School of Life Sciences well represented at Symposium in Italy

BY: .

Representatives from UKZN's School of Life Sciences made their presence felt at the 6^th Symposium on Production and Establishment of Micropropagated Plants at Sanremo in Italy.

The congress, organised by the International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS), attracted more than 200 participants from 50 countries.

Said the convenor of the Symposiunm, Professor Margherita Beruto: 'The symposium continued the tradition of previous five symposia on Acclimatization and Establishment of Micropropagated Plants that aim to encourage free and open exchanges of scientific research and ideas relating to the management of different aspects of in vitro plant culture, with particular attention to classical and advanced micropropagation technologies.'

The symposium encompassed the following three main themes: understanding in vitro growth, managing the micropropagation process and rooting and establishment of micropropagated plants. 

A fourth section on the programme highlighted new production niches and new roles for tissue culture companies as well as advanced micropropagation technologies. 

UKZN was represented Dr Shakira Shaik and Professor Paula Watt of the Westville campus as well as by Dr Sandy Snyman and Dr Muhammad Nakhooda who are Honorary members from the School of Life Sciences.

 Presentations by UKZN representatives included:

1. Screening, selection and in vitro propagation of Solanum nigrum genoytpes with high Fe and Ca content (Shaik, Goordiyal and Watt), presented by  Shaik. 
2. In vitro rooting of eucalyptus: the role of phytohormones (Nakhooda and Watt), presented by Nakhooda who dedicated it to the memory of the late Professor Pat Berjak. 
3. Evaluation of in vitro and pot trial systems to determine the nitrogen use efficiency of sugarcane varieties (Watt and Snyman) (poster).
4. Professor K. Dolezal presented results of his collaborative work with Professor Johannes van Staden of the School of Life Sciences on the Pietermaritzburg campus, on: Differences in Cytokinin Metabolism as a Tool to Understand and Improve Rooting and Establishment of Micropropagated Plantlets (Aremu, Placková, Bairu, Malá, Plíhalová, Van Staden and Doležal). 

The presentations by Shaik and Nakhooda were extremely well received with many approaches from participants all over the world for assistance and possibilities of collaboration. 

 Watt said: 'Of note is the great interest shown by the ISHS President, Professor R. Drew ín Dr Shaik's research. '

Shaik said: 'I am proud of the fact that the research we are doing in South Africa received such interest and accolade, not only from the wider scientific community, but especially from Professor Drew, who plans to visit South Africa in 2016 to explore collaboration with my research group.'

Added Watt: 'Aside from the various interesting presentations and many exchanges of ideas, the participants enjoyed not only the beauty of the region but also great hospitality from the organising committee.

Leena Rajpal