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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere gratitude and appreciation go to the following people and organizations:
My supervisor, Dr L. Titshall for his continued interest, assistance and advice
throughout this study.
My co-supervisor, Mr. C. Hunter for his guidance, advice and support during this
research.
My co-supervisor, Mr. C. Morris for his expertise in the statistical analysis of the data.
My MSc supervisor, Professor R.J. Haynes, for introducing me to soil microbial
diversity.
Professor J. Hughes and the Soil Science staff and students, particularly Irene Bamé,
for their help, support and friendship.
Mr. K. Govender for freely imparting his knowledge of DGGE to me and Dr G.
Watson for his help and advice with some molecular aspects of this work.
Mrs. M. Brunkhorst (Genetics) for her technical assistance, the loan of equipment and
for her friendship, encouragement and support.
Miss D. Fowlds (Microbiology), for her assistance, friendship and the loan of
equipment.
The National Research Foundation of South Africa for partially funding this research.
The South African Sugarcane Research Institute at Mt Edgecombe for allowing me
access to their experimental field trial.
The Management of Baynesfield Estate for the use of their facilities.
Finally, my deepest gratitude to my husband Mike for his forbearance, understanding,
ongoing love and support and sense of humour and to my son Chris for all his help,
advice and constant encouragement throughout the course of this investigation.