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Wiafe-Kwagyan Michael (BSc. MPhil. & PhD (Ghana))

Wiafe-Kwagyan Michael (BSc. MPhil. & PhD (Ghana))
Senior Lecturer / HOD
mwiafe-kwagyan@ug.edu.gh

Dr. Michael Wiafe-Kwagyan is a Senior Lecturer, he obtained both his Bachelor of Science and MPhil. Degrees in Botany (specialization in Mycology, Plant Pathology) in May 2007 and December 2010 respectively from the University of Ghana Legon. He then pursued a PhD degree in Botany (Mushroom Biotechnology) in 2012 and the degree was awarded in December 2014 at the University of Ghana Legon. He joined the Department as a Lecturer in 2016. He served as the coordinator of seminars at the Department and Course Advisor for level 100 students. He has served as an Advisory Board Member of Centre for Climate Change and Sustainable Studies representing the School of Biological Sciences.

Dr. Wiafe-Kwagyan has attended both national and international conferences e.g., one organized under the auspices of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Environment Facility, Conducted Mycological Profile Studies on food and non-food materials for some private and government institutions. He has authored and co-authored over 20 publications in Local and International Peered Reviewed Journals. His PhD research was funded by Africa Rice Centre, based at Benin and an affiliate of Consultative Group of International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

He is a reviewer and editorial board member for both Local and International Journals e.g., include Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science; Ghana Journal of Science; Issues in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Research; International Food Research Journal; Journal of Bioscience and Biotechnology Discovery; Food Science and Nutrition etc. Editorial Board Member of Central European Journal of Botany; Journal of Dynamics in Agricultural Research: Advances in Agricultural Technology & Plant etc.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

  • Fungal Diversity
  • Food Microbiology with special reference to mycoflora load assessment to determine food quality
  • Plant Pathology (e.g., the control of fungal pathogens using natural plant products)
  • Fungal Physiology and Biotechnology (e.g., Mushroom Biotechnology)

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

  • Mycology
  • Plant Pathology
  • Fungal Taxonomy
  • Fungal Physiology
  • Medical Mycology

TEACHING

  • BOTN 104: Plant Growth and Development
  • BOTN 203: Plants and Civilization
  • BOTN 411: Fungi and Lichens
  • BOTN 438: Physiology of Fungi
  • BOTN 631: Flowering Plant Parasites of West Africa
  • BOTN 634: Plant Virology and Nematology
  • BOTN 637: Microfloral Activities in Soil Ecosystem
  • PEBO 102: Diversity, Morphology and Function
  • PEBO 104: Diversity, Morphology and Function (Practical)
  • PEBO 212: General Microbiology II
  • PEBO 215: General Microbiology I
  • PEBO 315: Mycology and Lichens
  • PEBO 316: Fundamentals of Soil Microbiology   

SELECTED ACADEMIC PUBLICATIONS

1. Bekoe E.O., Wiafe-Kwagyan M., and Joycelyn Gaysi (2021). Antibacterial activity of the       metabolites of Aspergillus chevalieri and Trichoderma harzianum.         International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 13(2): 67-70. Online         ISSN: 0975-1491

2. Ebenezer Owusu, Daniel Boamah, Wiafe-Kwagyan M*, Awura Abena Amponsah1 and Sylvesta Kaminta (2021). Studies on the Efficacy of Leaves Extracts of Centella asiatica against          Escherichia coli, Samonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. Acta Scientific        Microbiology. 4(3): 61-74. ISSN: 2581-3226

3. Wiafe-Kwagyan M*, G. T. Odamtten and M. Obodai (2020). Differentiation of two Pleurotus  species based on the restrictive digestion profile of the Internal transcribed spacer region. Ghana Journal of Science. 61(2): 105-112. Short Communication. DOI:    10.4314/gjs.v61i2.10

4. Nii Korley Kortei, George Tawia Odamtten, Mary Obodai, Papa Toah Akonor, Wiafe-  Kwagyan M., Serwah Buckman , Seth William Nii Odartey Mills. (2020). Sensory evaluation,            descriptive textural analysis, and consumer acceptance profile of steamed gamma- irradiated Pleurotus ostreatus (Ex. Fr.) Kummer kept in two different storage packs. Scientific African 2468-2276 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2020.e00328

5. Wiafe-Kwagyan M*, Dzifa AJ and Mensah G I. (2019). Assessment of Microbiological Load and Safety of Selected Pre-Cut Fruits and Vegetables. Acta Scientific Nutritional Health 3(11): 99-108 (ISSN:2582-1423) 

6. Wiafe-Kwagyan M* and Odamtten G T. (2018). Use of Pleurotus eous strain P-31 spent mushroom compost (SMC) as soil conditioner on the growth and yield performance of Capsicum annuum L. and Solanum lycopersicon L. seedlings under greenhouse conditions in Ghana. Tropical Life Sciences Research 29(1):173–194. 

7. Odamtten G.T., Nartey L.K., Wiafe-Kwagyan M*, Anyebuno G. and Kyei-Baffour V. (2018). Resident microbial load, toxigenic potential, and possible quality control measures of six imported seasoning powders on the Ghanaian market.  Journal of Nutritional Health & Food Engineering, 8(1): 1-11. doi: 10.15406/jnhf.2018.08.00252

8. Kortei N.K., Odamtten G.T., Obodai M., Wiafe-Kwagyan M. and Dzomeku M. (2018). Comparative bioconversion of gamma irradiated, and steam sterilized ‘wawa’ sawdust (Triplochiton scleroxylon L.) by mycelia of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus Jacq. Ex.Fr. Kummer). International Food Research Journal 25(3): 943-950

9. Kortei N. K., George Tawia Odamtten, Mary Obodai, M. Wiafe-Kwagyan, Edward Adotey Addo (2016). Influence of low dose of gamma radiation and storage on some vitamins and mineral elements of dried oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Food Science and Nutrition. 1-9; doi: 10.1002/fsn3.432 Wiley

10. Wiafe-Kwagyan* M., Obodai, M., Odamtten, G.T. and N. K. Kortei (2016). The potential use of rice waste lignocellulose and its amendments as substrate for the cultivation of Pleurotus eous Strain P-31in Ghana. International Journal of Advances in Pharmacy, Biology and Chemistry 5(2); 116-130 ISSN: 2277- 4688

11. Wiafe-Kwagyan, M*., G.T. Odamtten and M. Obodai (2015). Possible antibiosis effect of the metabolites of three fungal species resident in rice straw and husk compost on the in vitro radial and vegetative growth by Pleurotus ostreatus Strain EM-1and P. eous Strain P-31. International Journal Current Microbiology and Applied Science, 4(8): 525-538. ISSN: 2319-7706