Dr. Ozimati Alfred Adebo, PhD

Research interests: Use of genetics and genomics for improving key African food security crops such as cassava, high-value horticultural crops such as tomato and pepper as well as Neglected Under-Utilized (NUS) Crop Species for sustainable food security.

Ozimati Alfred obtained his PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Genomics from Cornell University, USA. He currently teaches a number of undergraduate courses i.e. Basic Genetics, Crop Improvement and Biotechnology, Bioinformatics and Genomics, Biostatistics, Molecular Evolution and Phylogenetic. His research interest is in use of genetics and genomics for improving key African food security crops such as cassava, high-value horticultural crops such as tomato and pepper as well as Neglected Under-Utilized (NUS) Crop Species for sustainable food security.

1. Nanyonjo, A. R., Angudubo, S., Iragaba, P., Brown, D., Nuwamanya, E., Esuma, W., Ozimati, A., Wembabazi, E., Kanaabi, M., Muhumuza, N., Bayiyana, I., van Etten, J., de Sousa, K., Tufan, H., & Kawuki, R. S. (2024). On-farm evaluation of cassava clones using the triadic comparison of technology options approach. Crop Science, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21293
2. Baguma, J.K.; Mukasa, S.B.;Nuwamanya, E.; Alicai, T.; Omongo,C.A.; Ochwo-Ssemakula, M.; Ozimati, A.; Esuma, W.; Kanaabi, M.;Wembabazi, E.; et al. Identification of Genomic Regions for Traits Associated with Flowering in Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz).

3. De Sousa K, van Etten J, Manners R, Abidin E, Abdulmalik RO, Abolore B, Acheremu K, Angudubo S, Aguilar A, Arnaud E, Babu A, Barrios M, Benavente G, Boukar O, Cairns JE, Carey E, Daudi H, Dawud M, Edughaen G, Ellison J, Esuma W, Mohammed SG, van de Gevel J, Gomez M, van Heerwaarden J, Iragaba P, Kadege E, Assefa TM, Kalemera S, Kasubiri FS, Kawuki R, Kidane YG, Kilango M, Kulembeka H, Kwadwo A, Madriz B, Masumba E, Mbiu J, Mendes T, Müller A, Moyo M, Mtunda K, Muzhingi T, Muungani D, Mwenda ET, Nadigatla GRVPR, Nanyonjo AR, N’Danikou S, Nduwumuremyi A, Nshimiyimana JC, Nuwamanya E, Nyirahabimana H, Occelli M, Olaosebikan O, Ongom PO, Ortiz-Crespo B, Oteng-Fripong R, Ozimati A, Owoade D, Quiros CF, Rosas JC, Rukundo P, Rutsaert P, Sibomana M, Sharma N, Shida N, Steinke J, Ssali R, Suchini JG, Teeken B, Tengey TK, Tufan HA, Tumwegamire S, Tuyishime E, Ulzen J, Umar ML, Onwuka S, Madu TU, Voss RC, Yeye M, Zaman-Allah M. The tricot approach: an agile framework for decentralized on-farm testing supported by citizen science. A retrospective. Agron Sustain Dev. 2024; 44(1):8. doi: 10.1007/s13593-023-00937-1. Epub 2024 Jan 25. PMID: 38282889; PMCID: PMC10811175.
4. Kanaabi, M., Namakula, F.B., Nuwamanya, E., Kayondo, I. S., Muhumuza, N.,Wembabazi, E., Iragaba, P., Nandudu, L., Nanyonjo,A. R., Baguma, J., Esuma, W., Ozimati, A., Settumba,M., Alicai, T., Ibanda, A., & Kawuki, R. S. (2023). Rapid analysis of hydrogen cyanide in fresh cassavaroots using NIRSand machine learning algorithms:Meeting end user demand for low cyanogenic cassava. The Plant Genome, e20403.https://doi.org/10.1002/tpg2.20403
5. Odoi, J. B., Adjei, E. A., Hendre, P., Nantongo, J. S., Ozimati, A. A., Badji, A., Nakabonge, G., Edema, R., Gwali, S., & Odong, T. L. (2023). Genetic diversity and population structure among Ugandan shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa subsp. nilotica) accessions based on DarTSeq markers. Crop Science, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21013
6. Richard Edema, Emmanuel Amponsah Adjei, Alfred Adebo Ozimati, Sharon Mbabazi Tusiime, Arfang Badji, Angele Ibanda, Isaac Onziga Dramadri. Genetic Diversity of Cowpea Parental Lines Assembled for Breeding in Uganda; Plant Molecular Biology Reporter https://doi.org/10.1007/s11105-023-01394-6
7. Bayiyana, I.; Bua, A.; Ozimati, A.; Mugisha, J.; Colvin, J.; Omongo, C.A. Insecticide Use by SmallScale Ugandan Cassava Growers: An Economic Analysis. Agriculture 2023, 13, 1043. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agriculture13051043
8. Adjei, E.A.; Esuma, W.; Alicai, T.; Chamba, E.B.; Edema, R.; Dramadri, I.O.; Ozimati, A.A.; Agaba, R.; Odong, T.L. Genotype-byEnvironment Interaction of Yam (Dioscorea species) for Yam Mosaic Virus Resistance, Dry Matter Content and Yield in Uganda. Agronomy 2022, 12, 1984. https://doi.org/10.3390/ agronomy12091984
9. Esuma W, Eyoo O, Gwandu F, Mukasa S, Alicai T, Ozimati Alfred, Nuwamanya E, Rabbi I and Kawuki R (2022) Validation of KASP markers associated with cassava mosaic disease resistance, storage root dry matter and provitamin A carotenoid contents in Ugandan cassava germplasm. Front. Plant Sci. 13:1017275. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1017275
10. Ano CU, Ochwo-Ssemakula M, Ibanda A, Ozimati A, Gibson P, Onyeka J, Njoku D, Egesi C, S Kawuki R. Cassava Brown Streak Disease Response and Association With Agronomic Traits in Elite Nigerian Cassava Cultivars. Front Plant Sci. 2021 Nov 22;12:720532. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.720532. PMID: 34880882; PMCID: PMC8646096.
11. Ozimati Alfred, Esuma W, Manze F, Iragaba P, Kanaabi M, Ano C, Egesi C and Kawuki RS (2022) Utility of Ugandan genomic selection cassava breeding populations for prediction of cassava viral disease resistance and yield in West African clones. Front. Plant Sci. 13:1018156. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1018156
12. Alfred A. Ozimati, Williams Esuma, Titus Alicai, Jean-Luc Jannink, Chiedozie Egesi, and Robert Kawuki 2021. Outlook of Cassava Srown Streak Diseases Assessment: Perspectives of the Screening Methods of Breeders and Pathologists: Front. Plant.Scie 10;648436. http://doi 10.3389/fpls2021.648436.
13. Francis Manze, Patrick Rubaihayo, Alfred Ozimati, Paul Gibson, Williams Esuma, Anton Bua, Titus Alicai, Christopher Omongo and Robert Kawuki 2021. Genetic Gains for Yield and Virus Diseases Resistance of Cassava Varieties Developed Over the Last Eight Decades in Uganda Front. Plant.Scie 10;651992.
14. R. Kityo, J.B. Odoi, A. Ozimati, I.O. Dramadri, R. Agaba,, P.O. Ongom,P. Nampala, R. Edema, R. Edema, J. Karungi, P. Gibson, P.R. Rubaihayo, 2021:New sources and stability of resistance to aphids in cowpea germplasm across locations in Uganda. Vol. 29 No. 2 (2021), DOI:10.4314/acsj.v29i2.3
15. Ozimati, A.1* Kawuki, R.,1 Esuma, W.,1 Akdemir, D.,2 Wolfe, M., 1 & Jannink, Jean-Luc1. Incorporating genomic markers and weather variables in genotype-by-environment interaction analyses for cassava brown streak disease. RUFORUM Working Document Series (ISSN 1607-9345), 2018, No. 17 (1): 755-760. Available from http://repository.ruforum.org
16. Mohamed Somo, Heneriko Kulembeka, Kiddo Mtunda, Emmanuel Mrema, Kasele Salum, Marnin D. Wolfe, Ismail Rabbi, Chiedozi Egesi, Robert Kawuki, Alfred Ozimati Jean-Luc Jannink 2019. Genomic prediction and Quantitative Trait Locus Discovery in Cassava Training Population Constructed from Multiple Breeding Stage: Crop Sci. http://doi.org/10.1002.csc2.20003.
17. Kawuki R, Esuma W, A, Kayondo I. S, Pariyo A, Wolfe M, and Jannink J-L 2019 Alternative Approach for Assessing Cassava Brown Streak Root Necrosis to Guide Resistance Breeding and Selection. Frontier. Plant 10;1046
18. Ozimati A. A, Kawuki R, Esuma W, Kayondo I. S, Pariyo A, Wolfe M, and Jannink J-L. 2019. Genetic Variation and Trait Correlations in East African Cassava Breeding Population for Genomic Selection. Crop Sci. Doi:10.2135/cropsci2018.01.0060.
19. Ozimati A. A, Kawuki R, Esuma W, Kayondo I. S, Wolfe M, Lozano R, Rabbi I, Kulakow,P, and Jannink J-L. 2018. Training Population Optimization for Prediction of Cassava Brown Streak Disease Resistance in West. G3: 8:12. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.118.200710.
20.  Okul Valentor, A., M. Ochwo-Ssemakula, T. Kaweesi, Ozimati, E. Mrema, E.S. Mwale, P. Gibson, E. Achola, R. Edema, Y. Baguma, and R. Kawuki. 2018. Plot based heritability estimates and categorization of cassava genotype response to cassava brown streak disease. Crop Prot. 108: 39–46.
21. Kayondo, S.I., D.P. Del Carpio, R. Lozano, Ozimati, M. Wolfe, Y. Baguma, V. Gracen, S. Offei, M. Ferguson, R. Kawuki, and J.L. Jannink. 2017. Genome-wide association mapping and genomic prediction for CBSD resistance in Manihot esculenta. Sci. Rep. 8: 1–11.
22. Lozano, R., D.P. Del Carpio, S.I. Kayondo, T. Amuge, A Ozimati, M. Ferguson, and J.-L. Jannink. 2017. Leveraging transcriptomics data for genomic prediction models in cassava bioRxiv preprint first posted online Oct. 24, 2017; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/208181.
23. Wolfe, M.D., D.P. Del Carpio, O. Alabi, L.C. Ezenwaka, U.N. Ikeogu, I.S. Kayondo, R. Lozano, U.G. Okeke, A.A. Ozimati, E. Williams, C. Egesi, R.S. Kawuki, P. Kulakow, I.Y. Rabbi, and J.-L. Jannink. 2017. Prospects for genomic gelection in cassava breeding. Plant Genome 10: 1–19.
24.  Kawuki, R.S., T. Kaweesi, W. Esuma, A. Pariyo, I.S. Kayondo, Ozimati, V. Kyaligonza, A. Abaca, J. Orone, R. Tumuhimbise, E. Nuwamanya, P. Abidrabo, T. Amuge, E. Ogwok, G. Okao, H. Wagaba, G. Adiga, T. Alicai, C. Omongo, A. Bua, M. Ferguson, E. Kanju, and Y. Baguma. 2016. Eleven years of breeding efforts to combat cassava brown streak disease. Breed. Sci. 66: 560–571.
25. Ozimati A. A, Rubaihayo P.R, Gibson P, Edema R, Kayondo I.S, Ntare B.R, Okello D.K. 2014. Inheritance of resistance to kernel infection by Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin accumulation in groundnut. African Journal of Crop Science Vol.2, pp.051-059
26. Kayondo I.S Rubaihayo,P.R , Ntare B.R , Gibson P. Edema, R. Ozimati A.A and Okello D.K. Genetics of resistance to groundnut rosette virus disease. African Crop Science Journal 2014 Vol. 22 No. 1 pp. 21-29.