Plant path, mycology, and CRISPR nerd 🌱🧬| PhD candidate at @Fabiteam1 🔬 | Lover of all things fungi 🍄 | She/her 🏳️🌈 Opinions are my own.
South Africa
Joined April 2021
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So excited that my first FIRST author article is out! 🥳
We used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to uncover the role of the Pgs gene in Fusarium circinatum—a major pine pathogen. 🌲🧬
Read more: doi.org/10.1016/j.fgb.2025.1…
🧵👇
Alida van Dijk retweeted
🪲 FABI Friday Feature
Meet Nudaurelia clarki – the Pine Emperor Moth. Native to southern Africa, this moth is both beautiful and destructive. Its larvae feed gregariously on pine needles, causing severe defoliation.
#FABIFriday #Entomology
Alida van Dijk retweeted
🌿 FABI Friday Feature
This week we spotlight Austropuccinia psidii – the rust fungus behind Myrtle Rust, a serious threat to Myrtaceae species. #FABIFriday
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Our paper is out!
🧫 #Pseudopithomyces toxicarius was identified - causal agent of facial eczema in 🐄 🌍
📊 Several other species & known #mycotoxin producers were also identified
🔗 link.springer.com/article/10…
@mycobiomics @Fabiteam1
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Silent invaders: the hidden threat of asymptomatic phytobiomes to forest biosecurity
Tanney et al. @fabiteam1
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/…
ALT Host and substrate range of three endophyte species along a gradient of ecological versatility.
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Silent invaders: The hidden threat of asymptomatic phytobiomes to forest biosecurity
Tanney, Kemler, Vivas, Wingfield, Slippers
New Phytologist - Wiley Online Library nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/…
@Fabiteam1 @UPnasagric @NewPhyt
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Advancing forest pathology: the need for community‐driven molecular experimental model systems - Oostlander, Fleißner & Slippers - New Phytologist - Wiley Online Library nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/… @AnneOostlander @Fabiteam1 @UPnasagric @uptuks @tuBraunschweig
Alida van Dijk retweeted
For this week’s #FABIFridayFeature, we’re highlighting Botrytis cinerea - a necrotrophic fungus causing grey mould in 200+ dicot plants, including lemons 🍋. It leads to petal necrosis, premature flower drop, and rind distortion.
#PlantPathology #Botrytis
Alida van Dijk retweeted
What if we could universally recombine, insert, delete, or invert any two pieces of DNA?
In back-to-back @Nature papers, we report the discovery of bridge RNAs and 3 atomic structures of the first natural RNA-guided recombinase - a new mechanism for programmable genome design
Alida van Dijk retweeted
The NRF’s 2026 Master’s and Doctoral Funding call is available here: nrf.ac.za/dsi-nrf-postgradua…
It is compulsory for applicants to consult the NRF’s official documents (Framework, Application, and FAQ Guides) before posting queries or submitting applications.
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Forest pathology molecular model system
Oostlander et al. @a_oostlander @bernardslippers @fabiteam1
📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/…
ALT Diagram illustrating key components of an ideal Plant/Forest Pathogen Model System, arranged in four quadrants around a central circle containing illustrations of various crops and forest trees. Each quadrant highlights essential criteria: Community and Resources (top left, blue background); Standardized Methods (top right, light green background); Experimental Feasibility (bottom left, pale yellow background); and Pathosystem Context (bottom right, light brown background). At the center, the title reads ‘Plant/Forest Pathogen Model System’, surrounded by illustrations of plants including herbaceous crops and trees, representing diverse host types.
Alida van Dijk retweeted
“If it is worth sequencing 🧬, it is worth keeping it 🧫” (@CobusVisagie2). Excellent presentation on the importance of culture collections and their connection to Plant diagnostic clinics. Congratulations to the @Fabiteam1 group for their efforts to preserve fungi and make reference strains accessible to scientists working on different fields of #planthealth
#TPCP2025 #foresthealth #fungi
@UPTuks @icpp2023 @ippcnews @IUFROdivision7 @MSAFungi @plantdisease
A thought-provoking panel discussion wraps up #TPCP2025 Day 2: exploring the complexities of building sustainable, effective partnerships between government, industry, and academia to protect forest health.
@Fabiteam1 @ICFR_SA @ForestrySa @WitsGCI @DLRRD_za
Alida van Dijk retweeted
"Keep collecting and preserving."
Prof Cobus Visagie @CobusVisagie2 emphasises the importance of studying fungi. Having access to cultures is becoming increasingly important! 🍄
#TPCP2025 #TreeHealth #Forestry @GrainSA
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Day 2 of the #TPCP2025 meeting is kicked off by Dr Ilaria Germishuizen @IlariaG68 @ICFR_SA! She gave an overview of remote sensing based research for forest management. 🌲
She emphasised the importance of collaboration, it is the key to the future! 🤝
#TreeHealth #Forestry
Prof. @SteenkampEmma presents on SIGS (spray-induced gene silencing) for managing Fusarium circinatum in nurseries - exploring innovative, targeted strategies to protect young pines from this devastating pathogen. #TPCP2025 #Fusarium #TreeHealth #SIGS #FABI
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Ms Brittney-Aidan Jamieson gives a speed talk on the development of an effective screening protocol for Quambalaria eucalypti. 🌿
#TPCP2025 #TreeHealth #Forestry
I've been part of the diagnostic clinic for 4 years, and it's incredible to see how it's grown. Dr. @nel_wilma shared how this work - field visits, lab processing, and diagnostics - helps detect current and emerging pests & diseases. Proud to be part of it! #TPCP2025 #TreeHealth
"Forest pests and pathogens know no boundaries.”
Prof. @IreneBarnes19 Barnes & Prof. @leptograph share lessons from the RGE-FABI Tree Health Programme: collaboration is key, monitoring is vital, and sharing tools & tech accelerates impact. #TPCP2025 #TreeHealth #FABI
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Dr Sam van Holsbeeck @HolsbeeckSam, from the University of the Sunshine Coast, sharing his insights into solutions for priority plant pest and pathogen management in Australian forestry plantations. 🌲 #TPCP2025 #TreeHealth #Forestry
Alida van Dijk retweeted
Prof. Brett Hurley @bphurley4, professor at the University of Pretoria, giving his talk on global perspectives on biocontrol agents in plantation forests at the annual #TPCP2025 meeting. 🌲
#TreeHealth @CropWatchAfrica
