TITLE: PROF

NAME: CAROLINE E. UMEBESE

POSITION: PROFESSOR

SPECIALISATION: PLANT STRESS PHYSIOLOGY & ETHNOBOTANY

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Personal Statement

My research primarily focuses on the impact of various environmental stressors, such as water deficit, extreme light intensities, heavy metals, soil texture, and industrial effluents on plant growth, metabolism, phytochemical composition, antioxidant levels, and volatile oils, particularly in relation to their potential medicinal properties. My team has also conducted both in vitro and in vivo toxicity studies to assess the harmful effects of using stressed plants for medicinal applications. Following these assessments, we developed optimized growth protocols, some of which incorporated plant growth regulators and biosynthesized nanoparticles. A second major aspect of my research aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: Zero Hunger. This work aims to enhance food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Under simulated drought conditions, My team identified, elucidated, and characterized genes responsible for drought tolerance in maize and pearl millet genotypes. These genes hold potential for transfer into other crop species to confer drought tolerance and improve overall yield

Positions, Scientific Appointments, and Honours

▲Head, Department of Botany   2016-2019.

▲Acting Head, Dept. of Botany, Lagos State University, Ojo  2001-2002.

▲Internal Assessor for professorial appointments..

▲External Assessor for professorial appointments at the University of Ibadan, Lagos State. University and Ahmadu Bello University.

▲Chairman, Ph.D. Defence at the Postgraduate School

▲Journal Reviewer.

▲University of Ibadan scholar.

Selected Most Recent Publications

1. Iwuala, E., Odjegba J. V., Ajiboye A. A., Umebese C. E., Aqeel H. R., Tapan, K. and Alam A. (2020). Screening of some selected Indian Maize cultivars to simulated drought Condition. Indian Journal of Agricultural Sciences Vol. 54:1-6
2.   Emmanuel Iwuala, Michael Osei Adu, Victor Odjegba, Okon Odiong Unung, Abiodun Ajiboye Vincent Agyemang, Caroline Umebese and Afroz Alam.  Mechanisms underlying root system architecture and gene expression pattern in Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum). Gesunde Pflanzen (Springer).http:/doi.org/10.1007/s10343-022-00674-7.  
3. Bankola, A.E. , Umebese, C. E.Ubajaka, S. and Asekun, O. T. 2022. Light intensity alters the growth and quality of volatile components from hexane extracts of Hyptis suaveolens

              Asian Journal of Biological and Life sciences, 11 (3):1-8.

4. Ogunsiji, E., Umebese, C., Stabentheiner, E., Iwuala, E., Odjegba, A. (2023). Salicylic acid enhances growth, photosynthetic performance and antioxidant defense activity under salt stress in two Mungbean [Vigna radiate (L.) R. Wilczek] variety. Plant Signaling and Behaviour  (Taylor Francis) 18(1) doi.org/10-1080/155923242023.2217605.
5. Bankole, A. E., Ebabhi A. M., Umebese C., Owagboriaye F. and Thomas E. (2024). Phytochemical, antimicrobial and proximate analysis of Costus spectabilis grown in different soil types. J. Sci. Univ.Kelaniya 17 :27-37. http:/doi.org/10.4038/josuk.v17i1.8103

Collaboratore/Networks

Prof Edith Stabentheiner, Institute of Plant Science , University of Graz, Austria.