The use of biotechnology within the field of Plant Pathology at Stellenbosch University

摘要

The Department of Plant Pathology at Stellenbosch University has been conducting research on plant pathogens of deciduous fruit crops within the first four aforementioned fields, of which only a few recent examples and their significance will be discussed here. The use of only morphological methods for identifying plant pathogens to the species level is not always sufficient, and the use of molecular techniques has therefore become indispensable for determining the specific species that are involvedin causing plant diseases. Knowledge of the specific species involved is important, since this information is required for epidemiological based studies, for example investigations into the location and size of inoculum sources.