BIODATA
Name Dr. Muhammad Arif
Nationality Pakistani
Date of Birth December 31, 1966
Permanent Address Principal Scientist
Agricultural Biotechnology Division,
National Institute For Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Jhang Road, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Phone #. 041-2651475-79 ext 284
Fax No. 041-2651472 web: www.nibge.org
Email Address
Mobile No. +92-333-6525761
Academic Qualifications
Ph.D. Genetics April 2002, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines/University of Philippines Los Banos
M. Sc. Genetics 1991, University of Karachi, Karachi.
B. Sc. Microbiology, 1988, University of Karachi, Karachi. Chemistry and
Zoology
Honour
Awarded a gold medal in M.Sc for securing the highest marks in the subject Plant Breeding.
Awarded membership of The Honor Society of Agriculture Gamma Sigma Delta Phi (Philippines Chapter) for outstanding performance in PhD course work.
Member, Board of Studies, Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Member, Curriculum Committee for Genetics, Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan
Employment
Research Fellow, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, July1992 to Nov,1993.
Scientific officer, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Nov, 1993 to Sept, 1997.
Scientific officer, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Sept, 1997 to Dec 1998.
Senior Scientific officer, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Dec 1998-Dec 2006
Principal Scientist, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad, Dec 2006 to date
Achievement
Developed
Research Experience
· Gene identification and Qunatitative Trait Loci (QTLs) mapping of disease resistance and grain quality genes in rice
· Marker Assissted breeding for biotic and abiotic stresses in rice ( Bacterial leaf blight, salt and drought tolerance)
· Conducting yield trials of different advanced lines in different basmati and non basmati growing areas of Pakistan
· Marker assisted breeding in Wide Hybridization program
· RAPD analysis of different cultivars of rice and wheat and their hybrids
· Isozyme analysis for the identification of wild and cultivated rice and their hybrids. Screening of wild accessions of rice for salt tolerance.
· Detection of genetic variability in Basmati rice varieties and their radiation induced mutants through Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs)
· Identification and characterization of differenet kinds of chromosomal aberrations from mitotic slides induced from mutagenic agents
· Preparation of mitotic and meiotic slides in plants
Professional Experience
· Completed a Ph.D research project on “Molecular mapping of genes/QTLs affecting resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae and grain quality traits in rice (Oryza sativa L).
· Complted a one year IDB Merit Post Doctoral Scholarship on “Identification, isolation and mapping of salt tolerance genes in rice” at University of California, Davis, USA from May 2006-August 2007.
· Completed a course on “ABI PRISM 3100 Genetic Analyzer-Basic Training Course” from 12-15 November, 2005 in Dubai Demo Lab and Training Centre, Dubai.
· Participated in an International 5th ISTA/FAO Workshop on “Electrophoretic Methods and PCR-Techniques for Variety Verification and GMO Detection” from December 18th –22nd, 2004 in Giza, EGYPT
· Participated and conducted an International course “ Application Of Molecular Markers In The Characterization And Utilization Of Induced Mutation In Rice Breeding” IAEA Regional Training Course July 9-21, 2001. Organized by Genome Mapping Lab/Plant breeding and Genetics Division at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines.
· Participated in an International course “Introduction to IRRISTAT course” held from 14 to 18 August 2000, at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Banos, Philippines.
· Participated in an International course “Introduction to new developments in GxE analysis and interpretation of results” held from 21 to 25 August 2000, at International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Los Banos, Philippines.
· Attended the "Fourth Regional Training Course on "Expression of Bacterial Genes in Plants" at The National Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Oct. 10-24, 1992.
· Attended the ICGEB practical course on “Gene transfer for plant breeding improvement” held from 9-21, October, 1995 Kostinbrod, Bulgaria.
· Participated in conducting a course entitled “National training course on New Emerging Techniques used in Plant and Animal research” held at NIAB from 19 - 24th August, 1995. I have taught two techniques 1) Isozyme analysis by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis and 2) RAPD analysis by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to the course participants.
· Completed an M. Sc. research project (1989-91) on "Toxic Effects of Fungicides Nimrod and Dithane M-45 on Somatic Cells of Allium cepa", Department of Genetics, University of Karachi, Karachi.
· Worked as an M. Phil. research student ( Dec.,1991-June, 1992) on a project entitled, "Cytogenetic studies in some nullisomic-tetrasomic lines and their crosses with selected local cultivars of Triticum aestivum L" Department of Genetics, University of Karachi, Karachi.
Teaching Experience
· Faculty member of School of Biological Sciences (NIBGE campus), Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
· Faculty member of School of Biological Sceinces (NIBGE campus), Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciencs (PIEAS), Islamabad, Pakistan
· Approved PhD Supervisor of Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan
· Teaching experience of M.Phil and PhD courses offered at School of Biological Sciences, NIBGE campus
Research Supervised
M-Phil thesis completed
· Genetic diversity in cultivated rice varieties through Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis ( 2003)
· PCR based molecular survey of Pakistan rice germplasm for Bacterial blight resitance gene Xa-4 (2004)
· Identification of bacterial blight resistance gene xa5 from Pakistan rice germplasm using PCR based markers (2006)
PhD Thesis supervision:
Supervising five Ph.D scholar of Higher Education Commission (HEC) with thesis titles as mentioned below:
· Introgression of drought tolerant QTLs/genes in Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.): A molecular breeding approach (Mr. Muhammad Sabar, 2006-todate): Writeup
· Identification of genes and QTLs controlling the amylose contents in rice (Oryza sativa L.) by using genome based approaches (Mr. Javed Iqbal Wattoo, 2007-2013): Submitted
· Association mapping of different agronomic traits in rice (Oryza sativa L.) germplasm (Mr. Ghulam Shabbir, 2007 to date): Writeup
· Assessment of molecular diversity in rice germplasm in nuclear, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes (Mr. Shahid Masood Shah, 2007-2013): Submitted
· Identification and characterization of gene/QTLs variants of grain shape and size using genomic approaches in rice (Oryza sativa L.) (Mr. Kashif Aslam, 2007-todate): Writeup
Ongoing Research Projects
· Incharge of DNA Testing Lab for the identification of Basmati variety and percentage of adulteration of non Basmati rice using Genetic Analyzer. This service is being provided to Basmati Exporters of Pakistan.n
· Molecular marker facilitated pyramiding of bacterial blight resistance genes in Super Basmati rice
· Identification of grain quality related genes and its variants in Basamti rice through TILLING approach.
· DNA Fingerprinting of Basmati Rice Varieties and Mapping of Gene(s) for Cooked Kernel Elongation
· Identification and mapping of bacterial blight resistance gene(s) in Pakistan
· Genetic diversity assessment of Pakistan Basmati landraces and Basmati breeding lines using DNA based SSR and RAPD analysis
· Mapping and Isolation of salt and drought tolerance genes in rice
· Interspecific crosses in rice for the transfer of abiotic resistance genes using molecular markers.
Funded Projects
Team Leader under an umbrella project entitled “Control of bacterial leaf blight through management and resistant varieties” funded by Punjab Agricultural Research Board (PARB), Pakistan. Amount: Rs. 76 million (NIBGE share Rs. 18 million)
Country Representative of the project entitled “Green super rice for resource poor in Africa and Asia” funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The project is awarded to Chinese Academy of Sceinces (CAAS) in collaboration with International Rice Reseasrch Institute (IRRI), Philippines. Amount $ 15,000 per year.
PI of the IAEA Coordinated Research Project entitled “Detection of adulteration in Super Basmati rice and its geographic origin by estimating stable isotopes and trace elements ratio”. Amount Euro 7000 per year
Principal Investigator “Molecular marker facilitated pyramiding of bacterial blight resistance genes in Super Basmati rice” funded by Agriculture Linkage Programme, Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC). Amount: Rs 3.45 million
Publications
Journals and Proceedings
Muhammad Sabar and Muhammad Arif. 2013. Phenotypic response of rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes to variable moisture stress regimes. International Journal of Agriculture and Bioloy. (Accepted)
Shahid Masood Shah, Shahzad Aamir Naveed and Muhammad Arif. 2013. Genetic diversity in Basmati and non-Basmati rice varieties based on microsatellite markers. Pak J. Bot., 45(S1): 423-431.
Anjuman Arif, Yusuf Zafar, Muhammad Arif, Eduardo Blumwald. 2012. Improved Growth, Drought Tolerance, and Ultrastructural Evidence of Increased Turgidity in Tobacco Plants Overexpressing Arabidopsis Vacuolar Pyrophosphatase (AVP1). Mol Biotechnol. DOI: 10.1007/s12033-012-9577-9.
J. I. Wattoo, K. Aslam, S. M. Shah, G. Shabir, M. Sabar, S. A. Naveed, R. Waheed, Samiullah, Q. H. Muqaddasi and M. Arif. 2012. Ethyle methane sulphonate (EMS) induced mutagenic attempts to create genetic variability in Basmati rice. Journal of Plant Breeding and Crop Science, Vol 4(7): pp 101-105. DOI: 10.5897/JPBCS11.080
Shahzad Amir Naveed, Muhammad Babar, Ajuman Arif, Yusaf Zafar, Muhammad Sabar, Iftikhar Ali, Muhammad Chragh and Muhammad Arif. 2010. Detection of bacterial blight resistant gene xa5 using linked marker approaches. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(24), pp. 3549-3554
Muhammad Babar, Yehoshua Saranga, Zafar Iqbal, Muhammad Arif, Yusuf Zafar, Edward Lubbers and Peng Chee. 2009. Identification of QTLs and impact of selection from various environments (dry vs irrigated) on the genetic relationships among the selected cotton lines from f6 population using a phylogenetic approach. African J. Biotechnol., 8 (19):4802-4810.
Muhammad Arif, Muhammad Jaffar, Muhammad Babar, Munir A. Sheikh, Samina Kousar, Anjuman Arif and Yusuf Zafar. 2008. Identification of bacterial blight resistance gene Xa4 in Pakistani rice germplasm using PCR. African J. Biotechnol., 7(5):541-545.
Li, Z.K., M. Arif, D.B. Zhong, B.Y. Fu, J.L. Xu, J. Domingo-Rey, J. Ali, C. H. M. Vijayakumar, S.B. Yu and G.S. Khush. 2006. Complex genetic networks underlying the defensive system of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, America, 103 (21): 7994-7999.
Muhammad Babar, Asif Ali Khan, Anjuman Arif, Yusuf Zafar and Muhammad Arif. 2007. Path analysis of some leaf and panicle traits affecting grain yield in doubled haploid lines of rice (Oryza sativa L.) J. Agric. Res., 45(4): 245-252
Muhammad Arif, Samina Kousar, M. Asghar Bajwa, Anjuman Arif and Yusuf Zafar. 2005. Genetic diversity among rice genotypes of Pakistan through Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Pak. J. Bot., 37(3):585-592.
Farooq, S., Shah, T. M., Asghar, M., Askari, E., Arif, M., and Iqbal, N. 1994. Rapid identification of rice genotypes through RAPDs. Rice Biotech. Quarterly 19: 14-15.
Farooq, S., Asghar, M., Iqbal, N., Askari, E., Arif, M. and Shah, T. M. 1995. Production of salt tolerant wheat germplasm through crossing cultivated wheat with Aegilops cylindrica. II. Field evaluation of salt tolerant germplasm. Cereal Research Communications. 23: 275-282.
Arif, M. and A. A. Vahidy. 1996. Toxicity of fungicides Nimrod and Dithane M-45 on mitotic cells of Allium cepa L. The Philippine Journal of Science. 125 (4): 279-289.
Farooq, S., Shah, T.M., Iqbal, N. and Arif M. (1996) Problems and prospects of hybridization between Oryza sativa and Porteresia coarctata and its significance in rice breeding programmes. Cereal Research Communication, 24 (1): 41-47.
Farooq, S., Shah, T. M., Askari, E. Arif, M. and Iqbal, N. 1994. Utilization of RAPD markers for the identification of cultivated and wild rice species. Pakistan Journal of Botany. 27. 127-138.
Farooq, S., T. M. Shah, E. Askari., A. A. Zaidi., M. Arif, and N. Iqbal. 1994. Identification of different wheat genotypes through polymorphism based on Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA ( RAPD). Pakistan Journal of Botany 26(2): 373-82.
Farooq, S., Shah, T.M., Arif, M. and Iqbal, N. (1995) Inheritance of RAPD markers in the F1 interspecific hybrids of rice. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 28: 51-59.
Farooq, S., M. Asghar, M. Arif, N. Iqbal, and T. M. Shah. 1994. Wide Hybridization for Improvement of Salt-tolerance in Cultivated rice varieties. A paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Rockefeller Foundation. Bali, Indonesia, May 15-21.
Iqbal, N., Arif, M., Zaidi, A. A. and Farooq, S. 1995. Identification of Basmati rice cultivars and their radiation induced mutants with Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPDs). Proc. Fourth International Symposium Workshop on "The Applications of Molecular Biological Research in Agriculture Health and Environment. Lahore Pakistan.
Arif, M., Asghar, M., Shah, T. M. and Farooq, S. 1995. Screening for salt tolerance of wild rice species. Proc. International workshop on "Conservation of Biodiversity for Sustainable Agriculture. Islamabad, Pakistan.
Ahsan A. Vahidy, Sadia K. Butt and Muhammad Arif. 1992. Toxic effects of some common agrochemicals assayed through somatic cell chromosomal aberrations. Proc. 1st International Conference of Pharmaceuticals Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Articles in National Newspapers
Yusuf Zafar and Muhammad Arif in Daily Dawn, June 16, 2003 on “DNA crackdown on Basmati exporters”
Yusuf Zafar and Muhammad Arif in Daily Dawn, March 08, 2004 on The woes of Super Basmati in EU.
Abstracts Published in International Conferences
Tumimbang-Raiz E, Thomson M, Saranga Y, Kim Y-K, Arif M, Fu L, Gregorio G, Ismail A, Blumwald E. 2007. Contribution of the major QTL for Na+/K+ ratio, Na+, K+ for salinity tolerance from the landrace Pokkali Oryza sativa indica rice at seedling stage. Poster presented, Annual Winter Meeting, 2-3 Feb 2007, University of California-Davis, USA.
Yong Sun, Jin Yu, Jinping Zang, Linghua Zhu, Binying Fu, Yongming Gao, M. Arif, Zhikang Li, and Jianlong Xu. Effects of genetic background on salt tolerance QTL detected in introgression lines of rice. The 7th Conference of Plant Genomics held at China, Harbin from August 8 to 10, 2006
Yong-Ming Gao, Bin-Ying Fu, Jian-Long Xu, C.H.M. Vijayakumar, Ming-Fu Zhao, J. Domingo, R. Maghirang, M. Arif, R. Lafitte, and Zhi-Kang Li. Genetic response to strong directional selection on rice tolerance to critical stress. International Workshop entitled “ Resilient Crops for Water Limited Environments: Held at Cuernavaca Mexico. 24-28, May 2004.
M. Arif, C.H.M. Vijayakumar, S.B. Yu, B.Y. Fu, R. Maghirang, J. Domingo, J. Ali, Y.M. Gao, A. Arif, Y. Zafar, G.S. Khush and Z.K. Li. 2002. Molecular mapping of genes/QTLs for rice grain quality traits using advanced backcross populations. International Rice Congress, 24th International Rice Research Conference. 16-20 Sept. 2002, Beijing China.
J. Domingo, M. Arif, C.H.M. Vijayakumar, J. Ali, B.Y. Fu, Y.M. Gao, R. Maghirang and Z.K. Li. 2002. A new gene for complete resistance and QRLs for partial resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae in rice. International Rice Congress, 24th International Rice Research Conference. 16-20 Sept. 2002, Beijing China.
R. Maghirang, R. Lafitte, C.H.M. Vijayakumar, B.Y. Fu, Y.M. Gao, X.Q. Zhao, Z.C. Li, S. Yan, J.Ali, J. L. Xu, M.F. Zhao, F.Y. Hu, J. Domingo, M.Arif, Y.c. Cho and Z.K. Li. Root gene QTLs and their association with drought tolerance in rice. International Rice Congress, 24th International Rice Research Conference. 16-20 Sept. 2002, Beijing China.