Soil And Environmental Sciences Students Society

University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Pakistan

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Convener Advisory Board SESSS:


Name: Prof. Dr. Zahir Ahmad Zahir


Designation: Professor ISES/ Director Endowment Fund UAF/Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC)


Email ID: zazahir@yahoo.com


Contact: +92-41-9201092


Research Interest:
      Plant -Microbe interactions, Plant Growth promoting Rhizobacteria, Biological Nitrogen Fixation, Microbial ACC-deaminase, Biofertilizers.


Detail:

        Prof. Dr. Zahir Ahmad Zahir obtained his Ph.D. degree in Soil Microbiology and Biochemistry from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. Post-Doctoral Research endeavor was accomplished in the University of California, Riverside, USA.

Dr. Zahir enjoys excellent reputation among his fellow scientists not only in the country but all over the world because of his novel and high quality research achievements. He is amongst the highly cited scientists of the country in the field of agriculture. As soil microbiologist, his major focus of research is the development of biofertilizers for sustainable agricultural production. He is one of the pioneers who introduced the concept of utilizing microbial produced plant growth regulators for the betterment of crop production. Recently he has developed a technology for bioconversion of organic waste into a value-added product for sustainable crop production. His work on the use of microbial ACC-deaminase biotechnology for sustainable crop production under stressed conditions is also recognized the world over.

Dr. Zahir is an author/co-author of two books and seven book chapters. He has also edited one proceeding. Dr. Zahir has published more than 200 research articles in reputed journals thus having a total of more than 200 impact factor with having more than 1000 citations. He has participated in various National/International conferences/seminars. Dr. Zahir has acted as Principal Investigator/Co-Principal Investigator of 21 research projects funded by The Third World Academy of Sciences, Asian Development Bank, Ministry of Science & Technology, PARC-ALP, Pakistan Science Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, Higher Education Commission and AVRDC. In recognition of his significant achievements, Dr. Zahir was awarded PAS Gold Medal 2010 by the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and was awarded Best University Teacher Award-2008 by the Higher Education Commission. He was nominated for civil award by his university two times in 2006 and 2007. He also has "Distinguished Soil Science Services Award" from the Soil Science Society of Pakistan.

Dr. Zahir has been major supervisor of six Ph.D. students while five more scholars are currently pursuing their Ph.D. with Dr. Zahir as their supervisor. Forty-five students have completed their M.Sc. (Hons) under the supervision of Dr. Zahir. Currently, he is also serving as Editor-in-Chief of Soil & Environment, a biannual Scientific Journal Published by the Soil Science Society of Pakistan and Executive Director of Endowment Fund Secretariat, UAF.
Dr. Zahir Ahmad Zahir Currently served as Convener Soil & Environmental Sciences Students Society®.




Publications:
Journal Articles:

1. Ahmad, I., M.J. Akhtar, H.N. Asghar and Z.A. Zahir. , 2013, Comparative efficacy of growth media in causing cadmium toxicity to wheat at seed germination stage., Int. J. Agric. Biol. , 15, 517-522

2. Ahmad, I., M.J. Akhtar, H.N. Asghar and Z.A. Zahir. , 2013, Comparative efficacy of growth media in causing cadmium toxicity to wheat at seed germination stage., Int. J. Agric. Biol. , 15, 517-52

3. Ahmad, M., Z.A. Zahir, F. Nazli, M. Arshad and M. Khalid. , 2013, Effectiveness of halo-tolerant, auxin producing Pseudomonas and Rhizobium strains to improve osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). , Braz. J. Microbiol. (Accepted), ,

4. Ahmad, M., Z.A. Zahir, M. Khald, F. Nazli and M. Arshad. , 2013, Efficacy of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains to improve physiology, ionic balance and quality of mung bean under salt-affected conditions on farmer’s fields., Plant Physiol. Biochem. , 63, 170-176

5. Asghar H.N., M. A. Zafar, M.Y. Khan and Z.A. Zahir. , 2013, Inoculation with ACC-deaminase containing bacteria to improve plant growth in petroleum contaminated soil. , Rom. Agric. Res. , 30, 01-Sep

6. Asghar, H.N., M.A. Zafar, M.Y. Khan and Z.A. Zahir. , 2013, Can catalase and exopoly saccharides producing rhizobia ameliorate drought stress in wheat? , Int. J. Agric. Biol. (Accepted), ,

7. Khan, M.Y., H.N. Asghar, M.U. Jamshaid, M.J. Akhtar and Z.A. Zahir. , 2013, Effect of microbial inoculation on wheat growth and phyto-stabilization of chromium contaminated soil., Pak. J. Bot., 45, 27-34

8. Nadeem, S.M., Z.A. Zahir, M. Naveed and S. Nawaz., 2013, Mitigation of salinity induced negative impact on the growth and yield of wheat by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in naturally saline soils. , Ann. Microbiol. , 63, 225-232

9. Nadeem SM,M. Ahmad, Z.A. Zahir., A. Javed and M. Ashraf, 2013, The role of mycorrhizae and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in improving crop productivity under stressful environments, Biotechnology Advances, ,

10. Ahmad, M., Z.A. Zahir, F. Nazli, M. Arshad and M. Khalid, 2013, Effectiveness of halo-tolerant, auxin producing Pseudomonas and Rhizobium strains to improve osmotic stress tolerance in mung bean (Vigna radiata L.), Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 44, Accepted

11. Ahmad, M., Z.A. Zahir, S.M. Nadeem, F. Nazli, M. Jamil and M. Khalid, 2013, Field evaluation of Rhizobium and Pseudomonas strains to improve growth, nodulation and yield of mung bean under salt-affected condition, Soil & Environment, 32, 158-166

12. Naz, I., A. Rehim, M. Zafar-ul-Hye, Z.A. Zahir, M. Abid, M.A. Ali and M. Hussain, 2013, Effectiveness of ACC-deaminase containing Pseudomonas strains to induce salinity tolerance in maize under fertilized and unfertilized field conditions, Soil & Environment, 32, 167-172

13. Mehboob, I., Z.A. Zahir, M. Arshad, A. Tanveer and F. Azam, 2011, Growth promoting activities of different rhizobium spp. in wheat. , Pak. J. Bot. (Accepted), ,

14. Anjum, M.A., Z.A.Zahir, M. Arshad and M. Ashraf., 2011, Isolation and screening of rhizobia for auxin biosynthesis and growth promotion of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) seedlings under axenic conditions . , Soil Environ., 30, 18-26.

15. Zahir, Z.A., S.S. Akhtar, M. Ahmad, Saifullah and S.M. Nadeem, 2011, Comparative effectiveness of Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas fluorescens for mitigating the depressing effect of brackish water on maize. , Plant Soil (Submitted), ,

16. Nadeem, S.M., Z.A. Zahir, M. Naveed and S. Nawaz. , 2011, Mitigation of the negative impact of salinity stress on seed germination, growth and yield of wheat grown on naturally salt affected fields. , J. Agron. Crop Sci. (Submitted), ,

17. Ahmad, M., Z.A. Zahir, H.N. Asghar and M. Asghar., 2011, Inducing salt tolerance in mung bean through co-inoculation with Rhizobium and PGPR containing ACC-deaminase. , Can. J. Microbiol., (Accepted) , ,

18. Abbas, R.N., A. Tanveer, A. Ali and Z.A. Zahir, 2010, Simulating the effect of Emex australis densities and sowing dates on agronomic traits of wheat. , Pak. J. Agric. Sci., 47, 104-110

19. Baig, K.S., M. Arshad, Z.A. Zahir and M.A. Cheema., 2010, Comparative efficacy of qualitatitve and quantitative methods for rock phosphate solubilization with phosphate solubilizing rhizobacteria. , Soil Environ., 29(1), 82-86.

20. Mehboob, I., Z.A. Zahir, M. Arshad, A. Tanveer and F. Azam, 2010, Growth promoting activities of different rhizobium spp. in wheat. , Pak. J. Bot. (Accepted), ,

21. Kamal, S., M. Asgher, Khalil-Ur Rehman and Z.A. Zahir., 2010, Hyperproduction of Laccase by Pleurotus ostreatus IBL-02 during Decolorization of Drimarene Brilliant Red K- 4BL. Fresenius Environ. , Bull. (Accepted). , ,

22. Nadeem, S.M., Z.A. Zahir, M. Naveed, H.N. Asghar and M. Arshad., 2010, Rhizobacteria capable of producing ACC-deaminase can mitigate the salt stress in wheat. , Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J., 74, 533-542

23. Zahir,Z. A., H.M. Yasin, M. Naveed, M.A. Anjum, and M. Khalid., 2010, L-Tryptophan application enhances the effectiveness of rhizobium inoculation for improving growth and yield of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.). , Pak. J. Bot., 42, 1771-1780.

24. Abbas, R.N., A. Tanveer, A. Ali and Z.A. Zahir., 2010, Effect of Emex australis Steinh on germination and early seedling growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)., Allelopathy J. , 25, 513-520

25. Zahir, Z.A., M.K. Shah, M. Naveed and M.J. Akhter., 2010, substrate-dependent auxin production by Rhizobium phaseoli improves the growth and yield of Vigna radiata L. under salt stressed conditions. , J. Microbiol. Biotechnol., 20, 1288-1294

26. Nadeem, S.M., Z.A. Zahir, M. Naveed and M. Ashraf., 2010, Microbial ACC-deaminase: Prospects and applications for inducing salt tolerance in plants. , Crit. Rev. Plant Sci., 29, 360-393

27. Hussain, M.B., I. Mehboob, Z.A. Zahir, M. Naveed and H.N. Asghar. , 2009, Potential of Rhizobium spp. for improving growth and yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.)., , 28:00:00, 49-55.

28. Mehboob, I., M. Naveed and Z.A. Zahir., 2009, Rhizobial association with non-legumes: Mechanisms and applications. , , 28:00:00, 432-456.

29. Nadeem, S.M., Z.A. Zahir, M. Naveed and M. Arshad. , 2009, Rhizobacteria containing ACC-deaminase confer salt tolerance in maize grown on salt affected fields., , 53:00:00, 1141-1149

30. Nadeem, S.M., Z.A. Zahir, M. Naveed, H.N. Asghar and M. Arshad., 2009, Rhizobacteria capable of producing ACC-deaminase can mitigate the salt stress in wheat. , , 74:00:00, 533-542.

31. Zahir, Z.A., U. Ghani, M. Naveed, S.M. Nadeem and H.N. Asghar., 2009, Comparative effectiveness of Pseudomonas and Serratia sp. containing ACC-deaminase for improving growth and yield of wheat under salt-stressed conditions., , 191:00:00, 415-424.

32. Ahmad, R., A. Khalid, M. Arshad, Z. A. Zahir and T. Mahmood, 2008, Effect of composted organic wastes enriched with N and L-tryptophan on soil and maize. , Agron. Sustain. Dev. , 28:00:00, 299-305.

33. Ahmad, R., M. Arshad, A. Khalid and Z.A. Zahir, , 2008, Effectiveness of organic-/bio-fertilizer supplemented with chemical fertilizers for improving soil water retention, aggregate stability, growth and nutrients uptake of maize (Zea mays L.). , J. Sustain. Agri. , 31:00:00, 57-77.

34. Ahmad, R., M. Arshad, Z.A. Zahir, M. Naveed, M. Khalid and H.N. Asghar, , 2008, Integrating N-enriched compost with biologically active substances for improving growth and yield of cereals. , Pak. J. Bot. , 40:00:00, 283-293.

35. Ahmad, R., M. Khalid, M. Naveed, S.M. Shahzad, Z.A. Zahir and S.N. Kokhar, , 2008, . Comparative efficiency of auxin and its precursor applied through compost for improving growth and yield of maize. , Pak. J. Bot., 40:00:00, 1703-1710.

36. Naveed, M., M. Khalid, D.L. Jones, R. Ahmad and Z.A. Zahir. , 2008, Relative efficacy of Pseudomonas spp. containing ACC-deaminase for improving growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) in the presence of organic fertilizer. , Pak. J. Bot. , 40:00:00, 1243-1251.

37. Naveed, M., Z.A. Zahir, M. Khalid, H.N. Asghar, M. J. Akhter and M. Arshad, , 2008, Potential of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria containing ACC-deaminase activity for improving growth and yield of wheat under fertilized conditions. , Pak. J. Bot. , 40:00:00, 1231-1243.

38. Shaharoona, B., M. Naveed, M. Arshad and Z.A. Zahir, , 2008, Fertilizer-dependent efficiency of Pseudomonas for improving growth, yield and nutrient use efficiency of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), Appl. Microbiol. Biotech., 79:00:00, 147-155.

39. Zahir, Z. A., A. Munir, H.N. Asghar, M. Arshad and B. Shaharoona, , 2008, Effectiveness of rhizobacteria containing ACC-deaminase for growth promotion of peas (Pisum sativum) under drought conditions. , J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. , 18:00, 958-963.

40. Zahir, Z.A., M. Zafar-ul-Hye, S. Sajjad and M. Naveed, 2000, Comparative effectiveness of Pseudomonas and Serratia sp. for co-inoculation with Rhizobium leguminosarum to improve growth, nodulation and yield of lentil. , Biol. Fert. Soils., 47, 457-465