On 9 October 2026, Sicelo Keny Masuku presented his PhD Prestige Seminar in the FABI Auditorium at the University of Pretoria. His PhD research, entitled “Fungicide tolerance in Fusarium circinatum,” addresses an important aspect of the biology and management of this significant tree pathogen, the causal agent of pine pitch canker. The seminar provided Sicelo with an opportunity to present the key findings arising from his doctoral research and to discuss their broader implications for understanding fungicide responses in F. circinatum. His PhD was supervised by Professors Brenda Wingfield and Emma Steenkamp, together with Drs Thabiso Motaung and Lieschen de Vos. The external examiner for his thesis were Dr Jane Stewart from Colorado State University and Dr Heather Hallan-Adams from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, while Prof. Teresa Coutinho was the internal examiner. The presentation marked an important milestone towards the completion of his doctoral studies and showcased research undertaken within FABI’s broader programme on the biology, genomics and management of tree pathogens.