Curriculum Vitae
Dr. ASMA IMRAN
Senior Scientist
Microbial Phytotechnology Group
Soil and Environmental Microbiology Division
National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE),
P.O. Box 577, Jhang Road, Faisalabad.
Phone: 041-651475 ext.268
Fax: +92 41 651472
E-mail : ,
RESEARCH INTERESTS
1. Quorum Sensing among rhizosphere bacteria
2. Molecular ecology and metagenomics of bacteria in crop rhizosphere
3. Identification of PGPR for nitrogen, phosphorus and water use efficiency
RESEARCH GRANTS
1. Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS) project entitled “Microbial diversity and molecular signals controlling Plant-Microbe interaction in the Rhizosphere” (Co-PI) Amount: Rs. 2.2 M. (2009-2011).
ACADEMIC DISTINCTIONS
· 1st position in M. Phil Botany University of Agriculture, FSD
· 2nd position in M.Sc Botany University of Agriculture, FSD
· Merit Scholarship in F.Sc
· Merit Scholarship in M.Sc
STUDENTS SUPERVISED
1. Ayesha (2012) Characterization of quorum sensing signal (N- acylhomoserine lactone) molecules produced by rhizosphere bacteria. M.Phil Thesis, Department of Biotechnology (NIBGE) Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Nilore-45650 Islamabad, Pakistan.
2. Kaneez Fatima (2012) Role of Quorum sensing molecules in plant-microbe interaction. M.Phil Thesis, Department of Biotechnology (NIBGE) Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Nilore-45650 Islamabad, Pakistan.
STUDENTS CO-SUPERVISED
1. Saadia Nasim, 2003. Molecular studies of genetic instability in chickpea root nodule isolates (M. Phil Thesis, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad).
2. Marryum Jumma Abdulla, 2004. Identification and characterization of effective indigenous rhizobial strains from different soils of Zanzibar (M. Phil Thesis, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad).
3. Sajjad, M. 2007. Characterization and RAPD analysis of bacterial strains isolated from lentil (M.Sc Research Project, University of Agriculture, FSD)
4. Hina. 2008. Isolation and characterization of effective Rhizobia from nodules of pea and clover grown in different soils of Rawalakot. University, Azad J. Kashmir, Rawala Kot.
5. Andleeb Sadiq. 2008. Improving Nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) in Maize with best management practices (BMPs): effect of rates and source of nitrogen. University, Azad J. Kashmir, Rawala Kot.
6. Afshan M. Khan. 2008. Characterization and RAPD analysis of bacterial strains isolated from lentil. University, Azad J. Kashmir, Rawala Kot.
7. Sami-Ullah, 2008. Role of quorum sensing signal molecules in bacterial physiology (M.Phil Thesis Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad).
8. Sumara Ashraf, 2008. Characterization of temperature induced stress response in Ochrobactrum and Mesorhizobium (M.Phil Thesis, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad).
9. Zahra Iram, 2008. Phylogenetic relationship of the genus Pseudomonas based on 16S rRNA sequences deposited in data bank from Europe (B.Sc Hons. Internship Report, GC University, FSD).
10. Marryum Zafar, 2008. Bioinformatics of 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize plant root associated beneficial bacteria (B.Sc Hons. Internship Report, GC University, FSD).
11. Lubna Rajput, 2012. Biochemical and molecular characterization of salinity tolerant PGPR strains. (PhD thesis, QAU, Islamabad).
12. Muhammad Shahid, 2013. Role of root associated beneficial bacteria for nutrient mobilization in sunflower (Ph.D thesis PIEAS).
PUBLICATIONS
a) THESIS
1. Asma Aslam 2011. Population dynamics, stability and molecular ecology of rhizosphere associated Ochrobactrum species. Ph.D thesis, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad.
2. Asma Aslam. 2000. Fluorescent probes to document genome engineering in rice. M.Phil Thesis, Agriculture University, Faisalabad.
3. Asma Aslam. 1998. Growth analysis studies of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) under saline conditions. M.Sc Thesis, Agriculture University, Faisalabad.
b) MANUALS
1. Mirza, M. S., Hameed , S., Rasul, G., Mubeen, F., Imran , A., Zaheer, A. and Qasrani, M. M. 2013. Bacterial Identification and Metagenomics, Course Manual, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
2. Sohail Hameed, Asma Imran, M. Javed Iqbal. 2012. Electron and confocal microscopy. S. Hameed, A. Imran, M. J. Iqbal (Editors) 4th Edition. ISBN: 978-969-8189-18-1
3. Mirza, M. S., Hameed , S., Rasul, G., Mubeen, F., Imran , A., Zaheer, A. and Qasrani, M. M. 2012 Bacterial Identification and Metagenomics, Course Manual, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
4. Sohail Hameed, Asma Imran, M. Sajjad Mirza. 2012. Modern Techniques in Biotechnology. S. Hameed, A. Imran, M. S. Mirza (Editors) 10th Edition. ISBN: 978-969-8189-15-0
5. Sohail Hameed, Ghulam Rasul, Fathia Mubeen, Asma Imran. 2009. Modern Techniques in Biotechnology. S. Hameed, G.Rasul, F. Mubeen, A. Imran (Editors) 7th Edition.
6. Fauzia Y. Hafeez, Asma Aslam, Arslan H. Zaidi and Yusuf Zafar. 2006. Modern Techniques in Biotechnology: A Practical and Theoretical Guide. FY. Hafeez, A. Aslam, A. H. Zaidi and Y.Zafar (Editors) 4th edition. ISBN: 978-969-8189-12-4
c) BOOK CHAPTERS
1. F. Kantar, B.G. Shivakumar, C. Arrese-Igor, F.Y. Hafeez, E.M. González, A. Imran and E. Larrainzar. 2010. Efficient Biological Nitrogen Fixation Under Warming Climates. In: Climate Change and Management of Cool Season Grain Legume Crops. M. Yadav, S. S. Yadav, B. Redden, W. Chen, B. Sharma (Editors). DOI 10.1007/978-90-481-3709-1_15, Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
2. Fauzia Y. Hafeez and Asma Aslam. 2008. Genetic instability and nodulation flux in legume inoculants. In: Microorganisms in Sustainable Agriculture Editors: M. S. Khan, A. Zaidi and J. Mussarrat. ISBN 978-1-60456-929-2 Nova Science Publishers, Inc.
3. F. Kantar, F.Y. Hafeez, B.G. Shivakumar, Sp. Sundaram, N.A.Tejera, A. Aslam, A. Bano, P. Raja. 2007. Rhizobium management and Nitrogen Fixation in Chickpea. In: Chickpea (Manav Yadav, Shyam Singh Yadav, Bob Redden, Weidong Chen, Balram Sharma (Editors) CABI, UK.
d) RESEARCH PAPERS
1. Rajput, L., Imran, A., Mubeen, F, Hafeez, F.Y. (2013). Salt-tolerant PGPR strain Planococcus rifietoensis promotes the growth and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivated in saline soil. Pakistan Journal of Botany (In Press) I.F= 0.974.
2. Fathia Mubeen, Sohail Hameed, Asma Imran, Munir A. Shiekh, Tahira Iqbal and Fauzia Y. Hafeez. (2013). Combined application of fungicides and PGP rhizobacteria: in vivo effect on wheat. (accepted in Pakistan Journal of Botany I.F= 0.974).
3. Shahid M., Hameed S., Imran A., Ali S., and J.D. van Elsas (2012) Root Colonization and growth promotion of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) by phosphate solubilizing Enterobacter sp. Fs-11. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 28(8): 2749-2758. (I.F=1.532)
4. Imran, A., Hafeez, F. Y., Frühling, A., Schumann, P., Malik, K. A. and Stackebrandt, E. (2010) Ochrobactrum ciceri sp. nov., isolated from nodules of Cicer arietinum. International Journal of Systematics and Evolutionary Microbiology 60(7): 1548-1553. (I.F. 2.268)
5. Mubeen, F., A. Aslam, M.A. Sheikh, T. Iqbal, S. Hameed, K.A Malik and F.Y. Hafeez, (2006). Response of wheat yield under combine use of Fungicide and Biofertilizer. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology. 8(5): 580-582 (I.F=0.94).
e) PAPERS IN INTERNATIONAL PROCEEDINGS
1. Humera Aslam Awan, Asma Imran, Ahmad Zaheer, Sajjad Mirza and Kauser Abdullah Malik. 2011. Microbial diversity and molecular signals controlling plant microbe interactions in the rhizosphere. In Proceedings of the 2nd Asian PGPR Conference. August 21-24, 2011, Beijing, P.R. China. Pp. 210.
2. Asma Aslam, K. A. Malik and Fauzia Y. Hafeez. 2009. Beyond rhizobiaceae: Ochrobactrum-chickpea symbiosis. In: Microbial Technologies for sustainable agriculture: Exploring the hidden potentials of microbes. Fauzia et al., (ed.). Crystal printers, Islamabad-Pakistan.
3. Sami-Ullah, Asma Aslam and Fauzia Y. Hafeez. 2009. Role of bacterial quorum sensing signals in nodulation and pathogenicity. In: Microbial Technologies for sustainable agriculture: Exploring the hidden potentials of microbes. Fauzia et al., (ed.). Crystal printers, Islamabad-Pakistan.
4. Hafeez, F.Y., Hameed, S., Mirza, M.S., Mubeen, F., Yasmin, S., Aslam, A., Gull, M., Malik, K.A. 2008. Diverse role of diazotrophs in the rhizosphere. In: Biological nitrogen fixation: Towards poverty alleviation through sustainable agriculture. Dakora, Flix, Chimphango, S.B.M., Valentine, A.J., Elmerich, C., Newton, W.E. (eds.). P. 151. Springer Science and Business Media.
5. Aslam. A., Malik, K.A., and Hafeez, F.Y. 2008. Characterization of a novel non-rhizobial symbiont from Cicer arietinum. In: Biological nitrogen fixation: Towards poverty alleviation through sustainable agriculture. Dakora, Flix, Chimphango, S.B.M., Valentine, A.J., Elmerich, C., Newton, W.E. (eds.). P. 285. Springer Science and Business Media.
6. Mubeen, F., Aslam, A., Radle, V., Schloter, M., Malik, K.A., and Hafeez, F.Y. 2008. Role of nature’s fertility partners with crop protectants for sustainable agriculture. In: Biological nitrogen fixation: Towards poverty alleviation through sustainable agriculture. Dakora, Flix, Chimphango, S.B.M., Valentine, A.J., Elmerich, C., Newton, W.E. (eds.). P. 153. Springer Science and Business Media.
7. Fauzia Y. Hafeez, S. Naseem, and Aslam, A. 2007. Nodulation instability in chickpea inoculant strains. In: Connections Between Collections, Proceedings of 11th International Culture Collection Conference. October 7-11 at Goslar, Germany arranged by DSMZ, Germany. P: 252. ISBN: 978-3-00-022417-1.
8. Aslam, A., K. A. Malik, and Fauzia Y. Hafeez. 2007. Ochrobactrum: A novel symbiont of chickpea nodules. In: Connections Between Collections, Proceedings of 11th International Culture Collection Conference. October 7-11 at Goslar, Germany arranged by DSMZ, Germany. P: 246. ISBN: 978-3-00-022417-1
9. Saadia N, Asma A, Kauser A. Malik and Fauzia Y. Hafeez. 2005. “Understanding the genetic instability in Cicer arietinum root nodule bacteria” In Proceedings of 14th international Nitrogen fixation congress. Wang Y.P., Lin M., Tian Z. X., Elmerich C., Newton W. E. (eds). Biological Nitrogen fixation, Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. Page 295-296. Springer, Netherlands.
f) ABSTRACTS PUBLISHED IN INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL CONFERENCES
1. Saira Ali, Sohail Hameed, Mazhar Iqbal Gondal, Asma Imran. 2012. Bacillus subtilis RMB5 as a source of secondary metabolite for biocontrol of phytopathogenic fungi. International Conference on “Agriculture and Food Security Issues in Global Environmental Perspectives” held at Faculty of Agriculture Rawalakot, The University of Poonch Rawalakot from 11-13 July, 2012. Pp: 214.
2. Muhammad Shahid, Sohail Hameed, Asma Imran, Amanat Ali, Khadim Hussain, Iftikhar Ali, Jan Dirk van Elsas. 2012. Potential of native phosphate solubilizing Pseudomonas spp. for growth promotion of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). International Conference on “Agriculture and Food Security Issues in Global Environmental Perspectives” held at Faculty of Agriculture Rawalakot, The University of Poonch Rawalakot from 11-13 July, 2012. Pp: 231.
3. Afshan M. Khan, M. Kaleem Abassi, Sohail Hameed and Asma Imran. 2012. Biodiversity of sunflower plant growth promoting rhizobacteria from South East Asian region of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. International Conference on “Agriculture and Food Security Issues in Global Environmental Perspectives” held at Faculty of Agriculture Rawalakot, The University of Poonch Rawalakot from 11-13 July, 2012. Pp: 233.
4. Kaneez Fatima, Asma Imran, Tahir Naqqash, Kashif Hanif, Sohail Hameed. 2012. Documenting the root colonization of fluorescently labeled PGPR strains from potato rhizosphere. International Conference on “Agriculture and Food Security Issues in Global Environmental Perspectives” held at Faculty of Agriculture Rawalakot, The University of Poonch Rawalakot from 11-13 July, 2012. Pp: 234.
5. Humaira Aslam Awan, Ahmad Zaheer, Asma Imran, Sajjad Mirza and Kasuer Abdulla Malik. 2012. Spaital metagenomic analysis of bacterial community associated with wheat rhizosphere grown in rhizobox. Paper presented in 12th National and 3rd international conference of Botany. Sept. 1-3, 2012. QAU Islamabad. Pp: 109.
6. Malik, K.A., F.Y. Hafeez, S. Hameed, M.S. Mirza, F. Mubeen, S. Yasmin, A. Aslam and M. Gull, 2007. Diverse role of diazotrophs in the rhizosphere. Paper presented in 15th International Congress on Nitrogen Fixation and 12th International Conference of the African Association for Biological Nitrogen Fixation “BNF Applications for Poverty Alleviation” 21-26 January, 2007 at Cape Peninsula University of Technology & Sister Institutions in Cape Town, South Africa. p. 107.
7. Aslam, A. K.A. Malik and F.Y. Hafeez, 2007. Characterization of a novel non-rhizobial symbiont from Cicer arietinum. Poster presented in 15th International Congress on Nitrogen Fixation and 12th International Conference of the African Association for Biological Nitrogen Fixation “BNF Applications for Poverty Alleviation” to be held from 21-26 January, 2007 at Cape Peninsula University of Technology & Sister Institutions in Cape Town, South Africa. p. 114.
8. Mubeen, F., A. Aslam, V. Radl, M. Schloter, K.A. Malik and F.Y. Hafeez, 2007. Role of nature’s fertility partners and soil protectants for sustainable agriculture. Poster presented in 15th International Congress on Nitrogen Fixation and 12th International Conference of the African Association for Biological Nitrogen Fixation “BNF Applications for Poverty Alleviation” to be held from 21-26 January, 2007 at Cape Peninsula University of Technology & Sister Institutions in Cape Town, South Africa. p. 135.
9. Aslam, A ., K.A. Malik and F.Y. Hafeez, 2007. Beyond the rhizobaceae: Ocbrobactrum-chickpea symbiosis. Paper presented and abstract published in abstract book of International Symposium “Microbial technologies for sustainable agriculture” Exploring the hidden potentials of microbes, March 12-16, 2007 at NIBGE, Faisalabad, Pakistan, p. 61.
10. Sami-Ulla Khan, Asma Aslam and Fauzia Y Hafeez. 2007. The role of signal molecules in pathogenecity and symbiosis. Poster presented and abstract published in abstract book of International Symposium on Microbial technologies for sustainable agriculture. P:122.
11. Saadia N, Asma A, Kauser A. Malik and Fauzia Y. Hafeez. 2004. “Understanding the genetic instability in Cicer arietinum root nodule bacteria” A008, Pp: 144. Abstract Book of 14th International Congress on Nitrogen fixation. Oct 27-Nov 1, 2004. Beijing, China.
12. Fathia Mubeen, Sohail Hameed, Asma Aslam, Munir A. Sheikh, Tahira Iqbal.Kausar A. Malik and Fauzia Y. Hafeez. Yield effects of seed applied fungicide and microbial inoculants on wheat. In: Proceedings of International Wheat seminar wheat. AARI. Feb 20-21, 2006. pp:104.
13. Mubeen, F.M., S. Hameed, A. Aslam, M.A.Sheikh, T. Iqbal, K.A.malik and F.Y. Hafeez. 2006. Effect of crop protactants on nature,s fertility partners. Pp:82. In: Abstract book of International Symposium on “Application of Plant Sciences in Emerging Scenario” held from 20-22 March, 2006. GC University Faisalabad.
14. Aslam. A., F.Y. Hafeez and K.A.Malik. 2006: Metagenomics: A new perspective for studying the un-culturable soil microorganisms. Pp: 43. In: Abstract book of International Symposium on “Application of Plant Sciences in Emerging Scenario” held from 20-22 March, 2006. GC University Faisalabad.
15. Fathia Mubeen, Asma Aslam, Kausar A. Malik and Fauzia Y. Hafeez. 2006. Effects of different fungicides on beneficial activities of bacterial inoculants. In: Proceedings of International Symposium on “Application of Plant Sciences in Emerging Scenario” March, 20-22, 2006, at GC University, Faisalabad. Abst. P. 42.
16. Marryam, J. Abdulla, Asma Aslam, Sohail Hameed, K.A. Malik and Fauzia Y Hafeez. Exploring Zanzibar Soils for Effective Rhizobium-legume symbiosis. In: 11th Congress of Soil Science. March 13-16, 2006. Pakistan Agriculture Research Council. Islamabad.
17. Asma Aslam, Sajjad Mirza, Fauzia Y. Hafeez and K.A. Malik. Molecular ecology of wheat associated rhizobacteria. In: 11th Congress of Soil Science. March 13-16, 2006. Pakistan Agriculture Research Council. Islamabad.
18. Fathia Mubeen, Sohail Hameed, Asma Aslam, M.A.Sheikh, T. Iqbal, K.A.Malik and F.Y.Hafeez. Effect of crop protactants on plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. In: International conference “Biotechnology: Shaping Future Agriculture”. June 20-21, 2006. University of Arid Agriculture, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.