Dr. Ahmad A. Omar
Contact Information
Citrus Research and Education Center
Lake Alfred, Florida
Horticulture – Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology
Phone: 863.956.1151
Email: omar71@ufl.edu
Education
Ph.D. (Plant Molecular Biology), University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
Dissertation title: "Biotechnology and Its Uses in Improvement of Canker Resistance in Citrus Trees".
Master of Science (M.Sc.) (Biochemistry), Biochemistry Department, College of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
Thesis title: "Biochemical Studies on Royal Jelly as Honeybees Product".
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) (Agriculture Chemistry), Biochemistry Department, College of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt.
Positions
2006 - Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Florida, IFAS, Citrus Research and Education center (CREC), Lake Alfred, Fl, USA.
2000 - 2005: Graduate Research, Department of Horticulture Sciences, University of Florida, IFAS, Citrus Research and Education center (CREC), Lake Alfred, Fl, USA
1998 - 1999: Assistant Lecturer, Biochemistry Department, College of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
1994 - 1997: Teaching assistant, Biochemistry Department, College of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Egypt.
Specialization
Plant Biotechnology and Molecular Biology
Ongoing Research
- Screening ‘Hamlin’ transgenic plants against citrus canker pathogen. This project is an extension of my Ph.D. program which revealed producing transgenic ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange containing a Xanthomonas resistance gene from rice (Xa21).
- Performing more genetic and biochemical studies on the behavior of Xa21 gene in citrus trees. This project involves genetics and emerging biotechnologies in effort to develop improved citrus canker resistance in commercial varieties. The benefit of this program will be an improved understanding of bacterial resistance gene transfer and function, and the possibility of canker resistance commercial varieties.
- Cloning XB3 gene, a required for Xa21 gene function, to improve Xa21 function in citrus plants.
- Cloning different anti-bacterial peptide gene driven by phloem specific promoter to be used in transformation experiments to produce transgenic plants resistance to citrus greening and citrus canker pathogen.
- Conducting Agrobacterium-mediated transformation experiments to produce transgenic citrus containing anti-bacterial peptide gene to improve resistance for citrus canker and citrus greening
- Conducting protoplast-GFP transformation experiments to produce to produce transgenic citrus containing anti-bacterial peptide gene to improve resistance for citrus canker and citrus greening
Refereed Publications
Omar, A.A., A. Redondo, J.H. Graham, and J.W. Grosser. (2008) Screening Transgenic ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] for Resistance to Citrus Canker. (Submitted to International Society of Citriculture).
M. Dutt, A.A. Omar, V. Orbovic, G. Barthe and J.W. Grosser. (2008). Progress towards incorporation of antimicrobial peptides for disease resistance in citrus. (Submitted to International Society of Citriculture).
M. Dutt, A.A. Omar, V. Orbovic, G. Barthe, J. Gmitter, M. Vasconcellos, C. Dunning and J.W. Grosser. (2008). Combating Huanglongbing and Canker via Genetic Engineering of Citrus. (Submitted to Proc. Fla. State Hort. Soc)
Omar, A.A, M.G.H. Dekkers, J.H. Graham, and J.W. Grosser. (2008). Estimation of Transgene Copy Number in Transformed Citrus Plants by Quantitative Multiplex Real-Time PCR. Biotechnology Progress. (Accepted)
Abouziena, H. F., E. R. El-Desoki, S. Sharma, A.A. Omar and M. Singh, 2007. Evaluation of Sowing in Hills on Ridges as a New Technique for Enhancement of Wheat (Triticum aestivum, L) Productivity. Egyptian Journal of Agronomy (Accepted)
Omar, A.A. and J.W. Grosser, 2008. Comparison of Endoplasmic Reticulum Targeted and Non-Targeted Cytoplasmic GFP as a Selectable Marker in Citrus Protoplast Transformation. Plant Science 174 (2) 131–139.
Omar, A.A. W.-Y. Song and J.W. Grosser, 2007. Introduction of the Xa21, Xanthomonas Resistance Gene from Rice, into ‘Hamlin’ Sweet Orange [Citrus Sinensis (L.) Osbeck] Using Protoplast/GFP Co-Transformation and Single plasmid Transformation. Journal of Horticultural Sciences & Biotechnology, 82 (6) 914-923.
Omar, A.A. and J.W. Grosser 2007. Protoplast Co-Transformation and Regeneration of Transgenic "Hamlin" Sweet Orange Plants Containing a cDNA Xa21 Xanthomonas Resistance Gene and GFP. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 738:235-243
Omar, A.A., A. Redondo, J.H. Graham, and J.W. Grosser. (2008) Screening Transgenic ‘Hamlin’ sweet orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck] for Resistance to Citrus Canker. (In preparation)
Omar, A.A. 2006. Biotechnology and Its Uses in Improvement of Canker Resistance in Citrus Trees. Ph.D. University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.
Omar, A.A. 1997. Biochemical Studies on Royal Jelly as Honeybees product. M.Sc. Zagazig University, Egypt.
Professional Membership
- The Society for In Vitro Biology
- International Society for Horticultural Science
- International Society of Citriculture
- The International Society for plant Molecular Biology
- Florida State Horticultural Society
- American Society of Plant Biologist
