Primary Supervisor
Lecturer
I am a principal investigator within the Hans Merensky Chair in Avocado Research. My work utilises genomic and transcriptomic data to identify genes and pathways crucial to a successful defense response against established and emerging avocado pathogens such asPhytophthora cinnamomi, Dematophora necatrixandthe avocado sunblotch viroid.
My other research activities include the development of tools to study avocado-pathogen interactions, such as a callose quantification assay which can be utilised in avocado rootstock screening programmes. The establishment of a model tobacco system within our research group has provided an avenue for the functional characterisation of avocado NLR genes as well as P. cinnamomi RxLR and CRN effectors.
In order to address the need for improved control of White root rot disease, we have several glasshouse and field trials (in South African avocado orchards) underway to assess the efficacy of fungicides and biological control agents against D. necatrix. I am also involved in a project studying the effect of P. cinnamomi and D. necatrix infection on the avocado rhizosphere microbiome.
Joubert M, van den Berg N, Theron J, Swart V. (2025) Small RNAs derived from avocado sunblotch viroid and their association with bleaching symptoms: implications for pathogenesis in avocado sunblotch disease. Archives of Virology 10.1007/s00705-025-06360-z
van den Berg N, Magagula P, Backer R, Swart V. (2025) Towards developing an integrated approach for the treatment of white root rot in commercial avocado orchards. Phytoparasitica 10.1007/s12600-025-01250-1
Magagula P, Swart V, Fourie A, Vermeulen A, Nelson JH, van Rooyen Z, van den Berg N. (2025) Avocado rhizosphere community profiling: white root rot and its impact on microbial composition. Frontiers in Microbiology 10.3389/fmicb.2025.1583797
Fick A, Swart V, Van den Berg N. (2025) In silico prediction method for plant Nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat- and pathogen effector interactions. The Plant Journal 10.1111/tpj.70169
Harvey A, van den Berg N, Swart V. (2025) In silico characterisation of the avocado WAK/WAKL gene family with a focus on genes involved in defence against Phytophthora cinnamomi. Frontiers in Plant Science 10.3389/fpls.2024.1474781
Harvey A, van den Berg N, Swart V. (2024) Describing and characterizing the WAK/WAKL gene family across plant species: a systematic review. Frontiers in Plant Science 10.3389/fpls.2024.1467148
van der Nest MA, Steenkamp ET, De Vos L, Wienk R, Swart V, van den Berg N. (2024) Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the white root rot pathogen Dematophora necatrix (Xylariaceae: Xylariales). Mitochondrial DNA Part B: Resoures 10.1080/23802359.2024.2403411
Midgley KA, van den Berg N, Swart V. (2024) Identification of Phytophthora cinnamomi CRN effectors and their roles in manipulating cell death during Persea americana infection. BMC Genomics 10.1186/s12864-024-10358-3
Fick A, Swart V, Bombarely A, van den Berg N. (2024) Comparative transcriptional analysis of Persea americana MYB, WRKY and AP2/ERF transcription factors following Phytophthora cinnamomi infection. Molecular Plant Pathology 10.1111/mpp.13453
Joubert M, van den Berg N, Theron J, Swart V. (2024) Global transcriptomic analysis in avocado nursery trees reveals differential gene expression during asymptomatic infection by avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd). Virus Research 10.1016/j.virusres.2023.199263.