From 19 October to 6 November, two postgraduate students from the University of the Free State undertook a study visit to our facilities in Worcester. Makemelo Emily Tsotetsi and Arinao Zwothe Magwaba spent these three weeks learning from our team and crammed in as much experience as they could.
Wilku Meyer provided guidance in analysing next-generation sequencing data to Emily, a PhD student in molecular plant pathology, who is investigating the genetic diversity among South African Puccinia triticina (wheat leaf rust) isolates.
Arinao is enrolled for an MSc Agric in the Department of Plant Sciences that entails screening yesteryear’s South African wheat cultivars for additional genetic sources of rust resistance. Having a large amount of greenhouse experience, her time at CenGen was a steep learning curve in mastering various molecular DNA techniques and data analyses. Her tutors, Michaela White and Elsabet Wessels, kept her busy right up to the last day of her visit.
CenGen has had close ties with the UFS for many years and this is not the first time that we assisted students with their projects. We will be following Emily and Arinao’s careers with interest and look forward to the contributions they will make to agricultural research.
