Mark Delmege Laing

@ukzn.ac.za

Professor, Plant Pathology, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of KwaZulu-Natal

Mark Delmege Laing


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https://researchid.co/laingmd
Schooled in Zimbabwe, University education at the University of Natal. Appointed to the permanent staff in Plant Pathology in 1984, Senior Lecture in 1990, Associate Professor in 1998, Professor and Chair of Plant Pathology in 2000, Senior Professor in 2010, Professor Emeritus in 2023.
Started the African Centre of Crop Improvement at the University of KwaZulu-Natal with Rockefeller and Gates Foundation funding (via AGRA), from 2002 - 2020, now operating with other funding sources. It has graduated over 130 PhD's and 23 MSc students from 20 African countries, breeding over 20 crops.
Founder member of the International Society for Silicon in Agriculture

EDUCATION

BSc, BSc Honours, PhD - all at the University of Natal

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Plant Pathology
Plant Breeding
Biological Control
12504

Scholar Citations

56

Scholar h-index

258

Scholar i10-index

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Biocontrol Potential of Three Bacterial Strains, Isolated from Vermicompost, Against Pre-Emergence Damping-Off of Tomato Caused by Rhizoctonia solani, Under …
    MB Saeed, AM Alnasser, NI Alaruk, AA Algrwai, SA Aloudah, SM Al-Eid, ...
    Microorganisms 14 (2), 371 , 2026
    2026
  • Biocontrol Potential of Three Bacterial Strains, Isolated from Vermicompost, Against Rhizoctonia solani on Tomato Under Laboratory and Greenhouse Conditions
    MB Saeed, AM Alnasser, NI Alaruk, AA Algrwai, SA Aloudah, SM Al-Eid, ...
    Preprints , 2025
    2025
  • A review of the factors affecting bark quality of black wattle ( Acacia mearnsii De Wild.) in South Africa
    P Avadianund Bridglall, MD Laing, A Morris, RJ Burgdorf
    Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 87 (4), 151-161 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Ultrastructural Examination of the Fungus‐To‐Fungus Interactions of Lecanicillium uredinophilum and Phakopsora pachyrhizi
    PP Mwelasi, MD Laing, JD Ibaba, R Rogers, MZ Németh, KS Yobo
    Plant‐Environment Interactions 6 (5), e70082 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Evaluation of fifteen adjuvants for compatibility with Beauveria bassiana and their synergistic efficacy against Rhipicephalus microplus Ticks
    G Zeina, M Laing
    Acta Tropica, 107760 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Storage capacity of entomopathogenic nematodes in Barricade® gel and potassium polyacrylate hydrogel
    S Zulu, T Ramakuwela, H Baimey, M Laing, D Shapiro-Ilan, N Cochrane
    Paradigm Publishing , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 3
  • Association of yield and yield components among selected bread wheat genotypes under silicon fertilisation and drought conditions
    MM Christian, H Shimelis, MD Laing, TJ Tsilo
    Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 211 (1), e70020 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 5
  • A novel laboratory method for the extraction of black wattle (Acacia mearnsii de Wild.) bark constituents
    PA Bridglall, MD Laing, N Naidoo, RJ Burgdorf
    J. Am. Leather Chem. Assoc 120, 26-41 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 3
  • Ovicidal effect of ethanolic extracts of selected plants on eggs of liver flukes in vitro
    M Ahmed, A Elamin, MB Saeed, M Laing
    Helminthologia 61 (4), 300-307 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Changes in protein expression in Acacia mearnsii De Wild (black wattle) as a result of exposure to frost-inducing temperatures
    M Jugmohan, J Moreno Chan, C Morris, MW Bairu, R Burgdorf, MD Laing
    Southern Forests: a Journal of Forest Science 86 (3), 176-185 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Efficacy of Sequential Applications of Pendimethalin 500 EC (Pendimight®) and Oxyfluofen 240 EC (Harris®) for Weed Control in Direct Seeded Onion (Allium cepa L.) in Sudan
    MB Saeed, SE Elamin, MD Laing
    Journal of Plant Science and Phytopathology 8 (2), 084-089 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 1
  • Seventy years of sweet potato [ Ipomoea batatas L. (LAM)] research in South Africa
    SM Laurie, J Mulabisana, R Sutherland, D Sivakumar, K Pofu, ...
    Crop Science 64 (3), 1112-1128 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 21
  • Screening tropical and sub-tropical maize germplasm for resistance to Striga hermonthica and S. asiatica and yield-related traits
    EN Dossa, H Shimelis, AIT Shayanowako, MD Laing
    Euphytica 220 (4), 56 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 9
  • Early generation clonal selection of sweetpotato ( Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) using an accelerated breeding scheme
    SIM Naidoo, SM Laurie, M Booyse, H Shimelis, MD Laing, WM Mphela
    Euphytica 220 (2), 19 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 7
  • Exogenous silicon application improves chilling injury tolerance and photosynthetic performance of citrus
    MA Mvondo-She, J Mashilo, A Gatabazi, AR Ndhlala, MD Laing
    Agronomy 14 (1), 139 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 11
  • Economic evaluation of biopesticides vs. chemical insecticides: impact on cotton farming in South Africa
    L Malinga, M Laing
    Entomology Letters 4 (2), 22-33 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 12
  • Efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis and Beauveria bassiana in controlling Helicoverpa armigera
    LN Malinga, MD Laing
    Entomology and Applied Science Letters 11 (4-2024), 16-23 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 2
  • A review of pesticides for the control of some cotton pests
    LN Malinga, MD Laing
    Ann Agric Crop Sci 9 (Suppl 1), 1148 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 11
  • and Groundwater of Gezira Scheme (Sudan)
    A Hammad, R Yousif, A Abdelbagi, AE Ishag, A Mohamed, JH Hur, ...
    Selected Studies in Environmental Geosciences and Hydrogeosciences … , 2023
    2023
  • The effect of silicon fertilizers on agronomic performance of bread wheat under drought stress and non‐stress conditions
    MM Christian, H Shimelis, MD Laing, TJ Tsilo
    Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 209 (6), 827-840 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 18

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Trichoderma: An Ally in the Quest for Soil System Sustainability. In, Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems
    B Neumann, MD Laing
    CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA , 2006
    2006
    Citations: 1286
  • Breeding wheat for drought tolerance: Progress and technologies
    L Mwadzingeni, H Shimelis, E Dube, MD Laing, TJ Tsilo
    Journal of Integrative Agriculture 15 (5), 935-943 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 347
  • Biological approaches to sustainable soil systems
    N Uphoff, AS Ball, E Fernandes, H Herren, O Husson, M Laing, C Palm, ...
    CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA , 2006
    2006
    Citations: 247
  • Revegetating Inert Soils with the Use of Microbes. In, Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems
    G Papli, MD Laing
    CRC Press, Boca Raton, USA , 2006
    2006
    Citations: 247
  • Opportunities and challenges of speed breeding: A review
    MA Wanga, H Shimelis, J Mashilo, MD Laing
    Plant Breeding 140 (2), 185-194 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 231
  • An adapted selective medium for the quantitative isolation of Trichoderma species
    DJ Askew, MD Laing
    Plant Pathology 42 (5), 686-690 , 1993
    1993
    Citations: 203
  • Gene action controlling grain yield and secondary traits in southern African maize hybrids under drought and non-drought environments
    J Derera, P Tongoona, BS Vivek, MD Laing
    Euphytica 162 (3), 411-422 , 2008
    2008
    Citations: 179
  • Biodegradation of chlorpyrifos, malathion, and dimethoate by three strains of bacteria isolated from pesticide-polluted soils in Sudan
    AESA Ishag, AO Abdelbagi, AMA Hammad, EAE Elsheikh, OE Elsaid, ...
    Journal of agricultural and food chemistry 64 (45), 8491-8498 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 153
  • A survey of pre-harvest ear rot diseases of maize and associated mycotoxins in south and central Zambia
    M Mukanga, J Derera, P Tongoona, MD Laing
    International journal of food microbiology 141 (3), 213-221 , 2010
    2010
    Citations: 153
  • Bioremoval of arsenic species from contaminated waters by sulphate-reducing bacteria
    D Teclu, G Tivchev, M Laing, M Wallis
    Water Research 42 (19), 4885-4893 , 2008
    2008
    Citations: 147
  • Adoption and promotion of resilient crops for climate risk mitigation and import substitution: A case analysis of cassava for South African agriculture
    AB Amelework, MW Bairu, O Maema, SL Venter, M Laing
    Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems 5, 617783 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 146
  • Silicon use for pest control in agriculture: a review
    MD Laing, MC Gatarayiha, A Adandonon
    Proceedings of the South African Sugar Technologists’ Association 80, 278-286 , 2006
    2006
    Citations: 146
  • Determination of the elemental composition of molasses and its suitability as carbon source for growth of sulphate-reducing bacteria
    D Teclu, G Tivchev, M Laing, M Wallis
    Journal of Hazardous Materials 161 (2-3), 1157-1165 , 2009
    2009
    Citations: 125
  • Sorghum production systems and constraints, and coping strategies under drought-prone agro-ecologies of Ethiopia
    BA Amelework, HA Shimelis, MD Laing, DG Ayele, P Tongoona, ...
    South African Journal of Plant and Soil 33 (3), 207-217 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 124
  • Physiological mechanisms of drought tolerance in sorghum, genetic basis and breeding methods: A review
    B Amelework, H Shimelis, P Tongoona, M Laing
    African Journal of Agricultural Research 10 (31), 3029-3040 , 2015
    2015
    Citations: 124
  • The potential of orange-fleshed sweet potato to prevent vitamin A deficiency in Africa
    F Gurmu, S Hussein, M Laing
    Int J Vitam Nutr Res 84 (1-2), 65-78 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 120
  • Isolation and screening of bacteria for their diazotrophic potential and their influence on growth promotion of maize seedlings in greenhouses
    MH Kifle, MD Laing
    Frontiers in plant science 6, 1225 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 117
  • Timelines in conventional crop improvement: pre-breeding and breeding procedures
    H Shimelis, M Laing
    Australian Journal of Crop Science 6 (11), 1542-1549 , 2012
    2012
    Citations: 116
  • Frequency and timing of fungicide applications for the control of gray leaf spot in maize
    JMJ Ward, MD Laing, FHJ Rijkenberg
    Plant Disease 81 (1), 41-48 , 1997
    1997
    Citations: 115
  • Assessing the genetic diversity of cowpea [ Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] germplasm collections using phenotypic traits and SNP markers
    N Nkhoma, H Shimelis, MD Laing, A Shayanowako, I Mathew
    BMC genetics 21 (1), 110 , 2020
    2020
    Citations: 113

GRANT DETAILS

Many grants, both international and national.

RESEARCH OUTPUTS (PATENTS, SOFTWARE, PUBLICATIONS, PRODUCTS)

Two patents, one on wastewater management using a forced upflow bioreactor, and the other on the antibacterial and antifungal activities of Plectranthus hadiensis.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

Via startups

STARTUP

Founder member of Plant Health Products (Pty) Ltd in 1998, now operating as a subsidiary of Andermatt Biocontrol BV, Switzerland. It manufactures and sells a range of biocontrol agents, largely in Africa, but is now expanding its registrations to other continents via Andermatt's many subsidiaries.
Founded and closed NIRSpectro, developing NIR solutions.
Founded FreQuai (Pty) Ltd, registered in 2023 to develop noverl NIR solutions.

SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, or ACADEMIC BENEFITS

Chairperson of the Pietermaritzburg and Districts Council for the Aged (PADCA).