ISSUE/UITGAWE XX MONTH/MAAND 20XX

INHOUDSOPGAWE l CONTENTS

SCIENCESAGRI N E W S L E T T E R • N U U S B R I E F 8 9 A P R I L 2 0 1 8

Wetenskappe sciences

http://www.sun.ac.za/agric

KalenderCalendar1

Ongebruikte meubels vind nuwe tuiste by

plaaslike skoolLees verder....

Where isDr KarooLamb?

Read on....

Dr Elmi Lötze first chair from AfricaRead on...2

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Marine Aquaculture Training and Research Centre for Saldanha

Read on....

A dream comes true for Food Sciences’ Marena Manley

and Paul WilliamsRead on...

Researcher considers why wine

smells like ‘wine’Read on....

Viticulture (Table Grape Science) at SU

and ElsenburgRead on....

PhD-funksie Maart 2018Lees verder...

SU, Antwerp confer joint

PhDRead on....

Tinneke en ma Benita vang saam graadLees verder....

Agronomie-proef lok aandag by bewarings-

konferensieLees verder....

Nematologists contribute to capacity building in sustainable

pest managementRead on....

Genetics for the future: a century of excellence

celebratedRead on....

Die tweede uittreksel uit AgriWetenskappe se Feesboek

wat eersdaags verskynLees verder...

Click on links / Klik op skakelsTwee nuwe visedekane aangestel

Lees verder...

Protea Bookstore and MCS take hands and

deliver the goods/booksRead on....

Ee u f e e s - g a l a d i n e e Laaste geleentheid om

te bespreek!

Studie in landbou-wetenskap het blink toekomsLees verder...

Eco Label Standard for the African Continent

Read on...

Waternavorsingsinisiatiefvir die

wynbedryfLees verder...

A humble insect could prove

the answer…Read on...

Studie werp lig op SA-verbruikers se houding

jeens wynLees verder...

Animal Science’s Annelin Molotsi

bags PHdRead on....

Hort Sci goes Down Under and

to EthiopiaRead on....

Josh ontvang drie spesiale

pryseLees verder....

7Plantpatologie vier eeufees met ’n dag vol herinneringe

Read on....

Fakulteit vier 100-jarige bestaan in vrolike luim

met ruilmarkLees verder....

ISSUE/UITGAWE XX MONTH/MAAND 20XX 1 ISSUE/UITGAWE 89 April 2018terug na inhoudsopgawe / back to contents

prof kennedy dzama (picture), an award-winning livestock geneticist, will be deputy dean re spon si ble for re-search, inno vation and postgra duate studies, and Gouws

will be the deputy dean responsible for teaching and learning.

Dzama holds a doctorate in animal breeding and ge netics from Texas A&M University in the USA. He has been with SU for the last 12 years, and has been chairperson of the Department of Animal Sciences since 2012. Dzama heads up the animal breeding and genetics portfolio in the Department, with his research focus being on the

genomic evaluation of African ani-mal genetic resources. Of late, he has been working on unravelling the genetic architecture of parasite-resistant genotypes of livestock.

Dzama is excited about his new position in the Faculty. He had the following to say: “Among some of the issues I wish to tackle are improving the quality of our research offering, and extending our collaboration with industry. We should also play a more prominent role beyond our borders, particularly in Africa.”

Voor prof pieter GouWs (foto regs bo) by die Fakulteit aan gesluit het, was hy aan die stuur van die Universiteit van Wes-Kaap land se Departement Bio tegnologie. Hy gebruik bio tegnologie-tegnieke om te help verseker dat kos produkte

geskik is vir mens-like gebruik. Gouws word be-skou as ’n kenner op die ge bied van voedsel veiligheid en listeriose.

Oor sy nu we pos sê hy: “Die

ver ander en de kon teks en nuwe uit-da gings in die hoër onderwyssektor en ons samelewing noodsaak ons om anders oor onder wys en onder-rig te dink. Die Fakulteit moet ’n akademiese kultuur nastreef waar-binne onderwys en onderrig vervleg word.”

In die komende paar jaar wil Gouws buigbare assessering benut om meer onderrigtyd te skep. Hy wil geleenthede bied vir studente

om vir ekstra vakke buite hulle stu dieveld in te skryf en die aantal krediete wat jaarliks per kursus verwerf moet word, verminder. Hy wil hom ook daarvoor beywer dat kritiese denke, etiese oorwegings en kommunikasie-vaardighede by die leerplan ingesluit word.

Twee nuwe visedekane aangestel

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SCIENCESAGRIWETENSKAPPE

Voedselveiligheid en die genetika van lewende hawe is die onderskeie fokusgebiede van twee nuwe visedekane wat onlangs in die Fakulteit aangestel is. Hulle is prof Kennedy Dzama van die Departement Veekundige

Wetenskappe en prof Pieter Gouws van die Departement Voedselwetenskap.Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe

Eeufees- galadinee saam met Coenie de Villiers

(pianis)

4 Mei 2018

Spier Landgoed

Laaste geleentheid om te bespreek!

kontak Carin Bruce by cbruce@sun.ac.za

The adult learners following the Grade 12 Agricultural Sciences course on Monday evenings recently received new textbooks. Henk Stander, the teacher, explained that not a single learner owned a textbook which made the training very difficult. Discount was arranged at Protea Bookstore in town for 20 books and Maties Community Service agreed to sponsor the books. Training can now take place on a different level!

Protea Bookstore and MCS take hands and deliver the goods/books

Die toekoms lyk belowend vir studente wat hulleself in land bou-wetenskap bekwaam. Só glo Lizette Davids, 'n onderwyser aan South Peninsula High in Kaapstad. Sy meen dit maak deure oop vir leerders, is 'n opwindende studieveld en skep alternatiewe moontlikhede vir leer-

ders se toekoms.Davids is een van 'n 50-stuks

onderwysers wat einde Maart 'n in-ligtingsessie oor loopbaankeuses in die landboubedryf in die Voedsel-wetenskapgebou bygewoon het. Die Fakulteit het dit in samewerking met die Produce Marketing Asso ciation (PMA) aangebied.

In dié sessie het die kollig geval op beroepe en geleenthede in die sektor vir nuwe toetreders tot die arbeidsmark. Die hoofdoel was om onderwysers, wat leerders oor hulle vakkeuses inlig, aan nuwe studie-geleenthede bekend te stel.

Die werwing van genoeg stu-dente wat in hierdie velde opleiding wil ontvang, is uiters belangrik om-dat soveel bedrywe en mense se lewensmiddelle van hul kundigheid afhang, meen Monika Basson, die Fakulteit se koördineerder vir voor-graadse werwing en bemar king. En, het Basson bygevoeg: “Onderwysers speel 'n belangrike rol as brugbouers in dié verband.”

Lindie Stroebel, bestuurder van

PMA in Suider Afrika, het gesê: “Die landbousektor is uit een lo-pend, relevant en uiters opwin-dend. Studente wat onderrig word in landbouwetenskappe gaan nie noodwendig self boer nie. Hulle raak onder meer betrokke by na vorsing oor voedselgewasse, die verspreiding van vars groente en vrugte van die plaas na die mark en die verbruiker, of by gehaltebeheer daarvan. Teg-nologie het ook 'n groot impak op die bedryf en ontsluit splinternuwe moontlikhede.”

Inligting is onder meer uitgeruil oor die studieprogramme wat aan die Fakulteit aangebied word. Ver -skeie rolspelers in die bedryf, wat onder meer betrokke is by na-vorsing, gehaltebeheer en die klein-handelsektor, het hulle insigte uit-geruil oor die jongste tendense in die bedryf.

Hugh Campbell, hoofbestuurder van Hortgro Science, het on der meer 'n oorsig oor die sagte vrugtebedryf en marktendense ge bied. Studente wat hulle be kwaam in landbouwetenskap

kan byvoorbeeld help om voldoende voed sel aan 'n groeiende bevolking te bied, het hy gesê, en bygevoeg:“ 'n Graad in landbouwetenskap kan jou vandag ver bring, hetsy as produsent, kon sultant of kleinhandelaar. Die bedryf is kompleks en ons benodig 'n nuwe generasie multidissiplinêre kundiges om gehalteprodukte te lewer.”

Campbell het vervolg: “Voedsel-sekerheid hang nie net van pro-dusente af nie, maar ook van voed-sel wetenskaplikes, grond kundiges, na-oes spesialiste, pro duk ontwik ke -l aars en landbou-eko nome wat saa-mwerk om vol houbare hoeveel hede vars en verwerkte produkte aan ver-bruikers te help verskaf.”

Feziwe Ndzunga van die Kwam-fundo Senior Sekondêre Skool in Khayelitsha, het na afloop van die verrigtinge gesê die inligtingsessie het haar verwagtinge oortref. Sy het dit so gestel: “Ons kan nou terug gaan skool toe met nuwe in sigte oor die bedryf.”

Studie in landbouwetenskap hou blink toekoms in

Mei01 Openbare vakansiedag04 Eeufeesgaladinee/Bekendstelling

van Eeufeesboek/Kunsuitstalling van Di Johnson-Ackerman/Vier parallellesings van Departemente Genetika, Grondkunde en Plantpatologie

22 Junie-eksamen (eerste geleentheid) begin

31 Laaste dag vir betalings van 75% van studentegelde t.o.v. 2018

Junie11 Junie-eksamen(eerste

geleenthied) eindig12 Junie-eksamen (tweede

geleentheid) begin16 Openbare vakansiedag29 Junie-eksamen (tweede

geleentheid) eindig Einde van eerste semester30 Sluitingsdatum vir aansoeke van

voornemende studente wat vir voorgraadse programme in die Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe oorweeg sal word

KALENDER 2018

in die Junie-uitGaWe:•Terugvoerooral4Meise

gebeurde•Diewijnappel:toeennou•Diederdeafleweringvandie

Fakulteit se Eeufeesboek

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Where is Dr Karoo Lamb?

Dr Karoo Lamb (also known in some circles as Sarah Erasmus!) is in the Netherlands where she continues her quest to protect the authenticity and integrity of food products – believing that food which is produced in a traditional, sustainable manner carries a priceless story and tradition that should be appreciated and protected from fraud and mislabelling.

In January of this year she joined the Food Quality and Design (FQD) group in the Department of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences of Wageningen University and Research (WUR), as a postdoctoral researcher on food fraud under supervision of Professor Saskia van Ruth. Although she specialised in Meat Science with the focus of authenticating regionally unique South African lamb in the Faculty, she is now focussing on various food products and food fraud related research. This includes food fraud vulnerability assessments and mitigation plans.

She is involved with the new EU-China-Safe project which is one of the world’s largest food safety projects between the EU and China. The project focusses on improving food legislation and inspection, the exchange and implementation of food fraud methods and the transfer and exchange of knowledge with European and Chinese partners to improve food safety and prevent food fraud between the two continents.

The food authenticity sub-project is led by WUR and focusses on spices, processed meat, infant formula, or-ganic fruit and vegetable – and wine. Other duties for Erasmus include student supervision, education and research outputs. She is also involved with the new MSc course in food fraud and mitigation. Apart from all the academic responsibilities, Erasmus is enjoying the Dutch culture and especially the variety of cheeses!

During the 8th ISHS Symposium for mineral nutrition of fruit crops that was hosted in Bolzano, Italy, Dr Elmi Lötze was selected as chairman for this work group for the next three years. She follows in the steps of Prof Massimo Tagliavini who chaired this work group for the previous two cycles. She is the first chair from Africa, as well as the first female chair of this work group, which resides under the ISHS Section: Pome and Stone Fruits.

Eco Label Standard for the African Continent

The back-ground, stra-tegy and imple-mentation policy of the new Eco Label for Stan-dardisation and Sustainability in African countries was discussed recently during a workshop in Nairobi, Kenya.

This label will be available for the Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agri culture, Forestry and Tour-ism fields. South Africa is one of seven countries taking part in the pilot phase. This initiative was ope ra tiona lised by ARSO (www.arso-oran.org). It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conserva-tion and Nuclear Safety through GIZ.

Henk Stander of the Aqua-culture Division in the Department of Ani mal Sciences, represented the Aquaculture Association of Southern Africa at the workshop. He also attended the relevant training to implement the label in South Africa in Accra, Ghana.

Marine Aquaculture Training and Research Centre planned for Saldanha

A multi-million rand Marine Aqua culture Training and Research Centre is being planned for Saldanha. It will be built close to the Mili-tary Academy, which houses the University’s Faculty of Military Science. The initial level of training will be pitched at NQF level 3 and NQF level 4.

Occupational qualifications for an Aquaculture Farm Assistant (OFO code 821602) and Aquaculture Farmer (OFO code 622101) have already been registered by AgriSETA through the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO).

A commercial Aquaculture farm with several different marine species and an Aquaponics system will be established for vocational training and skills transfer. The training centre will be administered by the Division for Social Impact through the CAPACITUS programme. The long-term plan is to also use the training centre for various different subject short courses, workshops and skills transfer initiatives by the Division for Social Impact.

Pictured here at the planning meeting were (from the left): Thanja Allison, Mawethu Nyakatya, Cosette van Aswegen, Henk Stander, Barry Stocks and Leon Diedericks.

Unused furniture in the Depart-ments of Genetics and Agro-nomy found a new home at Kaya-mandi Primary after the school’s need for furniture was brought to the Faculty of AgriSciences atten-tion.

An article which appeared in the local newspaper Eikestadnuus in January mentioned that although the Western Cape Department of Education had donated two new classrooms to the school, these classrooms had no furniture.

Mr Willem Botes, a senior lecturer in the Department of Gene tics, sent the article to Dr Michael John Freeborough, faculty manager, who requested that Ms Farida Martin, technical officer in

the Department of Agronomy, look into the possibility of donating furniture to the school. This was done with the approval of Prof Nick Kotze, chairperson of the Department of Agronomy.

The furniture had been removed from of the old lecture hall at the Winter Grain Building and was being stored in the Department of Agro nomy’s warehouse.

Farida takes up the story: “I met with the principal, Mr Mpumeleo Mdekazi, who came to our ware-house to see what we had to offer the school. I also contacted the University’s asset register manager to ensure that none of the furniture was on the asset register anymore.

“On 14 March, 64 benches for

the learners, 28 chairs, three steel drawer cabinets, two steel filing cabinets, four wooden tables and a refrigerator were loaded and transported to Kayamandi Primary.

“The school was very excited about and grateful for the donation. By the time we arrived there with the second load, some of the chairs in the first load had already been moved to their new places.

“There was definitely a great need for the furniture and the Faculty is very pleased that it could assist the school in such a way.”

“There was definitely a great need for the furniture and the Faculty is very pleased that it could assist the school in such a way.”

Delivering the furniture at Kayamandi Primary. Ms Annie Mdlankoma (secretary), Prof Nick Kotze (Head: Department of Agronomy), Mpumeleo Mdekazi (principal), Farida Martin (Technical Officer: Agronomy Department) and Pamela Hermans (teacher, SJB).

Unused furniture finds new home at local school

nuus|news

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A dream comes true for Food Sciences’ Marena Manley and Paul WilliamsThe new Vibrational Spec troscopy unit in the Central Analytical Facilities (CAF) in the Department of Food Science has been hailed as a dream come true for the Department’s Prof Marena Manley and Dr Paul Williams. This world class facility offers students, re-searchers and industry wonderful new possibilities for applications across a broad spectrum of fields.

Situated in the Department of Food Science’s building, the unit houses newly acquired hyper spectral ima ging equipment which makes the study of spectral differences to resolve the chemi cal composition and spatial dis tribution of these com ponents possible. The physical properties of the sample can al so be investigated in a non-de structive and non-invasively man ner with minimum or no sample preparation.

The Unit is an initiative that was made possible by funding from the National Research Foundation (NRF) through the National Equip-ment Programme and the excellent grant application that was compiled by Manley and Williams.

Manley, who first became aware of hyperspectral imaging in 2005, said that this laboratory “was truly a dream come true”. The equip-ment was installed in February by technicians from HySpex, Norsk Elektro Optikk in Norway. HySpex

stated that it was “the largest in-stallation ever done on a single site and that there was no other such facility in the world.”

Manley encouraged students and researchers to use the labo ratory and said that they had made sure that the software (from Prediktera, called Breeze and Evince) was user friendly. She said: “This is a research facility, not only to send your samples to, but also to use.”

At the recent official launch, Dr Janine Colling, manager of the faci lity, explained briefly on what principles the system operates. The guest speaker was Prof Christian Huck of the University of Innsbruck in Austria, who said that serious food problems

were being experienced right across the globe. Examples were food contamination from chicken farms, plastic found in chocolate and several others.

He made special mention of an extremely serious case in China in 2008 where melamine was added to baby nutrition to artificially increase the content of protein – 54 000 babies had to be hospitalised and some died. He said there were numerous other similar examples. Huck added that medicine applications, and the testing and discovery of new medicinal plants, had become more important in Europe. He em phasied the need for tools and easy to use equipment to conduct studies.

Waternavorsings-inisiatief vir die wynbedryf’n Water-dinkskrum is onlangs in die Paarl gehou waaraan ver-skillende belanghebbendes, ver al uit die navorsingsomgewing, deel-geneem het.

Die gesprek is belê as poging om die kompartementalistiese aard van navorsing te voorkom. Ver-skeie raakpunte is uitgewys waar bestaande en toekomstige na-vorsingsprojekte geïntegreerd in spanne uitgevoer kan word. Die voor-die-handliggende voordele is moontlike kostebesparing, maar ook waardetoevoeging in dié aard van navorsing omdat dit multi-dissi-plinêr uitgevoer kan word. Die ver-skillende fasette van water se rol in wyndruif-produksie en wynmaak kan sodoende meer bete kenisvol uitgewys word.

Die uitkoms van die gesprek was dat bestaande navorsingsre-sultate wat moontlik waarde kan toevoeg tot produsente, maar wat nog nie aan hulle beskikbaar is nie, uitgerol behoort te word. Meer belangrik: dat navorsers waterver-wante kwes sies geïntegreerd sal bestudeer.

Deelnemers aan die gesprek het ingesluit: Winetech, Vinpro, Distell, LNR Nietvoorbij en etlike departemente van die Fakulteit Agriwetenskappe, te wete Grond-kunde, Wingerd- en Wynkunde en Landbou-ekonomie.

With a growing world population comes two major challenges – firstly, food security, how do we create more food to ensure that no one goes hungry without exhausting our natural resources? And secondly: waste accumulation, more people means more activity and more activity means more waste is being produced.

Surprisingly, a humble insect may bring the answer to these challenges. The black soldier fly (BSF) is a cosmopolitan species, is considered a non-pest, and is not known to be a vector of disease, yet this small animal has two remarkable characteristics that makes it very useful indeed.

The larvae are remarkably efficient at digesting organic waste (including food processing, and other agricultural waste) and as such they are excellent bioremedial agents. Not only can the larvae de-grade this waste, but the larvae themselves then convert this into usable animal protein and oils that are comparable to fish meal; the major protein and oil source for animal feed that is then used for human consumption (e.g. meat and dairy products, fish, and eggs). The declining world fisheries means that a sustainable alternative for animal protein is needed and by using BSF we can create a self-sustaining source.

Recognising the value of BSF, a group of inter-national scientists have formed a consortium to study and improve the BSF for biotechnological

application. The first meeting and sympo-sium was hosted by Dr Christine Pichard (Department of Biology, Indiana Univer-sity – Purdue University, Indianapolis, In-diana, USA) facilitated by a grant from the IUPUI Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Research. Although genomics stand at the core of the research paradigm, the team is multidisciplinary, consisting of ge ne ticists, entomologists, and food and nutrition scientists. The consortium has identi-fied key research focus areas in basic sci-ence with applied relevance, including: Evolutionary and Molecular Eco logy, to elucidate the origins and diversity of the BSF populations world wide; Genetics of Complex Traits, to assess the correlations between genetic and phenotypic varia tion; Meta-Genomics & Microbiome In ter action, to un-derstand microbial com munity associated with BSF and Functional ‘Omics: to analyse the functional biological aspects of BSF using a systems approach.

It is hoped that investigating these aspects, as it relates to the BSF, will help improve production performance and sustainability, product develop-ment, and food safety and nutrition.

Dr Clint RhodeAs one of the first researchers to study the genetics of BSF, Dr Clint Rhode of the Department of

Genetics in the Faculty, re presented South Africa on this international forum. He presented some of his preliminary research findings showing the genetic impact of mass commercial rearing of the BSF popu lations and the implications thereof for sustainable BSF production. Rhode works in close collaboration with local BSF producer, AgriProtein, and has recently also received a National Research Foundation (NRF) grant to continue his research on this topic; the grant will support the studies of a number of postgraduate students at doctoral, masters and honours level.

A humble insect could prove the answer…

From left to right: Dr Yongping Huang (Institute for Biological Sciences, SIBS, Shanghai, China); Dr Clint Rhode (Department of Genetics, SU); Dr Sherah van Learhoven (University of Windsor, Canada); Dr Jonathan Cammack (Texas A&M University); Dr Christoph Sandrock (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Switzerland); Mr Devon Brits (Louisiana State University); Dr Jennifer Pechal (Michigan State University); Dr Jeffery Tomberlin (Texas A&M University); Dr Andrea Liceaga (Purdue University) and the host, Dr Christine Picard (IUPUI).

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Studie werp lig op SA-verbruikers se houding jeens wynSuid-Afrikaanse wynverbruikers deel soortgelyke beskouings van wyn oor verskillende etniese groepe heen.

Dit blyk uit navorsing deur dr Carla Weightman (foto) oor die beskouings van verbruikers jeens wyn. Weightman het onlangs haar PhD (Wynbiotegnologie) in die Fakul-teit AgriWetenskappe verwerf.

Dit is die eerste studie in sy soort waarin daarop gefokus word om die veranderde landskap van wynverbruik oor kulture heen te begryp.

Wynstylkeuses, geleenthede om dit te geniet, koop- en verbruik-patrone, is verken. Die studie is on-der neem in die navorsingprogram van dr Hélène Nieuwoudt, senior na-vorser aan die Instituut vir Wynbio-tegnologie, wat fokus op sensoriese en navorsingsaspekte van Suid-Afri-kaanse wyn.

Weightman het onder meer fo-kus groepe ingespan om verbruikers se beskouings, stylvoorkeure, die konteks waarbinne hulle wyn ge-niet, asook hul koop- en verbruiks-patrone beter te begryp. Sy het ver al op stedelike verbruikers in Gauteng gefokus. Histories is die wit verbrui-kers die grootste groep wynverbrui-kers, maar swart verbruikers is nou verantwoordelik vir sowat 80% van wynverbruik op eie bodem.

Dit kom voor of wyn in ver-band gebring word met status en so fistikasie, voorkoms, viering, ont-spanning en kos. Weightman ver-duidelik dit soos volg: “Die feit dat wyn by etes gedrink word, is die vernaamste faktor wat wyn van an-der kategorieë van alkoholiese drank onderskei. Soos wat ver bruikers se sosio-demografiese pro fiele eenders word, so ook word hulle wynbe-

skouing en voorkeure die selfde.” Die motivering vir mense om in

die verskillende verbruikersegmente wyn te drink, is dieselfde. Die sosiale aspekte, sensoriese aantreklikheid en faktore wat met etiese oorwegings verband hou, was die belangrikste faktore wat respondente se wyn-keuses bepaal het.

In Suid-Afrika is 56% van diegene wat wyn drink vroue en dit lyk of hulle meer wyn by verskillende soor-te geleenthede drink as mans. Mans verkies in die algemeen ook om eers bier of whiskey te drink, maar sal wyn drink saam met 'n maaltyd.

Die mees beduidende invloed op wynverbruik, is die konteks waarbinne dit verbruik word, blyk uit die studie. Ander faktore van belang, is die lokaal waar wynverbruik plaasvind en of 'n maaltyd betrokke is. Die beslissende faktor wat ver bruikerkeuses hieroor

bepaal, is verbruikers se begroting.Oor die algemeen is die redes om

wyn te drink dieselfde tussen verskil-lende verbruikersegmente. Die sosia-le aspekte, sensoriese aan treklikheid en faktore wat met etiese oorweg-ings verband hou, was die belangrik-ste motiveringsfaktore.

• DieNasionaleNavorsingstigting,die Departement van Wetenskap en Tegnologie, Winetech en die Instituut vir Wynbiotegnologie het dié projek gefinansier.

Researcher considers why wine smells like ‘wine’Why does wine smell like ‘wine’? This question may appear straight forward, yet the answer has remained unexamined for decades in wine research.

Now Dr Samantha Fairbairn has come up with an answer. Fairbairn recently received her PhD (Wine Biotechnology) in the Faculty on defining the chemical features of wine perception. She currently works as a technical officer in the Institute for Wine Biotechnology (IWBT).

Her research suggests that the ‘wine’ character that distinguishes wine from other beverages, and also allows consumers to identify a product as ‘wine’, is entirely due to the metabolic activity of yeast. This generic ‘signature’ is found in every bottle of wine, regardless of the country of origin.

Fairbairn explains: “This wine-like character is prevalent in all wine, irrespective of wine quality and cultivar, suggesting that it stems from alcoholic fermentation, rather than the variable varietal or technical aspects associated with winemaking.”

Fairbairn considered to what extent yeast contributes to the formation of the wine-like feature through fermentation. She designed a synthetic grape juice that – after fermentation by wine yeasts – displayed a vinous character, indistinguishable from real wine following sensory analysis. This forms part of her novel research that considers wine recognition as a field of study.

Her research topic came about after Prof Antonio Ferreira, a part-time professor from Portugal involved at the IWBT, smelled a fermenting synthetic grape must sample in the laboratory and thought it was reminiscent of wine. This sparked a collaboration between Prof Florian Bauer, the SARChI Chair in the IBWT, and Ferreira to explore whether one could increase this ‘wine-likeness’ in a synthetic grape must.

Fairbairn’s work considered to what extent volatile aromas produced by yeast contributes to this vinous character, referred to as the wine-like feature. Using a novel fermentation-based approach, she investigated how a particular yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) converted synthetic grapes must into a wine-like product. This study provides invaluable information needed to formulate better strategies to test, verify and characterise the wine-like feature.

Although the study has fallen short of being able to define the chemical signature responsible for wine recognition, preliminary data suggest that acetate esters may be important for establishing this feature. Additionally, Fairbairn’s work highlights the value of using the sensory data as a decision-making tool, rather than the more commonly adopted chemistry-driven approach.

• Funding for the research was provided by the National Research Foundation and Winetech.

South African Table Grape Industry Annual Report: Training Viticulture (Table Grape Science) at SU and Elsenburg Table Grape Science is presented at both the Stellenbosch University (SU) and Elsenburg as a complete Viticulture module both within the BScAgric programme (4 year degree programme) and the BAgric programme (3 year degree programme).

Several Viticulture Table Grape Science practicals are presented in co-operation with ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij (Divisions Viticulture Table Grapes, as well as the Division Breeding and Evaluation), for example cultivar and pruning practicals, as well as visits to experimental farms to learn about table grape research.

As part of the practical training, commercial table grape farms are also visited to demonstrate practical aspects of commercial table grape production as well as to do assignments. In 2017, Hoekstra Fruit Farms, Tweespruit and Irene in the Paarl area, Meerlust Plase, as well as De Vlei Boerdery in the Hex River Valley, were visited.

Viticulture (Table Grape Science) Internship at SU As part of the required course work for the degree BScAgric in Viticulture and Oenology, or Viticulture in combination with another major subject, the student must do a practical internship. The Viticulture (Table Grape Science) internship comprises 4 months in total, allocated from July in the 3rd academic year to June in the 4th academic year and includes the following:

• Practicalworkinthevineyardandpackstore;

• Exposuretohumanresourcemanagementinatablegrapeproductioncontext; and

• Executingasmallresearchprojectinthevineyard.

The internship students are also involved in activities on commercial farms where SATI funded research projects are being executed, as well as in viticulture and research activities at Stellenbosch University and the ARC Infruitec-Nietvoorbij.

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Animal Science staff member bags a PhDDr Annelin Molotsi (picture), who has been an academic staff member in the Department of Animal Science since July 2012, was awarded her PhD degree at SU’s December graduation. The title of the degree was the “Genomics as part of an integrated study of smallholder sheep farming systems in the Western Cape.”

The aim of Molotsi’s PhD study was to evaluate the productivity of smallholder sheep farming systems in the Western Cape using an inter-disciplinary approach (socio-economics and environmental factors) under-pinned by genomics and characterisation of the farming systems. Results from the study showed that the majority of smallholder farmers were above 40 years of age and only 32% ranked their wealth status as poor, which is a concern as most farmers are above the age where farming is recommended as an occupation. This poses the question of how sheep farming is to be sustained in the long term and how to re-engage the interest of the youth in sheep farming.

The percentage of farmers indicating their wealth status as poor is also of concern for the livelihood of these farmers and the long-term sustainability of smallholder sheep production in the Western Cape. The average offtake rate for smallholder farmers in the Western Cape was lower than commercial figures, and the income derived from livestock (calculated by the average number of lambs sold) is low and not economically sustainable.

The study found that smallholder farmers in the Western Cape preferred Dorper sheep and that their genetic resource has a higher genetic diversity then purebred Dorpers. The foundation for looking for important alleles for reproduction in smallholder sheep was established. Selection signatures for heat tolerance, reproduction, pigmentation and polledness were obtained and important genes were characterised. Smallholder sheep farming sys-tems on a socio-economic scale were unsustainable. However, on an environmental scale, using genetic diversity as an indicator, smallholder sheep were more sustainable. Molotsi concluded that the sustainability of sheep farming systems is complex and therefore collaboration across disciplines are necessary to improve smallholder sheep farming systems in South Africa.

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100 l100 l100 l100 l100 PhD-funksie Maart 2018 AgriWetenskappe se jongste

oes aan doktore is vlnr Tersia Needham, Samantha Fairbairn, Carla Weightman, Stuart Hall, Gonzalo Banuelos, Alanna Rebelo, Welma Pieterse, Grace Kangueehi , Elma Carstens, Martina Treurnicht, Gerhardus van Coller, prof Pieter Gouws ( Visedekaan: Leer en Onderrig), Manam Saeed, Natalie Theron-De Bruin, Erika Moelich, Bahareh Bagheri, Irene Orina, Hannel Ham, Karen Munhuweyi en Joyful Rugari.

Tinneke van Zyl (links) sal die dag waarop die graad HonsBSc (Agriwetenskappe) aan haar verleen is, altyd onthou omrede haar ma, Benita (hier saam met haar op die foto), op dieselfde dag die graad MEd (Kurrikulumstudie) cum laude verwerf het. Benita en Tinneke het hulle grade op die onlangse Maart-plegtigheid van die US ontvang.

Josh Hanekam (regs) van Elsenburg het uitmuntend presteer en drie spesiale pryse tydens die gradeplegtigheid in Desember 2017 ontvang. Hy is bekroon as die beste student in Diere-produksie, Dieregesondheid: Grootvee en Dieregesondheid: Kleinvee. Hier is Josh by die Dekaan van AgriWetenskappe, prof Danie Brink.

gradedag

SU, Antwerp confer joint PhD Dr Alanna Rebelo be-came the first student in the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University (SU) to be awarded a joint doctorate by SU and the Uni-versity of Antwerp in Belgium. She received her doctorate in Conservation Ecology at the third ceremony of SU’s March graduation. Rebelo’s supervisors were Prof Karen Esler from SU’s Department of Conversation Ecology and Entomology and Prof Patrick Meire from the Ecosystem Management Group at the University of Antwerp.

This was only the second joint doctorate to be awarded in the Faculty of AgriSciences. The first joint PhD in the Faculty was awarded with the University of Bordeaux in France in 2017. The University of Antwerp is one of 21 partners with whom SU has joint PhD agreements. In addition to Rebelo’s degree, two other joint doctorates, one in Sport Science and one in Geology, was also awarded during the 2018 March graduation. This brings to 23 the number of joint doctorates that SU has conferred to date.

In her doctoral study, Rebelo looked at, among others, the benefits palmiet wetlands hold for ecosystems such as slowing the force of floods, cleaning water and providing habitat for biodiversity and sediment retention. Describing herself as a wetland ecologist, she says many people have heard of palmiet, but not many know what a valuable wetland plant it is.

Rebelo, who will be doing postdoctoral research at SU, says she has fond memories of her journey towards a joint doctorate.

“I enjoyed my PhD thoroughly; learning the ropes at a new (international) institution and most of all I loved my research group.”

“I got to attend courses abroad, conferences, and research trips. I was for-tunate to meet exciting researchers from all around the world.”

“Belgium is a wonderful country where I was afforded multiple opportunities. The many coffee breaks with my research group really helped me get through my PhD, as well as building relationships with fellow students, and starting interesting research ideas and collaborations.”

She advises students who would want to do a joint doctorate to choose their supervisor and research group well.

“Make sure your interests are aligned and choose a group that has a few post docs in your line of research, as they tend to have more time, and would be available to answer questions or give feedback.”

Rebelo obtained her joint doctorate in the same year that SU is com-memorating its centenary and also celebrating 25 years of inter nationalisation. Leading international activities at the university, Stellenbosch University International, which first opened its doors in 1993 as the then Office for Inter-national Relations, plays an influential role in positioning SU as rooted in Africa and global in reach.

At the same ceremony, several other doctoral degrees in AgriSciences with supervisors from other countries were also awarded. Doctoral degrees in Wine Biotechnology were also conferred upon Bahareh Bagheri, Heinrich du Plessis, Samantha Fairbairn and Carla Weightman for their wine-related research.

Prof Patrick Meire, supervisor, Dr Alana Rebelo and Prof Karen Esler.

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Hort Sci goes Down Under and to Ethiopia

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100 l100 l100 l100 l100 Die Agronomieproef van MSc-land-boustudent, Stephano Haar hoff, het onlangs op die jaar likse Ottosdal se Bewarings land boukonferensie die aandag van pro dusente én verteen-woordigers in die landboubedryf gelok.

Die konferensie is deur die Geen-bewerking klub van Ottos-dal, in samewerking met GraanSA en die Mielie Trust, aangebied. Die implementering en voordele van Be waringslandbou op plaasvlak was vanjaar die fokuspunt van die ver-rigtinge. Konferensiegangers is deur erkende sprekers soos onder andere prof Chris Dannhauser van Grass SA, dr Hendrik Smith van GraanSA en dr André Nel, ’n onafhanklike navorser, toegespreek. Hulle het

onderskeidelik oor dekgewasse, be-waringslandbou in Suid-Afrika en die vorige jaar se proefresultate ge-praat. Veldproewe van hoë standaard word deur die Geen-bewerking klub onderneem as deel van ’n projek wat die Mielietrust befonds. Daar is ook besoek afgelê by hierdie proefpersele wat wisselboustelsel-, dekgewas- en mieliekultivarproewe van verskeie saadmaatskappye insluit.

Haarhoff doen tans sy MSc onder leiding van dr Pieter Swanepoel en prof Nick Kotzé van die Departe-ment Agronomie. Dit handel oor die invloed van plantdigtheid en ry wydte op waterverbruikdoeltreffend heid, wor telgroei en opbrengs van mielies onder geen-bewerking toestande. Die huidige riglyne vir plantdigtheid

en rywydte van mielies word be-vraagteken om dat dit vir konvensio-nele bewerking stelsels ontwikkel is. Omrede oes reste belangrik in be-waringsboerderystelsels is, kan hoër plantdigthede, en dus meer plant-materiaal, voordelige invloed op die stelsel hê, al word opbrengs nie noodwendig verhoog nie. Hierdie hipotese is egter nog nie voorheen wetenskaplik ondersoek nie.

Voorts word die invloed van plantdigtheid en rywydte op die akti-witeit van die ensiem, β-glukosidase, regdeur die groei seisoen geëvalueer. Hierdie ensiem word deur grondmi-krobes afgeskei en is ’n goeie aan-wyser van grondgesondheid. Wortel-groei word met ’n wortelskandeerder en -kamera aangewend om foto’s van

die wortelgroei te neem deur dit in ’n vooraf geïnstalleerde buis in die grond te laat afsak. Hierdie was ’n interessante besprekingspunt onder die boere (foto). Die foto’s word dan met behulp van spesiale sagte-ware ontleed vir wortelvolume en -digtheid. Die wortelstudie word in samewerking met dr Elmi Lötze van die Departement Hortologie, uitge-voer.

Dr Esmé Louw, a researcher in the Horticultural Science Department, Prof Wiehann Steyn, the Assistant General Manager of Hortgro Science, and Mr Ferdie Ungerer, technical advisor at Witzenberg Range Nurseries, recently visited various research stations across Australia.

One of their main objectives was to meet researchers and producers in a climate that is relatively similar to that of South Africa. They started in Queensland by visiting the hail prone, low chill apple growing area of Stanthorpe where apples are produced on dwarfing rootstocks creating high-density plantings with vertical, or “V” fruiting walls, under nets. This area has of late experienced high levels of delayed foliation associated with lack of winter chill and producers were keen to learn about South African ways of overcoming this, as well as sharing their expertise on netting.

They also visited the Australian Centre of Field Robotics at Sydney University to view their latest inventions. This high-tech environment has produced intelligent robots with practical implications for various sectors of our industry from nurseries to pack houses.

The group also spent time with the various researchers at the Horticulture Production Sciences Agriculture Research Station at Tatura, Victoria where extensive research is conducted on irrigation of apples and pears. They were also able to exchange notes on dormancy chill modelling.

The group was then hosted by Mr Kevin “Colonel” Saunders, a fruit grower, an APAL

board member (R&D) and initiator of the Future OrchardTM programme. Here they spent time in the orchards looking at his successes with M9 rootstocks and growing two and three-leader trees in upright and V-systems producing high quality apples.

After travelling to Western Australia, the group’s final stop was at the Manjimup Horticultural Research Institute where they visited the Australian National Apple Breeding programme. Western Australia has a climate very similar to that of the Western Cape. Time was spent viewing at the new “black” apple, ‘Bravo’ TM and some of their future orchard sites, and discussing the Aussie industry’s move towards avocado production in this area.

All agreed that a road show such as this, pro-vides first-hand experience about different pro-duction prac tices and creates opportunities to identify common problems and challenges. It opens doors for colla boration and cameraderie between coun tries faced with common climatic dilemmas.

EthiopiaTowards the end of last year Prof Steyn and Dr Louw, accompanied by their colleague, Prof Karen Theron, were invited to the first Ethiopian workshop on dormancy and apple growing under conditions of insufficient cold held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was organised by the Addis Ababa Institute of Technology in collaboration with Bahir Dar University and the Lab for Fruit Breeding and Biotechnology at the Catholic University of Louvain

in Belgium with support of the Flemish Inter-university Council. The objective of the work-shop was to discuss insufficient chilling in apple production in Ethiopia and to gain expertise from other African and European universities running research programmes on this topic. Theron and Louw gave keynote presentations at the workshop and showcased Hort Sci’s dormancy research programme. Steyn gave input into practical aspects of apple production under low chill conditions from the perspective of the South African apple industry. Such interaction lays the foundation for future collaborations and student training to compare the progression of apple dormancy in a spectrum of climatic conditions.

Agronomie-proef lok aandag by bewaringskonferensie

on the move

A taxonomy training workshop on entomo-pathogenic nematodes (EPNs) was held in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology over a four day period in January of this year during which participants received training on the different techniques used to identify EPNs, including aspects of morphology, morphometrics, light microscopy, SEM, and nematode biology.

Entomo-pathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are small worms that naturally occur in the soil. These nematodes have symbiotic bacteria that are effective biological control agents against pest insects. The worms are unique because they have evolved the ability to carry and introduce these symbiotic bacteria into the body cavity of a

wide range of insect orders and families.In South Africa, as well as in the rest of Af-

rica, research on the occurrence, distribution and identification of EPNs has escalated. In short,

the whole of Africa augurs extremely well for the bioprospecting of EPN. Currently, a total of 14 new species from South Africa have been de-scribed since the description of the first species in the country in 2006. As the nematodes are very conservative in terms of their taxo nomic features, every tool in the box has to be used to ensure correct species identification.

The workshop was attended by students, lecturers and researchers from different coun-tries, including the Czech Republic, Nigeria, India, Turkey, Uganda, Swaziland and of course South Africa. One of the outcomes of the event was the establishment of an EPN network that will facilitate information exchange information, and future collaboration.

Participants that attended the EPN workshop in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology.

Nematologists contribute to capacity building in sustainable pest management

Prof Wiehann Steyn and Dr Esmé Louw in front of the original (but transplanted) ‘Cripps Pink’, ‘Cripps Red’ and ‘Bravo’ trees at Manjimup Research Station.

Prof Wiehann Steyn and Prof Wannes Keulemans (KU Leuven) demonstrating changes in tree architecture to Ethiopean researchers and students.

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Plantpatologie vier eeufees met ’n dag vol herinneringe

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100 l100 l100 l100 l100 100 | 100 | 100

Die Departement Plantpatologie het op 1 Maart sy 100-jarige bestaan met ’n oggend en middag van praatjies oor die departement en sy rol in die verlede, hede en toekoms gevier.

Die oggend is ingelei met praatjies deur gewese dekaan, prof Mohammad Karaan, en prof Danie Brink, die huidige dekaan. Daarna het die nimlike emeritus prof Gustav Holz almal op meesterlike vertelwyse op ’n “trip down memory lane” geneem. Oud-kollegas en nagraadse alumni het met teetyd en middagete heerlik rondom ’n snoepery of twee saamgekuier, en na die laaste praatjie kon alle belangstellendes die departement se fasiliteite besigtig.

Verskeie eertydse personeellede het ook die geselligheid bygewoon, onder andere proff Martin Hattingh, Gustav Holz en Pedro Crous, asook dr Sandra Lamprecht en Fred Walters. Die weer het saamgespeel en die dag is afgesluit met ’n heerlike spitbraai by die LNR-PPRI se treffende historiese geboue buite die dorp. By dié geleentheid het Ferdi van Zyl die aanwesiges met prettige staaltjies uit die verlede vermaak en die huidige nagraadse studente – en ook sommige van die ouer garde (!) – het tot laat-aand saam met die drieman-orkes gekuier.

Almal is dit eens dat dit so ’n lekker saamkuier-geleentheid was dat ons weer oor tien jaar so ’n reünie gaan hou, omrede almal nie weer die volgende 100 jaar een gaan haal nie – trouens, meeste nie eens die volgende 50 jaar een nie – en net enkeles die volgende 25 jaar s’n!

Die dag van 1 Maart het voorwaar bewys dat plantpatoloë regtig ’n klomp “fun guys” is!

Die 100-jarige bestaan van die Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe is op besonderse wyse gevier toe per-soneel en studente voor die Kon-ser vatorium saamgetrek het. Deel daarvan was ’n sogenaamde ruilmark. ’n Basaargees soos min het geheers, maar sonder dat enige geld van hand verwissel het.

In dié gees is ’n eiervrug vir ’n botteltjie plantvoeding geruil, ’n stuk sjokoladekoek vir ’n sakkie groen rissies, en geskenksakkies vir saailinge wat uit eierdoppe groei. Die Akwakultuur-eenheid het vars tilapia gebring en talle ywerige tuiniers het met produkte uit hulle groentetuine kom spog. Die Departement Agro-nomie het die beste gemaak van ’n paar kratte boeke wat hulle as geskenk ontvang het en die Plante-teeltlaboratium het weer ver skil-len de geure springmielies te ruil aan gebied. Die Departement Land-bou-ekonomie se Vlei Vinke-span het gebottelde water met oulik-ver-sierde etikette met vinkies daarop verruil.

Die mark is amptelik met die lui van ’n klok geopen deur die dekaan, prof Danie Brink, wat die spanlede geluk gewens het met hul skeppende vermoëns. Hy het ook die geleentheid gebruik om personeellede te bedank vir hulle insette tot die lewering van uitstaande onderrig en navorsing, en hul in te lig oor planne om die inname van studente wat kursusse volg, te vergroot.

Organiseerder Carin Bruce sê sy was aangenaam verras met die skep-

pende idees waarmee daar voren dag gekom is, asook die aan gename gees wat onder deel nemers geheers het. Dit was ook ’n geleentheid vir perso-neel om so siaal te verkeer. Carin sê: “Daar was selfs personeel uit verskil-lende departemente wat mekaar die eers te keer ontmoet het, al het hulle al vir jare elektronies met mekaar saamgewerk.”

Die Dassie-wingerdrobot was ook daar vir almal om te besigtig. Met dié geleentheid is ’n tjek van meer as R1 650 deur personeel aan die Small Things-fonds oorhandig. Dit word deur dr Rhoda Malgas bedryf ten bate van behoeftige studente wat dalk net ’n klein bedrag geld kort om byvoorbeeld ’n sakrekenaar, ’n ek-stra boek of ’n oorjas te kan koop.

Die beoordelaars het ’n moeilike taak gehad om tussen die beste plan-ne te kies. Anchen Lombard en die Departement Voedselwetenskap se “Geluk in ’n Blik” is uiteindelik aan-gewys as die mees kreatiewe pro-duk. Kleinighede is geblik en met ’n eg-Stellenboschetiket versier. Die beste bemarkingsaksie is van stapel laat loop deur die Departement Plant patologie, wat die vrugtekelkies wat hulle te drinke aangebied het vernoem het na bekende tropiese siektes. (Sover bekend het niemand wat hulle stalletjie besoek en “Pineapple Powdery Mildew” en “Watermelon Antracnose” gedrink het, enige nagevolge gehad nie!). Die toekenning vir die beste spangees is gedeel deur die Departement Grondkunde en Monika Basson.

Die ruilmark-konsep het sy ont-staan by die Departement Be wa-ringsekologie en Entomologie ge-had, wat ’n paar jaar gelede daarmee begin het. Prof Karen Esler meen dit was deels ’n sosiale eksperiment en het dit andersins aan mense die kans gebied om met hulle handewerk en

stokperdjies te kon spog.Die Fakulteit se eeufeesvieringe

val saam met dié van die US – én ook dié van die Departemente Plant-patologie, Genetika, Grond kunde en Hortologie. Dit het reeds die plant van 100 bome by Welgevallen-proefplaas ingesluit.

Fakulteit vier 100-jarige bestaan in vrolike luim met ruilmark

• DieFakulteitseeeufeesvieringebereikopVrydag4Mei ’n hoogtepunt, wanneer gedenklesings, ’n wynproe en ’n galadinee gehou word.

• Gratisgedenklesingsworddeurdievierdepartemente, wat almal hul 100-jarige bestaan vier, aangebied. Die lesings vind almal parallel in verskeie geboue op kampus op 4Meiom15:30plaas.DiesprekersisonderandereWillemBotes (Departement Genetika), prof Leopoldt van Huyssteen (Departement Grondkunde) en dr Cheryl Lennox (Departement Plantpatologie).

• NaafloopvanhierdielesingssalgastekanproeaanDieLaan-wyneuit die US se eie Welgevallen-wynkelder.

• ’nEeufees-galadineevindom18:30bySpierbuiteStellenboschplaas.Diegewilde liedjieskrywer en televisiepersoonlikheid Coenie de Villiers sal die gaskunstenaar wees. ’n Beperkte hoeveelheid kaartjies is nog beskikbaar.

• VerskeieskilderyewatdiekunstenaarDianeJohnson-Ackermanvanveraldie Fakulteit se historiese geboue gemaak het, sal uitgestal word.

• Virmeerinligtingoordiefeesvieringe,kontakCarinBruceby cbruce@sun.ac.za

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We live in a new era where genetics is chang-ing the face of many aspects of life as we know it. This includes the way we farm, how we manage our living resources and even the kind of medicines we use. Nowadays, scientists can create more resilient crops, design tailor-made medicines for individuals based on their genetic profiles, or generate protein substitutes from plants and insects.

Genetic studies are providing the key to unlocking an ever-expanding world of scientific possibilities and applications in our everyday lives. Since its inception, the Department of Genetics has been positioned at the cutting edge of research and teaching. Over the last century, the Department has evolved in many ways with research and training now focused on plants, animals and humans.

Looking backThe Department’s origins can be traced back a century to when the Stellenbosch College of Agri culture was founded on the outskirts of Stellenbosch in 1918. At the time, the focus was on plant breeding to support agriculture in the region.

Today, the Department still provides key research outputs that support the local agricul-tural sector. Stellenbosch University (SU) plant breeders have had a significant impact on the ag-ricultural sector and related industries. One can hardly look at grain production without recognis-ing the legacy and impact they have had in this re-gard. Consider for example the ground-breaking work on the breeding of cereal crops done by Prof JH Neethling, who was also the first head of the Department and plant breeding.

Since then, many other scientists have fol-lowed suit to establish the University as a cen-tre of breeding and genetic research excellence. Researchers working in the field of plant breed-ing are continuing with cutting-edge research on cultivar development for the wheat industry for example.

The Department evolved from mainly plant and animal breeding to a strong focus on molecular genetics and genomics, as well as plant biotechnology over the last few decades. Adding human genetics to its curricula in 1989 is considered one of the key changes affecting the research focus and teaching in the Department over the last century. The last two decades saw the number of staff and students increasing significantly. Permanent staff members increased from only 12 to nearly 30 and for most undergraduate modules, student numbers have quadrupled (2nd year) or tripled (3rd year), while postgraduate student numbers have more than doubled.

Current focus areasCurrently, the Department’s three focus areas are plant, animal and human genetics. This includes research in the fields of quantitative (breeding and biometry), molecular (biotechno-logical) and population genetics. •In animal genetics, research is conducted on

aquatic and other livestock animals. This work involves determining genetic diversity and po-pu lation dynamics for better management and conservation of these species.

•In human genetics, research focuses on identi-fication and molecular characterisation of the genes involved in psychiatric disorders, as well as pharmacogenetic applications in diseases.

•In plant genetics and biotechnology, research includes molecular characterisation of grape-vine virus diseases and development of virus resistance, rye and triticale breeding, cereal genomics and plant-insect interactions, as well as fruit breeding and germplasm characterisation.

The Department has a long history with indus-try, mostly agricultural, which includes amongst others the cereal industry, the wine industry, fruit industry and the aquaculture sector, all with longstanding partnerships. The Department also started to establish international partnerships for funding, mainly due to the economy and the local industry not being able to support the extent and nature of research undertaken in recent years.

Looking forwardThe challenges posed by current and future global food supply will continue to steer agriculture towards technological innovations. At the same time, new developments also create further questions and opportunities for genetic research in the Faculty of AgriSciences. Biotechnology, ge-nomics and genetic enhancement are currently employed to help improve existing crop varieties and also explore other sources of food.

The Department is also constantly adapting its teaching and research capabilities. Over the last decade, it has entered the so-called “genomics” era, mainly focusing on using high-throughput technologies such as next-generation sequencing, micro-arrays and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips to investigate genomes on a wider and more comprehensive level.

Future farming could include genome editing that enables plant breeders to insert, delete or replace genetic traits within the organism’s genome. Agricultural biotechnology also em ploys various scientific techniques, especially genetic engineering to improve plants, animals and micro-organisms. In the medical field, pharma-cogenomics will help to develop effective, safe medications and doses that will be tailored to a person or a population’s genetic makeup.

The Department is also increasingly playing a role in the fisheries sector and unlocking South Africa’s “Blue Economy” (the ocean economy). Future impacts of work in the Department are expected in marine forensics, where molecular tools are used to improve regulation and con-trolling trade in fish products.

In today’s genomic area and in a world of ever-expanding data sets (“big data”), the Department remains committed to ensuring students have a sound understanding of bioinformatics and com-putational biology, among others.

Its focus has already shifted from fundamental sciences to science with impact. While it maintains a key role in the local sector, the Department also ensures that its research remains internationally competitive. An approach to embracing relevant technologies remains key.

In a nutshell: 100 years of genetic research excellence

1989 Department of Genetics can be traced a 100 years back when the Stellenbosch College of Agriculture was founded.

Prof JH Neethling chairperson.1925 Department of Plant Breeding is renamed to

the Department of Genetics. Focus remains on traditional plant and animal breeding.

1950-1968 Focus broadens to include quantitative genetics and biometrics. Prof FX Laubscher chairperson.1986 Department joins Institute of Biotechnology

of the Faculty of Agriculture.1989 Research focus broadens to include human

genetics (in addition to plant and animal genetics).

Physical relocation from Welgevallen Experimental Farm to JS Marais Aquaculture Division is established in the Department.

Prof Andries Retief chairperson (1991-1996).1998 Institute for Plant Biotechnology founded. Focus is on plant biotechnology (‘genetic

engineering’ of plants). Prof Frans Marais chairperson (1997-2004).2000 Physical relocation to JC Smuts Building. Prof Louise Warnich chairperson (2004-2007).2010 Increased focus on genomics research. Chairpersons Prof Johan Burger (2008-2010;

2014-current), Prof Monique Zaahl (2011) and Prof Danie Brink (2012-2013).

2018 Department’s research applied in the agri-cultural sector, biodiversity conservation and management, human diseases and medicine.

Genetics for the future: a century of excellence celebrated

Department of Genetics

Prof JH Neethling (left), first chairperson of the Department of Plant Breeding (1918), and Prof JT Burger (right), current chairperson of the DepartmentofGenetics(2014–current).

Staff and postgraduate students of the Department of Genetics in 2000 (left) and 2017 (right).

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Department of Genetics: Centenary celebration: 4 May 2018 at 15:30Memorial lecture presented by Willem Botes Title: The domestification of hereditary: A tale of academic evolutionVenue: JC Smuts Building Room A203

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As een van die eerste vier fakulteite aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch het AgriWetenskappe ’n onuitwisbare bydrae tot landbou-onderwys en -navorsing in Suid-Afrika gelewer.

Die vyftiger- en sestigerjare

Prof WH van der Merwe van die Departement Genetika was van 1950 tot 1952 die dekaan, en prof CJ Theron, ’n bekende wingerdboukundige, van 1953 tot 1956. In 1957 is hy opgevolg deur prof JC Swart, professor in veeteelt. Prof Black is in 1959 as dekaan aangestel, maar is slegs tien dae na sy aanstelling oorlede. Prof Theron het vir ’n tweede termyn dekaan geword tot 1961, waarna hy deur prof JTR Simm, ’n agronoom, opgevolg is. In 1962 en 1963 het prof Theron ’n derde termyn as dekaan gedien, ’n rekord tot op hede. ’n Bekende pluimveekundige, prof CR Liebenberg, het van 1967 tot 1973 as dekaan gedien.

Die Departement Genetika het in hierdie tyd-perk aansienlike groei beleef en is uitgebrei om byvoorbeeld ’n gevorderde kursus in veeteelt, sito-logie en biometrie in te sluit.

In 1952 is die JS Marais-gebou ingewy en die nuwe Departement Voedselwetenskap is gestig, wat voorsien het in ’n behoefte wat reeds in 1928 geïdentifiseer is vir opgeleide persone om die Kaap se vrugteverwerkingsbedryf te lei. Prof RI Nel, hoof van die Instituut vir Vrugte en Vrugtetegnologie (nou Infruitec), was die departement se eerste professor. Die Voedselwetenskap-gebou is in 1954 voltooi en die eerste twee studente het in 1955 hul BSc-graad op hierdie gebied ontvang.

Die Fakulteit het ’n beduidende impak op bos-bou gehad. ’n Tweede leerstoel in houttegnologie is in 1950 ingestel, hoofsaaklik voortgedryf deur’n jaar likse bydrae van die Transvaalse Kamer van Myn wese en ’n paar private bosboumaatskappye. Neëntig persent van alle senior bosbeamptes in die regering se Departement Bosbou was teen 1956 ge gradueerdes van die US, toe hierdie departe-ment ’n af sonderlike Fakulteit Bos- en Houtkunde geword het.

Die Departement Plantsiekteleer het in 1961 in twee verdeel en twee fakulteite is in verskil-lende departement gehuisves. Die Departement Plant siektel eer het gebly in (wat nou) die Fakul-teit Agri Wetenskappe (is), terwyl die Departement Mikrobiologie sedertdien onder die Fakulteit Na-tuur wetenskappe ressorteer, waar kursusse aan studente van beide fakulteite onderrig word.

Theron se opvolger as hoof van die Departement Wynkunde was prof CJ Orffer onder wie se leierskap hierdie departement bykomende dosente, tegniese beamptes en assistente aangestel het.

Prof JC Swart, wat in 1963 en 1964 ’n twee-de termyn as dekaan gedien het, is tot en met 1966 opgevolg deur prof IS Perold van die Depar-tement Landbouchemie. In hierdie tydperk is in-drukwekkende nuwe navorsingsfasiliteite by die Welgevallen-proefplaas onder leiding van prof EW Laubscher, hoof van die Departement Agronomie, ingerig. Die proefplaas het sinoniem geword met wintergraan en is bekend vir uitnemendheid in opleiding en navorsing.

’n Departement Skaap- en Wolkunde het in 1965 van die Departement Veekundige Wetenskappe afgeskei. Nadat ’n leerstoel in wynkunde in 1968 ingestel is, is twee afsonderlike departemente naam-lik Wingerdbou en Wynkunde gevorm.

Teelprogramme vir korog en durumkoring in die Departement Genetika is met befondsing van die bedryf uitgevoer en die uitkoms was die bekendstelling van ses nuwe durum- en vyf nuwe korogkultivars.

’n Keerpunt word bereik’n Mikrobioloog, prof HA Louw, was vanaf 1973 vir ’n indrukwekkende 18 jaar die dekaan. ’n Keerpunt het vir die Fakulteit aangebreek. Die lang verbintenis sedert 1926 tussen die regering se Departement Landbou en die universiteit se Fakulteit Landbou het geleidelik tot ’n einde gekom. Teen 1975 is die “Stellenbosch-Elsenburg Fakulteit Landbou”, soos dit dikwels na verwys is, en die Elsenburg Landboukollege finaal uitmekaar.

Universiteitspersoneel wat direk onder die re gering se Departement Landbou geval het, het universiteitspersoneel onder die regering se Departement Hoër Onderwys geword. Fasiliteite is verdeel, met die universiteit wat onder meer die proefplase in sentraal-Stellenbosch en Mariendahl, ongeveer 14 km noord van Stellenbosch en aan-liggend aan die historiese plaas Elsenburg, waar die kollege geleë is, behou het.

Die Fakulteit se naam is in 1974 van Landbou na Landbou- en Bosbouwetenskappe verander. In 2000 is die Fakulteit Bosbou weer geïnkorporeer en die Fakulteit is hernoem tot Landbouwetenskappe, en in 2005 het dit AgriWetenskappe geword.

Die 25 jaar tot 2000Die Departement Entomologie is onder voor-

sitterskap van prof J Giliomee as ’n leier op die gebied van insekplaagbestuur geposisioneer. Die naam is na Departement Entomologie en Nema-tologie verander en die eerste kongres van die SA Entomologiese Vereniging is in 1974 by die US aangebied.

In 1977 het grondgedraagde siektes byna ’n ramp in die tamatie- en komkommerbedryf veroorsaak en dit het aanleiding gegee tot die stigting van die Vereniging vir Groente onder Beskerming. Verskeie produsente het die US in staat gestel om ’n kweekhuiskompleks by Welgevallen op te rig – die begin van plaaslike navorsing en die ontwikkeling van ’n kweekhuisbedryf.

In 1978 het prof E Kassier ’n aansienlike bydrae op die gebied van landbouekonomie gelewer met die bekendstelling van die BAgric (Bestuur)-graad en die metamorfose daarvan tot die BAgricAdmin-graad.

Die Departement Pomologie se naam is in 1979 terug verander na Departement Hortologie, onder meer om verwarring met die vorige naam “Tuinboukunde” te vermy.

Onder leiding van prof P Maree het die Depar-tement Agronomie en Weiding die voorste sentrum van kundigheid in Suid-Afrika se hidroponiese bedryf geword. Navorsing het studente se opleiding in die produksie van groente in kweekhuise aangevul.

In 1989 het die Departement Genetika vir die eerste keer mensgenetika as deel van die kurrikulum ingesluit, wat tot ’n skerp toename in studentegetalle in hierdie departement (interfakulteit) gelei het. ’n Afdeling Akwakultuur is ook in 1989 tot stand gebring om tot hierdie snelontwikkelende bedryf by te dra.

Gedurende die dekade-lange dekaanskap van prof MJ Hattingh, 1991 tot 2000, was daar toe-nemende bewustheid van die belang van nagraadse navorsing en die belang van staatsubsidies om dit finansieel lewensvatbaar te maak – ’n stap wat na-graadse programme versterk het.

Sterk navorsingsbande is in 1994 onder leiding van prof GA Agenbag (hoof, Departement Agronomie en Weiding) met die Proteïennavorsingstigting en

die Wintergraan Trust gesmee. Hierdie instansies bly die departement se hoofbron van befondsing vir navorsing in graangewasse.

Beduidende struktuurveranderings in die Fa-kulteit het ná 1994 onder meer die samesmelting van drie departemente (veeteelt, pluimveekunde en skaap- en wolkunde) ingesluit – in wat vandag as die Departement Veekundige Wetenskappe be-kend staan. Die afsonderlike departemente van wynkunde en wingerdbou het die Departement Wingerd- en Wynkunde geword. Die Instituut vir Wynbiotegnologie, wat in 1995 gevestig is, het ’n derde komponent by hierdie departement gevoeg en sodoende die sterk multidissiplinêre aard bevorder.

’n Hulptoelaag wat sedert 1956 deur die nasionale Departement van Waterwese en Bosbou aan die Fakulteit betaal is, is in 1996 gestaak en het die universiteit gedwing om verskeie departemente te sluit.

Die Instituut vir Plantbiotegnologie (IPB) is in 1998 in oorleg met die SA Suikerrietnavorsingsinstituut tot stand gebring. Strategiese herstrukturering by die universiteit het beteken dat die IPB verskuif is van die Departement Plantkunde (Fakulteit Natuur-wetenskappe) na die Departement Genetika in die Fakulteit AgriWetenskappe waar dit nou as ’n onafhanklike eenheid funksioneer.

Aanbreek van die nuwe millenniumDie naam van die Departement Agronomie en Weiding is in 2000 verander na die Departement Agronomie, hoofsaaklik om die naam inklusief vir die dissipline groente onder beskerming te maak.

Die Fakulteit Bosbou, bestaande uit vier de-partemente (Boskunde, Houtkunde, Natuur-bewaring, en Parke en Ontspanning) is in 2000 in die nuutgestigte Fakulteit Landbou- en Bos-bouwetenskappe opgeneem as die De par te ment Bos- en Houtkunde. Dit sluit twee studierigtings in: Boskunde en Natuurlike Hulp bron bestuur, en Hout- en Houtprodukkunde.

Die Instituut vir Plantbiotegnologie, sedert 2004 onder direkteurskap van prof Jens Kossmann, bestaan uit ’n multikulturele en interdissiplinêre span navorsers en nagraadse studente.

Daadwerklike pogings deur die Departement Plantpatologie het daartoe gelei dat die getal na-graadse studente vanaf 2006 verdubbel het, dat interaksie met akademiese en navorsingsgroepe (ook in die buiteland) uitgebrei is, en dat die de-partement se profiel aansienlik gediversifiseer is.

Prof Umezuruike Linus Opara se navorsingspan is leiers op die gebied van na-oespraktyke. Die SARChI-navorsingsleerstoel in na-oestegnologie is in 2009 aan hom toegeken. Hy het in 2015 die AU Kwame Nkrumah- kontinentale wetenskaplike toekenning vir senior navorsers van die Afrika-Unie vir sy werk in na-oestegnologie ontvang.

Sedert 2014 ondersteun die Daan Strydom HORTGRO-wetenskapbeursfonds (vernoem na ’n voormalige professor in tuinbou) behoeftige, verdienstelike studente.

Prof L van Huyssteen, hoof van die Departement Grondkunde, het in 2000 dekaan van die Fakulteit geword. Prof K Theron (voorsitter, Departement Hortologie) het in 2007 as dekaan waargeneem. Prof M Karaan het vir twee termyne tot 2014 as dekaan gedien, waarna prof D Brink waarnemende dekaan geword het. In 2017 het hy die Fakulteit se twintigste dekaan in 99 jaar geword.

Hier is die tweede uittreksel uit AgriWetenskappe se

Feesboek wat eersdaags verskyn. Soortgelyke aflewerings sal

in elk van die oorblywende Nuusbriewe van vanjaar verskyn.