A5091901309- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Plant Gene Expression Analysis
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Plant biochemistry and biosynthesis
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Polysaccharides and Plant Cell Walls
- Plant Reproductive Biology
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Genetics and Plant Breeding
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Plant Pathogenic Bacteria Studies
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Forest ecology and management
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Lignin and Wood Chemistry
- Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
University of Pretoria
2015-2024
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute
2004-2022
Agricultural Biotechnology Institute
2022
Mustafa Kemal University
2020
North Carolina State University
2001-2004
Biotechnology Institute
2004
University of the Free State
1997-1998
Eucalypts are the world's most widely planted hardwood trees. Their outstanding diversity, adaptability and growth have made them a global renewable resource of fibre energy. We sequenced assembled >94% 640-megabase genome Eucalyptus grandis. Of 36,376 predicted protein-coding genes, 34% occur in tandem duplications, largest proportion thus far plant genomes. also shows highest diversity genes for specialized metabolites such as terpenes that act chemical defence provide unique...
Abstract The status of genomics and genetics research in the Myrtaceae, a large family dicotyledonous woody plants, is reviewed with Eucalyptus as focal genus. contains over 5,650 species 130 to 150 genera, predominantly neo-tropical Southern Hemisphere distribution. Several genera are well known for their economic importance worldwide. Myrtaceae typically diploids small intermediate genome size. Microsatellites have been developed several while higher throughput marker systems such...
Abstract Phenotypic, genotypic, and transcript level (microarray) data from an interspecific backcross population of Eucalyptus grandis globulus were integrated to dissect the genetic metabolic network underlying growth variation. Transcript abundance, measured for 2,608 genes in differentiating xylem a 91 (E. × E. globulus) progeny was correlated with diameter variation, revealing coordinated down-regulation encoding enzymes lignin biosynthesis associated methylation pathways fast growing...
Abstract Background NAC domain transcription factors initiate secondary cell wall biosynthesis in Arabidopsis fibres and vessels by activating numerous transcriptional regulators biosynthetic genes. family member SND2 is an indirect target of a principal regulator fibre formation, SND1. A previous study showed that overexpression produced cell-specific increase thickness stems, the protein was able to transactivate cellulose synthase8 ( CesA8 ) promoter. However, full repertoire genes...
Abstract Background De novo assembly of transcript sequences produced by short-read DNA sequencing technologies offers a rapid approach to obtain expressed gene catalogs for non-model organisms. A draft genome sequence will be in 2010 Eucalyptus tree species ( E. grandis ) representing the most important hardwood fibre crop world. Genome annotation this valuable woody plant and genetic dissection its superior growth productivity greatly facilitated availability comprehensive collection from...
Terpenoids are abundant in the foliage of Eucalyptus, providing characteristic smell as well being valuable economically and influencing ecological interactions. Quantitative qualitative inter- intra- specific variation terpenes is common eucalypts.The genome sequences Eucalyptus grandis E. globulus were mined for terpene synthase genes (TPS) compared to other plant species. We investigated relative expression TPS seven tissues functionally characterized five from grandis. Compared sequenced...
Lignin, a major component of secondary cell walls, hinders the optimal processing wood for industrial uses. The recent availability Eucalyptus grandis genome sequence allows comprehensive analysis genes encoding 11 protein families specific to lignin branch phenylpropanoid pathway and identification those mainly involved in xylem developmental lignification. We performed genome-wide putative members gene families, followed by comparative phylogenetic studies focusing on bona fide clades...
Abstract Background A number of molecular marker technologies have allowed important advances in the understanding genetics and evolution Eucalyptus , a genus that includes over 700 species, some which are used worldwide plantation forestry. Nevertheless, average density achieved with current remains at level few hundred markers per population. Furthermore, transferability produced most existing technology across species pedigrees is usually very limited. High throughput, combined wide...
Summary The R 2 3‐ MYB family, one of the largest transcription factor families in higher plants, controls a wide variety plant‐specific processes including, notably, phenylpropanoid metabolism and secondary cell wall formation. We performed genome‐wide analysis this superfamily E ucalyptus , most planted hardwood trees world‐wide. A total 141 predicted sequences identified grandis genome sequence were subjected to comparative phylogenetic analyses with rabidopsis thaliana O ryza sativa P...
Knowledge of genetic diversity (GD) and relationships among maize inbred lines is indispensable in a breeding program. Our objectives were to (1) investigate the level (2) assess their structures by applying simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Fifty-six highland mid-altitude obtained from CIMMYT programs Ethiopia Zimbabwe genotyped using 27 SSR loci. All genotypes studied could unequivocally be distinguished with combination SSRs used. In total, 104 alleles identified, mean 3.85 per locus....
Abstract Species diversity may have evolved by differential regulation of a similar set genes. To analyze and compare the genetic architecture transcript in different backgrounds Eucalyptus, microarrays were used to examine variation mRNA abundance differentiating xylem E. grandis pseudobackcross population [E. × F1 hybrid (E. globulus)]. Least-squares mean estimates levels generated for 2608 genes 91 interspecific backcross progeny. The quantitative measurements specific mapped as...
Horsetails represent an enigmatic clade within the land plants. Despite consisting only of one genus (Equisetum) that contains 15 species, they are thought to oldest extant vascular plants dating back possibly as far Triassic. have retained several ancient features and also characterized by a particularly high chromosome count (n = 108). Whole-genome duplications (WGDs) been uncovered in many angiosperm clades associated with success angiosperms, both terms species richness biomass...
Summary As a step toward functional annotation of genes required for floral initiation and development within the E ucalyptus genome, we used short read sequencing to analyze transcriptomes buds from early late developmental stages, compared these with diverse vegetative tissues, including leaves, roots, stems. A subset 4807 (13% protein‐coding genes) were differentially expressed between either stage tissues. similar proportion among all total 479 stages development. Gene function...
Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis is currently the most powerful and efficient technique for generation of large numbers anonymous DNA markers in plant animal genomes. We have developed a protocol high-throughput AFLP that allows up to 70 000 polymorphic marker genotype determinations per week on single automated sequencer. This throughput based multiplexed PCR amplification fragments using two different infrared dyelabeled primer combinations. The AFLPs are resolved...
The comparison of different methods estimating the genetic diversity could define their usefulness in plant breeding and conservation programs. In this study, a total 15 morphological traits, eight AFLP-primer combinations 20 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were used (i) to study among 62 selected highland maize accessions, (ii) assess level correlation between phenotypic distances, (iii) classify accessions into groups based on molecular profiles traits. analysis variance data revealed...
Higher plants contain a family of cellulose synthase catalytic subunit (CesA) genes that encode components an enzyme complex embedded in the cell membrane. Recent studies several higher plant species have demonstrated two groups CesA exist, associated with either primary or secondary wall deposition. We cloned six full-length cDNAs from Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden (EgCesA1 through 6) and determined their expression patterns variety organs adult tree. The EgCesA predicted proteins...
Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) provides a robust, high throughput, cost-effective method to query thousands of sequence polymorphisms in single assay. Despite the extensive use this genotyping platform for numerous plant species, little is known regarding attributes and genome-wide distribution DArT markers. We investigated genomic properties 7,680 marker probes Eucalyptus array, by sequencing them, constructing density linkage map carrying out detailed physical mapping analyses grandis...
Summary NAC domain transcription factors regulate many developmental processes and stress responses in plants vary widely number family structure. We analysed the characteristics evolution of gene Eucalyptus grandis , a fast‐growing forest tree rosid order Myrtales. genes identified E. genome were subjected to amino acid sequence, phylogenetic motif analyses. Transcript abundance developing tissues abiotic conditions globulus was quantified using RNA‐seq reverse quantitative PCR (RT‐ qPCR )....
Plants have evolved complex defenses that allow them to protect themselves against pests and pathogens. However, there is relatively little information regarding the Eucalyptus defensome. Leptocybe invasa one of most damaging in global forestry, essentially nothing known molecular mechanisms governing interaction between pest host. The aim study was investigate changes transcriptional landscape terpene profile a resistant susceptible genotype an effort improve our understanding this...