CURRICULUM VITAE
MARCELLOUS REMARQUE LE ROUX
Work: Department of Agronomy, Faculty of AgriSciences, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1,
Matieland 7602, South Africa,
Tel: (+27+21) 808-9487
Home: 46 February Street, Cloetesville, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa,
Tel: (+27+21) 889-8573, Cell: (+27) 82 563 1688
PERSONAL
Date of birth
Nationality
National ID
Marital status
:
:
:
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24 February 1978
South African
7802245191087
Married with 3 children
QUALIFICATIONS
Currently:
Researcher (University of Stellenbosch)
2012-2014:
Postdoctoral fellow (University of Stellenbosch)
2011-2012:
Postdoctoral fellow Cape Peninsula University of Technology (Bellville
campus)
2004-2011:
Philosophiae Doctor (PhD). University of Western Cape
Title of thesis for PhD:
Respiratory and photosynthetic C and N metabolism of nodulated
Lupin roots during phosphorus deficiency
2002-2004:
Master of Science (MSc) degree. University of Stellenbosch
Title of thesis for MSc:
The route of pyruvate synthesis in P starved legumes
2002:
Honours [BSc(Hons)] degree. University of Stellenbosch
Major subjects: Plant Physiology and Plant Biotechnology
1996-1999:
Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree. University of Stellenbosch. Major
subjects: Botany, Microbiology and Genetics
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RESEARCH EXPERIENCE AND INTERESTS
My past and ongoing research as a plant scientist has revolved around the
interaction of plants with their abiotic and biotic environment, with an
emphasis on plant nutrition. My research interests are wide and span fields
of soil science, soil microbiology, soil fertility, plant biochemistry, physiology
and molecular biology. In more recent years, I have endeavored to enhance
my skills as a molecular plant physiologist to integrate transcriptomics,
proteomics, and metabolomics, in order to use a “systems biology” approach
of understanding plant function and how that may be translated into
increase plant production. In particular, I have developed a keen interest in
looking at the adaptive capacity of food crops to climate change impacts. The
increased production of nutritious cereal-, protein- and oilseed crops in a
more sustainable and equitable way is pivotal to increase the food security of
the burgeoning local and global populations. A key impediment to efforts in
pursuit of this ideal is mineral stress, which is widely acknowledged as
critical in understanding the causal effects of global climate changes on
plant growth in affected soils. Most of my research experience was gathered
in work related to carbon metabolism of legume crops under phosphorus (P)
stress. In my research, we have demonstrated novel adaptations to
impending P stress, relating to organic acid metabolism in root nodules. I
envisage a more widespread adoption of legume crops as a means to
complement conventional farming systems in order to address low soil
fertility that characterizes sub-Saharan Africa. Inevitably, this may lead to
the production of nutritious food in a more sustainable and equitable way
and increase food security for the burgeoning local and global populations.
LIST OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Le Roux M, Phiri E, Khan W, Sakiroglu M, Valentine A, Khan S (2014)
Expression of novel cytosolic malate dehydrogenases (cMDH) in Lupinus
angustifolius nodules during phosphorus starvation. Journal of Plant
Physiology 171: 1609–1618.
Mortimer P, Le Roux MR, Perez-Fernandez M, Benedito V, Kleinert A, Xu J,
Valentine AJ (2013) The dual symbiosis between arbuscular mycorrhizae
and nitrogen fixing bacteria benefits the growth and nutrition of the woody
invasive legume Acacia cyclops under nutrient limiting conditions. Plant and
Soil 366: 229-241.
Le Roux MR, Khan S, Valentine AJ (2009) Nitrogen and carbon costs of
soybean and lupin root systems during phosphate starvation. Symbiosis 48:
102-109.
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TECHNICAL AND SPECIALIZED SKILLS
Plant culture
Solid substrate, hydroponic & aeroponic nutrient
culture
Plant Physiology
Respiration:
- Tissue & mitochondrial O2 flux by polarographic
analysis,
- Root CO2 flux by infra-red gas analysis
Photosynthesis:
- Leaf CO2 flux by infra-red gas analysis, light and
CO2 response curves and analyses
Water relations:
- Xylem water potential, water-use efficiency,
transpiration, stomatal conductance
Mineral nutrition:
- Mycorrhizal techniques, nodule N2-fixation by Nisotope methods and H2 evolution, Nutrient
uptake kinetics
Genomics, Metabolomics
& Proteomics
14C labeling, column fractionation and analyses,
stable C and N isotope discrimination, DNA & RNA
purification, Quantitative & Qualitative-PCR, Gene
Cloning, Enzyme kinetics
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