Research Interests:
My research interest in Mycology broadly focuses on the role of fungi as biodeteriogens, particularly in their role in environmental clearing as exemplified by the use of mushrooms to degrade diapers and sanitary pads as established from the results of an MSc project carried out by one of my postgraduate students. Further, I also deal with the role of fungi in the spoilage of stored harvested food products. In this respect, I aim at establishing the factors that predispose stored food products to infection by fungi after harvest as well as the accompanying spoilage and contamination mycotoxins plus the health implications on consumption of the said products. Apart from the environmental importance of fungi, I also research on the use of plant extracts to control fungal pathogens of plants and animals. My research on the two areas of fungi is exemplified by my publication on postharvest fungi on tomatoes as well as a varied number of research projects on the use of plant extracts listed among my publications for example: the control of Phomopsis of tea using Warbugia extracts and the use Neem Kernel cake powder (NKCP) to control Fusarium wilt of tomato when applied as soil amendment., I am also interested in relating the storage fungi and the level of Mycotoxin contamination of the products, determination of storage fungi of maize and common bean grains and associated mycotoxin contamination as well as identifying fungi that degrade the non-biodegradable environmental waste.
Publications:
- Birgen J.K, Siboe G.M 1982 Leaf- blotch and fruit rot of pomegranate Plant protection bulletin FAO
- Kimaru S.K, Birgen J.K, Waudo S.W E. Monda 2004 Effects on Neem Kernel cake powder (NKCP) on Fusarium wilt of tomato when used as soil amendment Journal of Agricultural and Rural Development in the tropics and subtropics
- Elizabeth Awuor Ouna, J Birgen, S Ekesi 2011 Entomopathogenicity of hyphomycete fungi to fruit fly Bactrocera invadens (Diptera Tephridae) and their potential biological control on mango RUFORUM
- Ngundo, G.W. Kariuki, G.M. Kariuki, F.W. Birgen, J.K. 2012 Evaluation of Root- knot Nematode Management Strategies Based on their Distribution in Tomato Fields in Mwea, Kenya RUFORUM
- Wendot, P.K. Kariuki, G.M. Kariuki, F.W. Birgen, J.K. Njue, A. Ngundo, G.W 2012 Towards Development of Site-Specific Technologies for Identification of Fields Infested with Root-knot Nematodes (RKN) under Tomato Cropping System in Mwea, Kenya RUFORUM
- AK Machocho, CP Rugumamu, JK Birgen, O Amuka, E Asiimwe, JA Orwa, C Mbakaya, J Obua, S Okoth 2012 The status of green gram production, pest and disease management in parts of Lake Victoria basin Inter-University Council for East Africa Lake Victoria Research Initiative
- JW Kibunja, JK Birgen, GM Kariuki, DL Coyne 2014 The use of Trichoderma spp. Alongside resistant tomato varieties for root-knot nematode management under field conditions in coastal Kenya Journal of Nematology,
- Birgen, J.K. 2017 Effects of stages of maturity on the susceptibility of tomato fruits to postharvest fungal pathogens International Journal of Plant and Animal Sciences
- Birgen, J.K. Mugo, D.N. 2017 Inhibitory effects of Fungicides and Neem Kernel Cake Powder extract on mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp lycopersici Inhibitory effects of Fungicides and Neem Kernel Cake Powder extract on mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp lycopersici Inhibitory effects of Fungicides and Neem Kernel Cake Powder on mycelial growth of Fusarium oxysporum. sp. Lycopersici International Journal of Plant and Animal Sciences
- Birgen, J.K. 2020 Postharvest fungi and diseases of tomato fruits in selected markets in Kenya International Journal of Plant and Animal Sciences
- Ndivo MF , Njeru ME and Birgen JK 2018 Efficacy of Neem, Garlic and Aloe Extracts in the Management of Postharvest Potato Soft Rot Caused by Erwinia carotovora Asian Journal of Research in Crop Science
- Kaguchia SM, Gitahi SM, Thoruwa CL, Birgen JK, Hassanali A 2018 Bioefficacy of Selected Plant Extracts against Sitophilus zeamais on Post-Harvest Management of Zea mays Journal of Phytopharmacology
- Akwa TE, Maingi JM, Birgen JK 2020 Susceptibility of Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) Cultivars Grown in Menoua Division, West Region of Cameroon to Storage Fungi Pathogens Journal of Horticultural Science Research
- Akwa TE, Maingi JM, Birgen JK 2020 Assessing the incidence of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) infection by fungi during harvest and storage in Cameroon Studies in Fungi
- Birgen JK, Cheruiyot RC, Akwa TE 2020Mycotoxin Contamination of Stored Maize in Kenya and the Associated Fungi Journal of Plant Pathology Research
- Akwa TE, Maingi JM, Birgen JK 2020 Characterisation of Fungi of Stored Common Bean Cultivars Grown in the Menoua Division Journal of Plant Physiology and Pathology
- Njagi A, Nyamwang MM, Mugendi EM, Birgen JK 2021
Antibacterial effect of Artemisia and ginger extracts in controlling Agrobacterium tumefaciens in roses Journal of Floriculture and Landscaping
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