Ntombokulunga Mbuma | Sustainable Nutrition | Young Scientist Award

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Dr  Ntombokulunga Mbuma: Sustainable Nutrition
Researcher at Agricultural Research Council, South Africa

Wow, Ntombokulunga Wedy Mbuma is quite the accomplished individual! Her dedication to sustainable agriculture is impressive, especially with her extensive background in plant breeding and research. It’s clear she’s not just passionate but also excelling in her field. Her journey from a BSc in Biochemistry to a PhD in Plant Breeding is quite a feat. And those awards and recognitions? Truly a testament to her hard work and academic excellence.

Publication Profile:🌟👨‍🎓
Education
  • PhD: Plant Breeding – University of the Free State (2017–2019)
  • MSc: Agriculture Plant Breeding “with Distinction” – University of the Free State (2015–2016)
  • BSc: Agriculture honours Plant Breeding – University of the Free State (2014)
  • BSc: Biochemistry – University of the Free State (2010–2013)
SKILLS AND EXPERTISE

Educational: Plant breeding, quantitative genetics, molecular breeding, statistical analysis
Research: Methodology, data collection, statistical analysis, scientific writing
Supervision: Postgraduate students
Project Management: Sugarcane, cowpea, bambara groundnut
Computing: PowerPoint, Excel, Word
Language: English, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu

RESEARCH AREAS OF INTEREST

Optimization of conventional plant breeding. Early generation and family evaluation of sugarcane and vegetable crops. Nutritional value of vegetable crops

ACHIEVEMENTS

Excellence Academic achievement prize for Best MSc and PhD Plant Breeding student. SASTA and SAPBA Student Awards for outstanding presentations. Outstanding reviewer for Crop Science Society of America Journal. Recognition as a senior reviewer for African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Development

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION

Member of the Southern African Plant Breeders’ Association. Member of the Crop Science Society of America Journal. Senior reviewer of the African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition, and Development. Associate Editor of the Crop Science Society of America Journal

REFERENCES

Prof. Maryke Labuschagne: Mentor and SARChI Chair in Quality and Diseases of Field Crops – UFS. Prof. Marvellous Zhou: Plant breeding project manager (SASRI), Supervisor – SASRI and UFS. Dr. Rouxlene van der Merwe: Senior lecturer – UFS. Dr. Makoena Moloi: Senior lecturer – UFS. Ms. Moipei Lichakane: Junior Plant Breeder – SASRI

🍇 Research Focus:

Ntombokulunga Wedy Mbuma’s research is dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture through innovative crop improvement strategies. Her work spans sugarcane breeding, exploring elite family selection rates and evaluating parental contributions to cane yield. Beyond sugarcane, she delves into cowpea, assessing Southern African germplasm for seed yield, mineral elements, and phytochemical contents. Mbuma’s contributions extend to the diversity in seed protein, minerals, and fatty acid composition of the Bambara groundnut germplasm. With a keen eye on nutritional traits, she explores the expression of cowpea’s nutritional qualities under diverse agro-ecological conditions, emphasizing resilience and nutritional value in vegetable crops. 🌾

 

Publications Top Notes:🌐🔬