Degrees (All from the University of Natal) : BSc, BSc Honours, PhD (1996) Epidemiology and control of crucifer blackleg in KwaZulu-Natal.

Present Post:

1. Senior Professor and Chair of Plant Pathology
2. Director, African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI)
3. Past Founder and CEO of PlantBio

Work Activities:

1. Academic, scientific and administrative leadership of the Discipline of Plant Pathology at UKZN;
2. Manage the ACCI, which is funded by the AGRA, with 24 staff and 97 PhD students being trained in Plant Breeding.
3. Manage a range of research projects, with >39 postgraduates at present.

Outputs to Date:

1. 128 ISI accredited publications, 41 popular publications; 52 international and 218 local conference presentations.
2. Personally supervised or co-supervised 19 PhDs, 57 MSc to graduation.

Primary Research Interests:

1. Biocontrol of diseases, pre and postharvest, using Trichoderma, yeasts, bacteria, viruses;
2. Biocontrol of pests and nematodes of crops and animals;
3. Biofertilizers and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) (Azotobacter, Bacillus, Rhizobium);
4. Use of silicon as a fertilizer to manage biotic and abiotic stress;
5. Plant breeding: African food crops, ornamentals
6. Integration of plant breeding and biocontrol of Striga of cereal crops;
7. Biofuel (sugar), biomass and bioplastics crops for Africa – breeding, hydrology (water use efficiency), agronomy, entomology, plant pathology, weeds.

Contact Mark