Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology) - MSc (Biodiv & Cons Biol)

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https://hdl.handle.net/10566/13183

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Browsing by Subject "Agriculture"

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    Genetic analysis of resistance to powdery mildew (podosphaeara leucotricha) in apple (Malus x dornestica Borkh.)
    (University of the Western Cape, 2008) Simayi, Zolani Ellias; Rees, Jasper G.
    Apple powdery mildew, caused by Podosphaera leucotricha, is one of the major diseases of the cultivated apple in the Western Cape, causing severe losses in yield and affecting fruit quality. This affects the deciduous fruit industry as costs are incurred on the management of this disease. The application of fungicides is one of the strategies mostly used to control the spread of the pathogen. Since consumers demand high quality fruit with no harmful chemical residues, alternative approaches that minimize the reliance on agri-chemicals for the control of this disease must be developed. Marker-assisted breeding for the development of new varieties that exhibit durable resistance to the fungus is the best and safest way to reduce damage caused by powdery mildew.
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    Investigating the relationship between novel farming practices and zoonotic disease transmission at the wildlife/livestock interface: A case study at a commercial farm and conservancy in Beaufort West, South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 2022) Badrodien, Yameen; Engelbrecht, Adriaan
    In recent years, the intensification of agricultural activities in South Africa, has led to many of the sectors farmers adopting novel farming practices as a means of promoting economic productivity. One such practice, is the expansion of traditional livestock systems to include unconventional forms of stock such as wildlife. Despite the economic benefits of this approach, the threat of disease re/emergence remains a major obstacle, as both wild and domesticated animals are known reservoirs to a variety of disease-causing agents. Whilst many studies have directed their attention toward the surveillance of emerging pathogens within animal populations, less attention has been directed towards monitoring pathogens within environmental disease reservoirs (i.e., soil), which may be affected by these novel farming practices.