Research Intern Students 2010

Bongumusa Mkhize
Bsc degree in IT: Computer Science and IT
(Univesirty of KwaZulu Natal)
Date started: February 2010.
Supervisor : Poovie Govender

Bongumusa is attached to the Knowledge Management Unit and he is responsible for performing a variety of programming assignments requiring knowledge of established procedures and data processing requirements. He maintains and modifies programmes and also manages the content of SASRI website.

Shivani Govender
Bsc in Microbiology and Biochemistry
(Univesirty of KwaZuluNatal)
Date started: June 2009.

Shivani is attached to the Crop Biology Resource Centre and she is recording results and maintains a database of all insect population and molecular data, and she also performs specific test cross matings between eldana populations to test for Wolbachia-induced phenotype. she is also responsible for detecting Wolbachia in eldana moths using molecular analyses (DNA extractions, PCR using 4 Wolbachia-specific primers,Agarose gels and DNA Sequencing)

Busisani Gwala
BSc degree in IT: Computer Science and IT
(University of KwaZulu-Natal).
Date started: January 2010.
Supervisor : Aresti Paraskevopoulos

Busisani is attached to the Plant and Environment Centre and is responsible for system administration and analysis of the MyCanesim system. He is also involved in the development of applications that are used by various researchers and scientists at SASRI.

Mbalenhle Mbambo
Diploma in Environmental Health
(Durban University of Technology)
Date started: Jannuary 2010.

Mbalenhle is attached to the Diagnostic & Analysis Resource Unit and is responsible for ensuring compliance with Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSAct). She is also involved in Identification & Evaluation of Risks, Prevention & Control of Hazardous Exposure, Monitoring of proper use, handling & disposal of chemicals and coordination of Safety; Health & Environmental issues.

Njabulo Mkhize
BSc degree in Agriculture: Agronomy
(University of Zululand)
Date started: December 2008
Supervisor : Michiel Smit

Njabulo is attached to the Plant and Environment Resource Centre and is responsible for a research project entitled "Effect of leaf removal at different growth stages on the yield and quality of sugarcane." He is also involved in Improving the characterisation of sugarcane germination and emergence in the Canegro model and exploring the potential of crop modelling to assist variety improvement.

Slindile Sithole
BSc Degree in Environmental Biology
(University of KwaZulu Natal)
Date Started: September 2009.

Slindile is attached to the Crop Biology Resource Centre and is responsible for Determining the effects of plant water stress on silicon uptake by sugarcane and thereafter on plant resistance to eldana .
She is also Investigating the interaction between nitrogen and silicon nutrition on resistance of sugarcane to eldana and thrips.

	Petrus Makoro BSc Agriculture in Soil Science University of Limpopo Date started: January 2010 Petrus is attached to the Plant and Environment Resource Centre and a team member in the first phase of a research project entitled "Effect of CMS on Nitrogen losses, soil acidity, and sugarcane yield." The first phase involves determining N losses following CMS application. This work will be conducted in a pot trial and Petrus will be key in selecting the soil to be used, preparing the pots and the vacuum system to be connected to the pots, packing and treatment application, and data collection. The latter will be used to prepare a presentation to be delivered towards the end of November 2010.
	Maphilisi Zulu BSc degree in Biological Science (University of KwaZulu Natal) Date started: January 2010 Supervisor: Deborah Sweby Maphilisi is attached to the Crop Biology Resource Centre and he is responsible for maintenance of all Wolbachia-positive Eldana colonies; establishing Busseola fusca and Chilo Partellus colonies; establishing colonies of parasitoids (e.g. Xanthopimpla stemmator) on three hosts : Busseola fusca, Chilo Partellus, and Eldana saccharina. He keeps detailed records of parasitoid behavior on the different hosts, recording whether parasitism is successful or whether parasitoid eggs are encapsulated by the hosts.
	Nokuphila Sibiya Bsc degree in Microbiology (Univesirty of KwaZulu Natal) Date started: January 2010. Supervisor: Mike Way Nokuphila is attached to the Crop Biology Resource Centre and she is responsible for monitoring the pest Fulmekiola serrata (Sugarcane Thrips), screening for thrips pathogens, rearing of thrips and determining the reasons for the seasonal population crash in March each year.
	Thabang Ramogodi BSc and BSc Hons: Plant Pathology (University of Pretoria) Date started: January 2010 Supervisor: Michiel Smit Thabang Ramogodi is attached to Plant and Environment Resource Centre.
	Gugulethu Makatini BSc and BSc Hons: Plant Pathology (University of KwaZulu-Natal) Date started: January 2010 Supervisor: Sharon McFarlane Gugulethu is attached to Crop Biology Resource Centre and she is involved in a project investigating sour rot, a fungal disease that is becoming increasingly important in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. She is investigating the rate at which sour rot symptoms develop and the associated effect of the fungus on cane quality, the conditions that favour the development of sour rot, varietal susceptibility and pathogen diversity.
	Khanyisile Buthelezi Bsc degree in Entomology and Zoology (University of KwaZulu Natal) Date started: January 2008. Khanyisile is attached to the Crop Biology Resource Centre and is responsible for counting and identify aphids on traps placed within the experimental plots using traditional and molecular techniques. She is also involved in morphological and molecular identification of aphids.
	Thobile Mbatha MSc in Crop Sciences (University of KwaZulu Natal) Date started: January 2008. Thobile is attached to the Plant and Environment Resource Centre.