Prediction of the body weight of Nguni goats

(South African J of Animal Science, 2000, 30, Supplement 1: 127-128

Small science : view from developing nations

No abstracthttp://www.sciencemag.org/magazinehb201

The plant disease pyramid : the relevance of the original vision of plant pathology in 2020

In 1926, Professor Paul A. van der Bijl made an address to the South African Association for the Advancement of Science in his capacity as President of Section C of the Association, entitled ‘Landmarks in the development of the science of plant pathology and of disease control’.1 The talk itself marks a key moment in the development of plant pathology as a discipline in South Africa, as Van der Bijl had been appointed 5 years earlier as the first Professor of Plant Pathology and Mycology in South Africa, at Stellenbosch University. The field was just being established, not only in South Africa, but in many parts of the world, and its distinction from other disciplines was a matter of pride.http://www.sajs.co.zaam2021BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

Foliar fungi of the enigmatic desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis show little adaptation to their unique host plant

Foliar fungi, especially endophytic fungi, constitute an important part of the microbiome of plants. Yet little is known about the composition of these communities. In this study, we isolated fungi from leaf tissues of the desert plant Welwitschia mirabilis to determine the culturable diversity of the foliar fungal community. The isolated fungal taxa, which grouped into 17 distinct lineages, were identified by sequencing elongation factor 1 alpha, beta-tubulin 1, beta-tubulin 2 and the internal transcribed spacer region. The culturable community was mainly composed of cosmopolitan fungal genera despite the unique taxonomic position of the plant and its geographic isolation. To test for endemism in two of the common fungal genera, Alternaria and Aureobasidium, we built haplotype networks using a global data set. Even this broad data set showed little evidence for specialisation within this unique host or its geographical location. The data suggest that the culturable members of communities of leaf-associated fungi in habitats with little plant coverage, such as the Namib Desert, are mainly established by long-distance aerially distributed fungal inocula and few of these taxa co-evolve with the host within the habitat.Significance: The culturable members of fungal communities associated with an ecological and evolutionary isolated plant have not co-speciated with their hosts, but to a large extent are composed of globally distributed fungal species. Harsh environmental conditions and the geographic isolation of host plants seem to favour ubiquitous fungal species over more specialist fungal species

Stedelike Afrikaanssprekende verbruikers se houding, voorkeur en selfgelding ten opsigte van Afrikaanse bemarkingskommunikasie (Afrikaans)

AFRIKAANS: Afrikaans, as een van 11 amptelike landstale, bevind homself in ’n unieke posisie as ’n belangrike bemarkingskommunikasietaal. Die assosiasie tussen Afrikaans en die apartheidsregering het die beeld van Afrikaans, oor jare, groot skade berokken. Afrikaanssprekendes is egter vir baie jare reeds die taalgroep met die grootste besteebare inkomste en ʼn teikengroep wat maklik bereikbaar is. Tog word Afrikaans dikwels nie ernstig deur die reklame-industrie opgeneem nie. Weinig is egter bekend oor wat Afrikaanssprekende verbruikers se houding teenoor bemarkingskommunikasie in Afrikaans is, of hulle dit hoegenaamd verkies en of hulle bereid is om daarvoor te vra. Die primêre navorsingsdoel van die studie was om stedelike Afrikaanssprekende verbruikers se houding, voorkeur en selfgelding ten opsigte van Afrikaanse bemarkingskommunikasie te bepaal en verder te ondersoek. Primêre data is met behulp van rekenaargesteunde telefoononderhoude ingesamel. Die teikenpopulasie was stedelike Afrikaanssprekende verbruikers in Suid-Afrika van 19 jaar en ouer. ’n Verteenwoordigende steekproef van 306 voltooide onderhoude is op ’n nie-ewekansige wyse met behulp van ʼn kwotasteekproef verkry. Die studie het bevind dat stedelike Afrikaanssprekende verbruikers ’n positiewe houding ten opsigte van Afrikaanse bemarkingskommunikasie het; dat hulle tot ’n baie groot mate ’n voorkeur vir Afrikaanse bemarkingskommunikasie bo Engelse bemarkingskommunikasie het, maar dat hulle tot ’n mindere mate bereid is om waarskynlik selfgeldend ten opsigte van Afrikaanse bemarkings-kommunikasie op te tree. Die resultate dui ook aan dat daar, met die uitsondering van verskillende ouderdomsgroepe, verskeie beduidende verskille in stedelike Afrikaanssprekende verbruikers se houding, voorkeur en selfgelding ten opsigte van Afrikaanse bemarkingskommunikasie voorkom, wat betref: demografiese profiel (inkomste, ras en geslag); Engelse taalvaardigheid; taalgroepidentiteit; die bemarkingskommunikasiemedium (kontakpersoneel, tasbare kommunikasie, reklame en verpakking); produkbetrokkenheid (ooreenkomstig die FCB-matriks); en produkte se posisie op die goedere-dienstekontinuum (suiwer diens, goedere-dienstekruising en suiwer produk). Onder meer toon die resultate dat vroulike respondente ’n positiewer houding het, ’n groter voorkeur het en meer waarskynlik selfgeldend sal optree ten opsigte van Afrikaanse bemarkingskommunikasie as manlike respondente. Die resultate toon ook dat, waar dienste en kontakpersoneel ter sprake is, stedelike Afrikaanssprekende verbruikers by uitstek Afrikaanse bemarkingskommunikasie verkies. Aspekte soos hierdie behoort in ag geneem te word wanneer ’n bemarkingskommunikasieplan, wat hierdie teikengroep insluit, ontwikkel word. Bemarkers en maatskappye wat daarin belangstel om met stedelike Afrikaanssprekende verbruikers ’n verhouding te bou, behoort ongetwyfeld die moeite te doen om met hierdie teikengroep in Afrikaans te kommunikeer. ENGLISH: Afrikaans, as one of the country’s 11 official languages, finds itself in a unique position as an important marketing communication language. The association between Afrikaans and the apartheid government, over years caused much damage to the image of Afrikaans. Afrikaans speakers, however, have for many years been the language group with the largest disposable income and are a target group that is easily reached. In spite of this, Afrikaans is frequently not being taken seriously by the advertising industry. Little is however known about the attitude of Afrikaans-speaking consumers towards marketing communication in Afrikaans, whether it is at all preferred by them and if they are prepared to ask for it. The primary research goal of the study was to determine and further investigate the attitude, preference and assertiveness of urban Afrikaans-speaking consumers in terms of Afrikaans marketing communication. Primary data was collected by means of computer-assisted telephone interviews. The target population was urban Afrikaans-speaking consumers in South Africa aged 19 years and older. A representative test sample of 306 completed interviews was obtained by means of a nonprobability quota sample. The study found that urban Afrikaans-speaking consumers have a positive attitude towards Afrikaans marketing communication; that they, to a very large extent, prefer Afrikaans marketing communication to English marketing communication, but that they are to a lesser extent prepared to likely act assertively with regards to Afrikaans marketing communication. The results further show that, with the exception of different age groups, various significant differences exist in urban Afrikaans-speaking consumers’ attitudes, preferences and assertiveness with regards to Afrikaans marketing communication concerning: demographic profile (income, race and gender); English language proficiency; language group identity; the marketing communication medium (contact personnel, tangible communication, advertising and packaging); product involvement (according to the FCB grid); and products’ position on the goods-services continuum (pure service, goods-services hybrid; pure tangible goods). Amongst other things, the results show that female respondents have a more positive attitude, a greater preference and are more likely to act assertively with regards to Afrikaans marketing communication than male respondents. The results also show that, especially where services and contact personnel are concerned, urban Afrikaans-speaking consumers prefer Afrikaans marketing communication. Aspects like these should be taken into consideration when a marketing communication plan, which includes this target group, is developed. Marketers and companies, who are interested in building a long-term relationship with urban Afrikaans-speaking consumers, should undoubtedly make the effort to communicate with this target group in Afrikaans.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009.Communication ManagementPhDUnrestricte

Identification of the causal agent of Botryosphaeria stem canker in Ethiopian Eucalyptus plantations

Plantations of exotic Eucalyptus make up more than 30% of Ethiopia's plantations, providing fuel and construction timber to the country. Species such as E. camaldulensis, E. saligna, E. grandis, E. citriodora and E. globulus are most commonly planted. During a survey of Eucalyptus diseases in 2000 and 2001, Botryosphaeria stem canker was observed in most plantations. The disease symptoms included tip die- back, coppice failure and stem cankers characterised by kino exudation. The aim of this study was to identify the species responsible for Botryosphaeria stem canker in Ethiopia. Culture and conidial morphology, as well as DNA-based identification involving Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs) and sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer regions (ITS) of the ribosomal RNA gene and the elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-α) gene, were used to identify isolates. Pathogenicity studies were conducted in the greenhouse and under field conditions. Results showed that Botryosphaeria parva is responsible for Botryosphaeria stem canker of Eucalyptus in Ethiopia. This is the first report of the fungus from this country. Greenhouse and field inoculation studies showed that the Ethiopian isolates are highly virulent. Careful site species selection and breeding trials are thus needed to reduce the impact of this disease in Ethiopia

Improving the business communication skills of postgraduate internal audit students : a South African teaching innovation

This article reports on the introduction of a business communication course in the curriculum of postgraduate internal audit students at a higher education institution in South Africa. Internal auditors should have excellent verbal and written communication skills in performing value-adding assurance and consulting services to their engagement clients. A hands-on applied business communication course was developed in collaboration with a number of stakeholders to improve the communication skills of postgraduate internal audit students using the action research methodology. Data were gathered from these students to determine the benefits of an applied business communication course. The study found that a learning need had been addressed and that an applied business communication course has several benefits, such as promoting teamwork, building confidence, improving presentation skills and ultimately preparing postgraduate students for communicating effectively at work.http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/riie202016-11-30hb201

Diversity and distribution of co-infecting Botryosphaeriaceae from Eucalyptus grandis and Syzygium cordatum in South Africa

Species in the fungal family Botryosphaeriaceae are latent pathogens on woody trees. These fungi often have a wide host range, which can include native and introduced hosts in an area. Multi-locus DNA sequence identification on a recent collection of Botryosphaeriaceae from Eucalyptus grandis and Syzygium cordatum trees in South Africa revealed cross-infectivity of several species, novel host associations and new country reports. Neofusicoccum eucalyptorum, Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense, Neofusicoccum parvum, Neofusicoccum australe and Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae were identified from both tree species, with L. pseudotheobromae and N. eucalyptorum isolated for the first time from S. cordatum, similar to N. kwambonambiense from Eucalyptus. This also represents the first report of L. pseudotheobromae from South Africa. Botryosphaeriaceae species on Eucalyptus species and S. cordatum are fairly well known from South Africa. However, this study revealed new associations, indicating that conclusions should not be generalized and that more intensive sampling from different areas and over time is likely to reveal distinct species and host association patterns.The National Research Foundation (NRF), members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST)/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), South Africa. Open Access funded by SAAB.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sajbhb2016Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)Genetic

Perception and knowledge of the Sirex woodwasp and other forest pests in South Africa

1. Sirex noctilio is one of the most serious invasive pests of pine. In South Africa, there has been a national effort to control S. noctilio, including an awareness campaign to increase awareness of the pest amongst the local forestry community. 2. We considered the impacts that the arrival of the pest and the awareness campaign has had on perceptions and knowledge of S. noctilio, as well as other forestry pests, amongst members of the forestry community. 3. For the data collection, a survey questionnaire was developed and used in telephone interviews. 4. Results of the study showed that the Sirex awareness campaign had increased knowledge of forestry pests in general. However, basic knowledge regarding the identification and symptoms of specific pests, such as S. noctilio, was poor. This will negatively influence monitoring efficacy. 5. Traditional paper-based media and personal contact contributed most to enhanced awareness. Electronic media were less effective and improvement would require a more focused effort. It was of concern that private farmers and contractors, as well as non-European first language speakers, were less well informed about forestry pests. 6. Clearly, a fragmented landscape in terms of ownership and language, presents challenges for effective communication of forestry pest threats.Forestry South Africa (FSA), the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, the University of Pretoria and the THRIP initiative of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), South Africa.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.comab201

Tree invasions and biosecurity: eco-evolutionary dynamics of hitchhiking fungi

201