The Department has a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to research and training, and makes use of the latest technologies available to reduce the impact of pathogens on plants; to manage these pathogens; and to increase plant resistance to pathogens. Conventional and molecular techniques are used to identify and control plant pathogens that are considered a threat to local crops and export markets in a sustainable and economical way. Students are trained in the detection, characterisation and epidemiology of plant pathogens, and in the use of integrated disease control strategies to control them. Current research programmes focus on diseases occurring in apples, pears, citrus, banana, grapevines, vegetables and cereal crops. Focus areas for research include pathogen identification and detection; integrated disease management (including the optimisation of fungicide application, and sanitation); postharvest pathology of fruit crops (including chemical and biological control); in-field management of mycotoxin production in grain crops; and the understanding of plant-microbe (beneficial and detrimental) interaction.

Academic:
Prof A Viljoen (Chairperson;Plant-microbe interaction, Fusarium pathology)
Dr CL Lennox (Fruit and postharvest pathology)
Dr A McLeod (Molecular plant pathology)
Dr L Mostert (Phytomycology)
Mrs L-J Rose (Disease resistance in grain crops)

Researcher:
Dr PH Fourie (Citrus pathology)

Extra-ordinary  Professor:
Prof PW Crous (Phytomycology)
Prof L du Toit (Extension, Disease Clinic)
Prof WFO Marassas (Mycotoxicology)

Extra-ordinary Senior Lecturer:
Dr F Halleen (Grapevine research)

Technical:
S Coertze, T Jensen, A Pretorius

Administrative:
L Swart

Supporting:
BJ de Wee, D Fortuin, AD Williams

Contact information:

Tel: +27 21 808 4799
ls3@sun.ac.za