Extra-ordinary Lecturer
I am a Senior Researcher at the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in South Africa, specializing in plant pathology with a particular focus on fungal diseases. My research interests include the study of tree canker and dieback, caused by pathogens such as Botryosphaeria, Cytospora , and Diaporthe . Additionally, I manage diagnostic services, providing expertise on a broad spectrum of plant diseases and pathogens across the country.
My current research projects, including the study of wheat blast, Phytophthora palmivora on papaya, and branch dieback in macadamia. Through my work, I aim to improve the understanding and management of these diseases, contributing to the sustainability and productivity of agriculture in South Africa.
I am currently the principle investigator of the below projects:
Identification of dieback causal agents on MacadamiaDNA Barcoding Botryosphaeriales Isolates of the PPRI CollectionInvestigating and identification of Phytophthora spp. on Papaya treesWheat blast and other emerging pathogens
Jami F, Truter M, Pavlic M, Chen SF, Roux J. (2026) Identification of Botryosphaeriaceae species in the South African National Collection of fungi, including a novel species of Oblongocollomyces. African Biodiversity & Conservation
Jami F, Bhiya T, Phakalatsane T, Ntuli I. (2026) First Report of Lasiodiplodia mahajangana Causing Branch Dieback of Blueberry in South Africa. New Disease Reports
Jami F, Botha W, Bhiya T, Ntuli I, Phakalatsane T, Schoeman MH, Daneel M. (2026) Phytophthora palmivora: a serious threat to papaya production in South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology 10.1007/s10658-026-03203-8
Pathudi F, Botha W, Bhiya T, Cruywagen E, Badat S, Jami F. (2025) Emerging Fungal and Oomycete Diseases of Cannabis in South Africa: First Reports and Pathogenicity Confirmation. Journal of Phytopathology 10.1111/jph.70196
Tarigan M, Wingfield MJ, Jami F, Oliveira LSS, Saha MA, Durán A, Pham NQ. (2025) Pathogenicity of Pythium myriotylum on Acacia crassicarpa and Acacia mangium × Acacia auriculiformis clones in Indonesia. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 10.2989/20702620.2024.2432863
Jami F, Morey L. (2024) Management Strategies for Macadamia Branch Dieback in South Africa. Journal of Phytopathology 10.1111/jph.13443
Lin L, Fan XL, Groenewald JZ, Jami F, Wingfield MJ, Voglmayer H, Jaklitsch W, Castlebury LA, Tian CM, Crous PW. (2024) Cytospora: an important genus of canker pathogens. Studies in Mycology
Jami, F, Duma, S, Fourie G, Schoeman M. (2024) First report of Botrytis cinerea causing flower blight on macadamia in South Africa. Journal of Phytopathology 10.1111/jph.13325
Bhunjun, CS, Chen, YJ, Phukhamsakda, C, Boekhout, T, Groenewald, JZ, McKenzie, EHC, Francisco, EC, Frisvad, JC, Groenewald, M, Hurdeal, VG, Luangsa-ard, J, Perrone, G, Visagie, CM, Bai, FY, Błaszkowski, J, Braun, U, d Souza, FA, de, Queiroz, MB, Dutta, AK, Gonkhom, D, Goto, BT, Guarnaccia, V, Hagen, F, Houbraken, J, Lachance, MA, Li, JJ, Luo, KY, Magurno, F, Mongkolsamrit, S, Robert, V, Roy, N, Tibpromma, S, Wanasinghe, DN, Wang, DQ, Wei, DP, Zhao, CL, Aiphuk, W, Ajayi-Oyetunde, O, Arantes, TD, Araujo, JC, Begerow, D, Bakhshi, M, Barbosa, RN, Behrens, FH, Bensch, K, Bezerra, JDP, Bilański, P, Bradley, CA, Bubner, B, Burgess, TI, Buyck, B, Čadež, N, Cai, L, Calaça, FJS, Campbell, LJ, Chaverri, P, Chen, YY, Chethana, KWT, Coetzee, B, Costa, MM, Chen, Q, Custódio, FA, Dai, YC, Damm, U, de Azevedo-Santiago, ALCM, De Miccolis-Angelini, RM, Dijksterhuis, J, Dissanayake, AJ, Doilom, M, Dong, W, Alvarez-Duarte, E, Fischer, M, Gajanayake, AJ, Gené, J, Gomdola, D, Gomes, AAM, Hausner, G, He, MQ, Hou, L, Iturrieta-González, I, Jami, F, Jankowiak, R, Jayawardena, RS, Kandemir, H, Kiss, L, Kobmoo, N, Kowalski, T, Landi, L, Lin, CG, Liu, JK, Liu, XB, Loizides, M, Luangharn, T, Maharachchikumbura, SSN, Makhathini Mkhwanazi, GJ, Manawasinghe, IS, Marin-Felix, Y, McTaggart, AR, Moreau, PA, Morozova, OV, Mostert, L, Osiewacz, HD, Pem, D, Phookamsak, R, Pollastro, S, Pordel, A, Poyntner, C, Phillips, AJL, Phonemany, M, Promputtha, I, Rathnayaka, AR, Rodrigues, AM, Romanazzi, G, Rothmann, L, Salgado-Salazar, C, Sandoval-Denis, M, Saupe, SJ, Scholler, M, Scott, P, Shivas, RG, Silar, P, Souza-Motta, CM, Silva-Filho, AGS, Spies, CFJ, Stchigel, AM, Sterflinger, K, Summerbell, RC, Svetasheva, TY, Takamatsu, S, Theelen, B, Theodoro, RC, Thines, M, Thongklang, N, Torres, R, Turchetti, B, van den Brule, T, Wang, XW, Wartchow, F, Welti, S, Wijesinghe, SN, Wu, F, Xu, R, Yang, ZL, Yilmaz, N, Yurkov, A, Zhao, L, Zhao, RL, Zhou, N, Hyde, KD, Crous, PW. (2024) What are the 100 most cited fungal genera?. Studies in Mycology 10.3114/sim.2024.108.01
Tarigan M, Wingfield MJ, Jami F, Marpaung YMAN, Duran A, Pham NQ. (2024) Pathogenicity of Chrysoporthe deuterocubensis on eucalypts in Indonesia. Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 10.2989/20702620.2023.2279054