Fungal Genomics & Biology
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-8056
ISSN: 2165-8056
Kamel Ahmed Abd-Elsalam
Molecular Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research Center
Plant Pathology Research Institute, Egypt
Dr. Kamel Ahmed Abd-Elsalam has received his PhD in Suez Canal University in the year 2004. Currently, he is working as Researcher in Biotechnology Lab. Plant Pathology Research Institute (PPathRI) Agricultural Research Center (A.R.C).
His primary research interest is in understanding the genetic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum. Use of molecular methods for analysis of genetic variation and population dynamics of fungal pathogen populations, phylogenetic studies and development of molecular diagnostic tools for detection and diagnosis of fungal pathogens. Techniques such as AFLP, PCR-RFLP, RAPD, UP-PCR, DNA-sequencing. Currently,they are developing fluorescent diagnostic primers and probes with the utilization of Real-Time PCR techniques. Their goal is to understand the significance of evolutionary forces that shape the genetic structure of pathogen populations and to apply this knowledge to design more stable and environmentally sound management strategies to control plant disease. Current research in his lab is focused on the evolutionary genetics of host specificity at the species level and the role of host specificity in fungal speciation. He is also interested in the evolution of virulence in cotton soil-borne fungi. The cultivars grown in cotton producing areas in Egypt lack resistance to these pathogens. One project focuses on the genetic diversity of the indigenous Fusarium oxysporum and their relationship to the cotton field pathogens.