A5075543042- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Plant-Microbe Interactions and Immunity
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Fungal Biology and Applications
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- Plant Disease Resistance and Genetics
- Radioactivity and Radon Measurements
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Radioactive contamination and transfer
- Leech Biology and Applications
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Infectious Diseases and Mycology
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
- Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones
- Nanocomposite Films for Food Packaging
Stellenbosch University
2016-2025
Belgian Nuclear Research Centre
2000-2020
Institut für Holztechnologie Dresden
2014
Symrise (Germany)
2007
University of Pretoria
1999-2006
Auburn University
2006
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
2003-2005
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute
2001
University of the Free State
1996-1998
Scientific communication is facilitated by a data-driven, scientifically sound taxonomy that considers the end-user's needs and established successful practice. In 2013, Fusarium community voiced near unanimous support for concept of represented clade comprising all agriculturally clinically important species, including F. solani species complex (FSSC). Subsequently, this was challenged in 2015 one research group who proposed dividing genus into seven genera, FSSC described as members...
Ophiostoma species have diverse morphological features and are found in a large variety of ecological niches.Many different classification schemes been applied to these fungi the past based on teleomorph anamorph features.More recently, studies DNA sequence comparisions shown that consists phylogenetic groups, but data not sufficient define clear monophyletic lineages represented by practical taxonomic units.We used from combined partial nuclear LSU β-tubulin genes consider relationships 50...
Species belonging to Penicillium section Aspergilloides have a world-wide distribution with P. glabrum , spinulosum and thomii the most well-known species of this section. These occur commonly can be isolated from many substrates including soil, food, bark indoor environments. The taxonomy these has been investigated several times using various techniques, but delimitation remains difficult. In present study, 349 strains were subjected multilocus molecular phylogenetic analyses partial...
Current literature accepts 17 species in Penicillium section Sclerotiora. Several produce colonies bright yellow to orange colours and have monoverticillate conidiophores, apart from P. herquei, malachiteum nodositatum, which are biverticillate. The focus of this paper is refine the concepts currently accepted introduce five new species, named after Dutch Royal family as vanoranjei, maximae, amaliae, alexiae arianeae. vanoranjei produces (Dutch = oranje) culture, Willem-Alexander Claus...
Fourteen Trichoderma (Hypocreales) species were identified during a survey of the genus in South Africa. These include T. afroharzianum, asperelloides, asperellum, atrobrunneum, atroviride, camerunense, gamsii, hamatum, koningii, koningiopsis, saturnisporum, spirale, virens, and viride. Ten these not known to occur Africa prior this investigation. Five additional novel are described here as beinartii, caeruleimontis, chetii, restrictum, undulatum. display morphological traits that typical...
The Acidobacteriota is ubiquitous and considered as one of the major bacterial phyla in soils. current taxonomic classifications this phylum are divided into 15 class-level subdivisions (SDs), with only 5 these SDs containing cultured fully described species. Within fynbos biome, has been reported dominant phyla, relative abundances ranging between 4-26%. However, none studies on specific distribution diversity within Therefore, study we aimed to first determine abundance three pristine...
The Fynbos biome in South Africa is renowned for its high plant diversity and the conservation of this area particularly important region. This especially true case endangered vegetation types on lowlands such as Sand Fynbos, which only small fragments remain. question thus whether above-ground flora mirrored below-ground microbial communities. In order to determine relationship above- communities, soil community composition both fungal bacterial groups was characterized over space time. A...
A survey of the fynbos biome in South Africa resulted isolation 61 Penicillium species from Protea repens infructescences, air, and soil samples. Fourteen these belong to sect. Exilicaulis therefore we considered it an opportunity re-evaluate taxonomy section. Phylogenetic comparisons ITS, β-tubulin, calmodulin RPB2 gene regions 76 section species, revealed 52 distinct including nine new fynbos. Morphological confirmed novelty for most these, however, closely related P rubefaciens did not...
A species of Morchella was observed growing in spring, under a vulnerable member the Proteaceae, Cape Floristic Region South Africa. These fungi shared many cryptic characteristics common genus and displayed wide range phenotypic expression. The unique ecology these fact that no endemic have been described from Africa lead to suspicions this could be novel species. Sequencing key genetic regions, phylogenetics, morphological studies confirmed indeed previously unknown Morchella. Roots...
Riparian ecosystem along rivers and streams are characterised by lateral longitudinal ecological gradients and, as a result, harbour unique biodiversity. ecosystems in the fynbos of Western Cape, South Africa, seasonal dynamics, with summer droughts followed high flows during winter. The hydrology geomorphology riparian play an important role shaping these ecosystems. vegetation Cape has, however, largely been degraded due to invasion non-indigenous plants, particular Acacia mearnsii, A....
The taxonomy of Talaromyces rugulosus, T. wortmannii and closely related species, classified in sect. Islandici, is reviewed this paper. species Islandici have restricted growth on MEA CYA, generally yellow mycelia produce rugulosin and/or skyrin. They are important biotechnology (e.g. wortmannii) medicine piceus, radicus). was resolved using a combination morphological, extrolite phylogenetic data, the Genealogical Concordance Phylogenetic Species Recognition (GCPSR) concept, with special...
The commercially important plants in the genus Cyclopia spp. are indigenous to Cape Floristic Region of South Africa and used manufacture an herbal tea known as honeybush tea. Growing low nutrient fynbos soils, these highly dependent on symbiotic interactions with soil microorganisms for acquisition. aim this study was investigate bacterial communities associated two species, namely C. subternata longifolia. Specific interest differences between rhizosphere bulk collected from natural sites...
In 1999, red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) trees in a small area of the Halifax Regional Municipality Nova Scotia, Atlantic Canada, were found to be infested and killed by Tetropium fuscum (Fabr.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), Eurasian species longhorn beetle. We isolated identified fungi associated with T. compared them ophiostomatoid spp. on Europe. Ophiostoma cinnamopterum Kirby (indigenous transcontinental Canada) also those fuscum. Strains based morphological molecular characters. piceae...
There is an increasing world‐wide demand for skin lightening active ingredients. Many common ingredients on the market are either unsafe or ineffective at low concentrations. We therefore screened a series of hydroxy‐stilbene derivatives tyrosinase inhibitory activity. By chemical synthesis, structures were optimized efficacy and stability. The final candidate, 4‐(1‐phenylethyl)1,3‐benzenediol, was found to be stable inhibit mushroom 22 times more effectively than kojic acid. In assay with...