Research Project Title: The Role of Soil Microbiome in Mediating Tritrophic Interactions between Host Plant, Fall Armyworm Pest, and Parasitoids in Maize Cropping Systems.

Jalloh is an ARPPIS PhD scholar being supervised by Drs. Daniel Mutyambai, Fathiya Khamis and Sevgan Subramanian (icipe), and Dr. Yusuf Abdullahi Ahmed (University of Pretotia, South Africa).

His reseach will open potential pathways of reducing the attraction of Fall Armyworm (FAW) to host maize plants. The knowledge gained will lead to a reduction in the use of pesticides currently used to manage FAW, most of which are classified as highly hazardous. The study will also provide insights into the mediating role of the soil microbiome in the control of FAW through the push-pull cropping systems and maize-legumes interacting.

Jalloh completed his BSc in Biology at the Stella Maris Polytechnic University (SMPU) in Monrovia, Liberia. He holds an MSc degree in Microbiology from Kenyatta University (KU), Nairobi, Kenya. He is currently registered for a PhD in Entomology at University of Pretoria (UP) South Africa.