Sir KULIMUSHI MATUMWABIRHI was born on February 18th, 1991 in the South-Kivu Province in the DR Congo. He is the first born of a family of four children. His father’s name is Sébastien Mufunguzi and his mother’s name is Mélida Byamungu.
He completed his Primary School in 2004 and joined the High School in the same year. He successfully sat for the DR Congo State Exam in Biochemistry and completed his High School in 2010. He joined the Bukavu State University in 2011 and completed his Bachelor Studies in Botany in 2016. In 2017, he attended and successfully completed a course in English Language advanced Level in the College of Humanities and Communication Services, Makerere University. In 2017, he was admitted as MSc Candidate in Plant Pathology at the Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi. In 2020, the University of Nairobi Senate approved the recommendation of the board of his Examiners that he be awarded an MSc degree in Plant Pathology.
He successfully competed for the BEBUC Scholarship for bachelor studies, the BEBUC Scholarship for master studies and the CIFOR Research funds.
His main career interest is Plant Science entailing conservation of plant resources along with forest plants, improvement of crop production through integration of plant disease management approaches that are friendly to the environment and human health. His future goal is to pursue his PhD program in Plant Science and to work in a Research Centre, Academic Institution, or in an Agricultural Production Enterprise.
Abstract
Microbial antagonists, unlike synthetic chemicals, are friendly to the environment and human health. Trichoderma isolates, Bacillus isolates and commercial Pseudomonas fluorescens were used in the management of early blight, a major disease of tomato. These were tested for their effectiveness in managing Alternaria solani in vitro. The dual culture technique was used. Trichoderma isolates were the most effective against the radial growth of A. solani. These were followed by Bacillus isolates. Pseudomonas fluorescens also suppressed A. solani radial growth but with lower effect. Trichoderma isolates, Bacillus isolates and commercial Pseudomonas fluorescens were evaluated against tomato early blight under greenhouse and field conditions. Water and Tower 72 WP® were used as control and standard check respectively. In the greenhouse, the percent disease index by the 90th day after transplanting was significantly lower in all treatments than in the control. Isolate CB12 recorded percent disease index that was comparable to the standard chemical. The highest tomato yield was recorded with Tricho 7. The control recorded significantly lower tomato yield. In the field, by the 90th day after transplanting, the percent disease index was significantly lower in all the treatments compared to the control. Tricho 10 recorded percent disease index that was comparable to the standard chemical. All the antagonists recorded significantly higher tomato yield compared to the control. However, the standard chemical recorded significantly higher yield compared to all the antagonists. Trichoderma spp., Bacillus spp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens are effective in managing early blight under in vitro, greenhouse and field conditions.
Important Links
Research Supervisors
Dr. William Maina Muiru (PhD) and Prof. Eunice Wanjiru Mutitu (PhD)
