Publications

Mar 2023

Nitrogen-fixing symbiotic Paraburkholderia species: Current knowledge and future perspectives

Belles-Sancho P, Beukes C, James EK, Pessi G

Nitrogen

A century after the discovery of rhizobia, the first Beta-proteobacteria species (beta-rhizobia) were isolated from legume...

Jun 2023

Biological nitrogen fixation by soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), a novel, high protein crop in Scotland, requires inoculation with non-native bradyrhizobia.

Maluk M, Giles M, Wardell GE, Akramin AT et al.

Frontiers in Agronomy

It is currently not recommended to grow soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.) further than 54° North, but climate change and the...

Jan 2023

The influence of sublethal neonicotinoid doses on individual Apis mellifera scutellata thermotolerance

Bester, Laura Catherine, Wege, Mia, Pirk, Christian Walter Werner

APIDOLOGIE

Sep 2023

Functional investigation of five R2R3-MYB transcription factors associated with wood development in Eucalyptus using DAP-seq-ML

Takawira LT, Mounet F, Mizrachi E, Myburg AA et al.

Plant Molecular Biology

A multi-tiered transcriptional network regulates xylem differentiation and secondary cell wall (SCW) formation in plants, with...

Jun 2023

Genetic diversity and differentiation of South African cactus pear cultivars (Opuntia spp.) based on simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

Tsholofelo J. Modise, Mathabatha F. Maleka, Herman Fouché,Gesine M. Coetzer

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution

Abstract Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. is one of the most recognisable agricultural crops that can withstand harsh...

Sep 2023

Differences in the suitability of published honey bee (Apis mellifera) reference genes between the African subspecies Apis mellifera scutellata and European derived Apis mellifera

Buttstedt, Anja, Pirk, Christian W. W., Yusuf, Abdullahi A.

Molecular Ecology

Abstract Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is a method widely used to determine changes and differences in...

Jun 2023

Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Ocular Patterns as a Species Identifier in the South African Endemic Trapdoor Spider Genus Stasimopus Simon, 1892 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Stasimopidae)

Brandt, Shannon, Sole, Catherine, Lyle, Robin, Pirk, Christian

Evolutionary Biology

The identification of Stasimopus Simon, 1892 species as well as mygalomorph species has been a long-standing challenge. This is...

Oct 2023

Mandibular glands secrete 24-methylenecholesterol into honey bee (Apis mellifera) food jelly

Buttstedt, Anja, Pirk, Christian W. W., Yusuf, Abdullahi A.

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers feed their larvae with food jelly that is secreted by specialized glands in their heads - the...

Aug 2023

Nutritive and immunological benefits derived from the honey bee gut microbiome are threatened by anthropogenic stressors

De Beer, Johann, Sole, Catherine, Pirk, Christian, Weldon, Christopher

African Entomology

<p>Insect gut microbes have a disproportionate effect on their hosts, including the honey bee, <em>Apis...