Akeem Taiwo - PhD candidate
Akeem is a PhD candidate at the Tasmanian Institute of Tasmania, based at TIA's Cradle Coast Campus in Burnie. He is working on an important project to understand and prevent botrytis bunch rot in wine grapes.
Akeem is an agronomist with over ten years of experience working in Nigeria, where he contributed to sustainable crop production in both the public and private sectors. His work focused on developing innovative farming practices and efficient irrigation systems to enhance agricultural productivity in collaboration with local farmers.
What are you working on at the moment?
I am working on a project focused on understanding and preventing botrytis bunch rot in wine grapes, a disease caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. Outbreaks of bunch rot can significantly reduce grape yields, while also affecting the taste and colour of wine, leading to revenue losses for both growers and winemakers.
In grapevines, botrytis can infect grape berries during the flowering stage, where the fungus stays in a latent or dormant phase until berry ripening and changing environmental conditions allow it to re-activate.
This re-activation and growth at ripening causes visible bunch rot symptoms which spread rapidly and are very difficult to control.
My research aims to prevent bunch rot disease at harvest by specifically targeting and reducing the establishment of latent infections earlier in the season, using a new type of spray-on technology called BioClay™.
BioClay™ is an innovative crop protection solution developed through research led by Professor Neena Mitter and Professor Gordon Xu at the University of Queensland. BioClay™ uses RNA-interference technology to selectively target pathogens and is stabilised with clay particles for durable and long-lasting protection.
My research is focused on understanding how botrytis establishes latent infections in grape berries, what triggers its re-activation later in the season, and how we can use this knowledge to integrate sustainable crop protection solutions like BioClay™ into vineyards for targeted and effective control of botrytis bunch rot disease.
My PhD project is part of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection.
What excites you the most about your study?
What excites me the most about this study is the opportunity to combine my decade of experience as an agronomist with the cutting-edge research on plant disease management.
Working in both the government and private sectors in Nigeria has provided me with valuable insights into the challenges growers face, and as I pursue my PhD at the University of Tasmania, I am thrilled to contribute sustainable solutions that can make a real difference to agriculture.
The potential to develop innovative strategies that not only protect crops but also promote environmental health inspires me. I am eager to explore new technologies and methods that can enhance crop resilience and improve farmer yields, ultimately supporting food security and sustainable farming practices. Engaging with fellow researchers and applying my practical knowledge in a research setting is an exciting new chapter that I am passionate about.
What are the highlights of your studies so far?
- I successfully identified a virulent isolate of Botrytis cinerea from samples collected across vineyards in Tasmania.
- I replicated a method for propagating grapevines from cuttings in a glasshouse environment.
- I devised a technique for achieving high levels of latent infection through artificial inoculation, enabling controlled studies of disease dynamics.
- I have developed a testing system in glasshouse conditions to evaluate the efficacy of BioClay™.
- I am currently preparing to test this system to evaluate the efficacy of a known fungicide in preventing or curing latent infections in grapevines.
These advancements are not only exciting but also represent crucial steps toward enhancing crop protection strategies in viticulture.
When you’re not studying, what types of activities keep you busy?
When I am not studying, I enjoy connecting with family and friends back home, which keeps me grounded and motivated. I also love spending time indoors, whether reading, watching documentaries, or reflecting on potential future challenges related to overall well-being and how they can be addressed.