Abdugaffor Ablazov: Plant Physiology First Author

Abdugaffor Ablazov, co-first author of “ZAXINONE SYNTHASE 2 regulates growth and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in rice”

Current Position:

PhD candidate, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Center for Desert Agriculture (CDA), The BioActives Lab, Thuwal 23955- 15 6900, Saudi Arabia.

Education:

MSc, Genetics and Bioengineering, International Burch University (IBU), Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Non-scientific Interests:

Reading, Gardening, Nature, Sports

Brief bio:

 Recently, I am pursuing my research career as PhD candidate in Plant Science Program under supervision of Prof. Salim Al-Babili at KAUST, Saudi Arabia. My project is about exploring the biological role of the zaxinone, a novel carotenoid-derived signaling molecule, in different plant species. I am characterizing the rice Zaxinone Synthase (ZAS) homologues, a member of plant Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase (CCD) subfamily, required for zaxinone production. To achieve my goals, I apply a combination of different approaches, including genome editing using a CRISPR/Cas9 toolbox, next-generation sequencing, metabolomics and integrative-omics. Overall, I am interested in deep insights into the function of zaxinone as a new signaling molecule (or precursor ) in different planta, eventually utilizing this compound as a potential tool for increasing the crop yield.