Exploring the Eucalyptus Leaf Microbiome: Understanding the Hidden World Within Leaves
PhD candidate Anika Keuck, under the supervision of Prof. David Drew, Prof. Francois Roets, and Prof. Bernard Slippers, is investigating the leaf microbiome of Eucalyptus, the community of microorganisms that inhabit leaf tissues. Her research aims to better understand the composition and dynamics of these microbial communities, focusing on how they vary under different biological […]
Lasers and Limbs: Mapping Eucalyptus Tree Architecture with Terrestrial LiDAR
Understanding how trees grow and adapt to their surroundings is key to advancing sustainable forestry. During the 2025 Hans Merensky EucXylo Research Meeting, Oluwaseun Gakenou shared insights from his work using Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) to study the structural variation among young Eucalyptus grandis trees grown in a common garden experiment. His presentation, titled “Lasers […]
Understanding How Young Eucalypts Adapt: A Closer Look at Photosynthesis, Water Use, and Leaf Structure
Eucalyptus trees are not just iconic symbols of the southern hemisphere, they’re also key players in forestry, carbon sequestration, and climate adaptation. But how do young Eucalyptus trees cope with different environments? That’s the question at the heart of Erin Ramsay’s research, which explores how juvenile Eucalyptus species manage water use, photosynthesis, and structural growth […]
Celebrating EucXylo Hans Merensky day.
On 13 October 2025, the EucXylo team gathered at the beautiful Erinvale Hotel and Conference Venue for our annual Hans Merensky EucXylo Research Meeting. The day brought together students, researchers, and collaborators to share ideas, celebrate progress, and connect through a shared passion for tree science and innovation. The programme featured a diverse range of […]
Post-doctoral Fellowship: Data-Driven Forest Science
EucXylo | Stellenbosch University Location: Stellenbosch, South AfricaStart date: February 2026 (negotiable)Application deadline: 30 November 2025 About the Project The Hans Merensky Chair in Advanced Modelling of Growth and Wood Formation in Eucalypts (EucXylo) has launched the IMPACT Open-Air Lab, a pioneering forest research facility in Somerset West.This site integrates sensors, satellites, and data science […]
Spring Campaign 2025 at the IMPACT Open-Air Lab
Every September, the EucXylo team comes together for our Spring Campaign, an intensive week of fieldwork, measurement, and collaboration at the IMPACT Open-Air Lab in Stellenbosch. From 15–19 September 2025, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and students joined forces to collect vital data and test new approaches to understanding tree growth and wood formation. Building Collaboration in […]
A Day of Collaboration and New Beginnings at the IMPACT Open-Air Lab
A Day of Collaboration and New Beginnings at the IMPACT Open-Air Lab On 8 September 2025, the IMPACT Open-Air Lab at Stellenbosch University hosted a special day, marked by both international collaboration and the welcoming of a new colleague to the EucXylo team. We were delighted to welcome Prof. Rostand Moutou Pitti from Université Clermont […]
