Naalamle Amissah (BSc (Agric) (Ksi), MS, PhD (Cornell))

https://sites.google.com/view/naalamle-amissah/home

Dr. Naalamle Amissah is a lecturer in the Crop Science Department. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from the University of Science and Technology, Kumasi and a Master of Science degree and a PhD in Horticulture from Cornell University, USA.  In 2008, through a travel award she received from the Horticulture Department at Cornell University, she had the opportunity to engage in a hands-on study of the spice (black pepper, vanilla & nutmeg) and orchid industries in the South and South East Asia region - India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Her research interests are in the selection, evaluation and propagation of economically important plants that are either difficult-to-propagate or at risk of extinction (several medicinal plant species fall within this category), as well as the development of improved technologies to ensure their successful establishment. Through a research grant she received from the Volkswagen Foundation in Germany in 2011, she is working on developing domestication protocols for the cultivation of two medicinal plant species Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Croton membranaceus on the verge of extinction. The two species Cryptolepis sanguinolenta and Croton membranaceus are used in the treatment of malaria and prostate cancer and related problems respectively. Her research also involves identifying neglected and underutilized crop species with potential to address climate change related problems and food security challenges in Ghana. She served as Program Coordinator for the West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement (WACCI), from April 2010-September 2013. 

Academic Qualifications

• PhD Horticulture, Cornell University, 2007           
• MS Horticulture, Cornell University, 2003                                              
• BSc. Agriculture, University of Science and Technology, 1999

Research interest 
Dr. Naalamle Amissah’s research interests include the selection, evaluation and propagation (using conventional and in vitro techniques) of economically important plants, that are either difficult-to-propagate, neglected or at risk of extinction (several indigenous crop species,  ornamental and medicinal plants fall within this category), and the development of improved technologies to ensure their successful establishment.
Her research also involves the genetic characterization and development of cultivation protocols for medicinal plants - Nibima (Cryptolepis sanguinolenta), Croton (Croton membranaceus) and neglected and underutilized crop species such as and Frafra potato (Solenostemum rotundifolius) with potential to address climate change related problems and food security challenges in Ghana. 

Current research/project(s)

• Co-Investigator (2019-2021)  UKRI GCRF Grant, Farmers perspectives on challenges in the food system: a collaborative research partnership
• Co-Principal Investigator (2018-2020), Office of Research Innovation and Development, University of Ghana Research Fund’s 11th call for proposal award for ‘Grafting for disease resistance against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Lycopersicae in tomato genotypes'.
• Collaborator (2019-2023).  Africa Centers of Excellence for Development Impact (ACE Impact). WACCI: Africa Centre of Excellence for Agricultural Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

Past research projects

• Evaluation of Safi Sana compost and effluent water in commercial vegetable seedling and crop production. (2015-2019) Safi Sana Ghana Limited
• Agroecology/Sustainable Farming and Food Systems, and Political Participation of Small-Scale Farmers in Ghana (2015-2017); [PFAG funded by the Open Society Foundation (OSF)
• Engaging with Industry on the Protocol for the cultivation of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, a medicinal plant species used in the treatment of Malaria (2016); Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID) UG
• Technology Centre for Quality Dairy Production and Processing in Ghana” [Involved in the training of farmers to compost their farm waste for crop development] (2016); The Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COTVET)
• Alternative methods of cultivation of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta to maximize active compound production and prevent species extinction in the wild (2015); African  Cambridge–Africa Alborada Research Fund, UK  Climate Change and Food Systems Research “Co-producing Knowledge” (2015-2018); Open Society Foundation (OSF) Co-Investigator & Thematic Coordinator Indigenous Crop Species Group;
• Grafting as a means to control Meloidogyne infestation in tomato genotypes plant species  (2014-2016);  Office of Research Innovation and Development (ORID), University of Ghana Research
• Propagation, cultural practices, genetic and biochemical diversity of two medicinal plant species, Croton membranaceus and Cryptolepis sanguinolenta.” ((2011- 2014); VolkswagenStiftung Foundation

Awards

• Visiting Scholar Harvard Centre for African Development, USA, (2018) (Spring 2018 semester, 6 Mths);
• Cambridge Africa Partnership for Research Excellence (CAPREx) Fellowship Award  (2016, 4 Mths)
• VolkswagenStiftung Foundation Junior Fellowship Grant Award (2011-2014) - One of ten recipients from Africa.
• William Fredrick Dreer Travel Award, Cornell University (2007): “Experiential Learning in the Spice and Orchid Industries of Southern Asia (India, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Thailand).”
  • Visiting Scientist (2008), Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, Coimbatore, India 2008 (3 Mths) 
  • Visiting Scientist (2008), Center for Agricultural Biotechnology, Kasetsart University, Bangkheng Campus, Thailand (4 Mths)

Recent publications

• Agyeman, C., Okorley, B.A., Amissah, J.N. and Nyaku, S.T. (2021). Evaluation of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum 'Pectomech') grafts against root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita. Acta Hortic. 1302,177-184 DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1302.24. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2021.1302.24
• Amissah, J.N. (2019). Loss of Indigenous Crop Species: Implications for Crop Diversity and Food Security in Ghana. Science and Development. 3 64-83.
• Nyawudzo, G. Amissah, J.N., Kusi, F. & Ofori, K. (2019). Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius) Accessions in Ghana. Science and Development. 3 1-19.
• Osei-Tutu, C., Amissah, J.G.N., Amissah, J.N. & Saalia,, F.K. (2019). Physicochemical and Sensory Characteristics of Bread Made from Wheat-Frafra Potato (Solenostemon rotundifolius) Composite Flour Science and Development Journal Science and Development. 3 20-29.
• Hua, L. Hadziabdic, D., Amissah, N., Nowicki, M., Boggess, S., Teng, N & Trigiano, R. N. (2018). Characterization of fifteen microsatellite loci and genetic diversity analysis for the Ghanaian food security crop Solenostemon rotundifolius (Frafra potato). Afr. J. Biotechnology Vol.17(47), 1352-1357. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/AJB2018.16666
• Okorley, B., Agyeman, C., Amissah, N., & Nyaku, S. (2018). Screening Selected Solanum Plants as Potential Rootstocks for the Management of Root-knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita). International Journal of Agronomy. 6, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6715909.
• Amissah, J.N., Wadl, P.A., Hadziabdic, D., Boggess, S.L & Trigiano, R.N. (2016). Characterization of thirteen microsatellite loci from the Ghanaian antimalarial plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research 10 (14), 183-187. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/JMPR2016.6047
• Monney, M.A.D., Amissah, N., & Blay, E. (2016). Influence of BA and IBA or NAA combinations on micropropagation of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. American Journal of Plant Sciences 7 (3), 572-580. http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajps.2016.73050
• Amissah, J.N., Osei-Safo, D., Asare, C.M., Missah-Assihene, B., Danquah, E.Y., & Addae-Mensah, I. (2016). Influence of age and staking on the growth and cryptolepine concentration in cultivated roots of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schlt. Journal of Medicinal Plant Research 10 (9), 113-121.  http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/jmpr2015.5793
• Amissah, J.N., Spiller, M., Oppong, A., Osei-Safo, D., Owusu-Darko, R., Debener, T., Danquah, E.Y., & Addae-Mensah, I. (2016). Genetic diversity and cryptolepine concentration of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schlt from selected regions of Ghana. Journal of Applied Research on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants 3, 34-41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jarmap.2015.12.005

Professional membership(s)

• International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS),
• American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)
• Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research Gesellschaft für Arzneipflanzen- und Naturstoff-Forschung e.V. (GA)
• Tropical Agriculture Association (TAA), UK
• Society for Conservation Biology
• Ghana Institute of Horticulturist

Other Publications of Faculty