlid J, Gershenzon J, Elfstrand M (2016) Different alleles of a gene encoding leucoanthocyanidin reductase (PaLAR3) influence resistance against the fungus Heterobasidion parviporum in Picea abies.. Plant Physiology. 171.
Paetz C, Hammerbacher A, Menezes RC, Feistel F, Weigel C, Voigt K, Schneider B (2016) Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Populus nigra shoot resin. Natural Product Communications. 11.
Huber M, Epping J, Gronover CS, Fricke J, Aziz Z, Brillaz T, Swyers M, Koellner TG, Vogel H, Hammerbacher A, Triebwasser-Freeze D, Robert C, Verhoeven P, Preite V, Gershenzon J, Erb M (2016) A latex metabolite benefits plant fitness under root herbivore attack. PLoS Biology. e1002332..
Wingfield BD, Duong TA, Hammerbacher A, van der Nest MA, Wilson A, Chang R, de Beer ZW, Steenkamp ET, Wilken PM, Naidoo K, Wingfield MJ (2016) IMA Genome-F 7 Draft genome sequences for Ceratocystis fagacearum, C. harringtonii, Grosmannia penicillata, and Huntiella bhutanensis. IMA Fungus. 7. doi: 10.5598/imafungus.2016.07.02.11
Wadke N, Kandasamy D, Vogel H, Lah L, Wingfield BD, Paetz C, Wright LP, Gershenzon J, Hammerbacher A (2016) Catechol dioxygenases catalyzing the first step in Norway spruce phenolic degradation are key virulence factors in the bark beetle-vectored fungus Endoconidiophora polonica.. Plant Physiology. 171.
Wingfield BD, Ambler JM, Coetzee MPA, De Beer ZW, Duong TA, Joubert F, Hammerbacher A, McTaggart AR, Naidoo K, Nguyen HDT, Ponomareva E, Santana QS, Seifert KA, Steenkamp ET, Trollip C, Van der Nest MA, Visagie CM, Wilken PM, Wingfield MJ, Yilmaz N (2016) IMA Genome-F 6: Draft genome sequences of Armillaria fuscipes, Ceratocystiopsis minuta, Ceratocystis adiposa, Endoconidiophora laricicola, E. polonica and Penicillium freii DAOMC 242723. IMA Fungus. 7. doi: 10.5598/imafungus.2016.07.01.11
Crous PW, Wingfield MJ, Guarro J, Hernandez-Restrepo M, Sutton DA, Acharya K, Barber PA, Boekhout T, Dimitrov RA, Duenas M, Dutta AK, Gene J, Gouliamova DE, Groenewald M, Lombard L, Morozova OV, Sarkar J, Smith MTh, Stchigel AM, Wiederhold NP, Alexandrova AV, Antelmi I, Armengol J, Barnes I, Cano-Lira JF, Castaneda Ruiz RF, Contu M, Courtecuisse PrR, Da Silveira AL, Decock CA, De Goes A, Edathodu J, Ercole E, Firmino AC, Fourie A, Fournier J, Furtado EL, Geering ADW, Gershenzon J, Giraldo A, Gramaje D, Hammerbacher A, He X-L, Haryadi D, Khemmuk W, Kovalenko AE, Krawczynski R, Laich F, Lechat C, Lopes UP, Madrid H, Malysheva EF, Marin-Felix Y, Martin MP, Mostert L, Nigro F, Pereira OL, Picillo B, Pinho DB, Popov ES, Rodas Pelaez CA, Rooney-Latham S, Sandoval-Denis M, Shivas RG, Silva V, Stoilova-Disheva MM, Telleria MT, Ullah C, Unsicker SB, Van der Merwe NA, Vizzini A, Wagner H-G, Wong PTW, Wood AR, Groenewald JZ (2015) Fungal Planet description sheets: 320–370. Persoonia. 34. doi: 10.3767/003158515x688433
Moctezuma C, Hammerbacher A, Heil M, Gershenzon J, Mendez-Alonso R, Oyama K (2014) Specific polyphenols and tannins are associated with defense against insect herbivores in the tropical oak Quercus oleoides. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 40.
Wright LP, Rhover JM, Ghirardo A, Hammerbacher A, Ortiz-Alcaide M, Raguschke B, Schnizler JP, Gershenzon J, Phillips M (2014) Deoxyxylulose 5-phosphate synthase controls flux through the methylerythritol 4-phosphate pathway in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology. 165.
Hammerbacher A, Paetz C, Wright LP, Fischer TC, Bohlmann J, Davis AJ, Fenning TM, Gershenzon J, Schmidt A (2014) Flavan-3-ols in Norway spruce: Biosynthesis, accumulation and function in response to attack by the bark beetle-associated fungus Ceratocystis polonica. Plant Physiology. 164.
Hammerbacher A, Schmidt A, Wadke N, Wright LP, Schneider B, Bohlmann J, Brand W, Fenning TM, Gershenzon J, Paetz C (2013) A common fungal associate of the spruce bark beetle metabolizes the stilbene defenses of Norway spruce. Plant Physiology. 162.
Li SH, Nagy NA, Hammerbacher A, Krokene P, Niu XM, Gershenzon J, Schneider B (2012) Localization of phenolics in phloem parenchyma cells of Norway spruce (Picea abies). ChemBioChem. 13.
Beyaert I, Koepke D, Stiller J, Hammerbacher A, Yoneya K, Schmidt A, Gershenzon J, Hilker M (2012) Can insect egg deposition 'warn' a plant of future feeding damage by herbivorous larvae?. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences. 279.
Schiebe C, Hammerbacher A, Birgersson G, Witzell J, Bordelius P, Gershenzon J, Hansson B, Krokene P, Schlyter F (2012) Inducibility of chemical defenses in Norway spruce bark is correlated with unsuccessful mass attacks by the spruce bark beetle. Oekologia. 170.
Hammerbacher A, Ralph SG, Bohlmann J, Fenning TM, Gershenzon J, Schmidt A (2011) Biosynthesis of the major tetrahydroxystilbenes in spruce, astringin and isorhapontin, proceeds via resveratrol and is enhanced by fungal infection. Plant Physiology. 157.
Hammerbacher A, Wright LP, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ, Coutinho TA (2009) Factors affecting pine pitch canker modelled on Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Botany. 87. doi: 10.1139/B08-129
Wingfield MJ, Hammerbacher A, Ganley RJ, Steenkamp ET, Gordon TR, Wingfield BD, Coutinho TA (2008) Pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum - A growing threat to pine plantations and forests worldwide. Australasian Plant Pathology. 37. doi: 10.1071/AP08036
Other Publications (3)
Netherer S, Hammerbacher A (2022) The Eurasian spruce bark beetle in a warming climate: Phenology, behavior, and biotic interactions. Bark Beetle Management, Ecology, and Climate Change.
Hammerbacher A, Wright LP, Gershenzon J (2020) Spruce phenolics: biosynthesis and ecological functions. The Spruce Genome.
González-Cabanelas D, Hammerbacher A, Raguschke B, Gershenzon J, Wright LP (2016) Quantifying the Metabolites of the Methylerythritol4-Phosphate (MEP) Pathway in Plants and Bacteria by Liquid Chromatography–Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometry. METHODS IN ENZYMOLOGY Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering in Plants and Microbes.
Motete T, Solís M, Hammerbacher A, Naidoo S. (2026) Gene expression profiling in Eucalyptus associates Phenylpropanoid resistance to Teratosphaeria destructans. Plant Pathology 10.1111/ppa.70207
Solís, M, Hammerbacher, A, Wingfield, M.J, Naidoo, S. (2025) Transcriptional responses of Eucalyptus to infection by an aggressive leaf blight pathogen reveal the role of host secondary metabolites during pathogen germination. Plant Molecular Biology 10.1007/s11103-025-01625-2
Crous, P W, Catcheside, D E A, Catcheside, P S, Alfenas, A C, Alfenas, R F, Barreto, R W, Lebel, T, Balashov, S, Broadbridge, J, Jurjević, Ž, De la Peña-Lastra, S, Hoffmann, R, Mateos, A, Riebesehl, J, Shivas, R G, Soliz Santander, F F, Tan, Y P, Altés, A, Bandini, D, Carriconde, F, Cazabonne, J, Czachura, P, Gryta, H, Eyssartier, G, Larsson, E, Pereira, O L, Rigueiro-Rodríguez, A, Wingfield, M J, Ahmad, W, Bibi, S, Denman, S, Esteve-Raventós, F, Hussain, S, Illescas, T, Luangsa-ard, J J, Möller, L, Mombert, A, Noisripoom, W, Olariaga, I, Pancorbo, F, Paz, A, Piątek, M, Polman-Short, C, Suárez, E, Afshan, N S, Ali, H, Arzanlou, M, Ayer, F, Barratt, J, Bellanger, J-M, Bidaud, A, Bishop-Hurley, S L, Bohm, M, Bose, T, Campo, E, Chau, N B, Çolak, Ö F, Cordeiro, T R L, Cruz, M O, Custódio, F A, Couceiro, A, Darmostuk, V, Dearnaley, J D W, de Azevedo Santiago, A L C M, de Freitas, L W S, Yáñez-Morales, M de J, Domnauer, C, Dentinger, B, Dhileepan, K, De Souza, J T, Dovana, F, Eberhardt, U, Eisvand, P, Erhard, A, Fachada, V, García-Martín, A, Groenewald, M, Hammerbacher, A, Harms, K, Haroon, S, Haqnawaz, M, Henriques, S, Hernández, A J, Jacobus, L M, Jaen-Contreras, D, Jangsantear, P, Kaygusuz, O, Knoppersen, R, Kumar, T K A, Lynch, M J, Mahiques, R, Maraia, G L, Marbach, P A S, Mehrabi-Koushki, M, Miller, P R, Mongkolsamrit, S, Moreau, P-A, Oberlies, N H, Oliveira, J A, Orlovich, D, Pérez-Méndez, A S, Pinto, A, Raja, H A, Ramírez, G H, Raphael, B, Rodrigues, A, Rodrigues, H, Ramos, D O, Safi, A, Sarwar, S, Saar, I, Sánchez, R M, Santana, J S, Scrace, J, Sales, L S, Silva, L N P, Stryjak-Bogacka, M, Tacconi, A, Thanh, V N, Thomas, A, Thuy, N T, Toome, M, Valdez-Carrazco, J M, van Vuuren, N I, Vasey, J, Vauras, J, Vila-Viçosa, C, Villarreal, M, Visagie, C M, Vizzini, A, Whiteside, E J, Groenewald, J Z. (2025) Fungal Planet description sheets: 1781–1866. Persoonia 10.3114/persoonia.2025.54.10
