Academic Qualifications
- PhD Biotechnology
- MSc Biotechnology
- BSc Biotechnology
Biography
Dr. Mbukeni Nkomo is a Senior Lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) with a background in plant biotechnology. His work focuses on understanding how crops respond to environmental stresses and how plant–microbe interactions, including fungal and bacterial endophytes and rhizophagy processes, support plant health and sustainable production. He has contributed to teaching and supervised postgraduate and undergraduate students across several South African institutions. He served as Chair of the South African Association of Botanists 2024 Conference and has been involved in collaborative research and academic development initiatives. His research integrates plant stress physiology with molecular approaches such as proteomics, metabolomics and ionomics in cereal crops.
Research Interests
- Plant–microbe interactions and biological control: Use of beneficial microbes (e.g., Bacillus, Paenibacillus) to suppress pathogens and improve crop health
- Endophytes and rhizophagy-mediated plant health: Exploring microbial cycling within roots (rhizophagy) and endophytic interactions in nutrient acquisition and plant defense
- Proteomics and metabolomics in plant stress responses: Investigation of biochemical pathways and metabolic signatures linked to stress tolerance
- Molecular and biochemical mechanisms of stress adaptation: Including antioxidant systems, phenylpropanoid pathways, and stress-related enzymes
Research Profiles
Dr Mbukeni Nkomo
Senior Lecturer
Discipline
Biological Sciences
nkomom@ukzn.ac.za
Contact
031 260 2067