Dr. Yasinta Beda Nzogela
Dr. Yasinta Nzogela is a nematologist specializing in soil health, with a focus on the characterization and management of plant parasitic nematodes using morphology and molecular techniques. She earned her PhD in Bioscience Engineering from the University of Gent, Belgium, specializing in rice plant parasitic nematodes and their interactions with hosts. Dr. Nzogela currently serves as a lecturer in the Department of Crop Science and Horticulture at Sokoine University of Agriculture.
Her research contributions include leadership roles in projects such as Integrated Pest Management for fruit flies and initiatives aimed at addressing nematode-related challenges in rice and banana production in Tanzania.
Yasinta's work during her Short Research Stay
Maize and potato are essential food crops in East Africa, crucial for providing sustenance and income to over 80% of Tanzania's population. However, these crops face significant challenges including poor soils, unpredictable weather, and pests such as Root Lesion Nematodes, root-knot nematodes, and potential threats from Potato Cyst Nematodes. Current diagnostic methods in Tanzania predominantly rely on morphological approaches, limited by inadequate microscopy equipment and imaging capabilities, highlighting the need to transition towards molecular techniques for more precise identification.
Dr. Yasinta Nzogela's Short Research Stay at the Nematology Research Unit of Gent University aimed to enhance her expertise in both morphological and molecular diagnostics. This initiative seeks to address research gaps in maize and potato nematology in Tanzania, with the ultimate goal of bolstering food security and promoting agricultural sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Selected Publications
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Nzogela, Y.B., Landschoot, S., Kihupi, A.L., Coyne, D.L., & Gheysen, G. (2020a). Pathogenicity of the root-lesion nematode, Pratylenchus zeae, on rice genotypes under different hydro-ecologies in Tanzania. Nematology, 22, 221-233. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685411-00003302
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Nzogela, Y.B., Kihupi, A.L., De Waele, D., & Gheysen, G. (2020b). Comparison of the penetration, development and reproduction of Meloidogyne javanica and M. graminicola on partially resistant Oryza sativa cultivars from East Africa. Nematology, 22, 381-399. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685411-00003312
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Virgilio, M., Delatte, H., Nzogela, Y.B., Simiand, C., Quilici, S., De Meyer, M., & Mwatawala, M. (2015). Population structure and cryptic genetic variation in the mango fruit fly, Ceratitis cosyra (Diptera, Tephritidae). ZooKeys, 540, 525–538. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.540.9618