Dr Ademola Adetunji
Research Associate
Ademola Adetunji joined the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, as a Research Associate to contribute to studies on plasma and phenotyping technologies for improved seed quality for tree production. This followed his National Research Foundation Professional Postdoctoral Research Fellow position at South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON) Ndlovu Node South Africa and the North-West University (NWU) South Africa, where his research focus revolved around nano-priming technology for seed invigoration, aiming to restore grassy biomes and enhance associated ecosystem services.
His previous postdoctoral research fellowship in the esteemed Prof Jill Farrant’s Laboratory at the University of Cape Town provided him with fascinating opportunities, including involvement in the Aleph-1 project, which involved preparing seeds of the resurrection plant Myrothamnus flabellifolius for germination on the moon and assessing desiccation and freezing tolerance in young seedlings of M. flabellifolius. Additionally, he explored the effects of agro-waste-derived portlandite nanoparticles on maize seeds and seedlings.
With a diverse range of research interests, Dr Ademola explores plant physiology, seed technology, seed priming, seed ageing and invigoration, plant germplasm conservation, cryopreservation, plant abiotic stress physiology, gas exchange and photochemistry, bio-nanotechnology, food security, phytochemistry, biological activity of medicinal plants, ethnobotany, and phytoremediation.
Ademola's passion for plant physiology began during his undergraduate and master's studies, where he gained valuable research experience in phytochemical analysis, water stress, and seed invigoration studies of traditional medicinal plants in Nigeria. To deepen his understanding of plant physiology, Ademola pursued his PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. There, he focused on investigating the mechanisms of ageing as well as the reinvigoration of deteriorated seeds of food crops (cabbage and lettuce) using antioxidants and electrolysed- and non-electrolysed inorganic salt solutions as priming agents. Ademola's PhD research involved exploring various biomarkers of oxidative stress-induced lesions, to shed light on seed deterioration and reinvigoration processes as part of efforts towards achieving the much-desired increased crop productivity, improved ecosystem resilience, protection, and restoration of plant biodiversity for future agricultural food production in the face of the rising world population and changing climate.
- PhD in Biology (2021): University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- MSc in Botany (2015): Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
- BSc in Plant Science (2009): University of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
Dace, H.J.W.; Adetunji, A.E.; Moore, J.P.; Hilhorst, H.W.M.; Farrant, J.M. (2023).
A review of the role of metabolites in vegetative desiccation tolerance of Angiosperms.
Curr. Opin. Plant Biol. 75, 102410.
Adetunji, A.E.*; Sershen; Varghese, B.; Pammenter, N. (2021).
Effects of exogenous application of five antioxidants on vigour, viability, oxidative metabolism and germination enzymes in aged cabbage and lettuce seeds.
South African J. Bot. 137, 85–97.
Adetunji, A.E.*; Adetunji, T.L.; Varghese, B.; Sershen; Pammenter, N.W. (2021).
Oxidative stress, ageing and methods of seed invigoration: an overview and perspectives.
Agronomy 11, 2369.
Olatunji, T.L.; Siebert, F.; Adetunji, A.E.; Harvey, B.H.; Gericke, J.; Hamman, J.H.; Van der Kooy, F. (2021).
Sceletium tortuosum: a review on its phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, biological and clinical activities.
J. Ethnopharmacol. 280, 114476.
Adetunji, A.E.*; Sershen; Varghese, B.; Pammenter, N.W. (2020).
Effects of inorganic salt solutions on vigour, viability, oxidative metabolism and germination enzymes in aged cabbage and lettuce seeds.
Plants 9, 1164.
