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Idowu OBISESAN

Assistant Professor
college of AGRICULTURE, ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE (COAES)
Pure and Applied Biology Programme

Ph.D. Botany (Plant Physiology) Biological Sciences, Bowen University Iwo.

Carry out research on Plant Physiology. Plant response to abiotic stressese and breeding crops resistant to abiotic stress conditions. Studies on plant fungal diseases and development of biopesticides. A Plantae Fellow of the American Society of Plant Biogists.

Education
  • PhD (2018) Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Botany)
  • MSc. (2015) Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Botany)
  • BSc. (2010) Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (Botany)
Research
  • Legume sustainability research.
  • Effects of abiotic and biotic stresses on legumes.
  • Medicinal plant research.

Legume sustainability research: As part of the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (zero hunger), my research focuses on legumes sustainability to end hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. I carried out research on introduction of a leguminous crop (Mexican yam bean) higher in protein contents than indigenous tubers to combat malnutrition in the country. This legume was found to be drought tolerant through physio-biochemical adjustment at seedling stage and a standard protocol for in vitro propagation of Mexican yam bean was established.

Effects of abiotic on Legume: In the face climate change, my abiotic stress studies on legumes, highlighted soybean cultivars tolerant to drought stress on the basis of morphological, physiological growth, and root system architecture. Studies on agrochemicals alternatives to alleviate drought stress on crop was also carried out, dried powder of Moringa leaves alleviates drought stress in Solanum scabrum. Moringa oleifera and fruit peels also increased growth parameters of Solanum scrabrum under drought stresses. 

Effects of biotic on Legume: On biotic stress studies; first report of two pathogenic fungi of cowpea in Nigeria (Nigrospora sphaerica and Curvularia penniseti) causing leaf spot diseases and affecting yield was reported. The use of plant oils (lemon oil and black seeds oil) as an important economical and environmentally friendly alternatives to non-biodegradable synthetic fungicides against fungi isolated from infected crops was also established.

Medicinal plant research: Optimization of extraction conditions for phytochemicals from Senna fistula using cheminformatics.

Institutional Service
  • Head of Programme (Pure and Applied Biology) (2024 – Till date)
  • Coordinator, Bowen University Herbarium
  • Member, COAES College Welfare Committee
  • Departmental Staff seminar coordinator
Professional Service
  • Mentor, Planting Science, Botanical Society of America (2023- Till date)
  • Plantae Fellow, American Society of Plant Biologists
  • General Secretary, 2022 Plant Science Society of Nigeria 
  • Mentor, (2020 -Till date) 1000 Girls 1000 Futures (The New York Academy of Sciences) 
  • Mentor, (2021 – Till date) The Junior Academy (The New York Academy of Sciences)
Selected Publications
  1. Obisesan I.A., Esan,V.I., Ogunbode T.O., and Oluranti O.O. (2025) Above-Ground, Below-Ground, and Biochemical Properties of Soybeans Seedlings (Glycine max L.) under Drought Stress, Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, 90, 2. https://acs.agr.hr/acs/index.php/acs/article/view/2563
  2. Oke D.G., Adekunle D.O. and Obisesan I.A. (2025) Okoubaka aubrevillei; Occurrence, Myth, Ethno-Medicinal Properties, and Other Uses; Mini Review. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research 9(5): 1889-1893 https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v9i5.1
  3. Popoola, J.O., Eruemulor, D.I., Aworunse, O.S., Oyelakin, A.S, Ojuederie, O.B., Omotayo, O.E., Obisesan, I.A., Olaoluwa, F.D. (2025). The genetic variability and phylogenetic relationships of African yam bean using the rbcL marker. Academia Biology, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.20935/AcadBiol7709  
  4. Olatunji O.A., Okunlola G.O., Rufai A.B., Obisesan I.A., Adeyinka A., Wang D., Ogunkunle C.O. and Jimoh M.A. (2024) Foliar Application of Thidiazuron Alleviates Cd Toxicity by Modulating Stress Enzyme Activities and Stimulating Pigment Biosynthesis in Cajanus cajan (L.). Journal of Plant Growth Regulation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-024-11591-6
  5. Oyelakin A.S., Popoola J.O., Babalola F.O., Obisesan I.A., Omotayo O., Oluwatuyi V.O., Alfuad S and OlaOluwa F. (2024) Dataset on MatK-based intra- and inter-specific genetic relationships among Four Solanum L. species from Southwestern Nigeria. Data in Brief. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2024.110815
  6. Popoola J.O., Oyelakin A.S., Ifemazi C.F., Aworunse O.S., Ojuderie O.B., Obisesan I.A., Agbolade J.O. and Krishnamurthy R. (2024) Resilience in Hyacinth Bean (Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet): A Combined Approach of Relative Water Content and Gene Expression Analysis for Drought Tolerance. Journal of Underutilized Legumes, 6(1):1-16. https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jul/article/view/276733
  7. Obisesan I.A. and Ojo P.T. (2023) Identification and pathogenicity of Nigrospora sphaerica and Curvularia penniseti associated with leaf spot disease of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Nigeria. Archives of Phytopathology and Plant Protection, 56(5): 397-409 https://doi.org/10.1080/03235408.2023.2195035   
  8. Esan V.I., Obisesan I.A. and Ogunbode T.O. (2023) Root system architecture and physiological characteristics of soybean (Glycine maxL.) seedlings in response to PEG6000-simulated drought stress. International Journal of Agronomy, Article ID 9697246: 13 https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9697246
  9. Oluranti O.O., Majolagbe O.N., Elutade O.O., Obisesan I.A., Omotayo O.E., Ajayi-Odoko O.A. et al. (2023) Molecular Characterization of Multi-Drug Resistant Fungal Isolates Obtained from Raw Cow Milk in Bowen University, Nigeria. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1219 012001 https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1219/1/012001  
  10. Faboro E.O., Adekunle D.O., Obisesan I.A. and Oyinlola T.A. (2023) Optimization of extraction conditions for phytochemicals from Senna fistula using cheminformatics. SN Applied Sciences, 5:209 https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-023-05421-9
  11. Esan V.I., Oke G.O., Ogunbode T.O. and Obisesan I.A. (2023) AMMI and GGE biplot analyses of Bambara groundnut [Vigna substerranea (L.) Verdc.] for agronomic performances under three environmental conditions. Frontiers in Plant Sciences, 13: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2022.997429
  12. Okunlola G.O., Olatunji O.A., Obisesan I.A., Olowolaju E.D., Ogunkunle C.O. and Rufai A.B. (2022) Foliar application of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) modulates growth, inorganic ion and osmolyte accumulation of soybean (Glycine max) cultivars under drought stress. South African Journal of Botany, 151:425-432 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2022.10.027
  13. Obisesan I.A., Tubi E.O., Eyinade O.O. and Adeniran O.M. (2022) Antifungal activities of black seed, castor and lemon oils against pathogenic plant fungi. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research, 6(12):2051–2056. ISSN 2616-0692 https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v6i12.26
  14. Obisesan I.A., Sakpere A.M.A., Amujoyegbe B.J. and Akinropo M.S. (2021) Explants selection for in vitro propagation of Pachyrhizus erosus L. Notulae Scientia Biologicae, 13(1):10844  https://doi.org/10.15835/nsb13110844  
  15. Obisesan I.A., Sakpere A.M.A., Amujoyegbe B.J., Obuotor E.M. and Ogundepo G.E. (2021) Drought Response of a Tropical Legume (Pachyrhizus erosus L.): Physio-Biochemical Adjustments at Seedling Stage. Journal of Plant Sciences, 16 (1): 1-9 https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=jps.2021.1.9  
  16. Sakpere A.M.A, Akinropo M.S., Obisesan I.A., Johnson T.A. and Akande M.A. (2019) Effect of dried powder of Moringa leaves combined with fruit peels on water stressed Solanum scabrum.  Acta Horticulturae 1238:39-44, Proceedings of the Afri-Veg 2017 Forum on African Vegetables; 20-22 November, 2017. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1238.5