Co-Supervisor
Senior Lecturer
My research as a mycologist focuses on improving food safety by studying fungi that produce mycotoxins—harmful compounds that spoil crops and pose serious risks to human and animal health. I use advanced methods to identify these fungi and assess their impacts, uncovering a complex diversity of mycotoxins, often a "mycotoxin cocktail," which underscores the challenge for food safety. I am particularly interested in how environmental factors and climate change drive mycotoxin production and contribute to the spread of fungi, with the goal of developing sustainable strategies to reduce contamination, especially in developing countries where food security is vulnerable.
Currently, I am a senior lecturer at FABI-UP, where I train future scientists in mycology with a focus on agricultural pathogens, such as Fusarium, that threaten crop safety. Recently, I've been working on quick detection techniques for these pathogens and exploring the genes responsible for mycotoxin production. I also contribute to the disease clinic by assisting with pathogen identifications and sharing knowledge with farmers to support proactive measures against contamination.
I serve as the Secretary of the African Mycological Association, which allows me to engage closely with African mycologists and highlight the unique challenges and opportunities in the region. Engaging with African mycologists is crucial, as the continent faces distinct ecological and agricultural challenges, making local expertise and collaborative efforts essential for addressing mycotoxin-related threats effectively.
In addition to my research, I am passionate about science communication. I lead a Citizen Science project in South Africa, introducing young people to the fascinating world of fungi to inspire a new generation of scientists and mycologists.
Yilmaz N, Verheecke-Vaessen C. (2025) Mycotoxins: An ongoing challenge to food safety and security. PLOS Pathogens 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013672
Visagie CM, Houbraken J, Overy DP, Sklenář F, Bensch K, Frisvad JC, Mack J, Perrone G, Samson RA, van Vuuren NI, Yilmaz N, Hubka V. (2025) From chaos to tranquillity: a modern approach to the identification, nomenclature and phylogeny of Aspergillus, Penicillium and other Eurotiales, including an updated accepted species list. Studies in Mycology 10.3114/sim.2025.112.04
Overy DP, Frisvad JC, Witte TE, Hicks CL, Hermans A, Sproule A, Louis-Seize G, Seifert KA, Yilmaz N, Price J, van Vuuren NI, Visagie CM. (2025) Chemodiversity of Penicillium isolated from alpine and arctic environments, including ten new species. Studies in Mycology 10.3114/sim.2025.112.03
Dewing C, Yilmaz N, Steenkamp ET, Wingfield BD, Visagie CM. (2025) Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures. Mycological Progress 10.1007/s11557-025-02059-2
Dewing, C, Yilmaz, N, Steenkamp, E.T., Wingfield, B.D., Visagie, C.M. (2025) Capturing the fungal diversity hidden in Eastern Cape dairy pastures. Mycological Progress 10.1007/s11557-025-02059-2
Dewing, C, Visagie, C.M., Steenkamp, E.T., Wingfield, B.D., Yilmaz, N. (2025) Three new species of Fusarium (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales) isolated from Eastern Cape dairy pastures in South Africa. MycoKeys 10.3897/mycokeys.115.148914
Coelho MA, David-Palma M, Aylward J, Pham NQ, Visagie CM, Fuchs T, Yilmaz N, Roets F, Sun S, Taylor JT, Wingfield BD, Fisher MC, Wingfield MJ, Heitman J. (2025) Decoding Cryptococcus: From African biodiversity to worldwide prevalence. PLOS Pathogens 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012876
Visagie CM, Houbraken J, Yilmaz N. (2024) The re-identification of Penicillium and Talaromyces (Eurotiales) catalogued in South African culture collections. Persoonia 10.3767/persoonia.2024.53.02
Bhunjun, CS, Chen, YJ, Phukhamsakda, C, Boekhout, T, Groenewald, JZ, McKenzie, EHC, Francisco, EC, Frisvad, JC, Groenewald, M, Hurdeal, VG, Luangsa-ard, J, Perrone, G, Visagie, CM, Bai, FY, Błaszkowski, J, Braun, U, d Souza, FA, de, Queiroz, MB, Dutta, AK, Gonkhom, D, Goto, BT, Guarnaccia, V, Hagen, F, Houbraken, J, Lachance, MA, Li, JJ, Luo, KY, Magurno, F, Mongkolsamrit, S, Robert, V, Roy, N, Tibpromma, S, Wanasinghe, DN, Wang, DQ, Wei, DP, Zhao, CL, Aiphuk, W, Ajayi-Oyetunde, O, Arantes, TD, Araujo, JC, Begerow, D, Bakhshi, M, Barbosa, RN, Behrens, FH, Bensch, K, Bezerra, JDP, Bilański, P, Bradley, CA, Bubner, B, Burgess, TI, Buyck, B, Čadež, N, Cai, L, Calaça, FJS, Campbell, LJ, Chaverri, P, Chen, YY, Chethana, KWT, Coetzee, B, Costa, MM, Chen, Q, Custódio, FA, Dai, YC, Damm, U, de Azevedo-Santiago, ALCM, De Miccolis-Angelini, RM, Dijksterhuis, J, Dissanayake, AJ, Doilom, M, Dong, W, Alvarez-Duarte, E, Fischer, M, Gajanayake, AJ, Gené, J, Gomdola, D, Gomes, AAM, Hausner, G, He, MQ, Hou, L, Iturrieta-González, I, Jami, F, Jankowiak, R, Jayawardena, RS, Kandemir, H, Kiss, L, Kobmoo, N, Kowalski, T, Landi, L, Lin, CG, Liu, JK, Liu, XB, Loizides, M, Luangharn, T, Maharachchikumbura, SSN, Makhathini Mkhwanazi, GJ, Manawasinghe, IS, Marin-Felix, Y, McTaggart, AR, Moreau, PA, Morozova, OV, Mostert, L, Osiewacz, HD, Pem, D, Phookamsak, R, Pollastro, S, Pordel, A, Poyntner, C, Phillips, AJL, Phonemany, M, Promputtha, I, Rathnayaka, AR, Rodrigues, AM, Romanazzi, G, Rothmann, L, Salgado-Salazar, C, Sandoval-Denis, M, Saupe, SJ, Scholler, M, Scott, P, Shivas, RG, Silar, P, Souza-Motta, CM, Silva-Filho, AGS, Spies, CFJ, Stchigel, AM, Sterflinger, K, Summerbell, RC, Svetasheva, TY, Takamatsu, S, Theelen, B, Theodoro, RC, Thines, M, Thongklang, N, Torres, R, Turchetti, B, van den Brule, T, Wang, XW, Wartchow, F, Welti, S, Wijesinghe, SN, Wu, F, Xu, R, Yang, ZL, Yilmaz, N, Yurkov, A, Zhao, L, Zhao, RL, Zhou, N, Hyde, KD, Crous, PW. (2024) What are the 100 most cited fungal genera?. Studies in Mycology 10.3114/sim.2024.108.01
Visagie CM, Yilmaz N, Allison JD, Barreto RW, Boekhout T, Boers J, Delgado MA, Dewing C, Fitza KNE, Furtado ECA, Gaya E, Hill R, Hobden A, Hu DM, Hülsewig T, Khonsanit A, Luangsa-Ard JJ, Mthembu A, Pereira CM, Price J-L, Pringle A, Qikani N, Sandoval-Denis M, Shumacher RK, Seifert KA, Slippers B, Tennakoon DS, Thanakitpipattana D, vanVuuren N, Groenewald JZ, Crous PW. (2024) New and Interesting Fungi. 7.. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.12