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1 Jaarverslag / Annual Report 2002

Annual Report 2002

CONTENTS

Message from the head of Department 2

Personnel 3

Extraordinary Professors 3

Promotions 4

Guest researchers and associates 5

Overseas visits by staff & students 6

Sabbaticals 7

Research Projects 11

Publications in science citation index journals 15

Contributions in published refereed conference proceedings 19

Chapters in refereed specialist books 19

National conference contributions 20

International conference contributions 23

MSc and PhD Degrees awarded 25

Post Graduate Students 27

DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY AND PLANT

PATHOLOGY


The year 2002 has been a year of unsurpassed achievement for the department. More than 50 scientific papers were published in Science Citation Indexed journals. This research output compares favorably with the best academic departments acknowledged as such internationally. 9 MSc and 4 PhD students completed their degrees during 2002. Funding of these students and their research, poses a tremendous challenge to everyone in the department. Two of our staff members were promoted, Dr J Theron to the level of Associate professor and Dr S N Venter to senior lecturer. Prof Korsten was also placed in the B3 NRF category, after evaluation. Performance management of all the staff members

indicated, that everyone in the department was achieving above expectation. These achievements are a reflection of the quality and commitment of staff members, in our effort to be internationally competitive and recognized. The quality of the research conducted in the department, as well as the standard of teaching remains and will always be a high priority. Currently more than 70 students are enrolled at the post-graduate level. I am therefore very thankful for the individual contribution every staff member is making in order to secure the sustainability of the department and to maintain the high level of quality outputs. The research is supported financially by the private sector and in such cases then also by the Technology and Human Resources for Industry Programme (THRIP) of the Department of Trade and Industry and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The department is very appreciative of the contributions it receives in this way. Our collaborators deserve our sincerest thanks, without them our research and thus also most of our postgraduate education, would simply not be possible.

Message from the Head of the Department – Prof T E Cloete


Doserende personeel / Lecturing staff Prof Cloete TE: MSc(UOVS) DSc(Pret) Pri Sci Nat – Professor and Head Prof Brözel VS: BSc (Food Science) (Stell) BSc (Hons)(Micro) MSc PhD(Pret) - Associate Professor Prof Coutinho TA: BSc, BSc Hons, MSc, PhD (Natal) – Associate Professor Prof Korsten L: BSc(Hons)(Stell), MSc PhD(Pret) - Professor Prof Nel LH: MSc(UOVS), PhD(Pret) - Professor Prof Steyn PL: MSc(Agric)(Pret) PhD(Calif) Pri Sci Nat - Adjunct Professor Prof Aveling TAS: MSc PhD(Natal) - Associate Professor Prof Wehner FC: MSc(Agric) DSc(Agric)(Pret) Pri Sci Nat – Professor Prof Wingfield MJ: BSc(Hons)(Natal) MSc(Stell) PhD(Minnesota) – Professor and Director: FABI Prof Theron J: BSc BSc(Hons) MSc PhD(Pret) – Associate Professor Dr Labuschagne N: MSc(Agric) DSc(Agric)(Pret) Pri Sci Nat - Snr Lecturer Dr Venter SN: MSc(Pret) PhD (Pret) Snr - Lecturer Dr Viljoen A: BSc, BSc (Hons) PhD (UOVS) – Snr Lecturer Dr Jaftha JB : MSc(Pret) PhD(Pret) - Lecturer Technical assistants Ms Kerien van Dyk: MSc, UP Mrs Amelita Lombard: BSc (Agric Hons), UP Ms Wanda Markotter: MSc, UP Mrs Mariette Truter: BSc (Hons) UP Mrs Aida Bosch: Diploma in Medical Technology Support Staff Mrs Madelein du Preez(Secretary) Mrs Lilian Motale Mrs Bettie van Rooyen (Secretary) Mr Albert Molefe Industry Funded Staff (Citrus and Subtropical) Dr G Swart: Research officer Ms A Redmond: Research Assistant Ms T Beart: Technical Assistant Ms D Muller: Administrative assistant

Prof P Ashton (CSIR); Prof R M Atlas (USA); Prof P Jooste (ARC); Prof P L Steyn; Prof B Strydom; Prof G J Viljoen (Onderstepoort); Prof H Kasan (Randwater)

PERSONNEL

EXTRAORDINARY PROFESSORS


Dr Theron has recently been promoted to associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology. Jacques Theron was born in Pretoria, 10 July 1968, and attended Courtrai Primary School in Paarl and Wonderboom Secondary School in Pretoria. He then enrolled at the University of Pretoria to study a BSc degree, which he completed in 1989 majoring in Microbiology, followedby a BSc Hons (Microbiol) degree in 1991. He was awarded the M.Sc degree (cum laude) in 1994 and a Ph.D degree followed this in 1996. Both degrees were obtained under the guidance of Prof L.H. Nel and Prof H. Huismans. His studies focused on the molecular biology of Orbiviruses, with specific reference to the nonstructural NS2 protein and its role in virus morphogenesis and replication. In

1996, he was appointed as Lecturer in the Department and was subsequently promoted to the position of Senior Lecturer in 2000. In this time, he explored various different research interests, which straddled the fields of molecular bacteriology, environmental biotechnology and molecular diagnostics, and resulted in the granting of two patents. During 2000, he was the recipient of the Water Institute of southern Africa (WISA) biannual award for most promising young researcher and has recently received an award as an exceptional young researcher from the University of Pretoria. Dr Theron is currently rated as Y1 by the NRF. His current research interests include: the molecular characterization of a novel putative secretion system in the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the development of a refined antisense RNA technology for use in prokaryotes as an alternative to currently used in vivo mutagenesis procedures to study gene function, and the development of RNA interference technologies for both insect and mammalian cells whereby gene structure-function relationships of the Orbiviruses can be elucidated. The information generated by the latter will be applied to the development of procedures based on live vectoring as an alternative approach toward the prevention and control of orbiviral diseases.

Dr Fanus Venter was recently promoted to senior lecturer in the Department. During the last seven years his research focused on the development of techniques and information systems to be used for the management of the microbial water quality of surface waters. He has been able to apply his knowledge of microbiology to make a significant input to multi-disciplinary projects that required close cooperation between scientists of various disciplines such as engineering, statistics, hydrology and modelling. It is also for this work that he has received the Young Scientist award from the Water Research Commission in 1998. His research on the management of microbial water quality culminated in the conceptual design of the

PROMOTION – Prof J Theron

PROMOTION – Dr S N Venter


National Microbial Monitoring Programme for surface water in South Africa. By describing the concepts of high-risk areas and developing novel procedures to identify and prioritise them he has produced a design that is ideally suited for developing countries. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry have since implemented the programme with great success. His interest in water-borne pathogens still continues and his research group is currently focusing on the epidemiology and survival of Salmonella spp and Vibrio cholerae in the environment. Collaboration with overseas institutions is also important in his research. He has just completed a two-year collaborative project on Cryptosporidium with Dr A Majewska of the Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences in Poznan, Poland. Apart from his own visits to Poland, one of her PhD students spent a month in his laboratory during 2002. During 2003 he will also be part of another overseas collaborative project with the Laboratory for Microbiology, University of Gent that focuses on the epidemiology and classification of Pantoea species, a group of emerging plant pathogens

?? Extraordinary Prof P Ashton, Postgraduate Supervisor, CSIR, Environmentek, South Africa

?? Dr W Hammond, Biological Control Center for Africa, International Institute of Tropical

Agriculture, Benin

?? Extraordinary Prof P Jooste, Postgraduate Supervisor, ARC, Meat Science, South Africa

?? Prof J van Buuren, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands

?? Extraordinary Prof G Viljoen, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa

?? Dr J Legg, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Uganda

?? Prof Shin-Chuan Hwang, Taiwan Banana Research Institute, Taiwan

?? Dr G Thompson, Agricultural Research Council (ARC), South Africa

?? Dr A Majewska, University of Medical Sciencies in Poznan, Poland

?? Dr Christiaan Steinberg, INRA, Dijon, France

?? Dr Jean-Vincent Escalant, INIBAP, Montpellier, France

?? Prof Wally Marasas, Medical Research Council, Tugerberg, South Africa

?? Prof Pedro Crous, CBS, Utrecht, The Netherlands

GUEST RESEARCHERS AND ASSOCIATES


1. Volker Brözel worked in the laboratory of Drs Thierry Jouenne and Pascal Cosette at the University of Rouen, France from 17 – 23 February on a joint project studying Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms.

2. Volker Brözel was a visiting professor for eight months in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology (Prof Michael Hecker), Ernst Moritz Arndt Universität, Geifswald, Germany from May to December 2002. He performed proteomic and transcriptomic research on Bacillus subtilis biofilm development.

3. Volker Brözel was invited to a present at the Institut für Infektionsbiologie, (Prof Joerg Hacker) at the Universität Würzburg, 30 October 2002, Würzburg, Germany.

4. Prof T E Cloete was as invited guest to Dubai International Conference on Water Resources and Integrated Management in the third Millennium, 2-6 February 2002.

5. Fanus Venter visited Dr Majewska of the Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences in Poznan Poland twice during the year are part of a collaborative project on Cryptosporidium.

6. Dr Altus Viljoen was invited as a speaker at the 2nd International Symposium on Mycopshaerella leaf diseases of banana in Costa Rica in May. He also attended PROMUSA Sigatoka Worksgroup meeting afterwards. In June Dr Viljoen also participated in meetings and paid research visits to Honduras and Cuba.

7. In September, three students of the banana research programme (Marinda Visser, Rene van Zyl and Andrew Kiggundu) attended the 3rd International Meeting on the Cellular and Molecular Biology of Banana in Leuven, Belgium. Andrew also attended to PROMUSA Genetic Improvement group meeting afterwards.

8. Dr Viljoen attended the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting on the application of biotechnological methodologies for the improvement of banana production in Eastern Africa with Andrew Kiggundu and Prof. Karl Kunert (Dept. Botany) from 15 to 17 November.

OVERSEAS VISITS BY STAFF & STUDENTS


Prof V S Brözel

Period: April 2001 – December 2001

“Sabbatical: a period of time during which a teacher or university lecturer can leave their normal teaching duties so that they can travel or study.” The aim of my sabbatical was to gain expertise in two core techniques underpinning modern bacterial physiology, viz. proteomics and transcriptomics, so I chose the institute of Prof Michael Hecker at the University of Greifswald in Germany. The financial support of the NRF facilitated the travel between Pretoria and Greifswald, and support from the Functional Centre for Life Sciences (Universities of Rostock and Greifswald) enabled us to survive in Germany.

Activities 1. Proteomics

The main aim of my research was to characterize biofilm formation / development of B. subtilis by proteomics. The first few weeks were literally a nightmare. I thought that because I had worked in the lab till 1993, that I could still function in a research environment, but o horror of horrors! I did eventually warm up to working in labs spread over three stories, carrying all and sundry clutched under my arm, and getting used to working in shared space.

Following the basic kinetic work and optimizing protein extraction I ventured into 2D electrophoresis. My first gel was a clear blank devoid of a single spot, but that was all part of the warm-up; how easy it is to miss-read a protocol. After a second round of silver staining, there they were; the power of a dr op of formaldehyde at the right stage! I did separations of proteins from biofilms of various ages (5, 8, 12, 18 and 24h), comparing to planktonic and SIP, and analyzed the images using the in-house software Delta 2D. A new phenomenon to me was the lysis of cells directly following onset of stationary phase, something gram negatives simply do not do. My original aim of including “mature” B. subtilis biofilm therefore faded, but the phenomenon still intrigues me. In summary the proteomic analysis showed that attached B. subtilis switches to the breakdown of overflow metablites. To explain this it is important to note that bacteria growing exponentially in the presence of oxygen don’t really use the TCA cycle

SABBATICALS


despite this being stated in just about every undergraduate text book; they would literally burn to death and therefore excrete the acetate, pyruvate and some lactate during exponential phase. Once the primary energy sources have been consumed, they re-import the intermediates and switch to the TCA cycle.

2. Transcriptomics

The last four weeks were spent preparing for transcriptomic analysis of B. subtilis biofilm as compared to planktonic and SIP populations. The strategy was to extract RNA, determine its quality and then to perform macro-arrays. I learnt how to extract RNA from bacterial biomass, and produced probes against four selected genes coding for proteins that we identified by proteomics (rocA, yveK, yveQ and yvfA). I then worked out a strategy to extract RNA from biofilm using a dismembranator (the biomass is immersed in ice cold azide – containing buffer, harvested and the concentrated biomass dropped in liquid N2 before disruption in a Teflon vial. Northern blots confirmed the usefulness of the RNA extracts (5, 12 and 24h biofilm) but also yielded nice data for transcription of hag (flagellar protein-encoding gene), gsiB (indicator of SigB activity), rocA (ornithine / arginine catabolism) and the putative EPS-biosynthetic genes yveK and yveQ. I could show that flagellar synthesis shuts down directly following attachement, implying premature shut-down / inactivation of SigD as also indicated by the proteomic data. I could also show that the yve operon is not expressed in B. subtilis growing as a biofilm, in contrast to the results of Branda et al. The results on rocA and gsiB require further work for interpretation.

Most importantly the Northern analysis of the various RNA extracts proved its quality and suitability for array work. I intend to spend three weeks later during 2003 producing macro-arrays and analyzing the data in Greifswald with Georg Homuth.

3. Reviewing for the boss

Prof. Hecker sits on several editorial boards, either as an editor or reviewer, so that manuscripts literally flow through the institute. Apart from reviewing some manuscripts myself, I quickly became the “English editor” for all and sundry (please don’t laugh, but as they say in Afrikaans, “in die land van die blindes…”). I even got my claws into the review of a Losick manuscript. This activity was an unplanned but very worthwhile exposure that I have found both enlightening and helpful.

4. Presentations

Prof Hecker asked me to give several presentations, and I am extremely grateful to him for the opportunities, both in terms of new acquaintances and the comments and suggestions I could pick up. Unquestionably the highlight was an invitation to a closed meeting of the EU Bacillus consortium at Royaumont near Paris. We were even served four -course meals by waiters! On the one hand I was overwhelmed by the growing interest in biofilms, but also felt the growing competition in an area I once knew as an open field.

1. Brözel, V.S. Biofilms: City of Microbes. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Ernst Moritz Arndt Univesity, 15 June 2002, Greifswald, Germany

2. Brözel, V.S. Proteome und Biofilm. Proteomics of pathogens network meeting, 11 – 14 September 2002, Hiddensee, Germany


3. Brözel, V.S. Proteome und Biofilm. Functional Centre for Life Sciences, University of Rostock, 16 October, Rostock

4. Brözel, V.S. Antelmann, H and Hecker, M. Development of bacterial biofilms: a proteomic approach. BACCELL Network Meeting, 18 – 19 October, Royaumont, France.

5. Brözel, V.S. Bacterial biofilms: an urban rural interface. Institut für Infektionsbiologie, Universität Würzburg, 30 October 2002, Würzburg, Germany.

5. South African matters

I had offered the MBY 754 course as well as the repeat course for the last two stragglers through MBY211 before I left. I attended to postgraduate students both via email and through three visits to Pretoria, viz. 2 – 8 June, 25 – 30 August and 16 – 24 November 2002. I also spent considerable time on proposals, reports and reviews for the NRF and the WRC by email.

Lessons learnt 1.“Systems biology”

The “new talk” in South African biology/biotechnology is transcriptomics and proteomics; in Europe the current pipe dream is so-called systems biology. In essence this is about integrating transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic data towards a “complete” understanding of the cell. The fundamental challenge here is not the analytical side (although the three component areas remain methodologically challenging), but to find ways in which data can be offered to humans in a manner promoting understanding. Sydney Brenner was recently quoted as saying: “so much data, so little information”. People therefore speak of a need for “bioinformatics”, but what is required here is very different to the bioinformatics we have come to know.

2. Limitations of transcriptomics

It appears quite clear now that array data is useful ONLY for screening / fishing purposes, and cannot substitute the single-gene approach. This does not detract from the unique value of global transcriptomic analysis which, in contrast to proteomics is not limited by protein solubility, but does highlight that this technique, like all others, forms part of a palette.

3. Networking

Europe (and I suppose the USA and selected other areas) is an order richer than we are. To place this in context Michael Hecker turns over ca. eight million Euro per annum, something close to the entire annual NRF budget. The approach is to buy all the newest high tech in case it may be required to maintain the leading edge. Among others they now have three MALDI-TOF and a Q-star, as well as the new Amersham spot-picker – digester capable of picking, digesting and scanning 1152 protein spots within 24h. Very importantly they also have the salaries and people to drive and maintain all the high tech. This emphasizes once again the growing sentiment that we should focus rather on traveling to work at such institutions rather than fighting endlessly to finally attain half of what is required to do the research we all keep dreaming of. We do, of course, need to have sufficient infrastructural capacity in house to do work that will at least make us attractive to the leading labs.

4. Do it thoroughly I had the good fortune to spend the last four weeks of my sabbatical with Dr Georg Homuth, a prototype bioscience research role model. Georg taught me the art of RNA isolation, which is the


core of transcriptomic work, the place where sloppy workmanship leads to grave distortions. The process involves a zillion steps with controls at every possible stage, but it works “perfectly every time”. We tend to want quick and easy results and are often tempted to take short cuts, but I was convinced that the rigorous approach is better. Needless to say my first Northerns performed under his guidance were stunning, the result of rigorous adherence to detail.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the University of Pretoria and the Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology for granting me sabbatical leave. Secondly my sincerest thanks to Prof Michael Hecker and his team for hosting me and for allowing me into their enclave. Thanks are also due to the NRF for financial support, and to my postgraduate students for being so patient during this period. Lastly I would like to thank my colleagues Fanus Venter and Jacques Theron for keeping the home fires burning, for all their support and standing in for me throughout this period, and to Teresa Coutinho for coordinating the honours course.

This foto is taken on a boat on the Loreley op Rhine River: Prof Brözel’s wife at the back, Annegret and his two

suns (front) Alexander and (back) Nicholas

This foto is taken at the Hawe van Greifswald: Prof Brözel and his two sons (front) Alexander and (back)

Nicholas


WATER BIOTECHNOLOGY: PROF T E CLOETE The Water Biotechnology Group focused their research on the passive treatment of acid mine drainage, microbial community diversity studies in activated sludge, and on solar pasteurisation of water supplies in rural areas. A new dimension was added with the three PhD students in Water Resource Management focusing on a multi-criteria decision making model for integrated catchment management in the one instance, a national strategy for monitoring the microbial quality of water supplies in the other and the third project revolving around the development of a national strategy for water supply in rural areas. Significant advances have been made in the development of a passive treatment system for acid mine drainage. The group working on activated sludge population dynamics, indicated for the first time, that the exopolymers produced by bacteria in activated sludge contained phosphorus and could play a major role in biological phosphorus removal from waste water. Research on solar pasteurisation indicated that this technique could be used successfully for treating groundwater to meet potable standards, hence providing an ideal cost effective method for treating contaminated water in rural areas.

FOREST PATHOLOGY: COUTINHO TA, WINGFIELD M J New tools have been developed to understand population diversity of some key pathogens of plantation trees in South Africa. This will significantly enhance our ability to deal with losses due to associated, and often serious losses. In addition, new knowledge has been gained on the biology of important insect pests and diseases. Furthermore, new pathogens have been discovered and techniques to identify them have been explored.

WHITE RUST OF SUNFLOWER: AVELING TAS, VILJOEN A White rust is considered the most damaging sunflower disease in South Africa, and is caused by the obligate parasite Albugo tragopogonis. Research on the disease is difficult, since no greenhouse inoculation techniques are available. The development of such a technique will assist in the study of control methods which will include chemical control. PANAMA DISEASE OF BANANAS: VILJOEN A Panama disease is considered to be one of the most damaging plant diseases in the world. In South Africa, the disease is particularly severe in the Kiepersol and Southern KwaZulu-Natal area. Since no effective method of control is available, an integrated disease management

RESEARCH PROJECTS


program to limit the effect of the disease in the field is being developed. This programme integrates plant disease resistance, biological control, general plant health and disease management. The pathogen population was been analysed and the spread of the fungus determined.

POSTHARVEST PATHOLOGY KORSTEN L, SWART G Pre and postharvest factory that influence postharvest quality of fruits and vegetables are studied to ensure sustained market access through quality assurance. Postharvest pathogens that infect fruits and vegetables pre or postharvestly are studied in terms of ecology, biology and control. INTEGRATED DISEASE MANAGEMENT: KOTZÉ JM, KORSTEN L, WEHNER FC, LABUSCHAGNE N, Alternative disease control strategies as part of integrated disease management systems focus on the use of biological and other natural control options. The reduced use of agrochemicals coupled with more environmentally friendly ways to control diseases and enhance plant growth, forms an integral part of IDM systems. HYDROPONIC PATHOLOGY: LABUSCHAGNE N The main focus is the etiology and control of Pythium wilt and root rot in hydroponic systems. A disease control strategy is being developed for the different types of systems. A range of Pythium isolates have been isolated from the main hydroponic crops. These isolates are now being identified and screened for pathogenicity. NITROGEN FIXATION: JAFTHA JB, STEYN PL, STRYDOM B Leguminnous plants and their rhizobial symbionts are investigated to increase the application of Biological Nitrogen Fixation in South African agriculture. Rhizobia from a wide range of plant hosts are characterised in an effort to determine the diversity of the bacterial symbionts and possibly identify inoculant species for agricultural application. BIOFILM PHYSIOLOGY: BRÖZEL VS, THERON J The bulk of bacteria occuring in the environment grow at surfaces, forming biofilms. Bacteria growing in biofilms display a unique phenotype distinct from broth or agar cultured cells. The behaviour of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus in biofilms is under investigation by proteomic (2D electrophoretorgrams of proteins), as well as genetic analysis. The regulation and function of a number of regulatory elements of P. aeruginosa affected during growth as a biofilm are being studied. The growth, activity and survival of pathogenic bacteria in drinking water biofilms is also under investigation.


MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY: NEL LH, THERON J, VILJOEN G, INJAIRU RM, DUNGU-KIMBENGA B Gene manipulation technology is used in the study of aspects of gene expression and protein function in a variety of micro-organisms, including a number of important viruses. Molecular genetic analysis is also implemented in the diagnostics and taxonomy of various important groups of viruses, bacteria and fungi. BACTERIAL PATHOGENS IN WATER: BRÖZEL VS, VENTER SN The research focus entails the development of detection and identification methods, as well as a study of the fate (survival) of water-borne pathogens. Detection, typing and identification methods for Vibrio cholerae in surface and drinking water sources are developed. The prevalence of bacterial pathogens in biofilms associated with drinking water is investigated, as is the survival of pathogens in fresh water sediments. BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF THE QUALITY AND HEALTH PROPERTIES OF TEA: APOSTOLIDES Z, LOUW AI, GASPAR ARM, LABUSCHAGNE N DNA primers are used to identify tea cultivars of different qualities, and the role of polyphenols in conferring quality and health aspects on tea is investigated. ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY: JOOSTE A, CLOETE TE, ASHTON P, JOOSTE P, VAN BUUREN J The use of micro-organisms to inhibit pollution is researched. Emphasis is placed on water pollution with special reference to waste water, industrial waste water, industrial effluent cooling water and water supply. FOOD SAFETY AND QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR HYDROPONIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND MINIMAL PROCESSING PLANTS: KORSTEN L, DU PLOOY W, HALL A The development and implementation of a quality assurance system for the production and minimal processing of Primary agriculture and fruits and vegetables. BIOCONTROL OF PLANT DISEASES: KORSTEN L, WEHNER FC, LABUSCHAGNE N Development of natural disease control products such as natural plant extracts and microorganisms that can control the most important plant diseases on a commercial scale.


PHYTOBACTERIOLOGY COUTINHO TA, VENTER SN Pantoea ananatis is the casual agent of serious diseases on a number of monocotyledous and dicotyledous plant species worldwide. In South Africa, this bacterial pathogen causes large-scale losses to the forestry industry where it infects young eucalypt trees. The blight and die-back caused by P.ananatis either causes tree death or the production of multi-stemmed plants, and undesirable silvicultural trait. Similar symptoms have also been reported from other countries, but the causal agent involved has not been identified. Due to the serious nature of the disease, a research programme was initiated by the Department to understand the biology and ecology of P. ananatis. One problem that repeatedly confronts the group is the difficulty to accurately identify the bacterium because of its similarity to other Pantoea species. This problem led to a collaborative project between our group and experts on Pantoea identification at the University of Ghent in Belgium. SOILBORNE DISEASES: LABUSCHAGNE N, REGNIER T, APOSTOLIDES Z, HUGUES B Biochemical resistance mechanisms against soilborne pathogens are being investigated in citrus rootstocks. The yam nematode is being studied pertaining to aspects such as pathogenicity, genetic variability and rapid resistance screening. CITRUS AND SUBTROPICAL RESEARCH KORSTEN L, WEHNER FC, LABUSCHAGNE N, SWART G The most important diseases of citrus and mango are studied and include citrus greening, blackspot and root rot. Mango research focus mainly on treeding back, black spot anthracnose and soft brown rot. SUSTAINABLE INSECT MANAGEMENT: CHOWN SL, COUTINHO TA, CREWE RM, FLOYD R, GOVENDER P, KORSTEN L, LIEUTIER F, MCGEOCH MA, MUTITU E, OBERHOLSTER A-M, ROBINSON D, SCHOEMAN AS, SCHOLTZ CH, VILJOEN A, WINGFIELD The scientific integration of agriculture and conservation goals using principles of integrated pest management. A SURVEY AND STUDY OF THE PLANT PATHOGENS REDUCING YIELDS OF INDIGENOUS FOOD CROPS, AND THE TRANSMISSION AND CONTROL OF THESE PATHOGENS: AVELING TAS, LABUSCHAGNE N Light and electron microscopy of host/ pathogen interactions; seed pathology; seed health testing; control of seed-borne diseases; disease survey.


1. CLOETE, T.E. and THERON, J. 2002. Emerging waterborne infections: Contributing factors, agents and detection tools. Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 28(1): 1-26

2. VAN HEERDEN, J., KORF, C., EHLERS, M and CLOETE, T.E. 2002. Biolog for the determination of diversity in microbial communities. Water SA, 28: 29-35

3. CLOETE, T.E., ALLISON, P.J. and POULTON, W.I.J. 2002. The detection and Mitigation of MIC. Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion, Volume 2, pp 11.15 – 11.20

4. MAILA, M.P. and CLOETE, T.E. 2002. Germination of Lepidium sativum as a method to evaluate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) removal form contaminated soil. In: International Biodeterioration and Biodegradation. 50(2): 107-113.

5. WAGNER, A. and CLOETE, T.E. 2002. 16S rRNA sequence analysis of bacteria present in foaming activated sludge. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, Volume 25, pp 434-439

6. MALHERBE, S. and CLOETE, T.E. 2002. Lignocellulose biodegradation: fundamentals and applications. Reviews in Environmental Science and Biotechnology, 01, 105-114.

7. CLOETE, T.E. 2002. Electrochemically activated water as a non pollution anti-fouling technology. Corrosion, 02463, 1-7

8. ESPACH, A., ROMITO, M., NEL, L.H.

& VILJOEN, G.J., 2002. Development of a diagnostic one-tube RT-PCR for the detection of Rift Valley Fever Virus. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research, Vol. 69: 247-252.

9. HESTER VAN RENSBURG, DANIEL HAYDON, FOURIE JOUBERT, ARMANDA BASTOS, LIVIO HEATH and LOUIS NEL., 2002. Genetic heterogeneity in the foot-and-mouth disease virus Leader and 3C proteinases. Gene, Vol. 289 (1-2) (2002) pp. 19-29.

10. LINDSAY, D., OOSTHUIZEN, M.C., BRÖZEL, V.S. AND VON HOLY, A. 2002 Adaptation of a neutrophilic dairy-associated B. cereus isolate to alkaline pH. J. Appl. Microbiol 92, 81 – 89.

11. LINDSAY, D., BRÖZEL, V.S., MOSTERT, J.F. AND VON HOLY, A. 2002. Differential efficacy of a chlorine dioxide-containing sanitizer against single species and binary biofilms of a dairy-associated Bacillus cereus and a Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate. J. Appl. Microbiol. 92, 352 – 361.

12. MOKGATLA, R.M., GOUWS, P.A. AND BRÖZEL, V.S. . 2002 Mechanisms contributing to hypochlorous acid resistance of a Salmonella isolate from a poultry processing plant. J. Appl. Microbiol. 92, 566 – 573.

13. MCLEOD, E.S., MACDONALD, R. AND BRÖZEL, V.S. 2002 Distribution of Shewanella putrefaciens and Desulfovibrio vulgaris in sulphidogenic biofilms of industrial cooling water systems determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization Water SA. 28, 123 – 128.

PUBLICATIONS IN SCIENCE CITATION INDEX JOURNALS


14. HAWUMBA, J.F., THERON, J. AND BRÖZEL, V.S. 2002 Thermophilic protease-producing Geobacillus from Buranga hot-spring in Western Uganda. Curr. Microbiol. 45, 144 – 150.

15. DU PLESSIS, E.M., THERON, J., JOUBERT, L.E., LOTTER, T.C. & WATSON, T.G. (2002). Characterization of a phosphatase secreted by Staphylococcus aureus strain 154, a new member of the bacterial class C family of nonspecific acid phosphatases. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, 25, 21-30.

16. GOOSEN, C., THERON, J., NTSALA, M., MAREE, F.F., OLCKERS, A., BOTHA, S.V.J. & VAN DER MERWE, S.W. (2002). Evaluation of a novel hemi-nested PCR assay based on the phosphoglucosamine mutase gene for detection of Helicobacter pylori in saliva and dental plaque. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 40: 205-209.

17. OOSTHUIZEN, M.C., STEYN, B., THERON, J., COSETTE, P., LINDSAY, D., VON HOLY, A. & BRÖZEL, V.S. (2002). Proteomic analysis reveals differential protein expression in Bacillus cereus during biofilm formation. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 68: 2770-280.

18. KRITZINGER, Q., AVELING, T.A.S. & MARASAS, W.F.O. 2002. Effect of essential plant oils on storage fungi, germination and emergence of cowpea seeds. Seed Science and Technology 30(3): 609-619.

19. VENTER, M., MYBURG, H., WINGFIELD, B.D., COUTINHO, T.A. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. A new species of Cryphonectria from South Africa and Australia, pathogenic to

Eucalyptus, Sydowia 54, 98-117.

20. SLIPPERS, B., WINGFIELD, B.D., COUTINHO, T.A. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. DNA sequence and RFLP data reflect geographical spread and relationships of Amylostereum areolatum and its insect vectors. Molecular Ecology. 11, 1845-1854.

21. BRITZ, H., WINGFIELD, B.D., COUTINHO, T.A. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. Sequence characterized amplified polymorphic markers for the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium circinatum. Molecular Ecology Notes. 2, 577-580.

22. WINGFIELD, M.J., COUTINHO, T.A., ROUX, J. and WINGFIELD, B.D. 2002. The future of exotic plantation forestry in the tropics and southern Hemisphere: Lessons from pitch canker. South African Forestry Journal. 195, 79-82.

23. MASEKO, B.O.Z., and COUTINHO, T.A. 2002. Pathogenicity of Phytophthora and Pythium species associated with citrus root rot in South Africa. South African Journal of Botany.68, 327-332.

24. PAKELA, Y.P., AVELING, T.A.S. & COUTINHO, T.A. 2002. Effect of plant age, temperature and dew period on the severity of anthracnose of cowpea caused by Colletotrichum dematium. African Plant Protection 8: 65-68.

25. VAN DEN BERG, N., AVELING, T.A.S. & VAN DER MERWE, C.F. 2002. Conidial morphology and development of Alternaria cassiae from cowpea. African Plant Protection 8: 69-74.

26. VAN DEN BERG, N., AVELING, T.A.S. & VENTER, S.L. 2002. The evaluation of six fungicides for reducing Alternaria cassiae on cowpea seed. Crop


Protection 21: 501-505.

27. ADANDONON, A., AVELING T A S, LABUSCHAGNE, N. & AHOHUENDO B C. 2002. Pythium/Rhizoctonia complex causing damping-off of cowpea in South Africa. African Plant Protection 7(2): 111-113.

28. MEYER, L. & VAN DYK, K. and WEHNER, F.C. 2002. Susceptibility of pasture crops to Rhizoctonia solani and other fungi associated with crater disease of wheat on the Springbok Flats, South Africa. African Plant Protection 8: 57-63.

29. J. B. JAFTHA, I. J. LAW, B. W. STRIJDOM AND P. L. STEYN. 2002. Characterisation of pigmented methylotrophic bacteria which nodulate Lotononis bainesii. Systematic and Applied Microbiology, vol. 25, 440-449.

30. JANISIEWICZ, W. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits. Annual Review of Plant Pathology 40:411-441.

31. LOUW, C.A.M., REGNIER, T.J.C. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Medicinal bulbous plants of South Africa and their traditional relevance in the control of infectious diseases. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 82:147-154.

32. VENTER, M., MYBURG, H., WINGFIELD, B.D., COUTINHO, T.A. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. A new species of Cryphonectria form South Africa and Australia, pathogenic to Eucalyptus. Sydowia-An International Journal of Mycology. 98-117.

33. BRITZ, H., STEENKAMP, E.T., COUTINHO, T.A., WINGFIELD, B.D., MARASAS, W.F.O. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. Two new species of Fusarium section Liseola associated with mango malformation. Mycologia . 94(4):722-730.

34. WINGFIELD, M.J., COUTINHO, T.A., ROUX, J. and WINGFIELD, B.D. 2002. The future of exotic plantation forestry in the tropics and Southern Hemisphere: lessons from pitch canker. Southern African Forestry Journal. No 195:79-82.

35. JACOBS, A. COUTINHO, T.A., AHUMADA, R. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. First report on the pitch cancker fungus, Fusarium circinatum on pines in Chile. Plant Pathology. No.51:397.

36. DE WET, J., WINGFIELD, M.J., COUTINHO, T.A. and WINGFIELD, B.D. 2002. Characterisation of the ‘C’ morphotype of the pine pathogen Sphaeropsis sapinea. Forest Ecology and Management. 161: 181-188.

37. VAN ZYL, L.M., COUTINHO, T.A., WINGFIELD, M.J. and WINGFIELD, B.D. 2002. Morphological and molecular relatedness of geographically diverse isolates of Coniothyrium zuluenes from South Africa and Thailand. Mycological Research. 106(1): 51-59.

38. BELAY, T.A., CLAASSENS, A.S. and WEHNER, F.C. 2002. Soil nutrient contents, microbial properties and maize yield under long-term legume-based crop rotation and fertilization: A comparison of residual effect of manure and NPK fertilizers. South African Journal of Plant and Soil. 9(2): 104-110.

39. LABUSCHAGNE, N., GULL, C., WEHNER, F.C. and BOTHA, W. 2002. Report of root rot caused by Pythium F-group on hydroponically-grown celery in South Africa. Plant Disease. 86(4): 441

40. BELAY, T.A., CLAASSENS, A.S. and WEHNER, F.C. 2002. Effect of direct nitrogen and potassium and residual phosphorus fertilizers on soil chemical properties, microbial components and maize yield under long-term crop rotation. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 35: 420-427


41. LABUSCHAGNE, N., GULL, C., WEHNER, F.C. and BOTHA, W.J. 2002. Pythium spp. Infecting Hydroponically Grown Lettuce in South Africa. Plant Disease. 86(10): 1175.

42. WEHNER, F.C., VAN HEERDEN, J., CRONJé, C., SWART, S.H. and KOTZé, J.M. 2002. Microbial, chemical and physical aspects of citrus waste composting. Bioresource Technology. 81: 71-76

43. ROMITO, M., ESPACH, A. and NEL, L.H. 2002. Development of a diagnostic one-tube RT-PCR for the detection of Rift Valley Fever Virus. Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research. 69:247-252.

44. VAN DER WAALS, J.E., KORSTEN, L. and AVELING, T.A.S. 2002. A review of early blight of potato. African Plant Protection. 7(2): 91-102

45. BRITZ, H., COUTINHO, T.A., WINGFIELD, M.J., MARASAS, W.F.O. and WINGFIELD, B.D. 2002. Validation of the description of Gibberella circinata and morphological differentiation of the anamorph Fusarium circinatum. Sydowia-An International Journal of Mycology. bl 9

46. SMITH, H., WINGFIELD, M.J. and COUTINHO, T.A. 2002. The role of latent Sphaeropsis sapinea infections in post-hail associated die-back of Pinus patula. Forest Ecology and Management. 164: 177-184

47. COUTINHO, T.A., PREISIG, O., MERGAERT, J., CNOCKAERT, M.C., SWINGS, J. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. Bacterial Blight and Dieback of

Eucalyptus Species, Hybrids and Clones in South Africa. Plant Disease. 86(1):20

48. JANISIEWICZ, W. and KORSTEN, L. 2002. Biological control of postharvest diseases of fruits. Annual Review of Phytopathology 40:411-441

49. LOUW, C.A.M., REGNIER, T. and KORSTEN, L. 2002. Medicinal bulbous plants of South Africa and their traditional relevance in the control of infectious diseases. Journal of Ethnophamacology. 82: 147-154

50. VAN ZYL, M., COUTINHO, T.A. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. Morphological, cultural and pathogenic characteristics of Coniothyrium zuluenes isolates from different plantation regions in South Africa. Mycopathologia. 155(3): 149-153

51. VILJOEN, A. 2002. The status of Fusarium wilt of banana. South African Journal of Science. 98: 341-344

52. CRONJE, C., VAN HEERDEN, I., PHILIPS, H., TRUTER, M., LE ROUX, H.P. and WEHNER, F.C. 2002. Long-term effect of preplant soil solarization on growth of replant citrus trees in South Africa. African Plant Protection. 8(1-2): 41-49

53. SMITH, H., COUTINHO, T.A., WOLFAARDT, F.W. and WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002. Relative susceptibility of northern and southern provenances of Pinus greggii to infection by Sphaeropsis sapinea. Forest Ecology and Management. 166: 331-336


KRITZINGER, Q., AVELING, T.A.S., MARASAS, W.F.O., SHEPARD, G.S. & LEGGOTT, N. Detection of fumonisin B1 in cowpea seeds. In: C.A. Fatokun, S.A. Tarawali, B.B. Singh, P.M. Kormawa and M. Tamo (eds). Challenges and opportunities for enhancing sustainable cowpea production. Proceedings of the World Cowpea Conference III, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Ibadan, Nigeria, 4-8 September 2000. IITA, Ibadan, Nigeria. 2002. SANDERS, G.M. & L. KORSTEN. Use of correlation analysis for the study of anthracnose on avocados and mangoes in South Africa. Proceedings of the international Symposium on Tropical and subtropical fruits, Cairns, Australia 27 November – 1 December 2000. Acta Horticulturae 575:681-687. KEMPSTER, P.L., KÜHN, A.L., VAN NIEKERK, H., JAGALS, P. AND VENTER, S.N. The role of water transmission of microbiological diseases – a management perspective. Proceedings of WISA 2002, Durban, 19 – 23 May 2002. WINGFIELD, M.J., COUTINHO, T.A., ROUX, J. and WINGFIELD, B.D. The future of exotic plantation forestry in the tropics and Southern Hemisphere: lessons from pitch canker. Wood for Africa 2002 Congress, Pietermaritzburg, July 1-3 2002.

1. CLOETE, T.E. and BRöZEL, S.V. 2002. Biofouling: Chemical Control of Biofouling in water

systems. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Laurie Claret Dept. 3252, 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158-0012, pp 601-609

2. NEL, L.H., 2002. “Emerging Waterborne Infectious Diseases” Article MW-78 In: The

Encyclopedia of Water. Jay H. Lehr (Editor). Copyright ©2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 3. ATLAS, R.M. and NEL, L.H. 2002. Tuberculosis in African wildlife and other infectious

diseases of African lions. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences/www.els.net. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN 7785998.

4. EL GHAOUTH, A., WILSON, C.L., WISNIEWSKI, M., DROBY, S., SMILANICK, J.L. &

KORSTEN, L. 2002. Biological control of postharvest diseases on citrus fruits. Chapter 13 in: Ghanamanickam, S.S. (ed.). Biological control of crop diseases. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.

CONTRIBUTIONS IN PUBLISHED REFEREED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

CHAPTERS IN REFEREED SPECIALIST BOOKS


ISBN 0-8247-0693-5. 5. PEGG, K.G., COATES, L.M., KORSTEN, L. & HARDING, R.M. 2002. Foliar, fruit and

soilborne diseases .Chapter 12 in Avocado Cultivation edited by Whiley, A.W., B. Schaffer & B.N. Wolstenholme. CAB International Press. ISBN 0 85199 357 5.

Invited Paper 1. CLOETE, TE. AVI Africa 2002 Conference. Guest speaker. HACCP and its application. Caesars

Gauteng, Johannesburg, South Africa, 6 May 2002. 2. Korsten, L. 2002. Combining different schemes to set global safety standards for fresh produce.

EurepGAP Africa Conference, Somerset West. 13 March 2002. 3. Korsten, L. 2002. Food safety in agriculture – Quo vadis? Beef is Best 2002. Indaba Hotel. 14

March 2002. 4. Viljoen, A., Van der Waals, J., Nel, B. and Wiese, L. 2002. The potential application of disease

suppressive soils in the management of Fusarium wilt of banana. 13th Annual Soil-borne Disease Symposium, Stellenbosch.

Papers 1. COOPER, C.J., WILSON, F, NETHANANI, T., NEESON, M., COUTINHO, T. AND BRÖZEL,

V.S. Bioremediation potential of the novel oil and chemical sorbent, SupaZorb. Twelfth biennial conference of the SASM, Bloemfone tin, April 2002

2. HUNTER, G.C., ROUX, J., COUTINHO, T.A., WINGFIELD, M.J., WINGFIELD, B.D. and

CROUS, P.W. Mycosphaerella species causing leaf blotch disease on Eucalyptus in South Africa. Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 19-23 January 2002.

3. KEMPSTER, P.L., KÜHN, A.L., VAN NIEKERK, H., JAGALS, P. AND VENTER, S.N. 2002.

The role of water transmission of microbiological diseases – a management perspective. Oral presentation at WISA 2002, Durban, 19 – 23 May 2002.

4. MNISI, S.M., LOUW, M.E. AND THERON, J. Cloning and characterization of a Bacillus

esterase. Twelfth Biennial Congress of the South African Society for Microbiology, Bloemfontein, South Africa, April 2002.

5. OBAGWU, J. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Integrated control of citrus green and blue molds with

Bacillus subtilis, sodium bicarbonate and hot water. 40th Annual Congress of the South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikhololo. 21-24 January 2002.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTIONS


6. GROBLER, L., JACOBS, R., SWART, F. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Die-back of mangoes in South Africa. 40th Annual Congress of the South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikhololo. 21-24 January 2002.

7. MEYER, L., SLIPPERS, B., KORSTEN, L., KOTZÉ, J.M. & WINGFIELD, M.J. 2002.

Distinguishing between two citrus Guignardia species. 40th Annual Congress of the South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikhololo. 21-24 January 2002.

8. KORSTEN, L. 2002. Food safety, a regulatory framework for South African exporters of fresh

produce. 40th Annual Congress of the South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikhololo. 21-24 January 2002.

9. VAN DER WAALS, J.E. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Completing the pyramid. 40th Annual

Congress of the South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikhololo. 21-24 January 2002. 10. GOVENDER, V. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Evaluating biological control systems for mango

postharvest disease control. 40th Annual Congress of the South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikhololo. 21-24 January 2002.

11. VAN BROEKHUIZEN, W., KORSTEN, L. & HAMMES, P.S. 2002. Development of an

alternative method for the detection of Ralstonia solanacearum in naturally infested soil. 40th Annual Congress of the South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikhololo. 21-24 January 2002.

12. J.M. KOTZÉ & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Citrus black spot research plan. 2nd Southern African

Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002. 13. SWART, G.M., MEYER, L. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Practical application of species-specific

primers in the citrus industry. . 2nd Southern African Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002.

14. LABUSCHAGNE, P., KORSTEN, L., SWART, G.M., MEYER., L., REGNIER, T. & KORF,

H.G.J. 2002. Fruit pathway of CBS inoculation studies and environmental parameters for germination of pycnidiospores. . 2nd Southern African Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002.

15. REGNIER, T., KORSTEN, L. & LABUSCHAGNE, P. 2002. Citrus leaf analysis for detecting

resistance to black spot. .2nd Southern African Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002.

16. KORF, H.J.G., VAN EYSSEN, D., MULDER, C.E.G. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Control of CBS

with pyraclostrobin. 2nd Southern African Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002.

17. SWART, S.H., KORSTEN, L., SERFONTEIN, J.J. & KALINOWSKI, J. 2002. Post-harvest

control of CBS symptoms. 2nd Southern African Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002.


18. PAUL, I., VAN JAARSVELD, A.S., ERASMUS, B.F.N. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Modelling the global distribution of CBS. 2nd Southern African Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002.

19. KORSTEN, L., SWART, G.M., LABUSCHAGNE, P., MEYER, L. & REGNIER, T. 2002.

Citrus fruit diseases: Research. 2nd Southern African Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002.

20. KORSTEN, L. 2002. Effects of pre-harvest spraying of Bacillus licheniformis on mango disease

control. SA Mango Growers’ Research Symposium. Tzaneen Country Lodge, 18 July 2002. 21. KORSTEN, L. 2002. Alternative post harvest control. SA Mango Growers’ Research

Symposium. Tzaneen Country Lodge, 18 July 2002. 22. GROBLER, L. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Etiology of Botryosphaeria spp. SA Mango Growers’

Research Symposium. Tzaneen Country Lodge, 18 July 2002. 23. SILIMELA, M. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Effects of pre-harvest spraying of Bacillus licheniformis

on mango disease control. SA Mango Growers’ Research Symposium. Tzaneen Country Lodge, 18 July 2002.

24. GOVENDER, V. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Alternative post-harvest control of mango diseases.

SA Mango Growers’ Research Symposium. Tzaneen Country Lodge, 18 July 2002. 25. DU PLOOY, W. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. Changes to the epicuticular layer of mangoes. SA

Mango Growers’ Research Symposium. Tzaneen Country Lodge, 18 July 2002. 26. GEIER, B., KORSTEN, L. & LUDIK, H. 2002. Organic market expectations and limitations.

Panel discussions moderated and presented. The future of fresh produce: give consumers what they really want Conference and Expo. The Lord Charles Hotel, Somerset West, Cape Town 31 July – 1 August 2002.

Posters 1. SMITH, J., THERON, J. AND BRÖZEL, V.S. Development of a Pseudomonas aeruginosa

alkaline protease-specific assay. Twelfth Biennial Congress of the South African Society for Microbiology, Bloemfontein, South Africa, April 2002

2. DOMOLA, M.J., JERICHO, C., STRYDOM, H., AVELING, T. & THOMPSON, G.J. 2002.

Survey and characterisation of viruses infecting sweet potatoes grown by resource poor farmers in South Africa. 40th South African Society for Plant Pathology 20 – 23 January, Dikololo, Gauteng.

3. KRITZINGER, Q., AVELING, T.A.S. & MARASAS, W.F.O 2002. Control of storage fungi on

cowpea seed using essential oils. 40th South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikololo, Gauteng.


4. SWART, G.M. & KORSTEN, L. 2002. A comparative study of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides from avocado and mango. 40th Annual Congress of the South African Society for Plant Pathology, Dikhololo. 21-24 January 2002.

5. KORSTEN, L., SWART, G.M., MEYER, L., LABUSCHAGNE, P., REGNIER, T., SWART, F.S. & KOTZÉ, J.M. Towards a solution for citrus black spot. 2nd Southern African Citrus Research Symposium. Infruitec, Stellenbosch. 23-24 July 2002.

6. TSHABALALA, B., COUTINHO, T.A., DE BEER, Z.W., BURGESS, T. and WINGFIELD, M.J. Phenotypic diversity in a South African population of Lasiodiplodia theobromae from Pinus. Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 19-23 January 2002.

7. BUTHELEZI, B., COUTINHO, T.A., PREISIG, O., CROUS, P.W. and WINGFIELD, M.J. Development of molecular markers to assess population diversity of Cylindrocladium pauciramosum. Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 19-23 January 2002.

8. JACOBS, A., STEENKAMP, E.T., COUTINHO, T.A., MARASAS, W.F.O. and WINGFIELD, M.J. A new Fusarium species associated with grass and reeds in South Africa. Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 19-23 January 2002.

9. LOMBARD, L., ROUX, J., COUTINHO, T.A., CROUS, P.W. and WINGFIELD, M.J. A survey of Cylindrocladium on Eucalyptus cuttings in South Africa. Southern African Society for Plant Pathology, 19-23 January 2002.

10. GROENEWALD, S., VILJOEN, A., NEL, B. and VAN DEN BERG, N. 2002. Variation in cultural characteristics and virulence among South African isolates of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense, 40th Congress of the South African Society of Plant Pathology, Dikololo, Britz.

11. NEL, B., VILJOEN, A., GROENEWALD, S. and LABUSCHAGNE, N. 2002. In vitro evaluation of fungicides and sterilants for effectiveness against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense. 40th Congress of the South African Society of Plant Pathology, Dikololo, Britz.

Keynote addresses 1. CLOETE TE: Dynamic response of biofilm to pipe surface and fluid velocity International IWA

Conference on Biofilm Monitoring held in Porto, Portugal, March 2002

Invited Paper 1. CLOETE, T.E: Electrochemically activated water as a non pollution anti-fouling technology.

National Associaiton for Corrosion in Denver, America, April 2002

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CONTRIBUTIONS


2. L.H. NEL; J. WEYER; C.T. SABETA; D. WALLACE; G.J. VILJOEN Epidemiology of Rabies in Southern Africa and the Development of New Rabies Vaccines for Africa. 10th International Congress on Infectious Diseases, Singapore, March 2002.

3. SLIPPERS, B., COUTINHO, T.A., WINGFIELD, B.D. and WINGFIELD, M.J. Relationship amongst the fungal symbionts of Siricid woodwasps and their spread in the Southern Hemisphere. The 7th International Mycological Congress, Oslo, 11-17 August 2002.

4. VILJOEN, A., SURRIDGE, A.K.J. and CROUS, P.W. 2002. The impact of minor Mycosphaerella spp. on banana in South Africa. 2nd International Workshop on Sigatoka leaf diseases of Banana. San Jose, Costa, Rica.

Papers 1. ADANDONON, A., AVELING, T.A.S. & HAMMOND, W. 2002. Cowpea collar rot disease in

Benin and molecular diversity of Sclerotium rolfsii. National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin Seminar, Cotonou, Benin. 24 September 2002. PAPER.

2. KIGGUNDU, A., KUNERT, K.J., VILJOEN, A., GOLD, C. and PILLAY,M. 2002. Designing proteinase inhibitors for banana weevil control. 3rd Meeting on the Cellular and Molecular Biology of Banana. Lueven, Belgium.

3. VISSER, M., VILJOEN, A., WINGFIELD, M.J., WINGFIELD, B.D. and GORDON, T.R. 2002. Transformation of Fusarium wilt of banana, with the green fluorescent protein (GFP). 3rd Meeting on the Cellular and Molecular Biology of Banana, Lueven, Belgium.

4. VISSER, M., VILJOEN, A., WINGFIELD, M.J., WINGFIELD, B.D. and GORDON, T.R. 2002. Mating type genes and the reproductive capability of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense. 3rd Meeting on the Cellular and Molecular Biology of Banana. Lueven, Belgium.

Posters 1. PROF T E CLOETE. International Specialised Conference on Biofilm Monitoring, Porto-

Portugal,17-20 March 2002. 2. PROF T E CLOETE. IWA 3rd World Congress, Melbourne, Australia, 7-12 April 2002. 3. THERON, J., GOOSEN, C., NTSALA, M., MAREE, F.F., OLCKERS, A., BOTHA, S.V.J.,

LASTOVICA, A.J. AND VAN DER MERWE, S.W. Development and evaluation of a novel hemi-nested PCR assay for detection of Helicobacter pylori in oral samples. International Union of Microbiological Societies Congress: The World of Microbes, July 2002, Paris, France

4. SMITH, J.J., THERON, J. AND BRÖZEL, V.S. Biofilm up-regulated and native Pseudomonas

aeruginosa PAO1 promoters yield differential levels of extracellular alkaline protease. International Union of Microbiological Societies Congress: The World of Microbes, July 2002, Paris, France

5. MACDONALD, R., THERON, J., SUH,S.-J., VENTURI, V. AND BRÖZEL, V.S. The role of


RpoS in biofilm architecture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. International Union of Microbiological Societies Congress: The World of Microbes, July 2002, Paris, France

6. BRÖZEL, V.S. Proteome und Biofilm. Proteomics of pathogens network meeting, 11 – 14

September 2002, Hiddensee, Germany 7. BRÖZEL, V.S. , ANTELMANN, H AND HECKER, M. Development of bacterial biofilms: a

proteomic approach. BACCELL Network Meeting, 18 – 19 October, Royaumont, France. 8. J. Jaftha & P.L. Steyn. Characterisation of pigmented methylotrophic bacteria which nodulate

Lotononis ba inesii. 5th European Nitrogen Fixation Conference. Norwich, 6-10 September 2002 9. JACOBS, A., STEENKAMP, E.T., COUTINHO, T.A., RAMOTSHODI, G., WINGFIELD, B.D.

and WINGFIELD, M.J. Molecular and morphological comparisons of Fusarium species accommodated in the Fusarium subglutinans sensu lato complex. The 7th International Mycological Congress, Oslo, 11-17 August 2002.

10. SLIPPERS, B., COUTINHO, T.A., WINGFIELD, B.D., CROUS, P.W. and WINGFIELD M.J.

Identifying species in the genus Botryosphaeria. The 7the International Mycological Congress, Oslo, 11-17 August 2002.

11. SURRIDGE, A.K.J., VILJOEN, A. and WEHNER, F.C. 2002. Fungi associated with banana

foliage in South Africa. 2nd International Workshop on Sigatoka leaf diseases of Banana. San Jose, Costa Rica.

12. VISSER, M. and VILJOEN, A. 2002. Diversity in Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense :

Molecular biological studies of a clonal lineage of Fusarium wilt pathogen of banana. VI International Symposium on Plant Biotechnology, Villa Clara, Cuba.

13. VAN DEN BERG, N., BIRCH, P., VILJOEN, A., WINGFIELD, M.J., VISSER, M. and

BERGER, D. 2002. Suppression substraction hybrization used to identify genes associated with resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense in Cavendish bananas. 3rd Meeting on the Cellular and Molecular Biology of Banana. Lueven, Belgium.

MSc – Microbiology M. DU PREEZ: (cum laude) MSc - Rapid and sensitive detection techniques for bacterial enteropathogens in water. Supervisor: Dr J. Theron; Co-supervisor: Dr S.N. Venter W. MARKOTTER: MSc - Binding determinants in the association of Orbivirus genome segments and the NS2 protein. Supervisor: Prof L.H. Nel; Co-supervisor: Dr J. Theron

MSc AND PhD DEGREES AWARDED


C GOOSEN: Strategy for detection and quantification of Legionella in South African water sys tems. Supervisor: Dr S N Venter; Co-supervisor: Prof L H Nel A ESPACH: Towards DNA vaccines for Rift Valley Fever. Supervisor: Prof L H Nel; Co-supervisor: Dr G J Viljoen C JOUBERT: (Cum laude) Rhizhobia associated with Australian Acacia species (Acacia mearnsii, Acacia dealbata and Acacia decurrens) in South Africa as determined by Sodium Dodecyl-Sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis. Supervisor: Supervisor: P L Steyn; Co-supervisor: Dr S N Venter MSc or M Inst Agrar – Plant Pathology MS W VAN BROEKHUIZEN: Detection and suppression of Ralstonia solanacearum, causal agent of potato bacterial wilt in naturally infested soil. MSc(Agric) Plant Pathology. Supervisor: Prof L Korsten; Co-supervisor: Prof P S Hammes MS M V SCHOEMAN: Comparative studies on Dothiorella on avocado. MInst Agrar Plant Protection: 2002. Supervisor: Prof L Korsten; Co-supervisor: Dr G Swart MS K LOUW: Antimicrobial activity of indigenous bulbous plant extracts to control selected pathogens. MInstAgrar (Plant Protection): Supervisor: Prof L Korsten; Co-supervisor: Dr T Regnier MS R JACOBS: Characterisiation of Botryosphaeria species from mango in South Africa. MSc Plant Pathology: Supervisor: Prof L Korsten; Co-supervisor: Prof M Wingfield MSc – Water Resource Management (Course Work) L Motshane H P Chabalala TB Matidza LAJ Ramokolo B Moloi H Mphahlele M J Swaartbooi

PhD – Microbiology MS J.A. JACOBS - Specific RNA- and protein-binding characteristics of the nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) of a South African rabies virus isolate. Supervisor: Prof L.H. Nel; Co-supervisor: Dr J. Theron S N VENTER – An enhanced microbial water quality monitoring design using a novel area prioritization approach to site selection. DupervisorL Prof T E Cloete; Co-supervisor: Dr R Kfir, Dr J Harris. MS J WENTZEL - Detection of genetic variation and substructuring in the endemic South African antelope species, Damaliscus pygargus. Supervisor: Prof L H Nel; Co-supervisor: Dr R Hoelzel MS E VAN MARLE-KÖSTER - Using microsattelites to separate and characterize indigenous chicken populations. Supervisor: Prof L H Nel; Co-supervisor: Prof N H Casey and Dr M Groenen


MS D BARTIE - Comparison of different methods for the detection of Legionella in industrial water systems. Supervisor: Prof L H Nel MR C T SABETA - Focus on dog and jackal rabies cycles in Zimbabwe and South Africa: A molecular genetic study. Supervisor: Prof L H Nel

MSc-Students Asare, F Bankoes, C Gantsho, N Gumbo, J Begashaw, LM Chale-Matsau, B Hlupheka, P Hunter, GC Juckers, E Verwey, F Chabalala, HP Kola, ME Le Roux WJ Van Schalkwyk, A Smith, JJ Sorril, M

Auret, EE Havenga, W De Jager, ES Bandounas, T Dilima, N Bohmer, B Chandran, M Cooper, C Demoz, B Du Plessis, DJF Fourie, A Grimbeek, E Lindeque, M Orlay, S Pieterse, N Surridge, K

Louw, K Mashau, F Mavhungu, J Mienie, NJJ Masoabi, T D Matlala, AK Mnisi, S Mphahlele, M Mphalele, MP Motshane,L Nakabonge, G Nyoni, T Olajubo, R Opperman, M Ramokolo, LAJ Roos, HJ

Nemato, H Posthimus, C Van Dyk, K Silimela, M Tosago, P Truter, M Tshabalala, B Uaciquete, A Govender, V Gull, C Khalata, M Burger, L Ndunguru, J Storey, P Swartbooi, MJ

Wolmarans, B Pretorius, M Schoeman, MV B. Buthelezi Millard, CP Domola, MJ Du Plooy, GW Du Preez, M Fourie A Gouws, R Phaswana, Y I Barnes Burke, LM Uaciquete, A Wolmarans, B

PhD-Students Adandonon, A Coetser, SE Kwerepe, BC Britz, H Dube, R Kritzinger, Q Steyn, B Severn-Ellis, A Thantsha, M

Smith, JE Le Grange, C Said, M Adandonon, A Jacobs, A McDonald, R Weyers, JB

Nevondo, TS Obagwu, J Slippers, B Visser, M Thompson, AH Boshoff, M Hawumba, JF Pakela, YP

Hugues, B Van den Berg, N Maseko, B Dube, R Van der Waals, JE Van der Linde, EJ Kritzinger, Q Kock, MM

POST GRADUATE STUDENTS

department of microbiology and plant pathology€¦ · the department is very appreciative of the...

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