Dr. Mahmood Ahmad
Postdoc (Japan), Ph.D (Australia)

 

EDUCATION:

               Postdoctoral Fellowship:

Graduate School of Science & Technology, Niigata University, Niigata (Nov. 2001-Nov. 2003)

Research Project: Proteomic approach for analysis of midgut proteins from Plutella xylostella which is highly resistant to Cry1ac

Supervisor: Dr. Hidetaka Hori

 

Ph. D. Entomology:

Department of Applied & Molecular Ecology, The University of Adelaide, Australia. (January, 2001).

Dissertation Title: Initial Frequencies of Alleles for Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins in Field Populations of Plutella xylostella and Helicoverpa armigera

Major Supervisor: Dr. Rick Roush

 

M.Sc. Hons. Agriculture( Entomology):

Department of Agri. Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 1989

Dissertation Title: Control of the Greater Wax-Moth, Galleria mellonella L.

Major Supervisor: Late Dr. Manzoor-ul-Haq

 

B. Sc. Hons. Agriculture (Entomology):

Department of Agri. Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 1987

Major Subjects: Agricultural Entomology. Minor Subjects: Plant Pathology

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Manager R & D (Auriga Seeds & Chemicals Enterprises, Lahore) 19 July 2004 to Date

 Product Registration, Technical Training of Staff, Liason with Government agencies, Standardization of new pesticides. Research on new pesticides chemistrties.

 

Postdoctoral Fellow (Japan Society for Promotion of Science) 19 November 2001 16 November 2003

Laboratories of Molecular Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan with Prof. Hidetaka Hori.

Research project conducted during postdoctoral fellowship:

Insecticide resistance monitoring plays a key role in resistance management programs. Improved resistance monitoring methods clearly help to develop countermeasures to resistance. Bioassay methods to measure resistance are usually imprecise and expensive. Any method that improved the precision of detecting resistance would be very attractive. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) resistance in Plutella xylostella was detected by employing a novel a proteomic approach, two-dimensional-PAGE. After successfully establishing this technique, I detected a diagnostic protein spot (p-47kDa) that was specific for Bt resistance. At least 6 other protein spots that differed in their protein contents in susceptible and resistant P. xylostella populations were also detected related with Bt resistance. Further characterization of these specific spots detected through two-dimensional PAGE was done by Western blot using specific antisera. The outcome of this project would ultimately pave the way for developing an ELISA based technology for rapid detection of Bt resistance in P. xylostella.

 

Assistant Entomologist 21 July 2001 to 17 Nov. 2001

            Pest Management Division, Plant Protection Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan.

Research projects conducted:

- Control of insect pests of sugarcane crop

- Survey, collection, and biosystematics of potato aphid

- Survey, monitoring and resistance management of insect pests of cotton with particular emphasis on H. armigera in southern Punjab

 

Assistant Entomologist 1 May. 2001 to 20 July 2001

Bee-keeping Research Sub-Station, Hassanabdal, Pakistan

Research projects conducted:

- Management of honeybees for higher honey yield

- Control of Bee enemies such as Greater Wax-Moth, Green bee-eater etc.

- Studies on bee diseases such as American foul brood, European foul brood etc.

- Survey for honeybee flora in northern Punjab

 

Assistant Entomologist 11 Dec. 1999 to 30 Apr. 2001:

Beekeeping and Hill Fruit Pests Research Sub-Station, Murree, Pakistan

Research projects conducted:

- Chemical control of codling moth, Cydia pomonella

- Survey, collection and identification of insect pests damaging hill fruits in the Murree Hills

- Study the role of honeybees in fruit setting and enhancing the yield of fruit crops

              - Honeybee management in mountainous and sub-mountainous regions

 

Postgraduate Scholar (PhD) 25Jul. 1995 to 8 Nov. 1999:

Worked under the supervision of Dr. Rick Roush, Associate Prof. & Chief Executive for Weed Management Systems (CRC-Weeds), Department of Applied & Molecular Ecology, The University of Adelaide, South Australia (now Director, Statewide IPM program, University of California, Davis)

PhD research projects conducted:

- Initial allele frequency for Bacillus thuringiensis in cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hb.) in Australia

- Frequency of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in field populations of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. in South Australia

- Survey for resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in field populations of Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Southern Australia

- Preliminary studies for determining endpoint　mortality and dose-range selection for Bacillus thuringiensis toxins in Plutella xylostella and　Helicoverpa armigera

 

Assistant Director (Entomology) 15 Sep. 1994 to 30 Jun. 1995:

Plant Protection Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan

 

Research projects conducted:

-　Insect pest control training for in-service officials of agricultural extension department particularly on safe and effective use of pesticides

-　Studies on insect pets of cotton

 

Assistant Entomologist 1 Jan. 1994 to 14 Sep. 1994:

      Beekeeping Research Sub-Station, Hassanabdal, Pakistan.

Research projects conducted:

              - Improvement of honeybee management practices for higher honey yield

- Effect of artificial diet and supplementary feeding on honeybee colonies

- Chemical and biological control of honeybee enemies and diseases.

- Determination of mite infestation and extent of damage in the public and private sector apiaries in the province

 

Assistant Research Officer 23 Oct. 1989 to 31 Dec.1993:

Entomology Section, Ayub Agricultural Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan

Research projects conducted:

- Chemical control of cotton aphid and its infestation effect on yield and quality of cotton

- Biology of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hb.)

- Studies on effect of different insecticides against American bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hb.) and cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gen.)

- Chemical control of green peach aphid on potato crop

- Efficacy of chemicals against Helicoverpa armigera (Hb.) on vegetable marrow, Cucurbita pepo

-         Effect of defoliants on insect pest population, boll opening and yield of cotton

 

AWARDS

-         Postdoctoral fellowship (Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science) by the Ministry of Science and Education, Japan. 2001-2003.

-         Research Conference Scholarship (National Science Foundation, USA) to attend a conference on IPM in North Carolina 1999.

-         World Bank Funded PhD Scholarship awarded on merit by the Department of Agriculture, Government of the Punjab, Pakistan 1995-1999.

-         Merit Scholarship of Secondary School Certificate Examination by the Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education, Sargodha, Pakistan in 1981.

 

 

RESEARCH FIELDS:

More recent areas of research include genetics of insecticide resistance with particular reference to integrated control of cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera, and diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, Bt endotoxins and transgenic crops expressing Bt insecticidal proteins. My main area of research has been IPM of insect pests of field crops. However, I also worked on insect pest management problems associated with hill fruit pests and apiculture.

 

OTHER SKILLS

Molecular biology:

I worked on molecular biology projects during my PhD and postdoctoral fellowship. During PhD studies, I worked with genomic DNA of P. xylostella. I cloned an aminopeptidase-N receptor gene for Bt toxins and characterized this cloned product by using Western blotting analysis. Furthermore, I worked on susceptible and resistant P. xylostella proteins during my postdoctoral fellowship. I used two-dimensional-PAGE which was a powerful tool to resolve complex proteins. 

Computer skills:

I possess good computing skills. I am quite familiar with several computer programs required for day- to-day research needs including Office 2000 (Word, Powerpoint, Excel), Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Page Maker, EndNote etc. I analyzed most of my PhD research data using POLO (LeOra Software), a probit analysis program. I used PDQuest (Bio-Rad) for analyzing two-dimensional–PAGE gels which was an excellent program to analyze 2DE gels and their statistical analysis.

 

SPECIAL COURSES/ WORKSHOPS:

Jun.24^th  2002

A course for Radioisotope handling for research purposes held at “Radio Isotope Center”, Niigata University, Asahi-Machi Campus. Niigata, Japan

18^th August, 1999.

Genetically modified food and fiber risks, rights, and responsibilities. A one-day symposium for agricultural and environmental scientists. 18 August, 1999. held at The Charles Hawker Conference Center, Waite Campus. The University of Adelaide, SA, Australia. Organized by The Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology (South Australian Zone).

Oct. 3rd 1998

Diamondback moth management workshop held at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Sep. 21^st-23^rd 1998

Advancing the integrated management of diamondback moth in Brassica vegetables: Project VG97014 Workshop. Convened by SARDI and The University of Adelaide at Waite Campus, SA Australia

Jul. 2^nd -7th 1998

Genetic analysis for population and bio-geographic studies: A national workshop held at The Australian National University, Canberra, Australia

Mar. 3^rd - 2^nd Jun. 1997

Statistics in the Workplace (The course contained consisted of lectures, computer practicals and tutorials). Department of Statistics, The University of Adelaide. Australia

Jun. 26^th 1997

Introduction to Occupational Health & Safety Workshop. Occupational Health & Safety Unit. The University of Adelaide. Australia

 

PRESENTATIONS AT CONFERENCES:

Apr. 12^{t h} - 14^th 1999

I presented a poster paper in “Gene Flow and Agriculture - Relevance for Transgenic Crops” at Keele University, Staffordshire, UK.

 

Sept. 26th - 29th Sept. 1998

Presented an Oral Paper “Survey for Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in Field Populations of Plutella xylostella  (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Australia” at 29th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Australian Entomological Society at The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

 

Sept. 29^th - 2nd Oct.1998

Presented a Poster Paper “Frequency of Resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in Plutella xylostella L. and Helicoverpa armigera (Hb.)” at Sixth Australasian Applied Entomological Research Conference at University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

 

Mar. 8^th – 11^th March 1999

I attended  “International Conference on Emerging Technologies” in Raleigh, North Carolina State University, after winning a Conference Scholarship from a grant by National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for IPM in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

 

VISITS:

Jan. 2^nd - Jan.9^th 1997

I worked in cotton-growing areas of New South Wales and Queensland (Australia) for collection of H. armigera with a research officer, Mr. Colin Tann from CSIRO. During this visit, I also learned about cotton entomology in Australia. I also visited Australian Cotton Research Institute, Narrabri, NSW and discussed my PhD research projects with cotton entomologists including Dr. Gary Fitt and Dr. Neil Forrester,

 

Mar. 11^th  - Apr. 11^th 1999

I worked at Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Geneva, New York, as an Exchange Visitor to collaborate a project with Prof A. M. Shelton. This project involved investigations on molecular mechanism of Bt resistance in P. xylostella. During my visit to the US, I also visited Prof. Fred Gould’s lab at North Carolina State University. I presented a research seminar on my PhD project in Prof. Gould`s lab and discussed with him my project in detail.

 

PART-TIME EXPERIENCE

1997 - 1999

I worked with Mr. Greg Baker, Senior Entomologist, South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI), at Waite Campus, University of Adelaide, South Australia on several on-going applied entomology projects. Most of these projects focused on population dynamics and resistance management studies on Plutella xylostella.

 

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES:

Overseas Student Representative 1997 - 1998

Waite Institute Student Association, The University of Adelaide

 

Overseas Student Representative 1997 – 1998

Overseas Students Association, The University of Adelaide

 

MEMBERSHIPS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES:

Society for Invertebrate Pathology USA

Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology Japan

Entomological Society of Pakistan

 

Publications:

Refereed Journals:

Ahmad, M. 2003. A comprehensive literature review of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner.

               J. Agri. Res.

Sabir, A. M., Ahmad, M., Saleem, M., & Bhatti, A. H. 2002. Requeening – its acceptance and effect on the development of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. J. Agric. Res. 40 (1): 61-66

Aheer, G. M., Hussain, A. M., Iqbal, Z. & Ahmad, M. 1994.  Effect of defoliants on insect pest population, boll opening and yield of cotton. J. Animal and Plant Sciences: 141-144

Ahmad, M., Ali, A., Iqbal, Z. & Haq, M. U. 1994.  Chemical control of greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.) J. Agric Res. 32 (1): 96-99

Ahmad, M., Haq, M. U., Ali, A. & Ashraf, M. 1994.  Biological control of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L. J. Agric. Res. 32 (3): 319-323

Aheer, G. M., Ahmad, N., & Ahmad, M. 1994.  Chemical control of Heliothis armigera (Hb.) on vegetable marrow (Cucurbita pepo L.) J. Agric. Res. 32 (3): 339-341

Rana, Z. A., Mushtaq, M., Mahmood, K. & Ahmad, M. 1992.  Moth population fluctuation of sugarcane borers. J. Agric. Res. 30 (4): 507-512

Aheer, G. M., Ahmad, N. Ahmad, M. & Ashraf, M. 1992.  Chemical control of green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) on potato crop. J. Agric. Res. 30 (4): 501-505

Haq, I. U., Ahmad, N., Ahmad, M. & Hannan, A. 1991.  Insecticides efficacy against cotton aphid and their infestation effect on yield and quality of cotton. J. Agric. Res. 29 (3): 405-410

 

Conference Proceedings:

Ahmad, M. Ahmad, T. Afzal, M. & Saleem, A. 2004. Physico-Chemical resistance of cotton plant against Helicoverpa armigera. 4^th International Congress of Entomological Sciences. Pakistan Entomological Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. 22-23 September, 2004. p.36

Ahmad, M., Higuchi, M., Yoshioka, T., Hayakawa, T. & Hori, H. 2003. Proteomic approach for analysis of midgut proteins from Plutella xylostella which is highly resistant to Cry1Ac. 5^th Pacific Rim Conference on the biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis and its environmental impact. 17^th – 21^st November 2003, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Sabir, A. M., Ahmad, M., Bhatti, A. H. & Afzal, M. 2001.  The foraging activity and effect of honeybee pollination in seed setting of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) 21^st Pakistan Congress of Zoology (Internatrional Congress). March 15-17, 2001, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Zoological Society of Pakistan: p. 79.

Sabir, A. M., Ahmad, M. & Bhatti, A. H. 2001.  Avocado (Persea americana Mill.): a new host of fruit fly in Murree. 21^st Pakistan Congress of Zoology (Internatrional Congress). March 15-17, 2001, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Zoological Society of Pakistan: p. 77

Ahmed, M. & Roush, R. 1999.  Frequency of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis resistance in Plutella xylostella and Helicoverpa armigera. In Gene Flow and Agriculture: Relevance to Transgenic Crops. Symposium Proceedings No. 72, pp. 281-286. British Crop Protection Council.

Ahmad, M. & Roush, R. 1998.  Frequency of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in Plutella xylostella L. and Helicoverpa armigera (Hb.). Proceedings of the Sixth Australasian Applied Entomological Research Conference. Vol. 2: 297. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 29 September - 02 October.

Ahmad, M., Tang, J. D. Shelton, A. M. & Roush, R. 1998.  Survey for resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis in field populations of Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Australia. Proceedings of the 29th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of Australian Entomological Society. p. 1. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 26-29 September.

 

Submitted to Journal of Agriculture:

Ahmad, M. A checklist of natural enemies of Helicoverpa armigera (HÜBNER) (Accepted).

Ahmad, M. Diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella: a review of its biology, ecology and control.

Ahmad, M. Insecticide resistance mechanisms and their management in Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner): a review. (Accepted).

Ahmad, M. A comprehensive review of research work on cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner). (Accepted)

 

In preparation:

Ahmad, M., Maruyama, T., Higuchi, M., Yoshioka, T., Hayakawa, T., Mitsui, T., Sato^, R., & Hori, H. Proteomic approach for comparative analysis of midgut proteins from Plutella xylostella that is highly resistant to Cry1Ac toxin.

 

Ahmad, M., Shelton, AM., Tang, JDT. & Roush, R.  Initial frequency of resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki in field populations of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. and Helicoverpa armigera.

Ahmad, M., Shelton, AM., Tang, JDT. & Roush, R.  Survey for resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins in field populations of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in southern Australia.

Book:

Ahmad, M. & Ahmad Saleem 2005. Integrated Control of Cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner). Directorate of Agricultural Information. Department of Agriculture, Government of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan.

 

ADDRESS:               

               Permanent Address:                      

                        Street #14, House# 385

                        Mahmoodabad (Near Chibban)

                        FAISALABAD-38050, Pakistan.

Phone:  +41-789421 (Home)

Mobile: 0300-8493461

[email protected]

                        [email protected]

Present Address:

         18-Jinnah Block, Awan Town

         Multan Road,

         Lahore, Pakistan.

         Phone: 042-7445869

         Mobile: 0300-8493461