Stephen O. Awodele

Background

About Stephen O. Awodele

I am a Doctoral Researcher at the Crop Development Center of the University of Saskatchewan. My research focuses on molecular plant breeding, genomics and genetics of field pea to improve pea resistance to root-rot disease caused by soil-borne pathogens. I am using omics technologies to unravel the molecular mechanisms of root rot resistance in pea and identify trait marker candidates for genomics-assisted breeding. This research is imperative to maintain Canada's top position as the world's largest exporter of pea, of which Saskatchewan is the largest contributor. My immediate past research focused on (1) the role of crop diversity, stand age and plant traits on soil microbial communities,(2) the use of next generation sequencing and metagenomics to understand how crop diversity affects the development and relative composition of soil pathogens, mutualists and saprotrophs, and (3) how crop plants regulate the expression of aboveground, symbiosis and root morphological traits to overcome soil biotic stress (i.e. soil-borne pathogens) and improve yield.