Kwame Sarpong Appiah (PhD)
Academic Qualifications
• PhD (Biological Production Science), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan, 2019
• MPhil (International Biological Production & Resource Science), Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan, 2016
• BSc. Agriculture (Crop Science Major), University of Ghana, 2014
Research interest
Dr Kwame Sarpong Appiah is a lecturer in the Department of Crop Science, University of Ghana. His research interests are in plant-plant/plant-microbe interactions and the application of biological resources in sustainable crop production. Dr Appiah focuses on the isolation, identification, and application of bioactive natural products in the management of weeds. Additionally, he also explores the utilisation of beneficial plant microbes to enhance crop growth and yield.
Other research areas of interest of Dr Appiah include the ethnobotany of medicinal plants and the screening, evaluation, and selection for weed tolerance in crop species, evaluation of autotoxicity and the utilisation of biological resources to mitigate the phenomena in field crops, and the feasibility of using bio-containers in a pot-in-pot system for nursery production.
Current research/project(s)
• Exploring the feasibility of using bio-containers in nursery and greenhouse production systems.
• A study on the effects of autotoxicity and allelopathy on seed germination and seedling growth in Theobroma cacao.
Past research projects
1. Co-Investigator; “The impact of soil microbial biotransformation on the phytotoxicity of allelochemicals.” 2020 – 2022: Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows (Project/Area Number: 20F20398)
2. Research Assistant; “A cost-effective technology and preliminary business model for the production of agricultural bi-products from algal waste.” 2017 - 2019: JICA/JSTSATREPS project
3. Research Collaborator; “Screening and identification of bioactive natural chemicals inhibiting climbing of plants.” 2014 - 2018: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research.
Awards
• Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Post-doctoral Fellowship, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (2020 – 2022).
• Travel Grant from Weed Science Society of Japan (WSSJ) to attend the 27th Asian Pacific Weed Science Society Conference in Kuching, Malaysia (9/2019).
• Recipient of Bronze Award for Oral Presentation at the 4th International Conference of Asian Allelopathy Society (9/2018).
• Travel Grant from United Graduate School at TUAT to attend the 8th World Congress of Allelopathy held in Marseille, France (7/2017).
• Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) for PhD studies at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) (10/2016 - 9/2019).
• Japanese Government Scholarship (MEXT) for Masters' studies at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (10/2014 - 9/2016).
• Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship for Short Term Exchange Program at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (10/2012 - 9/2013).
Recent publications
1. Appiah, K. S., Onwona-Agyeman, S., Omari, R. A., Horiuchi, N., Sarkodee-Addo, E., Sabi, E. B., Fujii, Y. 2023. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Loose and Compressed Wood Chip Mulch in Field-Grown Blueberries—A Preliminary Study. Agronomy, 13(2), 351.
2. Taheri, P., Kaida, R., Dastogeer, K.M.G., Appiah, K.S., Yasuda, M., Tanaka, K., Mardani Korrani, H., Azizi, M., Okazaki, S., Fujii, Y. 2022. Isolation and Functional Characterization of Culture-Dependent Endophytes Associated with Vicia villosa Roth. Agronomy, 12, 2417. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12102417
3. Toya, T., Oshida, M., Appiah, K.S., Takita, J., Fujii, Y. 2022. Plant Growth Inhibitory Activity and the Response of Different Rootstocks to Soil Sickness Syndrome in Japanese Pear Tree. Agronomy, 12, 2067. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12092067
4. Appiah, K.S., Omari, R.A., Onwona-Agyeman, S., Amoatey, C.A., Ofosu-Anim, J., Smaoui, A., Arfa, A.B., Suzuki, Y., Oikawa, Y., Okazaki, S., Katsura, K., Isoda, H., Kawada, K., Fujii, Y. 2022. Seasonal Changes in the Plant Growth-Inhibitory Effects of Rosemary Leaves on Lettuce Seedlings. Plants, 11,673. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11050673
5. Sothearith, Y., Appiah, K.S., Mardani, H., Motobayashi, T., Yoko, S., Eang Hourt, K., Sugiyama, A., Fujii, Y. 2021. Determination of the Allelopathic Potential of Cambodia’s Medicinal Plants Using the Dish Pack Method. Sustainability, 13, 9062.
6. Toya, T., Oshida, M., Minezaki, T., Sugiyama, A., Appiah, K.S., Motobayashi, T., Fujii, Y. 2021. Elucidation of the Characteristics of Soil Sickness Syndrome in Japanese Pear and Construction of Countermeasures Using the Rhizosphere Soil Assay Method. Agronomy, 11, 1468.
7. Sekine, T., Appiah, K.S., Azizi, M. and Fujii, Y. 2020. Plant Growth Inhibitory Activities and Volatile Active Compounds of 53 Spices and Herbs. Plants, 9 (2), p.264.
8. Oshima, S., Onwona-Agyeman, S., Saho, N., Appiah, K.S., and Fujii, Y. 2020. Development and Evaluation of Mulching Boards Fabricated from Bagasse. Transactions of the Materials Research Society of Japan, 45 (1), pp.9-13.
9. Pham, V. T. T., Ismail, T., Mishyna, M., Appiah, K. S., Oikawa, Y., Fujii, Y. 2019. Caffeine: The Allelochemical Responsible for the Plant Growth Inhibitory Activity of Vietnamese Tea (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze). Agronomy, 9(7), 396.
10. Appiah, K.S., Oppong, C.P., Mardani, H.K., Omari, R.A., Kpabitey, S., Amoatey, C.A., Onwona-Agyeman, S., Oikawa, Y., Katsura, K., Fujii, Y. 2019. Medicinal Plants Used in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Southern Ghana: An Ethnobotanical Study. Medicines, 6.
11. Mardani, H., Maninang, J., Appiah, K.S., Oikawa, Y., Azizi, M., Fujii, Y. 2019. Evaluation of Biological Response of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and Weeds to Safranal Allelochemical of Saffron (Crocus sativus) by Using Static Exposure Method. Molecules, 24, 178.
12. Appiah, K.S., Mardani, H.K., Omari, R.A., Eziah, V.Y., Ofosu-Anim, J., Onwona-Agyemang, S., Amoatey, C.A., Kawada, K., Katsura, K., Oikawa, Y., Fujii, Y. 2018. Involvement of Carnosic Acid in the Phytotoxicity of Rosmarinus officinalis leaves, Toxins, 10, 498, 1-16 (DOI:10.3390/toxins10120498).
13. Osivand, A., Araya, H., Appiah, K.S., Mardani, H., Ishizaki, T., Fujii, Y. 2018. Allelopathy of Wild Mushrooms—An Important Factor for Assessing Forest Ecosystems in Japan. Forests, 9, 773.
14. Omari, R.A., Bellingrath-Kimura, D.S., Fujii, Y., Sarkodee-Addo, E., Appiah, K.S., Oikawa, Y. 2018. Nitrogen Mineralization and Microbial Biomass Dynamics in Different Tropical Soils Amended with Contrasting Organic Resources. Soil Syst, 2(4), 63, doi:10.3390/soilsystems2040063.
15. Appiah, K.S., Mardani, H.K., Osivand, A., Kpabitey, S., Amoatey, C.A., Oikawa, Y., Fujii, Y. 2017. Exploring Alternative use of Medicinal Plants for Sustainable Weed Management. Sustainability, 9, 1468.
BOOK CHAPTER
1. Fujii, Y., Appiah, K.S. 2018. Allelopathy for Sustainable Weed Management In, Weed Control: Sustainability, Hazards, and Risks in Cropping Systems Worldwide. Eds Korres, N.E., Burgos, N.R., Duke, S.O. CRC Press, Pp 166 – 190.
Professional membership(s)
• Weed Science Society of Japan (WSSJ)
• Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society (APWSS)
• Asian Allelopathy Society (AAS)