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Prof. Wilson Thagana

Associate Professor —, Department of Agricultural Sciences & Technology

Home School of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences Department of Agricultural Sciences & Technology Prof. Wilson Thagana

Prof. Wilson Thagana

Associate Professor —, Department of Agricultural Sciences & Technology

Administrative Position
Deputy Executive Dean , School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Kenyatta University- 29 th September,2022 to 7/11/ 2022; Acting Dean, School of Agriculture, Kenyatta University- 25 th August, 2022 to 29/9/ 2022; Associate Dean, School of Agriculture, Kenyatta University- 1 st March, 2021 to 25/8/; Director, Kitui Campus, Kenyatta University- 25 th February, 2019 to 1/3/; Member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), International Food Safety Conference, Kenyatta University, Nairobi 20 th -24 th May, 2019 .; Chairman, Agricultural Science and Technology- 10 th August, 2017 - 30 th September, 2018 .; Member School Board of Postgraduate Studies, School of Agriculture and Enterprise Development (SAED)-26 th October, 2015- 2017; Departmental Post Graduate Co-ordinator- 8 th November, 2015 -2017; Departmental Digital and E-learning Co-ordinator- 1 st October, 2015 to February, 2016; Departmental Examination Coordinator, Agricultural Science and Technology (AST)-30 th June, 2011 to 30 th October 2013 .; Member of the Project Steering Committee (PSC)- JICA supported Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS)-Rice project-1 st July 2013- 2018 .; Chairman, Kenya Association of Food Safety and Protection (KAFSAP)-9/4/2019 to 2021; External Examiner, Department of Animal Health Production, Mount Kenya University- 12 th October, 2017 -To date; Chairman, Plant Breeders’ Association of Kenya ( PBAK ), 2009 -2017.

Refereed Journal Articles

  1. 2015- Finalization of Seed and Plant Varieties Act (CAP326) Regulations.
  2. 2014 - Reviewer, AGRA/KU/UON/HAK International Conference.
  3. 2014 - Reviewer, Journal of Applied Biosciences (JABs).
  4. 2013 - Review of Seed and Plant Varieties Act (CAP326) Regulations.
  5. 2010 - Reviewer of Papers-Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences.
  6. 2008 - Reviewer of Papers-10 th KARI Conference.

Book Chapters

  1. Thagana W.M., 2021, KST 845: Population and Quantitative Genetics, DSVOL Blended Module
  2. Thagana W.M. 2021, KST 209: Principles of Crop Production (DSVOL Blended module).
  3. Thagana W.M., 2016, KST 209: Principles of Crop Improvement, DSVOL Module
  4. Thagana W.M., 2016, KST 206: Principles of Agricultural Biotechnology, DSVOL Module
  5. Thagana W.M., 2014, KST 130: Field Course, DSVOL Module
  6. Thagana W.M., 2014, KST 813: Agricultural Biotechnology, DSVOL Module
  7. Thagana W.M., 2014, KST 835: Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources, DSVOL Module
  8. Thagana W.M., 2014, KST 845: Population and Quantitative Genetics, DSVOL Module
  9. Thagana W.M., 2014, KST 850: Seed Physiology and Biotechnology, DSVOL Module
  10. Thagana W.M., 2011, KST 832:Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, DSVOL Module
  11. Thagana W.M., 2010, KST 513: Agricultural Biotechnology, DSVOL Module.
  12. Shadrack Inoti, Lulther Lulandala, Shabani Chamshama, Wilson Thagana, Rob Dodson (2021). Investigating the Effect of Some Agricultural Practices on Field Performance of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis L.) Seedlings in Semi-Arid Areas of Voi, Kenya. Recent Progress in Plant and Soil Research Vol. 2, 27 July 2021,Page 104-115. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/rppsr/v2/12201D Published:2021-07-27

Conference Papers

  1. Buka, J.G. and Thagana, W.M., Enhancing Fruit Quality of Avocado (Persea americana) Using Ripeners in Kitui County, Kenya. 1st KALRO Socio-Economics and Policy Development (SEPD) Conference and Exhibition, KALRO Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya 10th to 12th June, 2025.
  2. Thagana,W.M., Identification of SSR Markers associated with Cassava Mosaic Disease in Kenya ASACSES conference, ECOWAS Parliament Building, Abuja, Nigeria 2nd -5th November, 2015
  3. Thagana,W.M. Envisaged MSc Postharvest Technology Curriculum at Kenyatta University Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda 5th-9th August, 2015
  4. Thagana W.M., Efficacy of a Local and Commercial Rooting powder on Roses, 1st School of Agriculture Biennial International Conference sponsored by KU/AGRA/DAAD/UoN, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, 1st -5th December, 2014
  5. Thagana W.M., Effects of Withholding Irrigation Water after Complete Heading on Seed Quality Traits in Mwea, 1st School of Agriculture Biennial International Conference sponsored by KU/AGRA/DAAD/UoN, Kenyatta University(KU), Nairobi, Kenya, 1st -5th December, 2014
  6. Thagana,W.M., Targeted Plant Breeding,KARI-Thika/Kenya, 1/11/13
  7. Thagana, W.M.,Effect of Seed Size on Germination and Early Growth of Jojoba in Semi-arid Areas of Kenya,11th African crop Science Society Conference. Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Entebbe-Uganda.13th -17th October 2013.
  8. Thagana, W.M., Enhancing Cassava Productivity Through Host plant Resistance Breeding Against Cassava Mosaic Disease and Cassava Brown Streak Disease using Genetic Engineering and Marker Assisted Selection-a Kenyan project, Arusha/Tanzania, 28/1/13 -1/02/13
  9. Thagana, W.M.,Effect of Withholding Irrigation Water after Complete Heading on Rice Yield and Components in Mwea, Kenya,11th African crop Science Society Conference. Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Entebbe-Uganda.13th -17th October 2013.
  10. Thagana, W.M.,Characterization of Arabusta ( Coffea arabica L. x Coffea canephora Pierre) Coffee and it’s Parental Genotypes using Molecular Markers ,11th African crop Science Society Conference. Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Entebbe-Uganda.13th -17th October 2013.
  11. Thagana, W.M.,Effect of Genotype, Plant Spacing and Weeding Regimes on Weed Density and Yields of Upland Rice in Uganda.11th African crop Science Society Conference. Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, Entebbe-Uganda.13th -17th October 2013.
  12. Thagana, W.M.,Enhancing Cassava Productivity Through Host plant Resistance Breeding Against Cassava Mosaic Disease and Cassava Brown Streak Disease using Genetic Engineering and Marker Assisted Selection-a Kenyan project.Arusha/Tanzania.28/1/13 -1/02/13
  13. Thagana, W.M., Occurrence of seed abortion and numerical components of seed yield of soyabean (Glycine max L. Merr.) in three contrasting environments. El Minia/Egypt, 25th-29th March, 2012
  14. Thagana, W.M.,Characterization of Sweet Potato [ Ipomea batatas (L)] Landraces using Morphological and DNA markers in East Kamagak Location of Rachuonyo District,Bondo University College (BUC), Bondo, Kenya.4th-7th December 2012.
  15. Thagana W.M., Commercialization and Utilization of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis [Link] Schneider)as a basis for Industrialization and Income Generation in ASALs, UniBRAIN/PanAAC Fair, Hilton Hotel, Nairobi, 26th-27th Nov, 2010
  16. Thagana, W.M., Selection and characterization of superior bushes of Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis [Link] Schneider) for ASALs in Kenya. Nairobi, 7th-9th April, 2010
  17. Thagana, W.M., Chickpea - a promising new food legume crop for drought prone cool areas of Kenya. Cape Town/South Africa 2009
  18. Thagana, W.M., Comparison of phenotypic characters of mutant lines of rapeseed (Brassica napus L) with the original parents. Nairobi/Kenya, 2008
  19. Thagana, W.M., Invitro embryo culture and immature seed germination techniques for rapid generation advance in soyabean [G lycine max (L.)Merrill],Nairobi/Kenya,2006
  20. Thagana, W.M.,Variability in M2 generations and characteristics of selected advanced mutant lines of rapeseed.2006
  21. Thagana, W.M.,Characterization and genetic relationships of rapeseed(B rassica napus L.),Entebbe/Uganda,2005
  22. Thagana, W.M.,Introduction and status of Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider productionin Kenya.Nairobi/Kenya,2004.
  23. Thagana, W.M.,Genotype-environment interactions and stability estimates for sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) varieties grown in diverse environments in Kenya.Johannesburg/ South Africa.2002.
  24. Thagana, W.M.,Holistic approach in the dissemination of technologies in Lare division, Nakuru district,Egerton university/Kenya.2001
  25. Thagana, W.M.,The status of Kenya in the Global production and supply of oilseed and oilseed products.Nairobi/Kenya.2000.
  26. Thagana,W.M., Targeted Plant Breeding, KARI-Thika/Kenya, 1/11/13
  27. Thagana, W.M.,Introduction and status of Jojoba Simmondsia chinensis (Link) Schneider production in Kenya.Nairobi/Kenya,2004.
  28. Thagana, W.M.,Genotype-environment interactions and stability estimates for sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) varieties grown in diverse environments in Kenya. Johannesburg/ South Africa.2002.

Awards & Honours

  • 2008: Awarded US$ 400 for the Best Paper in Horticulture and Industrial Crops by the Secretariat of the 11 th KARI Scientific conference.
  • 2006: Awarded US$ 145 for the Best Paper in Biotechnology by the Secretariat of the 10 th KARI Scientific conference.

Professional Affiliations

  • Member, Kenya Association of Food Safety and Protection ( KAFSAP )-9/4/2019 to date .
  • Chairman, Plant Breeders’ Association of Kenya ( PBAK ), 2009 -2017.