I joined FABI in 2021 to pursue my BSc honours degree in Genetics under the supervision of Dr Markus Wilken. My honours research investigated the mating strategies of species within the genus Sclerotinia, with a particular focus on the mating-type (MAT) locus that governs sexual compatibility.
My MSc dissertation, entitled “Reconsidering the taxonomy of Sclerotinia with special reference to S. sclerotiorum”, was completed under the supervision of Dr Markus Wilken, Prof Cobus Visagie, and Prof Martin Coetzee. This project explored the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Sclerotinia and included sequencing the nearly 190-year-old type specimen of S. sclerotiorum to establish a robust taxonomic reference.
Currently, I am a third-year PhD candidate in the Grain Research Programme. My doctoral research continues to focus on Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, using population genomics and transcriptomics to investigate its population structure, the dynamics of transposable elements, and the molecular basis of pathogenicity across global and South African populations.
Thomas C, Wilken PM, Coetzee MPA, Visagie CM. (2025) Advancing the taxonomy of Sclerotinia (Helotiales, Sclerotiniaceae): a review and recommendations for an important plant-pathogenic genus. IMA Fungus 10.3897/imafungus.17.175737
Aylward J, Wilson AM, Visagie CM, Spraker J, Barnes I, Buitendag C, Ceriani C, Del Mar Angel L, du Plessis D, Fuchs T, Gasser, K, Krämer D, Li W, Munsamy K, Piso A, Price J-L, Sonnekus B, Thomas C, van der Nest A, van Dijk A, van Heerden A, van Vuuren N, Yilmaz N, Duong TA, van der Merwe NA, Wingfield MJ, Wingfield BD. (2024) IMA Genome – F19: A genome assembly and annotation guide to empower mycologists, including annotated draft genome sequences of Ceratocystis pirilliformis, Diaporthe australafricana, Fusarium ophioides, Paecilomyces lecythidis, and Sporothrix stenoceras. IMA Fungus 10.1186/s43008-024-00142-z
Bornman S, Thomas C, Ntladi S, Wilken PM. (2024) Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is the causal agent of Sclerotinia stem rot on peanut (groundnut) in South Africa. Australasian Plant Disease Notes 10.1007/s13314-024-00537-2
Wingfield, Brenda D., Berger, Dave K., Coetzee, Martin P. A., Duong, Tuan A., Martin, Anke, Pham, Nam Q., van den Berg, Noelani, Wilken, P. Markus, Arun-Chinnappa, Kiruba Shankari, Barnes, Irene, Buthelezi, Sikelela, Dahanayaka, Buddhika Amarasinghe, Durán, Alvaro, Engelbrecht, Juanita, Feurtey, Alice, Fourie, Arista, Fourie, Gerda, Hartley, Jesse, Kabwe, Eugene N. K., Maphosa, Mkhululi, Narh Mensah, Deborah L., Nsibo, David L., Potgieter, Lizel, Poudel, Barsha, Stukenbrock, Eva H., Thomas, Chanel, Vaghefi, Niloofar, Welgemoed, Tanya, Wingfield, Michael J.. (2022) IMA genome‑F17 Draft genome sequences of an Armillaria species from Zimbabwe, Ceratocystis colombiana, Elsinoë necatrix, Rosellinia necatrix, two genomes of Sclerotinia minor, short‑read genome assemblies and annotations of four Pyrenophora teres isolates from barley grass, and a long-read genome assembly of Cercospora zeina. 10.1186/s43008-022-00104-3