Belachew Asalf Tadesse
Research Scientist
(+47) 934 79 432
belachew.asalf.tadesse@nibio.no
Place
Ås H7
Visiting address
Høgskoleveien 7, 1433 Ås
Biography
Belachew Asalf is originally from Ethiopia. I took BSc. in Horticulture from Jimma University in Ethiopia in 2004. In 2005, I got a scholarship from NORAD to study MSc. in Norway. In 2007, I received my master’s degree in plant sciences from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). I took my Ph.D. in plant pathology in January 2013. I did my post-doctoral research in NIBIO from 2014 to 2016. I also worked as a research scholar at Cornell University, USA, in 2010. I have worked on many different projects in NIBIO and involved in teaching plant pathology courses and co-advising MSc. and Ph.D. students since 2008.
I am a research scientist in plant pathology in the Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health in NIBIO. I am responsible for plant pathogenic fungi and oomycetes that attack field-grown vegetables and postharvest diseases in Norway. To name some of the vegetables of interest: carrot, cabbage, brussels sprout, cauliflower, broccoli, Chinese cabbage, Rutabaga/swede, turnip, kale, radish, sweet pea, green bean, cucumber, Zucchini, pumpkin, parsnip, parsley root, leaf parsley, celery, celeriac, lettuce, baby leaf, Rucola (rocket/arugula), spinach, beetroot, sweetcorn/maize, onion, leek, spring onion, garlic, chive, asparagus, dill, and so on).
My key research interest includes diagnostics, pathogen biology, ecology, epidemiology, understanding mechanisms of plant resistance to pathogen, disease warning system, integrated pest and disease management, fungicide resistance, and alternative plant disease management strategies.
Authors
Desalegn Chala Diress Tsegaye Alemu Habtamu Alem Belachew Asalf Tadesse Melesse Eshetu_Moges Nega Tassie Abate Ayalew Wondie Aklilu Tilahun Tadesse Abebayehu Aticho Alemu Gonsamo Lanhui Wang Erick Lundgren Jeffrey Kerby Jens Christian SvenningAbstract
Abstract Water hyacinth is among the world’s most damaging aquatic invasive plants, forming dense mats that disrupt ecosystem functioning, fisheries, navigation, and livelihoods across tropical and subtropical freshwater systems. Its rapid spread is driven by clonal propagation, short life cycles, and prolific seed production, particularly under nutrient-enriched conditions. Although mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods are widely applied, their long-term effectiveness remains uncertain when underlying eutrophication persists. Here, we present a large-scale, one-time water hyacinth removal campaign in Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, as a representative nutrient-rich tropical freshwater system. Using high-resolution satellite imagery, we quantified coverage one month before removal, one month after removal, and one year later. We integrated SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis with a socio-ecological system map to assess mitigation mechanisms and identify sustainable management pathways capable of providing long-term solutions to halt water hyacinth proliferation in freshwater bodies. The campaign removed over 75% (~1271 ha) of water hyacinth, yet within one year the plant resurged to levels ~18% higher than pre-removal. This rebound highlights the ecological resilience of water hyacinth and the limitations of short term, noncontinuous control strategies. Our analysis identifies unmanaged catchment nutrient inputs as the primary driver of proliferation. Lake Tana serves as a model system demonstrating that water hyacinth functions less as a traditional invader and more as a bioindicator of eutrophication. We propose a transferable conceptual and methodological framework combining continuous removal, catchment-based nutrient management, and circular bioeconomy approaches, offering globally relevant lessons for sustainable management of nutrient-enriched tropical freshwater systems.
Authors
Belachew Asalf TadesseAbstract
No abstract has been registered
Authors
Belachew Asalf TadesseAbstract
No abstract has been registered
