Professor Bernard Slippers

Department of Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute

[email protected]

Insect Pests and Fungal Tree Pathogens 

Bernard Slippers is an Associate Professor in Genetics at the University of Pretoria. 

He is one of the core team members of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme and Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI). 

He has received wide recognition for his research, including a President's Award from the National Research Foundation and the Southern African Association for the Advancement of Science, British Association Medal (Silver). 

He has published more than 100 papers, one edited book and number of chapters. He received a NRF-rating of B1.




 

IRT-related research projects 

Bernard Slippers is interested in using genome-wide sequence data to address ecological and evolutionary questions about pests and pathogens of trees, and their biological control agents. He supervises a range of research projects including studies on latent fungal pathogens of trees, invasion, symbiosis and biological control (in particular the evolution and control of the Sirex (wasp) as part of the Amylostereum (fungus) and Deladenus (nematode) symbiosis) and on the diversity and structure of plant fungal communities

 

Key Publications 

Slippers, B, de Groot, P, Wingfield, MJ. (eds) (2012) The Sirex woodwasp and its fungal symbiont: Research and management of a worldwide invasive pest. Springer Publ 

Van der Nest, MA, Slippers, B, Steenkamp, ET, De Vos, L, Van Zyl, K, Stenlid, J, Wingfield, MJ, Wingfield, BD. (2009) Genetic linkage map for Amylostereum areolatum reveals an association between vegetative growth and sexual and self-recognition. Fungal Genet Biol. 46: 632-641