Research Profile http://scholar.google.com.pk/citations?user=wXQTmVYAAAAJ

Qualification:

• Ph.D.      (Biotechnology) Quaid-i Azam University, Islamabad-2012                      
• M.Sc.      (Botany) University of the Punjab, Lahore-1998                        

Research Interest:

Major research interest is beneficial plant-microbe interactions in general and plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPR) for biofertilization and biological control of plant pathogens. Development of biofertilizers for P deficient and drought prone soils. R & D and commercial production of biofertilizers with registered trade name “BioPower Super” and “Phosphorus Pool” for different crops. Beneficial bacteria-based formulation has been developed in the form of foliar spray for the suppression of bacterial leaf blight in rice. Genotyping and pathotyping of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal pathogen of bacterial leaf blight of rice is being carried out in collaboration with International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines.

Product developed

Registered a biofertilizer product “Phosphorus Pool” based on phosphate solubilizing bacteria for different crops in year 2017. The product is being sold and available to farmers/ distributors.

Process developed

Methodology has been established for the development of value added chemical DAP fertilizer coated with beneficial bacteria for enhanced crop yield with improved soil fertility.

Research Projects

• Awarded HEC/ NRPU Project 3813 entitled “Use of native beneficial bacteria for the development of phosphorus solubilizing biofertilizer” (PI: Dr. Sumera Yasmin). Rs. 7.15 Millions (2017-2019).
• Awarded Project PSF/NSLP/P-NIBGE (319) entitled “Developing a sustainable formulation for biological control of rice bacterial blight and yield increase using native growth promoting bioanatgonists”. (PI: Dr. Sumera Yasmin, Co PI: Dr. M. Sajjad Mirza).Rs. 2.2 Million (2015-17).  
• Received a grant of Rs. 0.5 Million (2015) for “Application of bacterial leaf blight resistant rice variety and cost effective biofertilizers with biocontrol potential for enhanced crop yield of rice”. Agriculture Innovation Program (AIP) (PI: Dr. Sumera Yasmin).
• HEC/R&D/NRPU/2017/7244 entitled “Production, characterization and evaluation of agro-active compounds from rhizospheric Streptomyces spp.” Cost: 4.85 M (2020-2023)

(PI: Dr. Shazia Khaliq, Co PI: Dr. Sumera Yasmin) 

 Selected Research Publications

• Zafar K, Khan MZ, Amin I, Mukhtar Z, Sumera Yasmin, Arif M, Ejaz K, Mansoor S (2020) Precise CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing in super basmati rice for resistance against bacterial blight by targeting the major susceptibility gene. Front. Plant Sci. 11:575. (IF: 4.402)
• Maria Rasul, Sumera Yasmin*, M Suleman, A Zaheer, Thomas Reitz, Mika T. Tarkka, Ejazul Islam and MS Mirza (2019). Selection of multifaceted rhizospheric phosphobacteria for bioavailability of soil phosphorus and growth promotion of basmati rice. Microbiological Research 223-225, 1-12 (IF 3.97)
• Sughra Hakim, BS. Mirza, Asma Imran, A Zaheer, Sumera Yasmin, F Mubeen, Joan E. Mclean, MS Mirza (2020) Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA tag shows disparity in rhizobial and non-rhizobial diversity associated with root nodules of mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) growing in different habitats in Pakistan. Microbiological Research 231, 126356. (IF 3.97)
• Sumera Yasmin, FY Hafeez, M. Rasul, HMI Arshad, MS Mirza, M. Zubair, M Iqbal (2017) “Biocontrol of bacterial leaf blight of rice and profiling of secondary metabolites produced by rhizospheric Pseudomonas aeruginosa BRp3” Frontiers in Microbiology 8: 1895. (IF 4.1) 
• Maria Rasul, Sumera Yasmin*, M Zubair, N Mahreen, ZI Sajjid, M Arif (2019). Phosphate solubilizers as antagonists for bacterial leaf blight with improved rice growth in phosphorus deficit soil. Biological Control: 136. 103997. (IF 2.754)
• M Suleman, S Yasmin*, M Rasul, M Yahya, BM Atta, MS Mirza (2018). Phosphate solubilizing bacteria with glucose dehydrogenase gene for phosphorus uptake and beneficial effects on wheat. PLOS one 13(9):e0204408. (IF 2.766)  
• S. Hakim, B. S. Mirza, A. Zaheer, J. E. Mclean, A. Imran, S. Yasmin, M. S. Mirza (2018) Retrieved 16S rRNA and nifH sequences reveal co-dominance of Bradyrhizobium and Ensifer (Sinorhizobium) strains in field-collected root nodules of the promiscuous host Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek," Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,p 1-7. (IF 3.53)  
• Sumera Yasmin*, FY Hafeez, M. Rasul, HMI Arshad, MS Mirza, M. Zubair, M Iqbal (2017) “Biocontrol of bacterial leaf blight of rice and profiling of secondary metabolites produced by rhizospheric Pseudomonas aeruginosa BRp3” Frontiers in Microbiology  8:1895. (IF 4.259)  doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.01895  
• Fauzia Y. Hafeez, S. Yasmin, Dini Ariani, M. Rahman, Y. Zafar and K.A. Malik (2006). Plant growth promoting bacteria for biofertilizer production. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 26: 143-150. (IF: 4.1)
• ·         S. Hameed, S. Yasmin, K. A. Malik, Y. Zafar and FY Hafeez (2004). Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium and Agrobacterium strains isolated from cultivated legumes. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 39: 179-185. (IF: 5.521)