Mark Delmege Laing

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

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

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), 1-23 2024



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



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



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



Practices for more regenerative soil systems
N Uphoff, JE Thies, AS Ball, F Doni, O Husson, M Laing, D Montgomery, ...
Biological Approaches to Regenerative Soil Systems, 589-596 2023



Refocused thinking for more regenerative soil systems
N Uphoff, JE Thies, AS Ball, F Doni, O Husson, M Laing, D Montgomery, ...
Biological Approaches to Regenerative Soil Systems, 577-588 2023



Limits with industrialized practices for agriculture
N Uphoff, JE Thies, AS Ball, F Doni, O Husson, M Laing, D Montgomery, ...
Biological Approaches to Regenerative Soil Systems, 567-576 2023



Revisioning the functioning and management of soil systems
N Uphoff, JE Thies, AS Ball, F Doni, O Husson, M Laing, DR Montgomery, ...
Biological Approaches to Regenerative Soil Systems, 3-12 2023



Correction: Gebreyohannes et al. Finger Millet Production in Ethiopia: Opportunities, Problem Diagnosis, Key Challenges and Recommendations for Breeding. Sustainability 2021
A Gebreyohannes, H Shimelis, M Laing, I Mathew, DA Odeny, H Ojulong
Sustainability 15 (15), 11650 2023



Determination of productivity, rooting and nutrient profile of Acacia mearnsii (black wattle) hedge plants
SL Beck-Pay, MD Laing, KS Yobo
Australian Forestry, 1-10 2023



Genotype environment interaction and stability analysis of selected cassava cultivars in South Africa
AB Amelework, MW Bairu, R Marx, M Laing, SL Venter
Plants 12 (13), 2490 2023



Progeny testing of maize (Zea mays) genotypes for grain yield and yield components, Striga resistance and Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. strigae compatibility
J Lobulu, H Shimelis, MD Laing, AA Mushongi, AIT Shayanowako
Plant Breeding 142 (3), 284-299 2023



Biocontrol of Maize Weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Maize over a Six-Month Storage Period
MB Saeed, MD Laing
Microorganisms 11 (5), 1261 2023



Genetic resources and breeding of maize for Striga resistance: a review
EN Dossa, H Shimelis, E Mrema, ATI Shayanowako, M Laing
Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1163785 2023



Genotype Selection for Grain Yield of Sorghum through Generalized Linear Mixed Model
M Tesfa, T Zewotir, SA Derese, DB Belay, M Laing
Agronomy 13 (3), 852 2023



A meta‐analysis of the effects of Striga control methods on maize, sorghum, and major millets production in sub‐Saharan Africa
EN Dossa, H Shimelis, AIT Shayanowako, MD Laing
Crop Science 63 (2), 460-479 2023



Cost Analysis of Biopesticides and Chemical Insecticides: Implications for Cotton Farmers in South Africa
M Laing
Entomology and Applied Science Letters 10 (4-2023), 44-55 2023



Diagnostic assessments of farmer-preferred traits and production constraints of cowpea in Zambia
N Nkhoma, H Shimelis, M Laing, I Mathew, A Shayanawako
Agricultural Science Digest 43 (5), 718-723 2023



Farmers' production practices, incidence and management of pests and diseases, extension services, and factors limiting cotton production and quality in South Africa
LN Malinga, MD Laing
South African Journal of Agricultural Extension 51 (3), 79-99 2023



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 2023

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
Citations: 1101



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
Citations: 272



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
Citations: to sustainable soil systems



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
Citations: ls with the Use of Microbes. In, Biological Approaches to Sustainable Soil Systems



An adapted selective medium for the quantitative isolation of Trichoderma species
DJ Askew, MD Laing
Plant Pathology 42 (5), 686-690 1993
Citations: 174



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, 411-422 2008
Citations: 164



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
Citations: 142



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
Citations: 126



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
Citations: 115



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
Citations: 115



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
Citations: 111



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
Citations: 104



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
Citations: 93



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
Citations: 91



Opportunities and challenges of speed breeding: A review
MA Wanga, H Shimelis, J Mashilo, MD Laing
Plant Breeding 140 (2), 185-194 2021
Citations: 88



Storage root formation, dry matter synthesis, accumulation and genetics in sweetpotato
P Rukundo, H Shimelis, M Laing, D Gahakwa
Australian Journal of Crop Science 7 (13), 2054-2061 2013
Citations: 83



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
Citations: 77



Farmers' perceptions on rice varieties in Sikasso region of Mali and their implications for rice breeding
A Efisue, P Tongoona, J Derera, A Langyintuo, M Laing, B Ubi
Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 194 (5), 393-400 2008
Citations: 75



Gene action controlling gray leaf spot resistance in southern African maize germplasm
J Derera, P Tongoona, KV Pixley, B Vivek, MD Laing, NC van Rij
Crop Science 48 (1), 93-98 2008
Citations: 75



Development of NIRS models for rapid quantification of protein content in sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) LAM.]
LS Magwaza, SIM Naidoo, SM Laurie, MD Laing, H Shimelis
LWT-Food Science and Technology 72, 63-70 2016
Citations: 74

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).