Peter S. Ojiambo

Assistant Professor

Appointment: 100% Research

Education

Ph.D. (Plant Pathology), The University of Georgia, 2004
M.Sc. (Plant Pathology), University of Nairobi, Kenya, 1997

B.Sc. (Agriculture), First Class Honors, University of Nairobi, Kenya, 1994

Research Interests

Theoretical and applied Epidemiology, Integrated disease management

Current projects

• Theoretical aspects of adaptive cluster sampling for assessing plant disease incidence
• Quantitative and applied epidemiology on wheat (Septoria nodorum blotch), blueberry (Mummy berry disease), cucurbits (Cucurbit downy mildew)
• Quantitative aspects of spread of cucurbit downy mildew in eastern U.S.
• Incorporation of models of pathogen biology in cucurbit downy mildew forecasting
• Biological control of aflatoxin contamination in corn
• Genetic diversity and population structure of Pseudoperenospora cubensis in eastern U.S.

Current Graduate Students

• Ashley Zearfoss -- MS (Co-major professor)
• Katie Neufeld – MS

Academic Awards & Honors

• 5th I.E. Melhus Graduate Student Symposium Speaker, The American Phytopathological Society Foundation (2005), Austin, TX
• Broadus E. Browne Award for the Outstanding PhD Candidate, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The University of Georgia (2004)
• Kenneth E. Papa Award for the Outstanding PhD Candidate, Department of Plant Pathology, The University of Georgia (2004)
• Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant, The University of Georgia (2004)
• Outstanding Academic Achievement, Sigma-Xi Honor Society of Agriculture, The University of Georgia Chapter (2004)
• Outstanding Graduate Research Paper, Georgia Association of Plant Pathologists (2004)
• Outstanding Graduate Research Paper, Georgia Association of Plant Pathologists (2003)
• Agricultural Development Co-operation (ADC) Prize for the best final year student in Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Nairobi (1997)
• University of Nairobi Scholarship for a Master of Science (Plant Pathology) degree, Department of Crop Science, The University of Nairobi (1995)
• First Class Honors Award for B.Sc. (Agriculture), The University of Nairobi (1994)
• Dean's List Award for outstanding academic performance in 2nd year of B.Sc. (Agriculture), The University of Nairobi (1992)

Recent Publications

• (past four years)

P.S. Ojiambo, and H. Scherm. 2009. Efficiency of adaptive cluster sampling for assessing plant disease incidence. Phytopathology 101: (in press).

L. Kanetis, G.J. Holmes, and P.S. Ojiambo. 2009. Survival of Pseudoperonospora cubensis sporangia exposed to solar radiation. Plant Pathology 59: (in press).

O.M. Olanya, P.S. Ojiambo, R.O. Nyankanga, C.W. Honeycutt, and W.W. Kirk. 2009. Recent developments in managing tuber blight of potato (Solanum tuberosum) caused by Phytophthora infestans. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 31: (in press).

L. Kanetis, X. Wang, P.A. Wadl, K. Neufeld, G.J. Holmes, P.S. Ojiambo, M. Cubeta, and R. Trigiano. 2009. Development of simple sequence repeat markers for the cucurbit downy mildew pathogen, Pseudoperonospora cubensis. Molecular Ecology Resources 9:1460-1559.

M. Twizeyimana, P.S. Ojiambo, K. Sonder, T. Ikotun, G.L. Hartman, and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2009. Pathogenic variation of Phakopsora pachyrhizi infecting soybean in Nigeria. Phytopathology 99:353-361.

M. Zandjanakou-Tachin, I. Vroh-Bi, P.S. Ojiambo, A. Tenkouano, M. Gumedzoe, and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2009. Identification and genetic diversity of Mycosphaerella species of banana and plantain using single nucleotide polymorphisms of ribosomal DNA. Plant Pathology 58:536-546.

C. G. Afolabi, P.S. Ojiambo, A. Menkir, E.J.A. Ekpo and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2008. Novel sources of resistance to Fusarium stalk rot in tropical Africa. Plant Disease 92:772-780.

M. Twizeyimana, P.S. Ojiambo, T. Ikotun, J.L. Ladipo, G.L. Hartman, and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2008. Evaluation of soybean germplasm for resistance to soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi)in West Africa.  Plant Disease 92:947-952.

J. Atehnkeng, P.S. Ojiambo, T. Ikotun, R.A. Sikora, P.J. Cotty, and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2008.  Atoxigenic isolates of Aspergillus flavus as potential biocontrol agents for aflatoxin in maize. Food Additives & Contaminants 25:1264-1271.

J. Atehnkeng, P.S. Ojiambo, M. Donner, T. Ikotun, R.A. Sikora, P.J. Cotty, and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2008. Distribution and toxigenicity of Aspergillus species isolated from maize kernels from three agroecological zones in Nigeria. International Journal of Food Microbiology 122:74-84.

R.O. Nyankanga, H.C. Wien, M.O. Olanya and P.S. Ojiambo. 2007. Relationship between late blight (Phytophthora infestans) of potato on tuber and foliage as affected by disease severity on foliage, cultivar resistance and atmospheric and soil variables. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 29:372-387.

M. Twizeyimana, P.S. Ojiambo, T. Ikotun, G.L. Hartman and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2007. Comparison of field, greenhouse and detached leaf evaluations of soybean germ plasm for resistance to Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Plant Disease 91:1161-1169.

P.S. Ojiambo, H. Scherm and P.M. Brannen. 2007. Temporal dynamics of Septoria leaf spot of blueberry and its relationship to defoliation and yield. Online. Plant Health Progress doi:10.1094/PHP-2007- 0726-05-RS.

P. S. Ojiambo, R. Bandyopadhyay, M. Twizeyimana, B. Asafo-Adjei, R. D. Frederick, K. F. Pedley, C. L. Stone, and G. L. Hartman. 2007. First report of soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi in DR Congo. Plant Disease 91:1204-1204.

R. Bandyopadhyay, P. S. Ojiambo, M. Twizeyimana, B. Asafo-Adjei, R. D. Frederick, K. F. Pedley, C. L. Stone, and G. L. Hartman. 2007. First report of soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi in Ghana. Plant Disease 91:1057-1057.

M. Twizeyimana, P.S. Ojiambo, A. Tenkouano, T. Ikotun and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2007. Rapid screening of Musa speciesfor resistance to black leaf streak using in vitro plantlets in tubes and detached leaves. Plant Disease 91: 308-314.

C. G. Afolabi, P.S. Ojiambo, A. Menkir, E.J.A. Ekpo and R. Bandyopadhyay. 2007. Evaluation of maize inbred lines for resistance to Fusarium ear rot and fumonisin accumulation in grain in tropical Africa. Plant Disease 91: 279-286.

P.S. Ojiambo and H. Scherm. 2006. Biological and application-oriented factors influencing plant disease suppression by biological control: A meta-analytical review. Phytopathology 96:1168-1174.

P.S. Ojiambo and H. Scherm. 2006. Optimum sample size for determining disease severity and defoliation associated with Septoria leaf spot of blueberry. Plant Disease 90:1209-1213.

H. Scherm, H.K. Ngugi and P.S. Ojiambo. 2006. Trends in theoretical plant epidemiology. European Journal of Plant Pathology 115:61-73.

M.O. Olanya, P.S. Ojiambo and R.O. Nyankanga. 2006. Dynamics of late blight development and comparative resistance of potato varieties in Kenya. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology 28: 84-89.

P.S. Ojiambo, H. Scherm, and P.M. Brannen. 2006. Septoria leaf spot reduces flower bud number and return yield in southern blueberries. Plant Disease 90:51-57.

P.S. Ojiambo and H. Scherm. 2005. Temporal progress of Septoria leaf spot on rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei). Plant Disease 89:1090-1096.

P.S. Ojiambo and H. Scherm. 2005. Survival analysis of time to abscission of blueberry leaves affected by Septoria leaf spot. Phytopathology 95:108-113.

H. Scherm and P.S. Ojiambo. 2004. Applications of survival analysis in botanical epidemiology. Phytopathology 94:1022-1026.

Contact Information

Dr. Peter S. Ojiambo
North Carolina State University
Department of Plant Pathology
3404 Gardner Hall, Box 7616
Raleigh, NC 27695-7616

Tel: (919) 513-2188 (Office)
Fax: (919) 515-7716
E-mail: peter_ojiambo@ncsu.edu