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Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences bannerContact Us linkSearch Site linkSite Map linkCTAHR News linkCTAHR Home link

Dr. Mitiku D. Habte
Professor of Soil Science
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Contact Information:

 University of Hawaii at Manoa
Department of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences
3190 Maile Way, St. John 102
Honolulu, HI 96822

Office: Sherman Lab 216/212
Telephone: (808) 956-6498
Fax: (808) 956-6539

email: mitiku@hawaii.edu
photo of Dr. Mitiku D. Habte
Educational Background
  • B.S. (with distinction), College of Agriculture, Ethiopia, Plant Science Major and General Agriculture Minor (1970).
  • M.S., Cornell University, Soil Science (Soil Microbiology option) Major And General Microbiology Minor (1974).
  • Ph.D., Cornell University, Soil Science (Soil Microbiology option) Major and General Microbiology and Crop Science Minors (1976).
Research Interests
Interactions of beneficial soil microorganism (rhizobia, cyanobacteria, P solubilizing microorganisms, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) with economically and ecologically important plant species. The emphasis is on arbuscular mycorhizal fungi (AMF), and the goal is to contribute to a clear understanding of the ecological interrelationships involved in order to manage populations of the fungi for enhanced plant productivity, and maintenance of soil and environmental quality. 

Examples of the research activities we are carrying out include: maximizing AMF symbiotic effectiveness through soil solution P management, managing the AMF symbiosis for nematode suppression, evaluating the role of AMF in the rehabilitation of eroded soil surfaces, characterizing the mycorrhizal dependence of different plant species, assessing the synergistic interaction existing between AMF fungi and P solubilizing fungi, interaction of tree species with AMF under field conditions. Genotypic variation among AMF endophytes in stimulating nutrient uptake and growth of plants, nutrient management for mycorrhization of seedlings, etc.
Courses
  • TPSS 304 - Fundamentals of Science (part of a team)
  • TPSS 450 - Soil Nutrient Management
  • TPSS 604 - Advanced Soil Microbiology
Selected Publications
  • Habte, M. and and D. Schmitt. 2002. Antagonistic interaction between plant parasitic nematodes and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, in: V. S. Merotra (ed). Mycorrhiza. Allied Publishers, New Delhi. in press
  • Osorio, N. W. and M. Habte 2001. Synergistic influence of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and a P solubilizing fungus on growth and P uptake of Leucaena leucocephala. Arid Land Research and Management, 15:263-274.
  • Habte, M. and N. W. Osorio. 2001. Arbuscular Mycorrhizas: Producing and Applying Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Inoculum, a book, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. Honolulu, HI in press.
  • Miyasaka, S. C. and M. Habte. 2001. Plant mechanisms and mycorrhizal symbiosis to increase phosphorus uptake efficiency. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. in press.
  • Habte, H.. and S. C. Miyasaka. 2001. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi improve forest tree establishment in the field. Proceedings of the 14th International Plant Nutrition Colloquium. University of Hanover, Hanover, Germany. in press.
  • Peters, S. M. and M. Habte. 2001. Optimizing solution P concentration in a peat-based medium for producing mycorrhizal seedlings in containers. Arid Land Research and Management, 15: in press.
  • Habte, M. and H. C. Bittenbender. 1999. Reactions of coffee to soil solution P concentration and arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization. Journal of South Pacific Agriculture. 6:29-34.
  • Habte, M., Zhang, Y. C. and D. P. Schmitt. 1999. Effectiveness of Glomus species in protecting white clover against nematode damage. Can. J. Bot. 77:135-139.
  • Habte, M. and Byappanhalli, B. N. 1998. Influence of pre_storage drying conditions and duration of storage on the effectiveness of root inoculum of Glomus aggregatum. Jouranl of Plant Nutr. 21:1375-1389.
  • Habte, M. 1997. Use of benlate to obtain soil free of arbuscular_mycorrhizal fungal activity for greenhouse investigations. Arid Soil Res. Rehab. 11:151-161.
  • Habte, M. and M. Sodearjo. 1996. Response of Acacia mangium to vesicular_arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation, soil pH and soil P concentration in an oxisol. Can. J. Bot. 74:155_161.
  • Clement, C. R. and M. Habte. 1995. Genotypic variation in vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal dependence of the Pejibaye palm. J. Plant Nutrition 18:1907-1916.
  • Habte, M. and M. Soedarjo. 1995. Limitations of vesicular-arbuscuoar mycorrhizal activity in Leucaena leucocephala by Ca nsufficiency in an acid Mn-rich oxisol. Mycorrhiza 5: 387-394.
  • Habte, M. and M. Soedarjo. 1995. Mycorrhizal inoculation effect in Acacia mangium grown in an oxisol amended with gypsum. J. Plant Nutrition 18:2059-2073.
  • Habte, M. 1995. Dependency of Cassia siamea on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. J. Plant Nutrition 18:2191-2198.
  • Olsen, T. and M. Habte. 1995. Mycorrhizal incoulation effect on nodulation and N accumulation in Cajanus cajan at soil P concentrations sufficient or inadequate for mycorrhiza-free growth. Mycorrhiza 5:395-399.
  • Onguene, N. A. and M. Habte. 1995. Nitrogen and phosphorus requirements for raising mycorrhizal seedlings of Leucaena leucocephala containers. Mycorrhiza 5:347-356.
  • Soedarjo, M. and M. Habte. 1995. Mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal host growth in response to changes in pH and P concentration in a manganiferous soil. Mycorrhiza 5:337-345.
  • Clement, C. R. and M. Habte. 1994. Effect of soil solution phosphorus on seedling growth of the pejibye palm in an oxisol. J. Plant Nutrition 17:639-655.
  • Habte, M. and M. N. Byappanahalli. 1994. Dependency of cassava ( Crantz) on vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza 4:241-245.
  • Habte, M. and M. Musoko. 1994. Changes in the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal dependency of Albizia ferruginea and Entrolobium cyclocarpum in response to soil phosphorus concentration. J. Plant Nutr. 17:1769-1780.
  • Habte, M., M. N. Byappanahalli and J. Ram. 1994. Response of Sauropus androgynus to soil phosphorus concentration and mycorrhizal inoculation. J. Plant Nutr. 17:511-521
  • Habte, M. and R. L. Fox. 1993. Effectiveness of VAMF fungi in non-sterile soils before and after optimization of P in solution. Plant and Soil, 151:219-226.
  • Habte, M., B. N. Muruleedhara and H. Ikawa. 1993. Response of neem (Azadirachta indica) to soil P concentration and mycorrhizal colonization. Arid Soil Research Rehabilitation, 7:327-333.
  • Soedarjo, M. and M. Habte. 1993. Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal effectiveness in an acid soil amended with fresh organic matter. Plant and Soil 149:197-203.
  • Habte, M. and A. Manjunath. 1992. Initial and residual toxicity of soil-applied thiram on the vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Mycorrhiza, 2:25-31.
  • Habte, M., T. Aziz and J. E. Yuen. 1992. Residual toxicity of soil-applied chlorothalonil on mycorrhizal symbiosis in Leucaena leucocephala. Plant Soil. 140:263-268.
  • Manjunath, A. and M. Habte. 1992. External and internal P requirements of plant species differing in their mycorrhizal dependency. Arid Soil Res. Rehab. 6:271-284.
  • Aziz, T., M. Habte and J. E. Yuen. 1991. Inhibition of mycorrhizal symbiosis in Leucaena leucocephala by chlorothalonil. Plant Soil, 131: 47-52
  • Fox, R. L., R. S De La Pena, R. T. Gavenda, M. Habte, N. V. Hue, H. Ikawa, R. C. Jones, D. L. Plucknet, J. A. Silva and P. Soltanpour. 1991. Amelioration, revegetation, and subsequent soil formation in denuded bauxite materials. Allertonia 6:128-184.
  • Habte, M. 1991. Usefulness of the pinnule technique in mycorrhizal research. Methods Microbiol. 44:323-338.
  • Habte, M. and T. Aziz. 1991. Relative importance of Ca, N, and P in enhancing mycorrhizal activity in Leucaena leucocephala grown in an oxisol subjected to simulated erosion. J. Plant. Nutr. 14: 429-442.
  • Habte. M., and S. A. El-Swaify. 1991. Abundance and activity of indigenous rhizobial populations in an oxisol subjected to simulated erosion. Arid Soil Res. Rehab. 5:155-165.
  • Habte, M. and A. Manjunath. 1991. Categories of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal dependency of host species. Mycorrhiza, 1:3-12.
  • Habte, M. and D. Turk. 1991. Response of two species of Cassia and Gliricidia sepium to vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal infection. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 22:1861-1872.
  • Manjunath, A. and M. Habte. 1991. Root morphological characteristics of host species having distinct mycorrhizal dependency. Can. J. Bot. 69: 671-676.
  • Manjunath, A. and M. Habte. 1991. Relationship between mycorrhizal dependency and rate variables associated with P uptake, utilization and growth. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 22:1423-1437.
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Last updated on 12/24/02