Rhizo-bacteria Helpful In Drought, Climate Change Mitigation

Faizan Hashmi Published December 11, 2018 | 06:30 PM

Pir Mehr Ali Shah (PMAS) Arid Agriculture University Forest expert and , Dr Lubna Ansari has made research on plant growth promoting Rhizo-bacteria to mitigate drought and climate change risk.

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2018 ) :Pir Mehr Ali Shah (PMAS) Arid Agriculture University Forest expert and , Dr Lubna Ansari has made research on plant growth promoting Rhizo-bacteria to mitigate drought and climate change risk.

The research has been successfully carried out in the districts of Potohar plateau namely Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal and Rawalpindi.

The rhizo-bacteria were first isolated and then inoculated in the roots of leguminous trees which produced positive results in reducing drought stress and climate change conditions in the region, Dr Lubna, who is also faculty member of Department of Forestry and Range Management to APP in an exclusive interview .

She said that the research has also been carried out by a Bengali environmentalist one species of leguminous plants (Albezia Lebbeck commonly Siri tree); however, her research focused four different species of trees.

She informed that the study was conducted under the supervision of Acting Vice Chancellor of PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Dr Sarwat Naz Mirza.

The only difficulty, she said I faced during my research was to perform field work as I by myself dug out the roots of the trees to vaccinate them with the bacteria.

Dr Lubna remarked that the escalating phenomenon of climate change and increasing frequency of disasters in the country demanded preemptive and enhanced approach to make relevant studies.

"I wanted to go for innovation and my PhD research primarily focused on to serve the purpose whereas it's the first ever approach made in the country," she added.

The next and only impediment for her, Dr Lubna said is to link her invention with the industry whereas Aisha Khan representative of Hashoo group has acknowledged her research and announced to help her in launching her advancement into the market.