(Braunschweig) Dr. Sulaiman Abdulsalam never planned to be a plant pathologist. Neither was he interested in farming. “Too stressful,” so his conviction, too dependent on external factors and circumstances. He applied for human medicine and was deeply disappointed when the university suggested studying agriculture to him. A talk with a former mentor changed his mind: “I understood that I can help humanity by being a plant doctor”, explains the Nigerian researcher from Ahmadou Bello University.
Since May, the Humboldt fellow has been working at the JKI-Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics in Brunswick, hosted by Dr. Holger Heuer. As a postdoc with the Georg-Forster Fellowship, he wants to focus on plant microbiome interaction with different root lesion and cyst nematodes, primarily in cereal crops and potatoes. We wanted to know more about him and his work.
Mr. Abdulsalam, please summarize for us in your words: Why are you so interested in this nematode-plant microbiome interaction?
Well, in Nigeria, control of plant pathogenic nematodes with chemical nematicideis often marginal and therefore not acceptable due to their detrimental effects on the environment and human health. If we use chemical-based nematicides too frequently and extensively, this will very likely lead to resistant nematode strains – something we want to prevent. Also, chemical residues might accumulate in soils and groundwater, affecting the environment and plant health.
The overall idea with the Humboldt research project therefore is, to develop a biological plant protection alternative for nematode management. As it is known that microbes can stimulate or strengthen resistance responses in plants or even act directly against pathogens, my research aims to have a closer look at the interaction between plant microbiome and plant pathogenic nematodes. I want to discover which organisms are why helpful against root lesion and cyst nematodes in potato and might be – for example – applicable in a pre-crop plant protection strategy one day. Therefore, I hope that this novel approach and my research will demonstrate a significant and environment-friendly way to control potato nematodes in the field - if successful, we might be able to increase productivity, profitability, and competitiveness of potato growers in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.
You said that you had your very first contact with JKI when you did your PhD in Bejing – how come that you finally ended up with us in Brunswick?
Yes, correct, I was writing a review paper in Bejing when my PhD supervisor, Peng Deliang, shared a book titled “Plant Parasitic Nematodes in Subtropical and Tropical Agriculture” with me - one of the book chapters was reviewed by a senior scientist from JKI (e.d.: meant is Prof. Dr. Johannes Hallmann).
When I started to prepare for my Humboldt application, I also searched through Dr. Holger Heuer’s research profile, a prominent researcher in the field of phytopathology. He encouraged me to write a research proposal in the area of microbiome and plant pathogenic nematodes, as I found this research area very interesting. Additionally, I was taken by the quality of research facilities available at JKI and this finally led me to Brunswick.
How do you like Brunswick so far?
So, my wife and my two little children arrived in Brunswick a couple of weeks ago, so that is definitely making a difference. My six-year-old will have to go to school soon, so I’m trying to make that happen. But we already enjoyed some strolls through the “Schloss” shopping mall in Brunswick, as there is so much going on. Not particularly Brunswick, but a general positive surprise with Germany was that I found a German radio channel covering my mother tongue: The “Deutsche Welle” is broadcasting in Hausa!
1Abdulsalam, Sulaiman et al. 2021: Nematode pests of some major cereals in Nigeria: need for integration of morphological/morphometrical, biochemical, and molecular diagnostic approaches for accurate identification, DOI: doi.org/10.1111/ppa.13412