A record number of 37 PhD students of the Faculty of AgriSciences at Stellenbosch University have received their doctorates in the past academic year. In the process, they have added new knowledge to extend the endeavours of among others game farmers, the forestry and food sector and the fruit and wine industries.
On 16 March, 24 of these students received their doctorates, while 13 others did so in December 2015. These students among others did research on South African oranges, wine yeast, honeybush, the recycling of water from wine cellars and olive mills, game meat and Forelle pears.
PhD degrees in Food Science were awarded to six students. They are Shuaibu Bala, Theresa Beelders, Rufina Chukwumalume, Cindy Hunlun, Jeannine Marais and Nikki Neethling. Two plant pathologists, Dr Lindy-Joy Rose and Dr Reuben Ssali, investigated the plant fungus Fusarium. Dr Algina Stofberg received her PhD in Animal Sciences by developing a protocol for the liquid storage and cryopreservation of ostrich semen that can be used later for artificial insemination purposes. Dr Mathew Ayoola, who received his degree in the same discipline, investigated the use of bentonite clay as a feed additive when raising African catfish.
The other students to receive their PhD degrees were: Daphne Bitalo, (Genetics), Boredi Chidi, Yu Gao and Margaret Whitener (Wine Biotechnology), Adriaan Engelbrecht, Monlee Swanepoel and Inam Yekwayo (Conservation Ecology), Carolyne Howell and Obiageli Umeugochukwu (Soil Science), Tarquinio Magalhaes (Forest Science), Rebogile Mphahlele and Tavagwisa Muziri (Horticultural Science ), Victor Omeje (Aquaculture) and Nomakholwa Stokwe (Entomology).
