Asad Hussain Shah

Title : Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnides L) A Magic Shrub for Socio Economic Development of Pakistan

Abstract:

Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is known for its multipurpose utility around the world. It is very popular for its nutritional, biochemical, industrial, environmental and agricultural value. The shrub has been populated in the mountain in Northern Pakistan. A comprehensive project has been launched in AJK, (Pakistan) for its genetic improvement and establishment in northern parts of the country. The extent of genetic variation on the basis of morphological attributes, biochemical constituents and molecular profile exhibited that wildly growing genotypes of Sea buckthorn have the considerable diversity. The studies based on AFLP were compared with morphological and biochemical markers to evolve a convincing picture of genetic variation among the Sea buckthorn plant populations. In addition this genetic variation and broad genetic base, Sea buckthorn improvement program with the exploitation of Sub Species Sinensis from China and wild Sea buckthorn germplasm in UK has been started.  Sub species, Sinences articulated promising prospects for growth on the lower Himalayans of Azad Kashmir as compared to local genotypes which need genetic improvement. The genotype Sinensis was successful in micropropagation experiments which showed positive results to use soma-clonal variation in Sea buckthorn improvement.  The presentation will show the prospects of this shrub for starting an economic activity on sustainable basis. This finding has shown the plant’s potential to be used for industrial, environmental, nutritional and agriculture sectors successfully.

Keywords: Sea buckthorn, genetic diversity, biochemical analysis, Pakistan.

Biography:

The author (Dr. Asad Hussain Shah) is assistant professor and chairman Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, University of Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. He has been serving as Research Associate, Senior Scientific Officer, Lecturer in the Department of Plant Breeding and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Rawalakot, University of Poonch. The author has published 40 peer reviewed papers, 30 conference papers and has published 2 books. Dr. Shah has been writing newspaper articles about plant research. He is the recipient of Productive Scientist of Pakistan Award with multiple certificates of excellence from three vice chancellors of Universities. He has been the Chief Organizer, secretary and coordinator of International Conferences in universities he served.  He has earned multiple travel grants to present his research on international forum. He is teaching and supervising Ph.D and M.Phil students in his department.