Dr. Synan F. AbuQamar
ProfessorDepartment of Biology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, 15551, UAE
Speech Title: Physiological and Molecular Responses of Cucumber Seedlings under Different Phosphate Regimes
Abstract: Acquisition of inorganic phosphate by plants is highly dependent on the transmembrane phosphate transporter (PT) gene family. In general, cucumber (Cucumis sativus) requires a large amount of phosphorus (P). In this study, we aimed at isolating CsPT2-1 from cucumber roots, and to determine the impact of Pi nutrition on growth and metabolism of cucumber tissues. We successfully cloned and identified the full length of CsPT2-1. In our greenhouse experiments, P-deficient seedlings were provided with low or high P concentrations and were sampled at 10 or 21 days post treatment, respectively. Application of high P strikingly reduced growth of roots, and resulted in increased total protein in leaves. In addition, acid phosphatase activity increased significantly (P<0.05) in leaves when 4 mM P or above was applied. Increasing P concentration decreased glucose concentrations in leaves of plants supplied with >0.5 mM P. In roots, glucose and starch concentrations increased with high P supply. We noticed that the transcript levels of CsPT2-1 were high roots deprived with P. On the other hand, CsPT2-1 showed reduced levels of expression when plants were provided >10 mM P. The present study shed lights on how to improve Low-P tolerance in crops including cucumber.
Biography: Prof. Synan F. AbuQamar completed his Ph.D from Purdue University/Department of Botany & Plant Pathology in 2007 and his postdoctoral studies from the same university in the area of Molecular Genetics of Plant Immunity. In August 2008, Prof. AbuQamar joined the Department of Biology at the United Arab Emirates University as an Assistant Professor, and has become an Associate Professor in 2014. Currently, he is a Professor at UAEU. Synan's current research interest is in the area of Plant Molecular Genetics/Plant Biotechnology. Dr. AbuQamar has co-authored more than 50 research papers in prestigious peer-reviewed international journals, published 15 book chapters, presented 40 research papers in national and international conferences and filed 2 US patents. He has always been an active editorial boards member in several reputed journals. Prof. AbuQamar is a recipient of several awards and has delivered a number of invited talks at the national and international conferences.