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INTERNATIONAL SUNFLOWER ASSOCIATION

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David READ
Last name : READ
First name : David
Entrance year : 2026
Occupation : Research Fellow
Company : Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)
Phone : +27 833 259 077
Email : [hidden for users not logged in]
Website : https://www.fabinet.up.ac.za
Birthdate : 1985/04/08
Address : Room 1-34, University of Pretoria, Lunnon Street Entrance, Hatfield, 0083 Pretoria / South Africa
Main fields of interest :
  • Seeds, genetics
  • Crop protection
Professional experience : I am research fellow at the University of Pretoria, where I lead the Plant Virology Group at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI). My PhD focussed on the application of next-generation sequencing to plant virus ecology. Since then, I have broadened my expertise across agricultural systems, working with a wide range of plant viruses. I have developed strong technical capabilities—including metaviromics and bioinformatics—which underpin my research into viral diversity, epidemiology, and host–virus interactions. My work has contributed widely to understanding viral pathogens of major crops, primarily grain and oilseeds, resulting in numerous first reports, novel virus descriptions, and methodological advances. I currently hold an NRF Y-rating and have successfully secured competitive national and industry-linked grants supporting research on plant viruses and their pathosystems. I am an active supervisor and mentor, having supervised several MSc candidates and multiple ongoing postgraduate students. I have presented my research internationally and locally, published extensively in ISI-rated journals, and contributed to diagnostic capability development through both research and applied projects. My overarching goal is to expand knowledge of the African plant virome and strengthen surveillance, diagnostics, and management strategies for virus-associated crop disease.
Education : *** 2012-2015, Institution: University of Pretoria - Degree: PhD Microbiology - Promoter: Prof G. Pietersen - Thesis: Overcoming bias in Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) genotype detection and a population study of CTV within Southern African Star Ruby grapefruit orchards *** 2009-2011, Institution: University of Pretoria - Degree: MSc Microbiology - Promoter: Prof G. Pietersen - Thesis: Characterization of Citrus tristeza virus populations in grapefruit trees showing cross-protection breakdown and have been pre-immunised with two different cross-protection sources. *** 2008, Institution: University of Pretoria - Degree: BSc (Hons) Biotechnology. - Promoter: Prof G. Pietersen - Project title: Detection and quantification of Citrus tristeza virus, using real-time RT-PCR *** 2004-2007, Institution: University of Pretoria - Degree: BSc Biotechnology - Majors: Microbiology and Genetics
Selected publications : *** Read D.A., Strydom E., Slippers B., Steenkamp E and Pietersen G (2022). Genomic characterization of soybean blotchy mosaic virus, a cytorhabdovirus from South Africa. Archives of Virology, 167, 2359–2363 *** Read D.A., Roberts R., Prinsloo G and Thompson G.D. (2023). Genomic and phylogenetic characterization of wheat yellows virus, a novel tenuivirus infecting wheat in South Africa. Archives of Virology, 168, article 3 *** Morgan S.W., Read D.A., Burger J.T and Pietersen G. (2023). Diversity of viroids in the South African Vitis germplasm collection. Virus Genes, 59, 244-253 *** Hough B., Steenkamp E., Wingfield B. and Read D. (2023). Fungal Viruses Unveiled: A Comprehensive Review of Mycoviruses. Viruses, 15, 1202 *** Read D., Thompson G.D., Swanevelder D. and Pietersen G. (2023). Metaviromic characterization of Betaflexivirus populations associated with a Vitis cultivar collection in South Africa. Viruses, 15, 1474 *** Roberts R, Robbertse N, Thompson GD, Read D. (2024) Characterization of macadamia ringspot-associated virus, a novel Orthotospovirus associated with Macadamia integrifolia in South Africa. European Journal of Plant Pathology, 169, 347–357 *** Pietersen G, Morgan SW, Read D (2024) First report of Citrus concave gum-associated virus (CCGaV) on apple (Malus spp.) in South Africa. Journal of Plant Pathology doi.org/10.1007/s42161-024-01629-9 *** Read DA, Pietersen G, Slippers B, Steenkamp E (2024) Genomic characterization of novel viruses associated with Olea europaea L. in South Africa. Archives of Virology, 169, 210 *** Espach A, Esterhuizen L, Africander N, Thiart S, Read DA, Pietersen G. (2025) First report of pepper ringspot virus on potato (Solanum tuberosum) in South Africa. Journal of Plant Pathology, 107, 1305–1306 ** Mapfumo P, Archer E, Swanevelder ZH, Wilken M, Creux NM, Read DA (2025). Genomic Characterisation of Bidens mottle virus in South Africa and an Assessment of the Impact on Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) in an Open Field Setting. Plant Pathology, 74, 1266–1276 *** Coertze S, Coetzee B, Basson E, de Villiers D, Makhura T, Mostert D, Slippers B, Rose L, Visagie CM, Read DA. (2025) First report of Clavibacter nebraskensis, causing Goss's bacterial leaf blight on maize (Zea mays L.) in South Africa. Plant Disease, doi: doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-01-25-0164-PDN
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