Prof Hussein Shimelis

Academic Qualifications

BSc (Plant Sciences, Haramaya University/Ethiopia)
MSc (Plant Breeding, Wageningen University/The Netherlands)
PhD (Plant Breeding, University of the Free State/South Africa)

Biography

Professor Shimelis is a passionate educator and researcher in Plant Breeding, Plant Genetics and Crop Science with over 25 years of experience. He holds a PhD degree in Plant Breeding from the University of the Free State/South Africa, MSc in Plant Breeding from Wageningen University/The Netherlands and BSc in Plant Sciences from Haramaya University/Ethiopia. He serves as Deputy Director of the African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI) and Chair of Crop Science. Shimelis is a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa, an Associate Fellow of the Ethiopian Academy of Sciences and a National Research Foundation C-rated researcher. His teaching and research interests are in the genetic improvement of economic crops for yield gains, biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, and climate change adaptation.

Research Interests

Plant Breeding
Plant Genetics
Biometrical Genetics
Crop Science

Publications

He has published over 400 articles in impact journals. His recent publications are listed below:

Mulu Fetahi, Mulusew Fikere and Hussein Shimelis. 2025. Prevalence and pathotype diversity of wheat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici) in Eastern Ethiopia. Journal of Phytopathology 173: e70113 1 of 14 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jph.70113
Malven Mushayi, Hussein Shimelis, John Derera ans Seltene Abady Tesfamariam. 2025. Breeding for resistance to maize streak virus: Challenges, progress and future directions: A Review. Frontiers in Plant Science – Plant Breeding 16:1590870. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2025.1590870
Nomathemba Gloria Majola, Hussein Shimelis, Abe Shegro Gerrano and Jacob Mashilo. 2025. Combining ability and gene action in Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.) genotypes for agronomic traits. Euphytica 221:71 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10681-025-03517-4
Adane Gebreyohannes, Hussein Shimelis, Davis M. Gimode, Prasad Grandham, Vinod Kumar Valluri, Habte Nida, Chris O. Ojiewo, Benjamin Kilian and Damaris A. Odeny. 2025. Genetic structure of Ethiopian finger millet landraces and genome-wide association mapping for agronomic and nutritional traits. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 138:111DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00122-025-04892-1

Research Profiles

Discipline

Agricultural Science / Crop Science

Email

Shimelish@ukzn.ac.za

Contact

033 260 6474

Campus

Pietermaritzburg

Office Address

Room No. 104, First Floor, Rabie Saunders, Agriculture/ Pietermaritzburg Campus

Agriculture and Science