Mavis Agyeiwaa Acheampong (Bsc (Agric) MPhil (GH) PhD (Rhodes))

Academic Qualifications
•    Ph.D. Entomology (Entomopathology), Rhodes University, 2020
•    MPhil. Crop Science (Plant Pathology), University of Ghana, 2014
•    BSc. Agriculture (Crop Science), University of Ghana, 2010
 

Research Interest
Dr Mavis Agyeiwaa Acheampong is a Plant Pathologist and Entomopathologist, with research interest on use of microbial agents (particularly entomopathogenic fungi) and plant extracts for controlling insect pests and diseases of crops. 
 

Current research/project(s)
•    Use of native entomopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agents for false codling moth (Thaumatotibia leucotreta) on chilli pepper in Ghana.
•    Use of native entomopathogenic fungi as biocontrol agents for fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on maize in Ghana.
 

Past research projects
•    Suitability of entomopathogenic fungal isolates for microbial control of citrus pests: biological traits (2016–2018); Funded by Citrus Research International (Project 1143) with support from South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChi) of the Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa (grant number: 199609].

•    Producing more by waiting less: Use of Beauveria bassiana for control of larger grain borer (2013–2015); Funded by Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation [grant number OPP1052676] with support from Exosect-U.K., Agrauxine-France, CABI/Europe-U.K. and CABI/WA.
 

Awards
•    South Africa’s NRF (National Research Foundation) Bursary, 2018
•    Citrus Research International Funding, 2016–2018

Recent publications

1. Acheampong, M. A., Cornelius, E. W., Eziah, V. Y., Fening,, K. O., Storm, C., Jessop,, N., Luke,  B., Moore, D.,  Clottey,, V. A., Potin,, O., & Grammare, P. (2023). Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana against adults of Prostephanus truncatus (Horn), Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) and Teretrius nigrescens Lewis in stored maize. African Entomology, 31(2023). https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2023/a11734

2. Lamini, S., Kusi, F., Cornelius, E. W., Danquah, A., Attamah, P., Mukhtaru, Z., Awuku, F. J., Owusu, E. Y., Acheampong, M.A., & Mensah, G. (2022). Identification of sources of resistance in cowpea lines to Macrophomina root rot disease in Northern Ghana. Heliyon, 8(12), e12027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12217 

3. Traoré, S., Samaké, F., Babana, A. H., Cornelius, E. W., Essilfie, G., Acheampong, M. A., & Samaké, S. (2022). Climate change and contamination of vegetables in West Africa. In Climate Change - Recent Observations (ISBN 978-1-80355-499-0). Intechopen.

4. Traoré, S., Cornelius, E. W., Samaké, F., Essilfie, G., Babana, A. H., Bengaly, M., Koné, A., Cissé, H., & Acheampong, M. A. (2020). Efficiency of common washing treatments in reducing microbial levels on lettuce in Mali. West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 28(2), 64–74. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/wajae/article/view/202695

5. Acheampong, M. A., Hill, M. P., Moore, S. D., & Coombes, C. A. (2020). Temperature tolerance and humidity requirements of select entomopathogenic fungal isolates for future use in citrus IPM programmes. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 174, 107–436. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2020.107436

6. Acheampong, M. A., Hill, M. P., Moore, S. D., & Coombes, C. A. (2020). UV sensitivity of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae isolates under investigation as potential biological control agents in South African citrus orchards. Fungal Biology, 124, 304–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2019.08.009

7. Lutuf, H., Nyaku, S. T., Cornelius, E. W., Yahaya, S. A. J., & Acheampong, M. A. (2018). Prevalence of plant-parasitic nematodes associated with tomatoes in Ghana. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science, 52, 83–94. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/gjas/article/view/179645

8. Acheampong, M. A., Cornelius, E. W., Eziah, V. Y., Fening, K. O., Luke, B., Moore, D., Clottey, V. A., Storm, C., & Potin, O. (2016). Beauveria bassiana affects immature stage development of Prostephanus truncatus (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in stored maize. Biocontrol Science and Technology 26(11), 1516–1525. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2016.1217394

Professional membership(s)
Society of Invertebrate Pathology
Entomological Society of Southern Africa