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Professor
I am a full Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology (BGM), at the University of Pretoria and a research leader in the Tree Protection Cooperative Program (TPCP), the Centre of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology (CPHB). I also lead the Kiwi Protection Program (KPP).
My research focuses mainly on the taxonomy, phylogenetics and population biology of fungal pathogens that affect forest trees - including Eucalyptus, Pinus and Acacia species. This work includes determining the biodiversity of fungi in plantations and describing new fungal species, tracing the infection pathways of some of the most serious forest pathogens through population genetic studies, and investigating pathogenicity and host specificity. Some of the fungi of particular interest to me include the pine needle pathogens and the vascular wilt and root rot pathogens.
I currently hold leadership positions in the African Mycological Society (AfriMa), the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) in the Division of Forest Health, and am on the executive council of the International Mycological Association (IMA).
Roux J, del M Angel L, Barnes I. (2025) First report of the eucalypt stem canker pathogen Teratosphaeria gauchensis in South Africa. New Disease Reports 10.1002/ndr2.70091
Nel WJ, Barnes I, Jali S, Impson F, Oberprieler RG, Hurley BP. (2025) First report of Melanterius inconspicuus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Cleogonini) from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with observations of its development in black wattle. Southern Forests 10.2989/20702620.2025.2537823
Lynn KMT, Wingfield MJ, Tarigan M, Durán A, Santos SA, Nel WJ, Barnes I. (2025) Investigating bark, ambrosia and nitidulid beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytinae and Nitidulidae) communities and their potential role in the movement of Ceratocystis manginecans in commercial forestry plantations in Riau, Indonesia. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 10.1111/afe.12698
Theron CA, Wingfield MJ, Ahumada R, Carnegie AJ, Fraser S, Rodas C, Barnes I. (2025) Diversity and distribution of Lophodermium species on non-native Pinus species in the southern hemisphere. Mycological Progress 10.1007/s11557-025-02056-5
Hulcr J, Barnes I, Barnes M, Gazis R, Hammerbacher A, Johnson AJ, Lynch S, Lynn K, Marais GC, Mayers CG, Nel W, Villari C, Wingfield BD, Wingfield MJ. (2025) From forest to fungus: A roadmap to bark beetle mycobiome research. Phytoparasitica 10.1007/s12600-025-01246-x
Wingfield MJ, Slippers B, Barnes I, Duong AT, Wingfield BD. (2025) The Pine pathogen Diplodia sapinea: Expanding frontiers. Current Forestry Reports 10.1007/s40725-024-00236-2
Pham NQ, Wingfield BD, Barnes I, Gazis R, Wingfield MJ. (2025) Elsinoe species: The rise of scab diseases. Plant Pathology 10.1111/ppa.14015
Vilanova L, Caballol M, Zhang K, Olson Å, Barnes I, Wingfield MJ, Oliva J. (2024) New simple sequence repeat markers reveal undetected diversity in Spanish and Californian Diplodia sapinea populations. Fungal Genetics and Biology 10.1016/j.fgb.2024.103937
Nel WJ, Randolph C, Paap T, Hurley BP, Slippers B, Barnes I, Wingfield MJ. (2024) Fusarium species associated with Euwallacea xanthopus in South Africa, including two novel species. Mycologia 10.1080/00275514.2024.2394758
Lynn KMT, Wingfield MJ, Hammerbacher A, Barnes I. (2024) High-resolution melting curve analysis: A detection assay for Ceratocystis eucalypticola and C. manginecans in infected Eucalyptus. Fungal Biology 10.1016/j.funbio.2024.07.011
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Primary Supervisor