The Bioscience centre started as a Biotechnology unit in 2009 with molecular biology and tissue culture laboratory with the quest to complement conventional or classical plants and animals breeding at IAR and T. The laboratory has modest facilities to undertake studies in the areas of tissue culture and molecular biology techniques. The unit was upgraded to a Bioscience centre recently under the leadership of the executive director of IAR&T, Professor Veronica Obatolu. The centre now comprises three active laboratories (molecular biology and tissue culture laboratory, pathology laboratory and entomology laboratory).

The centre carries out research activities with the application of different biotechnology techniques towards improving the existing germplasm collection of plants and animals at IAR&T. To develop new lines and breeds with desirable traits in the shortest possible time for further introgression into the breeding programmes.

The centre with modern technology transferred equipment will proffer more solutions to the problems of food insecurity by increasing food production and sustainability of the farmers’ livelihood and other stakeholders in Nigeria. The centre has experienced scientists and technologists with the know-how-techniques of modern molecular biology, tissue culture, pathology and nematology research.

Bioscience Centre

Prof. O. F. Owolade

Research Professor (Plant Pathology)

Prof. Akinbode Oluwafolake A.

Research Professor (Plant Pathology)

She hails from Nigeria

Prof. O. F. Owolade

Research Professor (Plant Pathology)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. Akande, S. R., S. A. Olakojo, S. A. Ajayi, F. Owolade, J. A. Adetumbi, O. N. Adeniyan and B. A Ogunbodede (2012). Planting dates Affects Cowpea seed Yield and Quality at Southern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria. Seed Technology. 34: 51-60.
2. Owolade, O. F., A.G. O. Dixon., O, T. H. Idowu, S. R. Akande, S. A. Olakojo, C. G. Afolabi, P. O. Tedela, A. R. Popoola, A. Y. A. Adeoti, Enikuomehin, A. O., and F. Aduramigba-Modupe (2012). Molecular identification of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f sp manihotis causing cassava anthracnose in Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Genetics. 26:127-140.
3. Olasoji O, J, , F. Owolade, R. S. Badmus, A. A. Olosunde and O. J. Okoh (2012). Variation in germination and seed longevity of Kenaf (Herbiscus canabinus) as affected by different maturity and harvesting stages. Stored Products and Postharvest Research 3:167-173.
4. Akinbode, O, B. Ikotun, C. Odebode and Owolade (2015). The Use of Micro-Biological Agents at Different Pairing Times in the control of Fusarium verticillloides Pathogen of Maize (Zea mays) Submitt Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery 23:231-235
5. Ganiyu, A, R. Popoola, O. F. Owolade and K. A. Fatona (2017). Control of common bacterial disease of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) with certain plant extracts in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Accepted for Publication in the Journal of Crop Improvement 31:22-27.
6. Olowolafe M. O., S. T. Akinyosoye, J. A. Adetumbi, D. J. Ogunniyan, F. Owolade, F. B. Anjorin and A. O. Agbeleye (2014). Evaluation of Cowpea (Vignia unguicula (L.) Walp.) Using Morphological Characters. Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Science
7. Ganiyu, S. A., Popoola, A. R., Yussuf, T. F., Owolade, O. F. and Gbolade, J. O. (2018). Management of Anthracnose Disease of Cowpea with Three Plant Leaf Extracts for Enhanced Grain Yield in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Nigerian Agricultural Journal 49:1-7
8. Akinyosoye S. T. , Owolade O. F., Olowolafe M. O. and Ailenokhuria B. V. (2019). Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Recombinant DNA Technology- Benefits and Ethical Issues: A Review. Moor Journal Agricultural Research (Special Edition) 20; 80-91.
9. Odeyemi, O.O., Lawal, B. O., Owolade, O. F., Olasoji, J. O., Egbetokun, O. A., Oloyede- Kamiyo, Q. O., Omodele, T. and Anjorin, F. B (2020). FALL ARMYWORM Spodoptera Frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae): Threat to Maize Production in Nigeria. Nigerian Agricultural Journal 51; 101-108
10. T. H. Hamzat, S. A. Ganiyu, O. M. Obembe, A. M. Ajayi and O. F. Owolade (2021). Response of maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars to leaf blight and Curvularia leaf spot under application of Titanium dioxide in forest—savanna transition agro ecological zone of Nigeria. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 55:8, 913-925, DOI:10.1080/03235408.2022.2074713

Ibadan

ofowolade@iart.gov.ng, ofowolade@gmail.com

+234-8056308147

www.iart.gov.ng

Prof. Akinbode Oluwafolake A.

Research Professor (Plant Pathology)

RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. Akinbode, O. A., Kareem, K. T., Oduwaye, O. F. and Obafemi, A. I. (2018). Influence of Eco-Friendly Control Strategies on the Germination of Mycotoxin Secreted Fusarium verticillioides Infested Maize. J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage. 22(10):1647-1653. http://www.ajol.info/index.php/jasem,http://ww.bioline.org.br/ja.DOI:https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v22i10.22. (Nigeria).
2. Esan, V. I., Omilani, O. O., Adejumo, S. A., Adeyemo, T. O., and O. A. Akinbode (2018). Screening of sweet potato (Ipomea batatas [L.] Lam.) cultivars for drought tolerance. International Journal of Environment Agriculture and Biotechnology 3(3):0732-0741 ISSN:2456-1878). Doi:10.22161/ijeab/3.3.3 (Mexico)
3. Akinbode, O. A., Ogunlade, D. O., Olasoji, J. O., Olagunju, Y. A. and Oduwaye, O. F. (2019). Effect of different storage materials and conditions on seed-borne fungi associated with cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Nigerian Journal of Plant Protection 32 (2): 1-16. (0331-7277) (Nigeria)
4. Olaniran, O. A., Olawuyi, O. J. and Akinbode, O. A. (2019). Inhibitory potentials of five botanicals on associated fungi in relation to germination and morphological characters of Cucumis sativus Linn. Journal of Agriculture, Forestry and the Social Sciences 15 (2): 22-35. DOI: 10.4314/joafss.v15i2.3 (Nigeria)
5. Kareem, K. T., Agbeleye, O. A. and Akinbode, O. A. (2019). Response of African yam bean to cucumber mosaic virus infection in south-western ecology. Moor Journal of Agricultural Research 50^th Anniversary special edition 20 (1): 74 – 79. ISSN:1595-4153 (Nigeria)
6. Shittu, O. M., Akinbode, O. A., Olagunju, Y. and Odebode, A. C. (2020). The potentials of botanicals and storage materials in the control of storage fungal pathogens of Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. Moor Journal of Agricultural Research 21: 48 – 59. ISSN:1595-4153 (Nigeria)
7. Ogunfunmilayo, A. O., Kazeem, S. A., Idoko, J. E., Adebayo, R., Fayemi, E., Adebayo, R., Fayemi, E.Y., Adedibu., O. B., Oloyede-Kamiyo, Q. O., Nwogwugwu, J. O., Akinbode, O. A., Salihu, S., Offord, L. C., Buddie, A. G. and Ofuya, T. I (2021). Occurrence of natural enemies of Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Nigeria. PLoS ONE16(7):e0254328. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0254328 (China)
8. Edet, I. A., Afolabi, C. G., Popoola, A. R., Arogundade, O. and Akinbode, O. A. (2021). Identification and molecular characterization of Cercospora leaf spot disease pathogen on cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp). Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection55 (1): 109-120. https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2021.2000782 (United Kingdom)
9. Anjorin, F. B., Odeyemi, O. O., Akinbode, O. A. and Kareem, K. T. (2022) Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) infestation: maize yield depression and physiological basis of tolerance. Journal of Plant Protection Research. https://doi.org/10.24425/jppr.2022.140294. (Poland)
10. 10. Akinbode, O. A. (2021). Fungal seed-borne pathogens and diseases of maize in Nigeria: A review. Seed Scientists of Nigeria Conference Proceedings 6: 188 – 194. 6^th Association of Seed Scientists of Nigeria (ASSN) conference, 3^rd – 6^th August, 2021, Ibadan, Nigeria. (Nigeria)

Current research activities:

1. Use of phyto-extracts and microbial bioagents to control some foliar and stalk rot Pathogens of maize (Zea mays).
2. Studies on maize streak diseases in Southwest, Nigeria towards the development of its control strategies
3. The use of entomopathogens in the control of fall armyworm of maize
4. Integrated management of Fall armyworm of maize in Southwest Nigeria
5. Efficacy of selected synthetic fungicides and the best time of application in the control of foliar diseases of maize

Technological achievement:

1. Discovery of a number of bioagents (Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma pseudokoningii) and plant extracts (tobacco, Nicotiana tabacum; castor plant, Ricinus communis; Moringa oleifera Lam; Tithonia diversifolia; Vernonia amygdalina and Annona muricata) that are effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogens causing plant diseases such as anthracnose disease of cowpea; leafspot, ear rot and stalk rot diseases of maize.
2.   Established the use of Arbuscular mycorrhiza for controlling diseases of Amaranthus spp, maize and cowpea. Likewise, prevention of mycotoxin contamination to appropriately store crop seeds of kenaf and maize was established by using eco-friendly control strategies.

On-Going Research Project I: Studies on biochemical components of plants in disease control On-Going Research Project II: Use of Plant extracts, antagonistic microbials, and entomopathogens in plant diseases management

folakeakinbode1@gmail.com, oaakinbode@iart.gov

08038532233