With graduation week in full swing, the Department of Plant Pathology could not be prouder of the group of Masters and PhD graduates that walked across the stage this March. The Department celebrated the graduation of two PhD and 6 Master students during the March 2026 graduation ceremony.

Dr Reshika Kallideen obtained her PhD degree with a dissertation entitled “Determining the risk associated with the use of different mulch types in the spread of canker and word rot pathogens in apple orchards” while Dr Ayesha Shaikh-Abrahams obtained her PhD with a dissertation entitled “Genetic and biochemical investigation of resistance to Fusarium and Gibberella ear rot in South African maize”. Masters graduates included Viwe Mbulawa (Soilborne pathology in collaboration with the ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij) while Megan Farquhar (Postharvest pathology), Kirsty Potgieter (Grain pathology) and Stefni van der Walt (Citrus pathology) obtained their Master’s degrees with distinction.

We not only congratulate our graduates, but want to take a moment to thank their parents, extended families and significant support structures for their continued and unwavering support and encouragement that saw our students reach these academic milestones. We also congratulate the supervising personnel of the Department, ARC and CRI and thank them for their invaluable role in our student success.

Left to right: Dr Julia Meitz-Hopkins, Dr Lindy Rose, Dr Ayesha Shaikh-Abrahams, Stefni van der Walt, Megan Farquhar, Viwe Mbulawa, Kirsty Potgieter, Dr Reshika Kallideen and Prof Lizel Mostert. 

The National Grain Research Platform (NGRP), coordinated predominantly by Grain SA, recently held its Annual Meeting at the Future Africa campus of University of Pretoria from 1 to 3 March. The programme brought together a wide network of stakeholders—including government departments, universities, research councils, agribusinesses, and producers—highlighting the NGRP’s core function as a national forum for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic alignment.

Opening discussions stressed that producer priorities must shape research agendas, reinforcing Grain SA’s mandate to ensure research investments deliver tangible on-farm impact. The meeting emphasised the theme “Integrate: Industry • Research • Policy,” highlighting the need to align scientific innovation with real-world agricultural challenges.

Key focus areas included genomics, climate resilience, crop protection, precision agriculture, and emerging technologies, alongside discussions on policy reform and regulatory frameworks. Emphasis was placed on improving plant health, strengthening surveillance of emerging threats, and ensuring that research investments deliver tangible impact at farm level.

The importance of stronger coordination and collaboration was highlighted by numerous presenters while the event provided an opportunity to see how research priorities align with commercial realities and can translate to practical outcomes for farmers.

A delegation of researchers and students from the faculty (a member of the NGRP), representing Genetics (Prof Anna-Maria Oberholser and Dr Francois Burger), Plant Breeding (Lezaan Hess and Cecile Bester), Plant Pathology (Dr Lindy Rose, PhD candidates Mandisa Shabalala and Mariana van Deventer), Agronomy (Dr Flackson Tshuma, Dr Stephano Haarhoff and Karen Truter) and the Plant Disease Clinic of SU (Prof Adele Mcleod) participated in the meeting by delivering presentations. PhD candidate Mariana van Deventer won the best PhD presentation delivered at the NGRP annual meeting.

The highly collaborative, action-oriented meeting facilitated interactions between researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and showcased participation from over 60 institutions, reinforcing its role as a national platform to align funding, expertise, and innovation efforts in grain research. Reflections of the annual meeting sees the NGRP as a maturing, strategic platform driving integration, innovation, and measurable impact toward a more resilient and competitive grain industry.

Front row: (L-R): Dr Burger, Prof Oberholser, Cecile Bester, Mandisa Shabalala, Lezaan Hess, Mariana van Deventer and Dr Rose
Back row: (L-R): Karen Truter, Dr Haarhoff and Dr Thsuma

Jos Janse van Vuuren received the award for the ‘Best Molecular Presentation’,  Dr. Huibré Schreuder received the John and Petakin Mildenhall award for the best PhD student and Prof. Altus Viljoen was honoured with the prestigious ‘Fellow of the SASPP’ award for his lifelong commitment and contributions to the field of Plant Pathology.

Sonja Coertze and Elaine Basson (Plant Disease Clinic Stellenbosch, Department of Plant Pathology) were invited to attend the National Biosecurity Summit, held on 10–11 June 2025 at the University of Pretoria’s Hatfield campus. The theme of the summit was “Collaborative Actions for Food Security and Trade”, and it brought together representatives from government, research institutions, and industry, with a focus on both plant and animal health. 

The summit coincided with a period in which South Africa is grappling with several animal disease outbreaks—including foot-and-mouth disease, avian influenza, and African swine fever—as well as newly reported plant diseases such as Goss’s wilt of maize (Clavibacter nebraskensis) and Phytophthora palmivora on various hosts (commonly referred to as Phytophthora palm bud rot). 

The first day of the program featured an insightful and engaging keynote address by Prof. Andrew Robinson from the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) at the University of Melbourne. His talk reaffirmed the importance of trust and communication among all stakeholders in the agricultural sector. Other notable speakers included Mr. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, and the Minister of Agriculture, Mr. John Steenhuisen. The afternoon concluded with a panel discussion featuring representatives from the plant and animal industries, focusing on collaborative actions for food security and trade. 

The second day consisted of breakaway sessions on various topics, including: 

• Public–private partnerships for biosecurity 

• The national biosecurity diagnostic network 

• Biosecurity education and awareness 

• Market access and surveillance 

During the session on the national biosecurity diagnostic network, it was reaffirmed that diagnostics are critical for protecting production, ensuring national food security, and supporting trade at local, regional, and global levels. The importance of training qualified plant pathologists and incorporating plant health and biosecurity into curricula—especially in programs where plant pathology is not currently taught—was also emphasized during the session.   

The National Biosecurity Hub (NBH), launched by the South African government in 2022, focuses on three core areas: 

• Research and surveillance of pests and diseases 

• Development of diagnostic and quarantine services 

• Training and awareness programs 

The Department of Plant Pathology at Stellenbosch University aligns closely with these objectives, particularly in the domains of plant health, diagnostics, and capacity development. It remains one of the few tertiary institutions where students can major in Plant Pathology and receive hands-on training in plant diagnostics through the Plant Disease Clinic Stellenbosch (PDC). The PDC is the largest plant diagnostic clinic in the country, analysing more than 1000 diagnostic samples annually from any crop type. The department of Plant Pathology and the PDC actively collaborates with key agricultural industries such as CRI, Hortgro, Wine SA, Berries ZA, GrainSA, and international organizations like the FAO. Through these interactions they are already playing a vital role in strengthening South Africa’s national biosecurity framework, especially through surveillance work.  

It is increasingly important that Stellenbosch University and the Department of Plant Pathology strengthen their association with the National Department of Agriculture (NDA) and NBH, particularly to support and enhance biosecurity efforts in the southern regions of South Africa. Therefore, the Faculty of AgriSciences and the Department of Plant Pathology have recently started engagements with these entities. Partnerships with NDA and NBH will enable valuable knowledge exchange, secure funding, and support the implementation of effective biosecurity measures. 

This National Biosecurity Summit underscored the vital role of biosecurity in the agricultural sector and the collaborative steps needed across government, research institutions, and industry to safeguard South Africa’s food systems.  

(From left to right)

Elaine Basson – Diagnostician, Plant Disease Clinic (PDC), Department of Plant Pathology 

Dr. Marinda Visser – Director of Strategic Projects and Partnerships in Agriculture at UP’s Innovation Africa; Coordinator of the National Biosecurity Hub 

Isabella Bezuidenhout – Biosecurity and Phytosanitary Specialist, National Biosecurity Hub 

Sonja Coertze – Manager, Plant Disease Clinic (PDC), Department of Plant Pathology 

Prof. Andrew Robinson – Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA), University of Melbourne 

Nolan Africander– Deputy Director Plant Quarantine and Diagnostic Services, National Department of Agriculture

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Plantsiektekliniekwoon die Nasionale Biosekuriteitsberaad in Pretoria by

Sonja CoertzeenElaine Basson(Plantsiektekliniek Stellenbosch, Departement Plantpatologie) is genooi om dieNasionale Biosekuriteitsberaadby te woon, wat op10–11 Junie 2025 by dieHatfield-kampus, van die Universiteit van Pretoria, gehou is. Die tema van die beraad was”Samewerkende Aksies vir Voedselveiligheid en Handel”, en het verteenwoordigers van die regering, navorsingsinstellings en bedrywe byeengebring, met ’n fokus op beideplant- en diergesondheid.

Die beraad het saamgeval met ’n tydperk waarin Suid-Afrika sukkel met verskeie uitbrake van dieresiektes—insluitendbek-en-klouseer,voëlgriep, enAfrika varkgriep —asook nuutgerapporteerde plantsiektes soosGoss’s verwelking van mielies(Clavibacter nebraskensis) enPhytophthora palmivoraop verskeie gasheerplante (algemeen bekend asPhytophthora palmknopvrot).

Die eerste dag van die program het ’n insiggewende en boeiende hoofrede deurProf. Andrew Robinsonvan dieSentrum vir Uitnemendheid in Biosekuriteitsrisiko-analise (CEBRA)aan die Universiteit van Melbourne ingesluit. Sy toespraak het die belangrikheid vanvertroue en kommunikasietussen alle belanghebbendes in die landbousektor bevestig. Ander noemenswaardige sprekers wasmnr. Wandile Sihlobo, hoofekonoom van die Landbou-sakekamer van Suid-Afrika, en dieMinister van Landbou, mnr. John Steenhuisen. Die middag is afgesluit met ’n paneelbespreking met verteenwoordigers vanuit die plant- en dierbedrywe, met ’n fokus op samewerkende aksies vir voedselveiligheid en handel.

Die tweede dag het bestaan uitwerksessiesoor verskeie onderwerpe, insluitend:

• Openbare–private vennootskappe vir biosekuriteit
• Die nasionalebiosekuriteit-diagnostiesenetwerk
• Biosekuriteit-onderrig en -bewustheid
• Marktoegang en -monitering

Tydens die sessie oor dienasionale biosekuriteit-diagnostiese netwerkis daar bevestig datdiagnostiek van kritieke belang isom produksie te beskerm, nasionale voedselvoorsiening te verseker, en handel op plaaslike, streeks- en globale vlakke te ondersteun. Die belangrikheid van die opleiding vangekwalifiseerde plantpatoloë en die insluiting vanplantgesondheid en biosekuriteitin leerplanne—veral in programme waar plantpatologie tans nie aangebied word nie—was ook ’n belangrike punt van bespreking.

Die Nasionale Biosekuriteitshub (NBH), wat in 2022 deur die Suid-Afrikaanse regering van stapel gestuur is, fokus op drie kernareas:

• Navorsing en monitering van plae en siektes
• Ontwikkeling van diagnostiese en kwarantyndienste
• Opleidings- en bewusmakingsprogramme

Die Departement van Plantpatologie aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch belyn mooi met hierdie doelwitte, veral op die gebiede van plantgesondheid, diagnostiek en bou van kapasiteit. Dit bly een van die min tersiêre instellings waar studente in Plantpatologie kan spesialiseer en praktiese opleiding in plantdiagnostiek deur die Plantsiektekliniek Stellenbosch (PDC) kan ontvang.  Die PDC is die grootste plantdiagnostiese kliniek in die land en ontleed jaarliks meer as 1000 diagnostiese monsters van enige tipe gewas.

Die Departement Plantpatologie en die PDC werk aktief saam met sleutelrolspelers in die landboubedryf soos CRI, Hortgro, Wyn SA, Berries ZA, GraanSA, en internasionale organisasies soos die FAO. Deur hierdie samewerking speel hulle reeds ’n belangrike rol in die versterking van Suid-Afrika se nasionale biosekuriteitsraamwerk, veral deur moniteringswerk.

Dit word al hoe belangriker dat die Universiteit Stellenbosch en die Departement Plantpatologie hul verbintenis met die Nasionale Departement van Landbou (NDA) en die NBH versterk, veral om biosekuriteitsinisiatiewe in die suidelike streke van Suid-Afrika te ondersteun en te verbeter. Daarom het die Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe en die Departement Plantpatologie onlangs met hierdie entiteite in gesprek begin tree. Vennootskappe met die NDA en NBH sal waardevolle kennisuitruiling moontlik maak, befondsing verseker, en die implementering van doeltreffende biosekuriteitsmaatreëls ondersteun.

Die Nationale Biosekuriteitsberaad het dienoodsaaklike rol van biosekuriteit in die landbousektorbeklemtoon, asook diesamewerkende stappe wat tussen regering, navorsingsinstellings en die bedryfnodig is om Suid-Afrika se voedselstelsels te beskerm.

Van links na regs:

Elaine Basson– Diagnostikus, Plantsiektekliniek (PDC), Departement Plantpatologie

Dr. Marinda Visser– Direkteur van Strategiese Projekte en Vennootskappe in Landbou by UP se Innovation Africa; Koördineerder van die Nasionale Biosekuriteitshub

Isabella Bezuidenhout– Biosekuriteit- en Fitosanitêre Spesialis, Nasionale Biosekuriteitshub

Sonja Coertze– Bestuurder, Plantsiektekliniek (PDC), Departement Plantpatologie

Prof. Andrew Robinson– Sentrum vir Uitnemendheid in Biosekuriteitsrisiko-analise (CEBRA), Universiteit van Melbourne, Australië

Nolan Africander– Adjunkdirekteur: Plantkwarantyn en Diagnostiese Dienste, Nasionale Departement van Landbou.