IBR researcher performing molecular screening on collected samples
Maturation of TC banana plantlets in the lab
Tissue culture seedlings of local maize varieties
Hardening of tissue culture banana seedlings
Tissue culture banana plantlets in the laboratory
Tissue culture media preparation
Tissue culture plantlets of local maize varieties
Hardening of tissue culture aloe vera
Somatic embryogenesis in sugarcane
Tissue culture of banana
Microbial characterization exercise in IBR molecular lab
Tissue culture plantlets of sugarcane
Coconut stock plant establishment for tissue culture project
Presentation by International postgraduate student seeking admission
IBR Research finding on striga parasitization process

a. In vitro mass propagation of Kenyan coconut varieties with aim of generating improved cultivars for Kenyan farmer.
b. Commercial production of tissue culture banana is fully operational.
c. Development of Sustainable bio-energy in Africa via research on sweet sorghum hybrids with high fermentable sugar content (Brix) in their stems. Preliminary growth and adaptation tests in Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and Ethiopia, surprisingly show that the yields from sweet sorghum hybrids are in addition significantly higher when compared to local varieties. The feasibility of producing bio-ethanol from the sweet sorghum hybrids is actively being pursued.
d. Development of crops that are adapted to climate change. The main objective is to improve yields of major food crops in Africa, in particular maize and sorghum through research based on genetics, genomics, tissue culture and plant transformation technology tools to dissect the molecular networks conditioning yield under water deficit stress.
e.Taming Striga hermonthica virulence in sorghum via whole genome re-sequencing of wild and improved sorghum cultivars in order to identify genes that condition resistance of sorghum to Striga.

Lead Research Projects at IBR

Exploring the potential use of extremophilic bacteria as Biocontrol in crop husbandry. Profiling Ecological and Evolutionary Association of Pathogenic viruses affecting animal husbandry in Kenya Identification of genetic signatures and development of molecular markers for breeding program in ... Continue reading →

Commercial products

Currently IBR is producing commercial clean seedlings of eleven banana varieties using tissue culture technology. The cost of a ready-to plant seedling is Ksh.130.

2021 New Intern Posted to IBR by Public Service Commission of Kenya →

Review of IBR MSc Biotechnology syllabus →

2019 IBR MSc and Ph.D graduates →

Postgraduate progress report presentations held on 23rd October 2019 →

Schedule for postgraduate seminar presentations for 2019 academic year →

September 22nd 2016 Postgraduate progress report presentation →

PhD research progress presentations, 20th April 2016! →

Presentations of postgraduate (MSc. and PhD) research proposal on 23rd March 2016 →

Ph.D. students:
1.Benard Agwanda ‘Characterizing Ecologicaland Evolutionary Association of Pathogenic Viruses and Two Species of Fruit bats: Eidolon helvum and Rousettus aegyptiacus in East Africa’
2. Philip Murunga’Characterization Of Enteric Pathogens And Microbes In Poultry In Relation To Antimicrobial Resistance’.

Others included in the list are: Samuel Mwangangi Muturi, Fredrick Omukubi Otswong’o, Margaret Odeph, Mary Wandia Kivata, Stephen Ogada, Francis Mwatuni, Grace Moraa Kennedy and Joyce Macharia

MSc. Biotechnology students:

1.Elizabeth Mwangi’ Micropropagation in vitro and assessment of genetic diversity of cactus species (cactaceae) in drought prone counties in Kenya’
2.Chepkorir Tanui’Determination of the occurrence of MYDV-RMV in Bomet County and Response of selected maize and sorghum lines to maize lethal necrosis disease’
3.Tofick Wekesa’Evaluation of extremophilic bacteria in L. Bogoria & L. Magadi for biocontrol of F. solani and Rhizoctonia solani in beans’