Understanding the genetics of sex determination in insects and its relevance to genetic pest management.

Sex determination pathways regulate male and female-specific development and differentiation and offer potential targets for genetic pest management methods. Insect sex determination pathways are comprised of primary signals, relay genes and terminal genes. Primary signals of coleopteran, dipteran, hymenopteran and lepidopteran species are highly diverse and regulate the sex-specific splicing of relay genes based on the primary signal dosage, amino acid composition or the interaction with paternally inherited genes.

Development of a molecular genetics and cell biology toolbox for the filamentous fungus Diplodia sapinea.

Diplodia sapinea (Fr.) Fuckel is a widespread fungal pathogen affecting conifers worldwide. Infections can lead to severe symptoms, such as shoot blight, canker, tree death, or blue stain in harvested wood, especially in Pinus species.

Genomic characterization of novel viruses associated with Olea europaea L. in South Africa.

South Africa has a small but growing olive industry. Until now, no virological research has been carried out on this crop locally. Seventeen samples were collected from various olive cultivars from a single producer in the Stellenbosch growing area of South Africa.

species associated with in South Africa, including two novel species.

Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are small wood-boring insects that live in an obligate symbiosis with fungi, which serve as their primary food source. Beetles residing in the genus have evolved a unique association with a clade of that falls within the aptly named Ambrosia Clade (AFC). The discovery of the invasive polyphagous shot hole borer, , in South Africa, has heightened awareness of ambrosia beetles and their symbionts in the country.

New and Interesting Fungi. 7.

Two new genera, 17 new species, two epitypes, and six interesting new host and / or geographical records are introduced in this study. New genera include: (based on ) and (based on ). New species include: (from hypersaline sea water, Qatar), (from mycangia of , USA), (on leaves of , Brazil), (from pre-stored , South Africa), (from soil, South Africa), (from dead capsule of , Germany), (from house dust, Canada), (from soil, South Africa), (on ascomata of ascomycete on twigs of , South Africa), (on leaf litter, Spain), (on larva, Thailand), (from soil, South Africa), (from pasture mulch, South Africa), (from soil, South Africa), (on stem, bark of living tree of sp.