Rouxlene van der Merwe was born on 15 April 1980 in Bloemfontein, matriculated in 1998 and enrolled as a first year student at the University of the Free State (UFS) in 1999. She completed her BSc Agric degree in Plant Breeding and Genetics in 2003, MSc Agric degree in Plant Breeding in 2005 and PhD in Plant Breeding 2011, all at UFS. In 2009, she was appointed as a Professional Officer in the Department of Plant Sciences and as a Lecturer in 2011 after completion of her PhD degree. She was promoted to Senior lecturer in 2018, followed by Associate Professor in 2023. Her research focuses primarily on conventional plant breeding, which remains the foundation of sustainable crop improvement programmes. She is also interested in integrating conventional and molecular breeding approaches to accelerate cultivar development and improve breeding efficiency. She has established and currently manage two vegetable-type soybean breeding programmes, which provide practical training opportunities for students in plant breeding.



Professional commitment

I am a dedicated and adaptable academic professional who embraces complex challenges in teaching, supervision, and research. Much like the crops I study, I believe in the capacity to adapt to changing environmental conditions while maintaining core resilience and growth. I remain committed to advancing agricultural science through evidence-based innovation and mentorship.


Research

My primary research focus is legume breeding, specifically addressing critical agricultural challenges through the development of resilient vegetable-type soybean (edamame) and cowpea cultivars. In 2014, our research group established a dedicated vegetable-type soybean breeding programme with the strategic objectives of enhancing yield through improving pod-shattering resistance. In 2016, we established the drought-tolerance breeding programme with the focus on enhancing drought tolerance in vegetable-type soybean. The cowpea pre-breeding programme was established in 2025. The programme involve several projects involving genetic diversity studies, drought-tolerance evaluation through biochemical an physiological trait response screening and nutritional trait screening. The success of these initiatives is built upon robust collaborations with national entities such as the Agricultural Research Council, international partners including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and local breeding companies facilitating field trials.


Scholarly output and supervision

My scholarly contributions include authoring and co-authoring 20 peer-reviewed papers, 3 book chapters, 11 non-accredited articles, and 44 conference contributions. Committed to nurturing the next generation of scientists, I have taken on substantial supervisory responsibilities. I have successfully supervised 10 PhD and 16 MSc students.

Journal publications (last 5 years)

Hlahla, J.M., Mafa, M.S., van der Merwe, R., Alexander, O., Duvenhage, M.-M., Kemp, G., Moloi, M.J. 2022. The photosynthetic efficiency and carbohydrates responses of six edamame (Glycine max. L. Merrill) cultivars under drought stress. Plants 2022(11):394. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11030394

Van der Merwe, R., Labuschagne M.T. and Smit A. 2024. Cultivar variability and stability of vegetable-type soybean for seed yield and pod shattering. South African Journal of Botany 166: 106-115.

Hlahla, J.M., Mafa, M.S., van der Merwe, R., Moloi, M J., 2024. Exploring edamame survival mechanisms under combined drought and heat stress: Photosynthesis efficiency and carbohydrate accumulation. Plant Stress. 14, 100616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stress.2024.100616 (Q1, 2023/24 Impact Factor = 6.8).

Hlahla, J.M., Mafa, M.S., Van der Merwe, R., Moloi, M.J. 2025. Tolerance to combined drought and heat stress in edamame is associated with enhanced antioxidative responses and cell wall modifications. Physiologia Plantarum 177(2):e70187.doi: 10.1111/ppl.70187.


Conference outputs (last 5 years)

Van der Merwe, R., Van der Merwe, J.B., Van Biljon, A. 2022. Combining ability of nutritional components in vegetable-type soybean. Oral presented at the 14th Southern African Plant Breeding Symposium, Protea Hotel by Marriott Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 6-9th March 2022.

Coertzen, R.D., Van Biljon, A., Van der Merwe, R. 2022. Physiological and biochemical responses associated with water-limited-induced-stress tolerance in vegetable type soybean. Oral presented at the 14th Southern African Plant Breeding Symposium, Protea Hotel by Marriott Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 6-9th March 2022.

Basson, H.J., Maré, A., Van der Merwe, R., Minnaar-Ontong, A. 2022. Fusarium sudden death syndrome: A pre-breeding approach for resistance in South African soybeans. Poster presented at the 14th Southern African Plant Breeding Symposium, Protea Hotel by Marriott Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 6-9th March 2022.

Mishasha, T., Zhou, M., Van der Merwe, R. 2022. Family by environment interactions for brix content in sugarcane breeding. Poster presented at the 14th Southern African Plant Breeding Symposium, Protea Hotel by Marriott Stellenbosch, Western Cape, 6-9th March 2022.

Minnaar-Ontong, A., Basson, H.J., Maré, A., Van der Merwe, R. and Steyn, C. 2023. Development of South African soybean lines with resistance to sudden death syndrome. Paper delivered at the International Congress on Oil and Protein Crops, EUCARPIA Oil & Protein Crops Section, Antalya, Turkey. 2-4 November 2023.

Van der Merwe, R., Hlatshwayo, K., Minnaar-Ontong, A., Maré, A. and Zhang, Q. 2023. Breeding for pod-shattering resistance in vegetable-type soybean. Paper delivered at the International Congress on Oil and Protein Crops, EUCARPIA Oil & Protein Crops Section, Antalya, Turkey. 2-4 November 2023.

Hlahla, J.M., Mafa, M.S., Van der Merwe, R., and Moloi, M.J. 2024. Synergistic effects of drought and heat stress on the photosynthetic efficiency and osmolytes accumulation in edamame. Oral presented at the 49th South African Association of Botanists (49th SAAB Conference), at the University of Zululand, Richards Bay campus, 7-11 January 2024.

Van der Merwe, R., Coetzee, E. and Moloi MJ. 2024. Combining ability of drought tolerance-related traits in vegetable-type soybean. Oral presented at the 15th Southern African Plant Breeders’ Association Symposium, Monte Bello Estate, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 11-13 March 2024.

Hlatshwayo K., Maré A., Minnaar-Ontong A., Zhang Q. and Van der Merwe, R. 2024. Family selection for pod-shattering resistance and seed yield of vegetable-type soybean. Poster presented at the 15th Southern African Plant Breeders’ Association Symposium, Monte Bello Estate, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 11-13 March 2024.

Mishasha T., Zhou M., Van der Merwe R. and Labuschagne M. 2024. Genetic correlations among cane quality traits and implications on sugarcane breeding. Poster presented at the 15th Southern African Plant Breeders’ Association Symposium, Monte Bello Estate, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 11-13 March 2024.

Nxumalo P.D., Labuschagne M., Van Der Merwe, R. and Zhou M. 2024. Quantifying the contribution of fibre content to indirect breeding for Eldana saccharina (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae) stalk borer resistance in sugarcane. Poster presented at the 15th Southern African Plant Breeders’ Association Symposium, Monte Bello Estate, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 11-13 March 2024.

Lichakane M., Labuschagne M., Van Der Merwe, R. and Zhou M. 2024. The effect of photoperiod treatments on time to genotype flowering and implications for sugarcane breeding in South Africa. Oral presented at the 15th Southern African Plant Breeders’ Association Symposium, Monte Bello Estate, Bloemfontein, South Africa. 11-13 March 2024.


Popular articles (last 5 years)

Van der Merwe, R., Moloi, M.J. & Vos, J.R. 2023. The impact of heat stress during flowering on the physiological and yield traits of vegetable-type soybean. MOL – SOCIEDAD de CIENCIAS de GALICIA, Nº 23, Diciembre - December, 2023. pp 1-17; ISSN: 1133- 3669.

Khumalo, N., Van der Watt, E., Van der Merwe, R. 2025. Membrane stability and antioxidant enzyme activity of vegetable-type soybean seedlings in response to short term drought stress. MOL – SOCIEDAD de CIENCIAS de GALICIA, Nº 25:1. pp 1-17; ISSN: 1133- 3669.

Research groups

1. Legumes: Soybean, vegetable-type soybean, dry bean and cowpea

2. Plant Breeding and Genetics: Improvement of legumes for yield, stability, pod shattering resistance, nutritional value and abiotic stress tolerance

3. Plant Physiology: Drought and heat stress responses



Projects (last 5 years)

1. Soybean breeding projects:

2020-present Developing a breeding strategy for vegetable-type soybean under abiotic stress conditions (Project funded by the NRF - CSUR)

2014-present Breeding for resistance to pod dehiscence in vegetable type soybean - China / South Africa Research Cooperation Programme (Project funded by the NRF - RISA)


2. Cowpea pre-breeding projects under the "Breeding of climate resilient, nutritious and disease resistant crop varieties (Research Chair 5)":

2025-present Phylogenetic and morphological characterisation of cowpea germplasm

2025-present Initiation of a cowpea breeding programme for drought tolerance

2025-present Evaluation of the founder parents of a cowpea multi-parent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population for grain yield and nutritional characteristics

2026-present Assessment of nutritional quality trait responses and related QTL in cowpea under drought stress

2026-present Assessment of morphological and physio-biochemical trait responses, and related QTL in cowpea under drought stress at the reproductive growth stage

1. Legume improvement using conventional and molecular techniques.
2. Abiotic stress tolerance improvement using physiological, biochemical and morphological screening approaches.
3. Nutritional trait evaluation and improvement with the focus on protein, fat, fibre and sugar content.
4. Biotsimulant application and evaluation under glasshouse and field conditions.

Undergraduate and honours modules

1. PLPG2623 - Basic Concepts Applied In Plant Pathology And Plant Breeding [NQF level 6, 12 credits, 2nd semester]

The purpose of this module is to equip students with the applied, yet foundational, knowledge of Plant Health and Seed Breeding required to sustainably produce agricultural crops. 


2. PLTB3714 - Selection Methods and Quantitative Genetics in Plant Breeding [NQF level 7, 16 credits, 1st semester]

The purpose of this module is to equip students with the foundational knowledge on quantitative genetics and selection methods to improve selection in self- and cross pollinating cops, and vegetatively propagated crops.


3. PLTB4854/6854 - Statistics in Plant Sciences [NQF level 8, 16 credits, 1st semester]

This module aims is to equip students with the required knowledge and skills on the application of various statistical principles and techniques and how they are applied in Plant Sciences research.

1. Present public lectures/webinars on invitation
2. Review internal and external Masters Dissertations and Doctoral Theses 
3. Peer-review journal articles
4. Serve on the Editorial Board of the Science Society of Galicia
5. Collaborate on private companies to investigate biostimulants for national registration
6. Externally moderate undergraduate and postgraduate modules for other universities
7. Serve on NRF review panel for small grant applications.
8. Member and Treasurer of the Southern African Plant Breeders` Association