Dr. Olalekan Banwo, a Professor from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, is researching ways to eradicate a rice virus disease that affects developing countries, including his own. The devastating rice virus has reduced the yield of rice in Africa by 20-100 percent.

Dr. Banwo has been researching the virus for over a decade and presented a seminar entitled “Rice Yellow Mottle Virus (RYMV) Disease Resistance in Indica Rice using Hairpin Constructs” in the Biosciences Institute of the ASU in November, 2011. He is a Senior African Fulbright Scholar for 2011-12, where he works in collaboration with Dr. Gregory Phillips, Professor of Plant Biotechnology in the Arkansas State University (ASU). The highly competitive and prestigious Fulbright Award is administered by the United States Department of States. It offers grants for U.S. citizens to study, teach, and conduct research abroad and for citizens of other countries to also come to the United States.

Dr. Banwo plans to use the genetic engineering approach using the four potentially resistant genes which he had earlier produced in Germany to now obtain transgenic rice varieties that will offer broad, effective, durable and safe resistance to the disease. After these lines are satisfactorily tested in Africa, they may be able to provide a solution to the virus problem on the continent. Consequently, there will be increased productivity and profitability in the rice sector and enhanced food security.

PUBLICATIONS

Theses

• Banwo, O.O (2002). Vector Identification, Bionomics and Molecular Characterisation of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus in Tanzania. Ph.D. Thesis, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania.
• Banwo, O.O (1995). Is Resistance to Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus in Spring Barley Related to Aphid Feeding Behaviour? MSc. Thesis, University of Bath/Bristol, United Kingdom
• Banwo, O.O. (1989). Survey of Pests of Dry Season Market Gardens in the Zaria Area. B. Agric Project Report, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

AWARDS

• United States Senior Fulbright African Research Award tenable at the Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR, USA (September 2011-June, 2012)
• Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship Award of the Humboldt Foundation to undertake studies on Virus Resistant Transgenic Plants in DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany (2007 – 2008)
• International Sorghum/Millet Collaborative Research Support Project (INTSORMIL-CRSP, Nebraska, U.S.) award for research excellence among young scientists in the Department of Crop Protection, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria (2004).
• American Biographical Institute Nominee for the Man of the Year Award 2004.
• e. African Academy of Science Award Nominee from the Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania (2002).
• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship Award for Ph.D. Studies, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania, 1999 – 2002.
• Short Term Research Scholarship to undertake Molecular Studies in DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany, October, 2001- January, 2002
• British Overseas Development Administration (ODA now DFID) award for M.Sc. Studies in Crop Protection, University of Bath/Bristol, United Kingdom 1994 –1995.
• Long Ashton Research Station (of the University of Bath/Bristol) award for the second best MSc. (Crop Protection) Dissertation. 1995.
• National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) award for the best youth corps member, Ado-Ekiti Local Government, Ekiti State, Nigeria (1990).
• Prof H. Caswell Prize for the best undergraduate Project Report submitted to the Crop Protection Dept, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria for the B. Agric. Programme (1989).
• Cotton and Agricultural Processors (C.A.P.) Limited Prize for the best undergraduate student in the B. Agric. Programme with the highest aggregate grade in Crop Protection and Agricultural Extension Methods 1988.

DISCOVERIES/ ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• First to report Dactylispa lenta Weise, as a vector of Rice yellow mottle virus disease in Africa.
• First to report the existence of a newly recorded species of Chaetocnema called Chaectocnema species near varicornis Jacoby in the tropics.
• First to report Chaetocnema species near varicornis Jacobyas a vector of Rice yellow mottle virus in Africa.
• First to report the existence of a new strain of Rice yellow mottle virus in Africa called (Strain 6)
• Developed in conjuction with the German Collection of Micro-organisms and Cell cultures ( DSMZ) four potentially resistant constructs to offer resistance to Rice yellow mottle virus, a very devastating disease on rice in Africa.

Download: Management of Major Insect Pests of Rice in Tanzania

Dr. OLALEKAN OYELEKE BANWO, Department of Crop Science and Production, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P.O. Box 3005, Morogoro, Tanzania

tel.: + 255 23 260 36 81, fax: + 255 23 260 14 85, e-mail: encrypted