Prof Dave Berger
Work and Research
Prof Berger’s general research field is molecular plant pathology. His research seeks to gain a molecular understanding of host-pathogen interactions in crops important for food security in Africa. He is principal investigator of the Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (MPPI) research group which is also affiliated with the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria.
His current research programme is focused on foliar diseases of maize, particularly grey leaf spot (GLS) of maize caused by the fungus Cercospora zeina. GLS is a globally important disease prevalent in the Americas, Asia, and throughout sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa.
Fields Of Expertise
Molecular plant pathology
Fungal foliar diseases of maize
Genomics (plants and pathogens of plants)