F.L.T.R: Me. L Joubert, Dr. M Bezuidenhout, Prof. M van der Bank and Dr. O Maurin.
Department Plant Sciences invited Prof. Michelle van der Bank from the University of Johannesburg to present a lecture on DNA barcoding in South Africa. Prof. van der Bank and her team have already ‘barcoded’ the trees of the Kruger National park and are currently expanding the project to the whole of Southern Africa. The databases generated by the DNA barcoding of plants can benefit the conservation of certain species and it can contribute to the end of illegal trade of scares species from around the world. Department Plant Sciences (Botany) are in the process of starting a barcoding project of certain regions within South Africa.
Scientists from the Department of Plant Sciences visit Russia
Three delegates from UFS recently attended the 2nd Technical Workshop of the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative followed by the 8th International Wheat Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia. Prof. Sakkie Pretorius was an invited speaker and presented data on the recent detection of two virulent wheat stem rust strains in South Africa, a topic which has drawn considerable media coverage. The three delegates were involved in seven presentations. Pictured here are Scott Sydenham (Ph.D. student) and Proff. Liezel Herselman and Sakkie Pretorius, all from the Department of Plant Sciences.
F.L.T.R: Mr. Scott Sydenham, Prof. Liezl Herselman and Prof. Sakkie Pretorius.
Happenings in 2009
University of Johannesburg Post Graduate Symposium
Five postgraduate students from the Plant Sciences department recently attended a postgraduate seminar day of the Dept Botany and Plant Biotechnology of the University of Johannesburg.During the day, they presented talks on their postgraduate research.The students were Howard Castelyn (BSc Honns), Herman Fourie (BSc Honns), Hendri Pretorius (MSc), Joyce Moloi (PhD) and Dr Davies Mweta.All five gave excellent talks, but it was Herman Fourie who won the award for best BSc Honours presentation.Congratulations!!
Potjiekos competition
The Department of Plant Sciences’ held a potjiekos competition on the 17th of April 2009. The evening took place in a strictly non academic fashion. The potjiekos was held in conjunction with the retirement of the well know and admired Tannie Erna. The outcome of the potjiekos would prove that scientist can cook as well as they do research.The potjiekos commenced in the courtyard of the Biology building where three teams with three very strategically placed potjiekos sites competed for victory. The personnel of the department were equally divided into three teams with names based on cartoon characters namely Dexter, Superman and the Happy Feet team. The three different teams prepared three different types of potjies, namely beef, chicken and sheep knuckle.
However, before any Potjiekos were eaten, the serious side of the evening took place. During this Tannie Erna was thanked for all the years in which she was part of the department. A special word of thanks came From prof Sakkie Pretorius and Prof Johan Grobbelaar. Of course not everybody could give their appreciation, but all the other personnel and students were also very thankful for Tannie Erna. Hereafter Tannie Erna thanked the Department and a prayer was said.
The different types of Potjiekos were judged by three independent judges, of which Tannie Erna was one. The judgement consisted of the overall team spirit, a team performance of some sort (dancing etc.) and of course, the taste of the potjie. The winning team would get a prize but most importantly, would get the pride of being Potjiekos champions for 2009. Everybody feasted in the carefully prepared potjiekos and after eating, the judges would announce the winner.
It was a clash of giants but everybody agrees that the Superman team had the best pot. They were closely followed by team Happy Feet and in third place were team Dexter. Congratulations to Gerhard Botha and Team Superman. You are the departmental Potjiekos champions for 2009. You earned it.
The event will be held next year and a new Potjiekos champion will be crowed. Thanks to everybody who took part in the Potjiekos and the Social committee for organizing such a wonderful event.
Visits in 2009
Prof Liezel Herselman visits Mozambique
Prof Liezel Herselman visited Maputu (Mozambique) on the 25th of March 2009. The aim of the visit was to collect Mango leaves for DNA samples and AFLP analyses. This was done for the M.Sc project of Ruth Musane. Prof Herselman also gave a short presentation on Plant breeding at the Univesity of the Free State at the IIAM research station in Maputo.
Prof Liezel among Mango trees
Prof Liezel Herselman visits Kenya
Prof Liezel Herselman visited Kenya on the 26 – 30th of April 2009 where she visited the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. The aim of the visit was to attend a short statistical course about the analysis of dialle plant breeding as well as to discuss the results obtained by a PhD student.
From left to right: Dr Hernan Ceballos (Course presenter of CIAT in Calli, Colombië),
