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

Prof. Brett Hurley Brett Hurley, professor at the University of Pretoria, giving his talk on global perspectives on biocontrol agents in plantation forests at the annual #TPCP2025 meeting. 🌲 #TreeHealth CROPWATCH AFRICA

Dr Sam van Holsbeeck Sam Van Holsbeeck, 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

"Forest pests and pathogens know no boundaries.” Prof. Irene Barnes Barnes & Prof. Mike Wingfield share lessons from the RGE-FABI Tree Health Programme: collaboration is key, monitoring is vital, and sharing tools & tech accelerates impact. #TPCP2025 #TreeHealth #FABI

I've been part of the diagnostic clinic for 4 years, and it's incredible to see how it's grown. Dr. Wilma Nel, PhD 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

Ms Brittney-Aidan Jamieson gives a speed talk on the development of an effective screening protocol for Quambalaria eucalypti. 🌿 #TPCP2025 #TreeHealth #Forestry

Prof. Emma Steenkamp 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

Day 2 of the #TPCP2025 meeting is kicked off by Dr Ilaria Germishuizen Ilaria Germishuizen ICFR! 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

"Keep collecting and preserving." Prof Cobus Visagie Cobus Visagie emphasises the importance of studying fungi. Having access to cultures is becoming increasingly important! 🍄 #TPCP2025 #TreeHealth #Forestry Grain SA

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. FABI ICFR Forestry SA Global Change Institute National Dept. of Land Reform & Rural Development

Forest pathology molecular model system Oostlander et al. A. Oostlander Bernard Slippers @fabiteam1 📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/np…

“If it is worth sequencing 🧬, it is worth keeping it 🧫” (Cobus Visagie). Excellent presentation on the importance of culture collections and their connection to Plant diagnostic clinics. Congratulations to the FABI group for their efforts to preserve fungi and make

The NRF’s 2026 Master’s and Doctoral Funding call is available here: nrf.ac.za/dsi-nrf-postgr… It is compulsory for applicants to consult the NRF’s official documents (Framework, Application, and FAQ Guides) before posting queries or submitting applications.

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

Advancing forest pathology: the need for community‐driven molecular experimental model systems - Oostlander, Fleißner & Slippers - New Phytologist - Wiley Online Library nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.11… Anne Oostlander FABI UP Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences @uptuks TU Braunschweig

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/doi/10.1111/np… FABI UP Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences New Phytologist

Silent invaders: the hidden threat of asymptomatic phytobiomes to forest biosecurity Tanney et al. @fabiteam1 📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/np…

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/10.100… Mycobiomics FABI

🌿 FABI Friday Feature This week we spotlight Austropuccinia psidii – the rust fungus behind Myrtle Rust, a serious threat to Myrtaceae species. #FABIFriday

🪲 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